For this late in the season, there was a lot of movement across the board in the TWC NHL Power Rankings. A ton of streaking teams, in both directions, while almost having a new number one team. Trade deadline is just a few weeks away now, and if this week’s rankings are any indication it’s going to be wild.
TWC Power Rankings explained
If you’re new to our power rankings, this is how it all works.
Here at TWC, we use a statistical model to effectively rank teams on a week to week basis. The model takes into effect winning percentages, CF%, SCF%, HDCF% as well as SV%. Each statistical category is weighed and scored differently, giving each team a unique TWC Score that determines their ranking after each week. The formula puts the highest emphasis on winning percentages over other statistics. All numbers are taken in all situations, to incorporate special teams into the fray.
We got some excellent feedback over the course of last season from our readers as to how we could improve this model moving forward. We have slightly altered the weightings of the statistical categories, but also added a large recency component to make sure that each week the teams that are riding hot streaks are more appropriately demonstrated in the rankings.
Don’t like where your team is ranked? Unfortunately, they will have to turn it around on the ice, as we take zero personal opinions into effect.
Have any suggestions for the TWC Power Rankings for next season? Leave us a comment and let us know. Without further ado, this week’s power rankings are below!
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Week 20 NHL Power Rankings
| Rank | Change | Team | Team Name | Last Week | Record | TWCScore |
| 1 | – |  | Colorado Avalanche | 3-1-0 | 39-10-4 | 791.2 |
| 2 | +1 |  | Carolina Hurricanes | 3-0-0 | 37-11-4 | 786.1 |
| 3 | +1 |  | Tampa Bay Lightning | 2-0-0 | 34-11-6 | 778.4 |
| 4 | -2 |  | Florida Panthers | 0-3-0 | 35-13-5 | 771.6 |
| 5 | – |  | Toronto Maple Leafs | 2-1-1 | 34-14-4 | 769.8 |
| 6 | – |  | Calgary Flames | 2-1-0 | 31-14-6 | 763.9 |
| 7 | – |  | Pittsburgh Penguins | 2-1-0 | 33-14-8 | 748.9 |
| 8 | +2 |  | Boston Bruins | 3-0-0 | 31-17-4 | 728.2 |
| 9 | +2 |  | Los Angeles Kings | 3-0-0 | 29-17-7 | 720.8 |
| 10 | -2 |  | Minnesota Wild | 0-3-0 | 31-16-3 | 716.6 |
| 11 | +2 |  | St Louis Blues | 3-0-0 | 32-14-6 | 715.9 |
| 12 | -3 |  | New York Rangers | 1-2-0 | 33-15-5 | 710.5 |
| 13 | +2 |  | Dallas Stars | 2-0-1 | 29-20-3 | 705.1 |
| 14 | -2 |  | Washington Capitals | 0-2-0 | 28-17-9 | 693.4 |
| 15 | -1 |  | Edmonton Oilers | 1-2-0 | 29-21-3 | 686.8 |
| 16 | +1 |  | Nashville Predators | 2-1-0 | 30-19-4 | 684.8 |
| 17 | -1 |  | Vegas Golden Knights | 0-2-0 | 29-20-4 | 683.2 |
| 18 | +3 |  | Vancouver Canucks | 3-0-0 | 26-22-6 | 651.4 |
| 19 | -1 |  | Winnipeg Jets | 1-2-1 | 23-21-9 | 648 |
| 20 | – |  | San Jose Sharks | 2-1-1 | 24-23-6 | 641.9 |
| 21 | -2 |  | Anaheim Ducks | 1-2-0 | 25-21-9 | 641.4 |
| 22 | – |  | New York Islanders | 2-1-1 | 20-21-8 | 632.7 |
| 23 | – |  | Columbus Blue Jackets | 2-2-0 | 27-25-1 | 617.5 |
| 24 | – |  | Detroit Red Wings | 0-2-0 | 23-24-6 | 609.6 |
| 25 | – |  | New Jersey Devils | 1-1-0 | 18-29-5 | 606.8 |
| 26 | – |  | Chicago Blackhawks | 1-1-0 | 19-27-8 | 585.8 |
| 27 | – |  | Ottawa Senators | 1-1-0 | 19-27-5 | 584.1 |
| 28 | – |  | Philadelphia Flyers | 1-1-1 | 16-26-10 | 569.7 |
| 29 | – |  | Seattle Kraken | 0-3-1 | 16-34-5 | 555.6 |
| 30 | – |  | Buffalo Sabres | 0-3-0 | 16-30-8 | 542.4 |
| 31 | +1 |  | Montreal Canadiens | 3-0-0 | 13-33-7 | 517.7 |
| 32 | -1 |  | Arizona Coyotes | 1-2-0 | 14-35-4 | 501.4 |
The Colorado Avalanche just hung on to the number one spot this week, fending off the surging Carolina Hurricanes (no pun intended). The Avalanche were 3–1–0 last week, winning their last three games, while the Canes were able to string together a five-game win streak after going 3–0–0 last week. The TWCScores were separated by just five points, making this a much closer battle. Carolina was the belle of the ball for the first half of the season, and if this streak continues they may just have enough to reclaim the top spot.
Speaking of win streaks, the Tampa Bay Lightning extended theirs to four games after winning in the Stadium Series on Saturday against the Nashville Predators. Currently sitting second in the Atlantic Division, with some games in hand, the back-to-back champs are just as good as ever right now.
The team the Lightning are trailing in their division is the Florida Panthers, who suffered their first real stretch of adversity last week. Going 0–3–0, including a few lopsided losses where they gave up six goals, the Panthers just didn’t look like themselves. All teams go through those types of stretches, and it may unfortunately cost them top spot in the division for a short period of time, but this will undoubtedly help the team long term.
Moving down our top ten teams, the Boston Bruins and Los Angeles Kings were hot last week. Currently in the middle of four and five game win streaks respectively, both teams are making a serious push for the playoffs.
The Kings are the one team that should be mentioned a bit more as they have been quietly lurking all season. Built mainly of a younger roster, the Kings have made headway in a wide open Pacific Division. The team currently sits third in CF%, sixth in xGF%, fifth in SCF%, and seventh in HDCF%. Their SV% is just 20th in the league, but the rest of their stats are among the league’s best. With the Vegas Golden Knights struggling with injuries and the Edmonton Oilers struggling to make saves, the Kings have a wide open opportunity this season.
Other notables from this week’s rankings:
- The St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild are two Central Division teams heading in opposite directions. The Blues went 3–0–0 last week, winning four straight in the process, and jumped the Wild into the second spot in the division. The Wild meanwhile went 0–3–0, including a blowout to Calgary on Saturday night.
- Staying in the Central, the Dallas Stars continue to be an enigma this season. The Nashville Predators have fallen back a bit, and despite wanting to trade multiple key pieces, the Stars are currently tied for the final WC position.
- The Vancouver Canucks were on fire last week, going 3–0–0, ending the Calgary Flames’ ten-game win streak, and taking another over the New York Rangers on the road. Was it far too early to count the Canucks out? Thatcher Demko is keeping them in the race.
- Finally, at the bottom of our rankings we have a new 32nd team. The Montreal Canadiens have won five straight games, while the Coyotes just cannot catch a break. The desert dogs are our new last place team.
Past Power Rankings
Check here for how teams have done over past weeks and stay tuned for upcoming power rankings. Note: Week 11 was skipped and combined with Week 12 due to a lack of games.
Week 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19
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