The tussle at the top of the TWC NHL Power Rankings continues with another week with a new number one team. Add in some big movers over the past seven days and this weeks rankings look extremely different.
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. This year we have slightly altered the weightings of the statistical categories, but also re-worked the 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!
Week 9 NHL Power Rankings
| Rank | Change | Team | Team Name | Last Week | Record | TWCScore |
| 1 | +1 |  | New Jersey Devils | 1-1-0 | 21-5-1 | 965 |
| 2 | -1 |  | Boston Bruins | 2-1-1 | 22-4-1 | 909.2 |
| 3 | – |  | Toronto Maple Leafs | 3-0-0 | 18-5-6 | 817.2 |
| 4 | +3 |  | Pittsburgh Penguins | 3-0-0 | 16-8-4 | 798.8 |
| 5 | +3 |  | Vegas Golden Knights | 2-2-0 | 20-9-1 | 770.6 |
| 6 | +9 |  | Colorado Avalanche | 1-2-1 | 14-10-2 | 754.4 |
| 7 | -3 |  | Carolina Hurricanes | 1-0-1 | 15-6-6 | 749 |
| 8 | +2 |  | Winnipeg Jets | 3-1-0 | 18-8-1 | 748.5 |
| 9 | -4 |  | Tampa Bay Lightning | 2-1-0 | 17-9-1 | 738.6 |
| 10 | +2 |  | Florida Panthers | 1-3-0 | 13-12-4 | 730.9 |
| 11 | -2 |  | Dallas Stars | 2-1-0 | 16-7-5 | 726.3 |
| 12 | +5 |  | New York Islanders | 1-2-0 | 17-12-0 | 717.7 |
| 13 | +3 |  | Edmonton Oilers | 2-1-0 | 16-12-0 | 713.5 |
| 14 | +4 |  | New York Rangers | 3-0-0 | 14-10-5 | 702.1 |
| 15 | -9 |  | Seattle Kraken | 1-2-0 | 16-8-3 | 675.6 |
| 16 | +8 |  | Washington Capitals | 4-0-0 | 14-12-4 | 672.3 |
| 17 | -6 |  | Minnesota Wild | 1-2-0 | 14-11-2 | 670 |
| 18 | +2 |  | Los Angeles Kings | 2-1-1 | 15-11-5 | 668.6 |
| 19 | +7 |  | Montreal Canadiens | 1-1-1 | 13-12-2 | 665.2 |
| 20 | -7 |  | Nashville Predators | 0-2-0 | 12-11-2 | 610.1 |
| 21 | -7 |  | Detroit Red Wings | 1-1-1 | 13-8-6 | 607.3 |
| 22 | +5 |  | San Jose Sharks | 1-0-1 | 9-16-5 | 596.8 |
| 23 | -1 |  | Vancouver Canucks | 2-1-0 | 12-13-3 | 589.2 |
| 24 | -1 |  | Buffalo Sabres | 1-1-1 | 12-14-2 | 569.6 |
| 25 | -6 |  | Calgary Flames | 2-1-1 | 13-11-4 | 565.2 |
| 26 | -1 |  | St Louis Blues | 1-2-1 | 12-15-1 | 551.7 |
| 27 | +2 |  | Philadelphia Flyers | 1-1-2 | 9-13-7 | 549.8 |
| 28 | -7 |  | Ottawa Senators | 1-1-1 | 11-14-2 | 505 |
| 29 | +1 |  | Arizona Coyotes | 2-2-0 | 9-13-4 | 464 |
| 30 | +2 |  | Anaheim Ducks | 1-1-0 | 7-18-3 | 447 |
| 31 | -3 |  | Columbus Blue Jackets | 2-2-0 | 10-15-2 | 445.4 |
| 32 | -1 |  | Chicago Blackhawks | 0-2-0 | 7-15-4 | 437.8 |
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Week 9 Highlights
The New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins continued their jostling at the top of the rankings this week, with the Devils coming out on top despite a 1–1–0 week. Although they played fewer games than the Bruins, the Devils have the best HDCF% in the NHL and the second best CF% & SCF%. The Bruins have the edge in P% and SV%, with both being the best in the NHL right now, but the Devils just have the slight edge in more weighted categories in our model. For this week alone, they reign supreme.
The Toronto Maple Leafs continued to roll this past week, posting a 3–0–0 record and are now 8–0–2 in their last ten games. Despite the insane amount of injuries this team has faced, this team has only lost one game in regulation in November and December. Just ridiculous, but also well deserved. Of course, the first 82 games of the season will not be what this team is judged on, but they are giving themselves the chance for some extremely strong positioning.
The Pittsburgh Penguins returned into the top five for the first time since the start of the season, after a 3–0–0 week where they extended their win streak to five games. They currently sit tied for second in the Metropolitan Division with just a mere four points separating them from sixth. That being said, for a team that got off to a hot start it is great to see them back in the saddle.
The Vegas Golden Knights also returned to a comfortable position in the top five this week, despite going 2–2–0. The Knights are 5–5–0 in their last ten games, but faced some tough opponents this last week including the Bruins twice. What was once a dominant stranglehold on the Western Conference has dwindled into a much closer race than many would have expected.
The biggest movers this past week were the Colorado Avalanche. Now it might be a bit confusing how a team that went 1–2–1 was able to move up nine spots on our list, but there is a method to that madness. First off, they hold the fourth best SV% in the NHL which factors into our model. Additionally, despite a loss to the Flyers, they faced some tougher opponents that were also higher ranked in our model which caused them to also face a bit of an increase for their performance. Despite their injuries, the Avalanche are holding on.
Moving down the list, the New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, and New York Rangers all improved their positioning last week, but not as much as the Washington Capitals did. With four straight wins and a perfect 4–0–0 record last week, the Capitals have managed to force themselves back into the Eastern Conference playoff race. Just barely though as they still sit in sixth in the Metropolitan Division. It’s a step in the right direction.
The team with the biggest drop last week were the Seattle Kraken, who went just 1–2–0 in their three games. The Kraken have been a surprise team all season, and by no means does this put a nail in their coffin, but their underlying numbers are what is mostly pushing them down this week. Their 11th ranked CF% is their best statistic, with the rest coming in the bottom third including a 29th ranked SV%. Is this a sign for things to come? Or just a blip on the radar?
The Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings, and Ottawa Senators all fell seven spots last week going a combined 2–4–2. It hasn’t been the best of times in those cities this year. Same goes for the Minnesota Wild and Calgary Flames, who fell six spots in our rankings. Luckily for these teams, the playoff picture looks beyond blurred and a spot is well within reach.
Past 2022–23 Power Rankings
Week 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
Check here for how teams have done over past weeks and stay tuned for upcoming power rankings.
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