Another week of rankings . . .
#31 Ottawa Senators (19-28-5, -35, LW: 29)
#30 Anaheim Ducks (21-23-9, -44, LW: 30)
#29 Edmonton Oilers (23-24-5, -21, LW: 27)
#28 Los Angeles Kings (21-27-4, -37, LW: 26)
#27 New York Rangers (22-22-8, -27, LW: 20)
#26 New Jersey Devils (20-24-7, -21, LW: 25)
#25 Chicago Blackhawks (20-24-9, -29, LW: 31)
#24 Detroit Red Wings (21-25-7, -24, LW: 28)
There is hope in Hockeytown, USA after all!! Rebuilds are inevitable, but the Red Wings are starting to look like they are starting to flatten out that climb. It’s a shame that Dylan Larkin is going to miss the next couple of weeks. Part of being a fan is enjoying a young team grow and develop.
#23 Arizona Coyotes (23-24-5, -12, LW: 16)
#22 Colorado Avalanche (22-21-8, +3, LW: 24)
#21 Buffalo Sabres (25-20-6, -8, LW: 22)
#20 Columbus Blue Jackets (28-20-3, +4, LW: 8)
#19 Florida Panthers (21-21-8, -19, LW: 23)
#18 Vancouver Canucks (24-23-6, -11, LW: 19)
#17 Minnesota Wild (26-22-4, -3, LW: 10)
#16 Vegas Golden Knights (29-21-4, +12, LW: 11)
#15 St. Louis Blues (23-22-5, -8, LW: 14)
#14 Carolina Hurricanes (25-21-6, -7, LW: 13)
#13 Washington Capitals (28-18-6, +9, LW: 21)
#12 Boston Bruins (28-17-7, +14, LW: 12)
#11 Philadelphia Flyers (24-23-6, -24, LW: 17)
#10 Pittsburgh Penguins (28-18-6, +23, LW: 15)
#9 Montreal Canadiens (29-18-6, +5, LW: 9)
#8 San Jose Sharks (30-16-7, +21, LW: 7)
#7 Nashville Predators (31-19-4, +27, LW: 6)
A so-so run since the holidays have the Predators four points out of first with the Jets having two games in hand. Dropping three in a row at Bridgestone Arena is putting the Predators in a tougher spot in an attempt to win the division. Fortunately for them they have a 10-point lead for the first wild-card spot even if they should slip out of their perch in the division standings, but stumbling into the playoffs is not an ideal way to go.
#6 Dallas Stars (28-21-4, +4, LW: 18)
#5 New York Islanders (30-15-6, +26, LW: 3)
#4 Toronto Maple Leafs (32-17-3, +39, LW: 5)
Just 7-7-1 since Christmas, the Leafs are slowly watching a once safe lead for home ice in the first round slip away. Part of the struggles are from young sensation Auston Matthews, who had just one goal in the previous 11 games before a three game streak seemed to has snapped him out of it, and John Tavares, who has been held pointless in seven of the last 14. These two both need to get back to their All-Star form if Toronto looks to make any progress past the first round.
#3 Winnipeg Jets (34-16-2, +39, LW: 4)
#2 Calgary Flames (34-14-5, +45, LW: 2)
#1 Tampa Bay Lightning (39-11-2, +59, LW: 1)