The 2023 NHL Trade Deadline has passed, and the league’s contenders and pretenders are now out in the open. Week 20 of the TWC NHL Power Rankings brings with it a wealth of changes that are quite significant this late in the season. It also further proves that there is one team that truly stands out among the rest.
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 20 NHL Power Rankings
| Rank | Change | Team | Team Name | Last Week | Record | TWCScore |
| 1 | – |  | Boston Bruins | 4-0-0 | 49-8-5 | 843.5 |
| 2 | – |  | Carolina Hurricanes | 2-1-0 | 41-12-8 | 818.8 |
| 3 | – |  | New Jersey Devils | 2-0-1 | 41-15-6 | 788.2 |
| 4 | – |  | Toronto Maple Leafs | 1-2-0 | 38-17-8 | 750.5 |
| 5 | – |  | Vegas Golden Knights | 3-1-0 | 38-19-6 | 739.3 |
| 6 | +6 |  | Minnesota Wild | 3-0-0 | 36-21-6 | 733.7 |
| 7 | +4 |  | Dallas Stars | 3-0-1 | 34-16-13 | 732.7 |
| 8 | +2 |  | Los Angeles Kings | 3-0-0 | 36-20-8 | 731 |
| 9 | -1 |  | Edmonton Oilers | 2-2-0 | 34-22-8 | 714.5 |
| 10 | +7 |  | Ottawa Senators | 4-0-0 | 32-26-4 | 700.4 |
| 11 | -5 |  | Tampa Bay Lightning | 0-3-1 | 37-21-5 | 699.9 |
| 12 | -3 |  | Colorado Avalanche | 1-2-1 | 34-21-6 | 697.4 |
| 13 | +9 |  | Seattle Kraken | 4-0-0 | 36-21-6 | 694.6 |
| 14 | -7 |  | New York Rangers | 1-2-0 | 35-19-9 | 693.9 |
| 15 | – |  | Florida Panthers | 2-1-0 | 31-27-6 | 684.9 |
| 16 | -2 |  | Pittsburgh Penguins | 2-1-0 | 31-22-9 | 677.5 |
| 17 | +2 |  | New York Islanders | 1-0-1 | 32-25-8 | 674.2 |
| 18 | -5 |  | Winnipeg Jets | 1-1-1 | 36-25-2 | 665.2 |
| 19 | +1 |  | Nashville Predators | 2-1-0 | 31-23-6 | 664.1 |
| 20 | -2 |  | Buffalo Sabres | 1-2-0 | 32-25-4 | 663.3 |
| 21 | -5 |  | Calgary Flames | 0-2-1 | 27-23-13 | 662.3 |
| 22 | +1 |  | Washington Capitals | 2-0-0 | 31-27-6 | 642.5 |
| 23 | +1 |  | Vancouver Canucks | 2-1-0 | 25-32-5 | 608.6 |
| 24 | -3 |  | Detroit Red Wings | 0-4-1 | 28-26-9 | 608.4 |
| 25 | +1 |  | St Louis Blues | 1-2-0 | 27-30-5 | 584.4 |
| 26 | +2 |  | Philadelphia Flyers | 1-0-1 | 24-28-11 | 584.4 |
| 27 | -2 |  | San Jose Sharks | 0-3-0 | 18-33-12 | 572.5 |
| 28 | -1 |  | Montreal Canadiens | 1-3-0 | 26-33-4 | 563.5 |
| 29 | +2 |  | Columbus Blue Jackets | 1-2-0 | 20-37-6 | 556 |
| 30 | – |  | Arizona Coyotes | 1-2-1 | 21-32-10 | 552 |
| 31 | +1 |  | Anaheim Ducks | 2-0-1 | 21-34-8 | 546.6 |
| 32 | -3 |  | Chicago Blackhawks | 0-4-0 | 21-36-5 | 538 |
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Week 20 Highlights
The Boston Bruins, who were already the best team in hockey, got even better over the trade deadline. Their number one position was not affected but their now ten-game win streak, which has them thirteen points ahead of their nearest competitor. Things are simply good in Boston.
The rest of the top five which includes the Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Vegas Golden Knights actually produced no changes this week. Despite vastly different records, these teams have done enough to give them a buffer from the rest of the league and also amongst each other.
The real party gets started at number six.
The Minnesota Wild jumped six spots into sixth overall, after going 8–1–1 in their last ten games. They have jumped into second in the Central Division and sit just three points back of the first place Dallas Stars. Speaking of which, the Stars also had a good week at 3–0–1 and jumped four spots into seventh overall. These two teams will be neck-and-neck all the way to the finish line.
Another big mover were the Ottawa Senators, who after acquiring Jacob Chycrun, are now riding a five-game win streak and sit just three points out of a playoff spot. A miraculous turnaround that now has fans in the stands cheering for the playoffs.
A turnaround in the other direction unfortunately happened to the Tampa Bay Lightning, who went 0–3–1 last week to drop five spots in our list. With the benching of Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, and Brayden Point, as well as the 6–0 shellacking at the hands of the Canes, the Lightning look fragile. A rare statement to make of this team over the last few seasons.
The biggest mover this week were the Seattle Kraken, who went a perfect 4–0–0 and jumped nine spots on our list. The best hockey story of the year continues and the league is going to get playoff hockey in Seattle (most likely).
Finally, after all of the drama and noise around the trade deadline for the New York Rangers, their 1–2–0 week resulted in them being the biggest losers on our list dropping seven spots. Now this is most likely due to other teams around them having far better weeks, but certainly going 0–2–0 after picking up Patrick Kane was not how this team thought things would go.
Past 2022–23 Power Rankings
Week 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19
Check here for how teams have done over past weeks and stay tuned for upcoming power rankings.
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