The NHL Playoffs are coming up quickly, and a few key races have still yet to be decided. Which teams are fighting for positioning and which ones are fighting for their lives? Our TWC NHL Power Rankings help differentiate those races in Week 22.
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 | +1 |
 |
Carolina Hurricanes | 3-1-0 | 42-20-6 | 774.2 |
| 2 | +3 |
 |
Colorado Avalanche | 3-0-0 | 43-20-5 | 769.4 |
| 3 | -2 |
 |
Florida Panthers | 1-2-0 | 45-19-4 | 766.8 |
| 4 | -1 |
 |
Edmonton Oilers | 1-0-1 | 40-21-4 | 764.7 |
| 5 | -1 |
 |
Dallas Stars | 1-2-0 | 41-19-9 | 751.5 |
| 6 | +3 |
 |
New York Rangers | 4-1-0 | 45-19-4 | 744.5 |
| 7 | – |
 |
Boston Bruins | 2-1-0 | 40-14-15 | 742.5 |
| 8 | – |
 |
Nashville Predators | 2-0-0 | 39-25-4 | 741.8 |
| 9 | -3 |
 |
Vancouver Canucks | 0-1-1 | 42-18-8 | 739 |
| 10 | – |
 |
Toronto Maple Leafs | 1-0-1 | 38-19-9 | 724.1 |
| 11 | – |
 |
Winnipeg Jets | 3-1-0 | 43-19-5 | 722.4 |
| 12 | – |
 |
Los Angeles Kings | 2-2-0 | 34-22-11 | 691 |
| 13 | +1 |
 |
Tampa Bay Lightning | 2-0-0 | 36-25-6 | 689 |
| 14 | +5 |
 |
Minnesota Wild | 2-0-1 | 33-27-8 | 675.8 |
| 15 | +5 |
 |
Vegas Golden Knights | 2-1-0 | 36-24-7 | 669.4 |
| 16 | -3 |
 |
New York Islanders | 1-3-1 | 29-23-15 | 667.4 |
| 17 | -1 |
 |
Philadelphia Flyers | 1-2-0 | 34-26-8 | 662.2 |
| 18 | -3 |
 |
Washington Capitals | 2-2-0 | 32-25-9 | 657.8 |
| 19 | -1 |
 |
Calgary Flames | 2-1-0 | 33-29-5 | 656.4 |
| 20 | +1 |
 |
Pittsburgh Penguins | 2-1-1 | 30-28-9 | 651.5 |
| 21 | -4 |
 |
Seattle Kraken | 0-2-1 | 28-26-12 | 647.7 |
| 22 | +1 |
 |
Buffalo Sabres | 2-1-0 | 32-31-5 | 639.6 |
| 23 | +3 |
 |
St Louis Blues | 4-0-0 | 36-29-3 | 637.8 |
| 24 | -2 |
 |
New Jersey Devils | 1-3-0 | 32-32-4 | 631.8 |
| 25 | – |
 |
Ottawa Senators | 3-1-0 | 28-34-4 | 612.3 |
| 26 | +2 |
 |
Arizona Coyotes | 2-1-0 | 28-35-5 | 598.9 |
| 27 | -3 |
 |
Detroit Red Wings | 1-3-0 | 34-28-6 | 593.9 |
| 28 | +1 |
 |
Montreal Canadiens | 1-1-1 | 25-31-11 | 586.8 |
| 29 | -2 |
 |
Columbus Blue Jackets | 1-2-1 | 23-34-11 | 581.6 |
| 30 | +1 |
 |
Chicago Blackhawks | 2-1-0 | 19-44-5 | 532.2 |
| 31 | -1 |
 |
Anaheim Ducks | 0-5-0 | 23-42-3 | 513.1 |
| 32 | – |
 |
San Jose Sharks | 0-4-0 | 16-44-7 | 480 |
The reign is over. After weeks of the Florida Panthers being at the top of the TWC rankings, they were finally taken over. The Carolina Hurricanes used a 3–1–0 week to jump into the number one overall position this week. The team is 8–2–0 over their last ten games and further boosted their ranks with the trade deadline acquisitions of Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov. They are just four points behind the New York Rangers for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division with plenty of runways left.
Speaking of the Rangers they had one of the busier weeks last week with five games in their schedule. They were near perfect, with a 4–1–0 record, and continue to be one of the best teams in the NHL.
The Colorado Avalanche jumped three spots into the second overall spot this week after adding three more wins to their six-game win streak. The team is in a three-way tie for first in the Central Division with the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars, which will be one of the best races the rest of the season. Surely Nathan MacKinnon has helped solidify his Hart Trophy candidacy?
The Vancouver Canucks had one of the worst weeks after going 0–11 in their two games played. The team has stalled a little bit in the last while, and although they still have an eight-point lead in the Pacific, the Edmonton Oilers are hot on their tails. Can they keep their number one spot?
The Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights were the best-performing teams on the TWC rankings last week after both jumping five spots. A combined 4–1–1 record between them keeps them both fighting for the final wild-card position in the West. Could the Golden Knights fall out of the race if the Wild can catch them? A few other teams could impact that race as well, like the St. Louis Blues who won four straight games last week.
The biggest losers were the Seattle Kraken who went 0–2–1 and have completely fallen out of the playoff race. Not the best third year in Seattle.
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 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14 | Week 15 | Week 16 | Week 17 | Week 18 | Week 19 | Week 20 | Week 21
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