It was another exciting week in the TWC NHL Power Rankings. Even with most teams’ positions within the rankings fairly established at this point in the season, there were significant and interesting moves among the teams still battling for playoff spots. Week 21 highlights these key moves.
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 21 NHL Power Rankings
| Rank | Change | Team | Team Name | Last Week | Record | TWCScore |
| 1 | – |  | Boston Bruins | 1-2-0 | 50-10-5 | 815.8 |
| 2 | +1 |  | New Jersey Devils | 3-1-0 | 44-16-6 | 794.5 |
| 3 | -1 |  | Carolina Hurricanes | 2-2-0 | 43-14-8 | 793.1 |
| 4 | – |  | Toronto Maple Leafs | 2-0-0 | 40-17-8 | 752.7 |
| 5 | +2 |  | Dallas Stars | 2-1-0 | 36-17-13 | 749.4 |
| 6 | – |  | Minnesota Wild | 2-0-2 | 38-21-8 | 735.5 |
| 7 | -2 |  | Vegas Golden Knights | 3-1-0 | 41-20-6 | 730.7 |
| 8 | – |  | Los Angeles Kings | 2-0-1 | 38-20-9 | 729.1 |
| 9 | – |  | Edmonton Oilers | 2-1-0 | 36-23-8 | 713.5 |
| 10 | +6 |  | Pittsburgh Penguins | 3-0-1 | 34-22-10 | 711 |
| 11 | +4 |  | Florida Panthers | 2-0-1 | 33-27-7 | 709.2 |
| 12 | -1 |  | Tampa Bay Lightning | 2-1-1 | 39-22-6 | 707.4 |
| 13 | +1 |  | New York Rangers | 2-0-1 | 37-19-10 | 696.3 |
| 14 | -2 |  | Colorado Avalanche | 2-1-0 | 36-22-6 | 696.1 |
| 15 | +2 |  | New York Islanders | 2-1-0 | 34-26-8 | 685.1 |
| 16 | +3 |  | Nashville Predators | 2-1-1 | 33-24-7 | 684 |
| 17 | -4 |  | Seattle Kraken | 1-1-1 | 37-22-7 | 682.1 |
| 18 | +3 |  | Calgary Flames | 3-1-0 | 30-24-13 | 680.1 |
| 19 | -1 |  | Winnipeg Jets | 2-1-1 | 38-26-3 | 675.7 |
| 20 | -10 |  | Ottawa Senators | 1-3-0 | 33-29-4 | 664.1 |
| 21 | +1 |  | Washington Capitals | 1-1-1 | 32-28-7 | 652.2 |
| 22 | +1 |  | Vancouver Canucks | 3-0-0 | 28-32-5 | 646.1 |
| 23 | -3 |  | Buffalo Sabres | 0-3-1 | 32-28-5 | 628.3 |
| 24 | – |  | Detroit Red Wings | 2-1-0 | 30-27-9 | 610.5 |
| 25 | – |  | St Louis Blues | 2-2-0 | 29-32-5 | 588.2 |
| 26 | +1 |  | San Jose Sharks | 1-3-0 | 19-36-12 | 576.4 |
| 27 | -1 |  | Philadelphia Flyers | 0-3-0 | 24-31-11 | 566.4 |
| 28 | +2 |  | Arizona Coyotes | 3-0-1 | 24-32-11 | 564.4 |
| 29 | -1 |  | Montreal Canadiens | 0-1-2 | 26-34-6 | 563.3 |
| 30 | +1 |  | Anaheim Ducks | 1-1-2 | 22-35-10 | 557.8 |
| 31 | -2 |  | Columbus Blue Jackets | 0-1-1 | 20-38-7 | 540.5 |
| 32 | – |  | Chicago Blackhawks | 1-2-1 | 22-38-6 | 533.4 |
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Week 21 Highlights
In the top position, it’s the same old story with the Boston Bruins this week. The team kept on winning, setting an NHL record in the process by reaching the 50-win mark quicker than any team in history. The feat took just 64 games. Needless to say, when you win that much you’ll sit at the top of any power ranking.
Beneath the Bruins, not much else changed in the top ten. The New Jersey Devils and Dallas Stars moved up slightly, with the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights dropping in turn. But the real excitement comes right at the end of the top ten.
The Eastern Conference wild card race is incredibly tight, with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers, New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators all looking like they have a real shot at the coveted final two playoff spots. And, in this week’s rankings, Pittsburgh climbed all the way into the top ten, up ten spots from last week. Although their underlying numbers are middle of the pack, the results don’t lie, as the team posted three wins and one extra time loss over the past week.
The Panthers and Islanders also both posted winning records on the week, keeping their playoff hopes alive and moving them slightly up the rankings. Despite the Islanders’ slightly better record, the model prefers the Panthers and ranks them higher based on their exceptional possession and chance creation numbers.
Also in the race, and the week’s unfortunate biggest loser in terms of power ranking position, the Ottawa Senators dropped ten places. After an impressive hot streak, things started to come apart in Week 21. They’re not out of the hunt yet, but another week like this one could take them all the way out of the race. Luckily, one of their main competitors for the final spot, the Sabres picked up just one point in four games.
Over in the Western Conference, the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets are both in dire need of some momentum to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Flames managed to find some, winning three of four games, although the one loss was a deflating defeat at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks.
The Jets also had a solid week, keeping the close battle for the final wild card spot going. They won twice and picked up points in one of their two losses. Despite below-average underlying numbers, the Jets still find themselves in the thick of the playoff race.
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 | 20
Check here for how teams have done over past weeks and stay tuned for upcoming power rankings.
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