The first month of hockey has come and gone and there was no shortage of outright dominant teams, surprise runs, and massive tumbles. Now heading into November, where do teams stack up in The Win Column’s power rankings? Let’s take a look.
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 3 NHL Power Rankings
| Rank | Change | Team | Team Name | Last Week | Record | TWCScore |
| 1 | – |
 |
Boston Bruins | 2-1-0 | 9-1-1 | 668.5 |
| 2 | – |
 |
Vegas Golden Knights | 3-1-0 | 11-1-1 | 659.6 |
| 3 | +4 |
 |
Los Angeles Kings | 3-0-0 | 7-2-2 | 646 |
| 4 | – |
 |
Dallas Stars | 3-1-0 | 7-2-1 | 628.5 |
| 5 | -2 |
 |
Colorado Avalanche | 1-1-0 | 7-3-0 | 618 |
| 6 | – |
 |
New Jersey Devils | 2-1-0 | 7-3-1 | 617.2 |
| 7 | -2 |
 |
New York Rangers | 2-0-1 | 8-2-1 | 609.6 |
| 8 | +1 |
 |
Vancouver Canucks | 3-0-0 | 8-2-1 | 606.1 |
| 9 | +3 |
 |
Carolina Hurricanes | 2-1-0 | 7-5-0 | 567.2 |
| 10 | – |
 |
Tampa Bay Lightning | 1-1-1 | 5-3-3 | 561.5 |
| 11 | +3 |
 |
Florida Panthers | 1-1-1 | 5-4-1 | 558.8 |
| 12 | +1 |
 |
New York Islanders | 1-0-2 | 5-2-3 | 553.7 |
| 13 | +3 |
 |
Winnipeg Jets | 1-1-1 | 5-4-2 | 550.9 |
| 14 | +3 |
 |
Detroit Red Wings | 2-1-0 | 7-4-1 | 544.9 |
| 15 | +7 |
 |
Anaheim Ducks | 3-0-0 | 7-4-0 | 535.5 |
| 16 | +2 |
 |
Washington Capitals | 1-1-0 | 5-4-1 | 535.5 |
| 17 | -9 |
 |
Toronto Maple Leafs | 0-2-1 | 5-4-2 | 529.9 |
| 18 | -7 |
 |
Montreal Canadiens | 0-2-1 | 5-4-2 | 516.4 |
| 19 | +7 |
 |
Arizona Coyotes | 2-1-1 | 5-5-1 | 514.3 |
| 20 | -5 |
 |
Philadelphia Flyers | 1-3-0 | 5-6-1 | 513.4 |
| 21 | -2 |
 |
Nashville Predators | 1-2-0 | 5-6-0 | 509 |
| 22 | +2 |
 |
St Louis Blues | 2-1-0 | 5-4-1 | 504.3 |
| 23 | +2 |
 |
Pittsburgh Penguins | 1-1-0 | 4-6-0 | 498.4 |
| 24 | -1 |
 |
Minnesota Wild | 1-1-0 | 4-5-2 | 496.7 |
| 25 | +2 |
 |
Buffalo Sabres | 2-1-0 | 6-6-0 | 490.8 |
| 26 | -5 |
 |
Columbus Blue Jackets | 1-2-0 | 4-5-2 | 478.1 |
| 27 | +2 |
 |
Seattle Kraken | 2-1-0 | 4-6-2 | 472.2 |
| 28 | -8 |
 |
Ottawa Senators | 0-2-0 | 4-6-0 | 463.8 |
| 29 | +2 |
 |
Calgary Flames | 1-1-0 | 3-7-1 | 442.9 |
| 30 | -2 |
 |
Edmonton Oilers | 0-2-0 | 2-7-1 | 437.8 |
| 31 | -1 |
 |
Chicago Blackhawks | 1-2-0 | 4-7-0 | 413.7 |
| 32 | – |
 |
San Jose Sharks | 0-2-0 | 0-10-1 | 269.9 |
We are starting to see some clear tiers forming in the rankings. The Boston Bruins have held the crown for the second week in a row, after going 2–1–0 this week. Despite losing Patrice Bergeron in the summer, the Bruins have only lost one game this season and look to be an early favourite for the Stanley Cup.
Right behind them remain the Vegas Golden Knights, who have also just lost their first game in regulation on Sunday night. The model pushes Boston over Vegas this week as the Bruins’ underlying numbers, particularly their high-danger scoring chances percentage is substantially higher than the Golden Knights’, but that said both teams have looked very impressive to start the season.
This week’s biggest risers were the Anaheim Ducks and Arizona Coyotes, who went a respective 3–0–0 and 2–1–1. Anaheim jumped up to 15th while Arizona pushed up to 19th. Both teams are similar in that they are in the midst of a rebuild but are inching closer to being competitive with their young talent. Arizona got a lot more from their depth players this week in particular, with Matias Maccelli and Jack McBain leading the way for the Coyotes.
On the flip side, it was a very forgettable week for the Toronto Maple Leafs who dropped nine spots this week—yikes! Auston Matthews and company went a brutal 0–2–1 in their three games this week, dropping games to the Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, and Buffalo Sabres. While all three are good teams, the Leafs needed to show more fight in all three games, particularly after Brad Marchand levelled Leafs blueliner Timothy Liljegren, who has been placed on LTIR. There was no call on the play, but also no response from the Leafs either on the ice or toward Marchand himself in the game.
The Flames saw an improvement, moving up two spots after a big win over the Seattle Kraken. On the back of numerous rookies, Calgary took a step forward after what has been a very forgettable start to the season.
Unsurprisingly, the San Jose Sharks remain at the bottom of the league by some distance. They became the first team to suffer back-to-back 10-goal losses since the 1960s and are looking like one of the worst NHL squads assembled in recent memories. They should be heavy favourites to win the draft lottery this spring. Hopefully, they pick up their first win before then.
Check back in next week to see where your team lands after week five!
Past 2023–24 Power Rankings
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