After a brief hiatus for the holidays, the NHL is back tonight. The holiday break is a chance for teams to reset and start fresh(-ish), and as the halfway mark of the season approaches, there is still lots of movement on the TWC power rankings board.
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 11 NHL Power Rankings
| Rank | Change | Team | Team Name | Last Week | Record | TWCScore |
| 1 | – |
 |
Los Angeles Kings | 2-1-0 | 19-7-4 | 622.8 |
| 2 | +2 |
 |
New York Rangers | 2-1-0 | 23-8-1 | 606.7 |
| 3 | +4 |
 |
Dallas Stars | 3-0-0 | 20-8-4 | 602.7 |
| 4 | +4 |
 |
Vancouver Canucks | 2-0-1 | 23-9-3 | 593 |
| 5 | -3 |
 |
Vegas Golden Knights | 0-3-0 | 21-9-5 | 591.9 |
| 6 | -3 |
 |
Boston Bruins | 0-2-1 | 19-7-6 | 588.4 |
| 7 | -1 |
 |
Florida Panthers | 1-2-0 | 19-12-2 | 586.1 |
| 8 | +1 |
 |
Colorado Avalanche | 2-1-0 | 21-11-2 | 582.1 |
| 9 | -4 |
 |
Toronto Maple Leafs | 1-2-0 | 17-8-6 | 579.1 |
| 10 | – |
 |
Winnipeg Jets | 2-0-1 | 20-9-3 | 576.6 |
| 11 | – |
 |
Carolina Hurricanes | 1-1-1 | 17-13-4 | 566.8 |
| 12 | +3 |
 |
Washington Capitals | 2-0-1 | 17-9-5 | 557.3 |
| 13 | -1 |
 |
Philadelphia Flyers | 1-1-1 | 18-11-4 | 556.7 |
| 14 | -1 |
 |
New Jersey Devils | 1-1-1 | 17-13-2 | 554.5 |
| 15 | +1 |
 |
Edmonton Oilers | 2-1-0 | 15-15-1 | 544.4 |
| 16 | -2 |
 |
Nashville Predators | 1-2-0 | 19-15-0 | 544.2 |
| 17 | – |
 |
New York Islanders | 2-0-1 | 16-8-9 | 541.6 |
| 18 | +2 |
 |
Tampa Bay Lightning | 3-0-0 | 17-13-5 | 538.3 |
| 19 | -1 |
 |
Pittsburgh Penguins | 2-0-1 | 15-13-4 | 536.1 |
| 20 | -1 |
 |
Minnesota Wild | 3-1-0 | 15-13-4 | 535.8 |
| 21 | +1 |
 |
Arizona Coyotes | 2-1-0 | 17-14-2 | 518.1 |
| 22 | +4 |
 |
Seattle Kraken | 2-0-1 | 12-14-9 | 513.1 |
| 23 | – |
 |
St Louis Blues | 2-1-0 | 17-15-1 | 512.8 |
| 24 | +1 |
 |
Montreal Canadiens | 2-0-1 | 15-13-5 | 510.7 |
| 25 | -1 |
 |
Calgary Flames | 2-1-0 | 14-15-5 | 505.5 |
| 26 | -5 |
 |
Detroit Red Wings | 1-3-0 | 16-14-4 | 505.3 |
| 27 | +1 |
 |
Buffalo Sabres | 1-1-1 | 14-17-4 | 477.7 |
| 28 | -1 |
 |
Ottawa Senators | 1-2-0 | 12-17-0 | 477.4 |
| 29 | – |
 |
Columbus Blue Jackets | 1-1-1 | 11-18-6 | 453.1 |
| 30 | – |
 |
Anaheim Ducks | 1-2-0 | 12-21-0 | 434.3 |
| 31 | – |
 |
Chicago Blackhawks | 1-2-0 | 10-22-1 | 401.2 |
| 32 | – |
 |
San Jose Sharks | 0-3-0 | 9-22-3 | 384.6 |
Our number one team last week remains the same, the Los Angeles Kings. While they’re only eighth in the NHL when you sort the standings, they’re actually second overall in terms of points percentage, tied with the Vancouver Canucks but with five fewer games played. The Kings’ rise to the top of our power rankings comes on the back of top five performances in every single advanced stat we track: shot attempts, scoring chances, high-danger chances, save percentage, and even expected goals. They also sit second in goal differential at +34. The Kings are a wagon.
Outside of the Kings, the top five on the power rankings saw movement at every other spot. The New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, and Canucks all moved up this week, while the Vegas Golden Knights, Boston Bruins, and Toronto Maple Leafs who were in the top five last week fell.
The aforementioned Canucks continue to be one of the NHL’s best, second in points percentage overall and first overall in terms of points right now. As well, the Canucks are first in the NHL in goal differential at a whopping +46. This is a full 12 goals higher than the second place Kings—a truly impressive feat at this point in the season. Paced to a full 82-game season, the Canucks would finish with a goal differential of +108, which would be the second-best finish in the salary cap era.
The Detroit Red Wings were the biggest fallers this week, down five spots to 26th on the power rankings after a 1–3–0 performance. Despite adding Patrick Kane to their forward corps, the Red Wings have actually played quite poorly over the past 10 games that Kane has been in the lineup. They are underwater in every single underlying statistic, though they’ve also gotten horrid goaltending over this stretch.
On a more positive note, the Seattle Kraken join the Canucks and Stars as our biggest risers this week, up four spots. Their underlyings have improved with their record, and it might not be too late to climb back into the playoff picture in the West. They’re just three points back of the Arizona Coyotes, but the Coyotes have two games in hand.
Check back next week to see how your team is doing!
Past 2023–24 Power Rankings
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10
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