TWC NHL Power Rankings 2023–24: Week 12

While the NHL took a brief holiday break, the TWC NHL Power Rankings did not. With a few more games under our belt since the break, it’s once again time to re-evaluate each team’s power ranking.

Read on to see how your team has fared since Christmas!

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 12 NHL Power Rankings

Rank	Change	Team	Team Name	Last Week	Record	TWCScore
1	–		Los Angeles Kings	1-1-1	20-8-5	616.5
2	+1		Dallas Stars	2-1-0	22-9-4	607.1
3	-1		New York Rangers	2-1-0	25-9-1	604
4	+3		Florida Panthers	3-0-0	22-12-2	599.3
5	+1		Boston Bruins	3-0-0	22-7-6	597.3
6	+2		Colorado Avalanche	2-0-1	23-11-3	587.5
7	-2		Vegas Golden Knights	1-1-0	22-10-5	587.1
8	+2		Winnipeg Jets	2-0-1	22-9-4	586
9	-5		Vancouver Canucks	0-1-0	23-10-3	585.1
10	+1		Carolina Hurricanes	3-0-0	20-13-4	579.1
11	-2		Toronto Maple Leafs	0-2-1	17-10-7	564.6
12	+3		Edmonton Oilers	3-0-0	18-15-1	562.3
13	+1		New Jersey Devils	2-1-0	19-14-2	557.3
14	+5		Pittsburgh Penguins	3-0-0	18-13-4	554
15	-2		Philadelphia Flyers	1-1-1	19-12-5	553.2
16	–		Nashville Predators	1-1-1	20-16-1	544.7
17	-5		Washington Capitals	0-2-1	17-11-6	538
18	-1		New York Islanders	1-2-0	17-10-9	532.8
19	+2		Arizona Coyotes	2-0-0	19-14-2	532.3
20	-2		Tampa Bay Lightning	1-2-0	18-15-5	529.8
21	-1		Minnesota Wild	1-2-0	16-15-4	526.7
22	–		Seattle Kraken	2-0-0	14-14-9	524.4
23	–		St Louis Blues	1-2-0	18-17-1	506.7
24	+1		Calgary Flames	1-1-0	15-16-5	506
25	+1		Detroit Red Wings	1-2-0	17-16-4	499.6
26	-2		Montreal Canadiens	0-3-0	15-16-5	492.9
27	+1		Ottawa Senators	2-1-0	14-18-0	484.2
28	-1		Buffalo Sabres	1-2-0	15-19-4	476.1
29	–		Columbus Blue Jackets	1-0-2	12-18-8	459.8
30	–		Anaheim Ducks	1-2-0	13-23-0	429.8
31	–		Chicago Blackhawks	1-1-1	11-23-2	403.9
32	–		San Jose Sharks	0-3-0	9-25-3	373.9

Although this week was full of changes, one thing remained constant: the Los Angeles Kings. In three games since the last power ranking update, the team has gone 1–1–1, which is a pedestrian record. But, given the strength of the team’s underlying numbers, it was enough to remain atop the power rankings.

Just a few positions below first place in fourth, the Florida Panthers jumped into the top five. Propelled by a 3–0–0 record, the Panthers leapt three positions. Despite an underperforming Matthew Tkachuk, the Panthers have had another strong season so far, and could be a real threat in the playoffs.

Similarly, the Boston Bruins and Colorado Avalanche have excelled in the past week, clawing back some of the spots lost over the past few weeks. On the other hand, the Vancouver Canucks played and lost one game since the last update, costing them five places in the ranking. The Canucks’ weaker possession and scoring chance numbers cost them in the eyes of the model, despite an overall strong win-loss record.

Just above the Canucks in the rankings are the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets have been on a tear as of late, led by star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Their team save percentage of 91.4% is among the league’s best, allowing the team to thrive in the extremely competitive Central Division.

On the other hand, the Pittsburgh Penguins are one of the week’s big movers in the right direction. With three wins and zero losses on the week, the Penguins jumped five positions this week. Led by the ageless Sidney Crosby, the Pens are in the thick of the close playoff race underway in the east.

In turn, another Metro team, the Washington Capitals, fell five positions. Winless since the previous rankings, the Caps were quick to fall down the rankings given their weak underlying numbers. Without Alexander Ovechkin scoring at his usual rate, the Caps are struggling. The playoffs may not be attainable this year, even with perhaps the world’s greatest goal scorer firing pucks.

Finally, the Calgary Flames have played twice since the last ranking, tallying one win and one loss, and rising one position. As has been the case all year, the Flames are an average team in terms of underlying metrics. Jacob Markstrom has played extremely well, but it hasn’t been enough to carry the team into a comfortable position heading into the new year. It will be interesting to see if the Flames can begin to reach expectations with a similar core to last season’s disappointing team and new coach. For the time being, however, they are stuck in no man’s land between the competitive teams and the have-nots. As a result, they remain one of the league’s more intriguing teams, even if they aren’t one of the most competitive.

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 | Week 11