Lots of things have gone well for the Los Angeles Kings this season. This week, they beat Dallas, Chicago, New York, and Boston (Good combination). With Arizona at just 69 points, the Kings are guaranteed to finish in the top three in the Pacific Division, and they have therefore become the first Western Conference team to clinch a playoff spot. Maybe last season was a fluke. They have claimed #5 in the NHL Power Rankings. The Washington Capitals have also locked up a playoff spot, and the Philadelphia Flyers are beginning to make the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings sweat.
1. Washington Capitals (107 points)
Last week: 1 (103 points)
Clinching a playoff spot was basically a non-story for the Capitals. That has been a given for a while now. They may have the Presidents Trophy clinched before the Rangers, their closest division rival in the Metropolitan standings, even seal their playoff spot (assuming they do not collapse). Few teams in NHL history have been as clear-cut dominant as the Capitals, and 107 points in 70 games is insane. It was Alex Ovechkin that sealed the postseason spot with a connector in overtime from Evgeny Kuznetsov, who reached 50 assists for the season this week, to put away the Carolina Hurricanes.
2. Dallas Stars (95 points)
Last week: 3 (91 points)
Thanks to a couple slip-ups from the Blackhawks and Blues, the Stars have regained the lead in the Central Division and #2 in the NHL Power Rankings. Their thriller of the week was at home against Tampa Bay, when Stephen Johns got his first career goal and Jamie Benn scored his second goal of the game, which was the eventual game-winner, in the third period. The deciding back-hander from Benn was his team-leading 36th of the season.
3. Los Angeles Kings (93 points)
Last week: 5 (85 points)
No team was hotter this week than the LA Kings. After a tough 2014-2015, in which they missed the playoffs, the monarchy proved that it was a fluke as they try for a third title in five years (like the San Francisco Giants). They defeated Chicago, Dallas, New York, and Boston this week, so that deserves a lot of credit. Anze Kopitar continued to impress this season, with three goals, including two tip-in goals to tie and defeat the Rangers, and two assists for the week. He is currently at a fine 24 goals and 40 assists for the season.
4. St. Louis Blues (93 points)
Last week: 2 (91 points)
As the villain in “John Wick” said: “It’s not what you did, but who you did it to”. Maybe the Blues lost, but they lost to both the Flames and the Oilers. At least they looked like movie stars in Vancouver, even if their opponent was bad. With the way Jake Allen and Anders Nilsson have played lately, it is pretty clear that Brian Elliott will be the starter for St. Louis when the playoffs begin, provided that he is healthy enough to play. He was rarely threatened in his return from injury, for he shut out the Canucks with just 19 saves.
5. Chicago Blackhawks (90 points)
Last week: 4 (88 points)
Not many predicted that Chicago would be the third Central Division team to reach 90 points, especially a month ago. It should not be a stressing concern, however, as the Hawks can make a championship run from any playoff position. Andrew Ladd got a nice ovation in his return to Winnipeg, where he was captain, and scored in front of his former team. Scott Darling recorded his first shutout of the season in that game.
6. Florida Panthers (89 points)
Last week: 9 (85 points)
Their road trip this week was not the toughest ever. After losing to the Islanders, Florida cruised with two 4-1 victories over Montreal and Toronto. It is safe to say that the Panthers have escaped from the aghast caverns that are the league’s worst. Roberto Luongo has not had a dominant March by any means, but it helped to save 33 of Toronto’s 34 shots on goals for an easy win. It was the first time he gave up fewer than two goals in a March game this season.
7. Anaheim Ducks (87 points)
Last week: 5 (83 points)
After some road issues against the Central Division, the Ducks returned home and took two of three from the Eastern Conference. How did they do in those wins? How about a 7-1 beatdown on New Jersey (which had just beaten San Jose and LA handily on the road) and a 4-0 shutout against Boston? The October Ducks team must be envious. Jakob Silverberg had a hat trick against the Devils, and Frederik Andersen made 62 saves on 63 shots in the two wins this week, which included a 38-save shutout on the Bruins. Confidence booster ignited.
8. New York Rangers (88 points)
Last week: 7 (85 points)
A lot of Eastern Conference teams are making the California road trip lately, but Billy Madison is saying “You Blew It!!!” to no one as often as the Rangers this week. They had an opportunity to get their road trip off to a rocket start after a defensive victory over the Ducks and allowing just one goal to the Kings through two periods. Then Los Angeles ripped off three straight goals late to win in overtime. The Sharks added to the misery in the very next game. Games like this have allowed the Capitals to run away with the Metropolitan Division. Derek Stepan had two assists in a loss to Pittsburgh.
9. Boston Bruins (86 points)
Last week: 6 (86 points)
After an impressive win against the Islanders, the Bruins embarked to California and probably want to go home immediately. After blowing a lead to the Sharks, they had nothing positive to show in Anaheim or LA. The Bruins have some work to do if they want to win the Atlantic Division. David Krejci had a goal and an assist against the Sharks, and David Pastrnak added an assist as well. Unfortunately, the B’s were held scoreless in six straight periods.
10. Tampa Bay Lightning (87 points)
Last week: 10 (83 points)
Is Tampa Bay just another team? They do not seem flashy, especially compared to the Panthers and Bruins. They had problems on the road this week. After shutting out Columbus, the Lightning took bad losses to both Toronto and Dallas. A shutout win over Arizona, however, helped them jump the Bruins in the Atlantic Division. Ben Bishop saved 37 shots and got the shutout over the Blue Jackets. Then he got another shutout, his fifth of the season, in Glendale.
11. New York Islanders (85 points)
Last week: 11 (82 points)
The Brooklynites are beginning to level out. Their performance has not been staggering, but they at least got a win over Florida before getting just one point against Pittsburgh, Nashville, and Dallas. Kyle Okposo helped secure a point in Pittsburgh, and that was after he sparked a furious rally (with another goal) to shut down the Panthers.
12. San Jose Sharks (86 points)
Last week: 13 (82 points)
Losing in Glendale was bad, but the Sharks clamped down on the Eastern Conference. After a huge victory over the Capitals, they followed it up with a comeback win over Boston and a third-period goal fest against the Rangers. Joel Ward had two goals in the win over New York.
13. Pittsburgh Penguins (86 points)
Last week: 15 (78 points)
The Flyers grabbed attention with their sudden entrance into the playoff picture, but it was Pittsburgh that shut them down at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday. So much for not having Evgeni Malkin. The Penguins have not lost a game since he got injured last Friday. Sidney Crosby has amped up his game with Malkin’s absence, scoring three goals, including two against Carolina, and getting four assists over the past four games.
14. Detroit Red Wings (83 points)
Last week: 12 (79 points)
After losing to Toronto and Philadelphia, the Wings have been trailing the Flyers for the final postseason spot. They have since responded with much needed wins over the Blue Jackets and the Panthers to regain their spot in the playoffs. Dylan Larkin had been a major disappointment lately, scoring just two goals since February 6. He scored in Sunrise to tie the game in the third period and spark in game-winning rally.
15. Nashville Predators (85 points)
Last week: 14 (81 points)
As long as Nashville does not lose too often, making the playoffs should not be an issue. Their only loss was in Washington, but they also need to play in Dallas twice before the season ends. At least they have some breathing room. James Neal got a hat trick in Nashville’s win over Edmonton, and he added another goal to help beat the Islanders.
16. Philadelphia Flyers (80 points)
Last week: 16 (76 points)
After beating Detroit, whom they temporarily passed in the wild card standings, and Chicago this week, the Flyers had the chance to cap off a huge week. Unfortunately, the Penguins had no problems helping their own playoff chances, and the Flyers are still on the outside looking in for now. Michael Raffl has become an unsung hero in the City of Brotherly Love. He only has 12 goals this season, but he had two in the pivotal win over the Red Wings.
17. Colorado Avalanche (78 points)
Last week: 18 (74 points)
After losing to Winnipeg, the Avalanche have recovered and kept pace with the Wild for the final wild card spot. Semyon Varlamov’s save percentage has not finished below 90% in any of his last five starts, including a huge shootout win in Calgary. That trend may have to continue if Colorado wants to play beyond April 9.
18. Minnesota Wild (77 points)
Last week: 17 (74 points)
After a solid win over Montreal, the Wild road trip went south, literally and figuratively. After Erik Karlsson finished them off in overtime in a game they had in the bag late in the third period, Minnesota surrendered seven goals to New Jersey, the worst offense in the league. At least they salvaged a shootout win over Carolina in their return home. Charlie Coyle extended his point streak to four and had a shootout goal against the Hurricanes, and Jason Zucker got his 12th goal of the season.
19. Carolina Hurricanes (76 points)
Last week: 19 (74 points)
The Hurricanes have overachieved this season, but they still take a backseat compared to other teams looking for a playoff push (such as Philly). It did not help that they failed to get a win this week, but they at least played extra time twice. Riley Nash had a spike in goals to begin 2016, but his goal against Pittsburgh on Thursday was his first since February 18.
20. Ottawa Senators (76 points)
Last week: 20 (72 points)
After beating the Maple Leafs down last week, they took their frustrations out on their other Canadian rival: the Canadiens. Andrew Hammond had as good of a first impression in the NHL last year as one could have (20-1!!), and that was key to bring to Senators to the playoffs. This season has been a challenge for both him and Ottawa, but after another Hamburgler shutout, could the April hype return to the Canadian capital in time?
21. New Jersey Devils (75 points)
Last week: 21 (73 points)
From bad to worse. While they did get seven goals on the Wild, their defense has been atrocious. Having Corey Schneider is not helpful, but they Devils have given up at least four goals in their last three games, including seven at Anaheim and six at Columbus. Devante Smith-Pelly has found a home in New Jersey. He has scored six goals since being traded from Montreal, and he scored two goals on Minnesota.
22. Montreal Canadiens (72 points)
Last week: 22 (70 points)
We will see if keeping Michel Therrien will be a good decision, but it certainly will not save the Canadiens this season. Their last two victories were against the Sabres, but they have scored just two goals in their last three losses. Not good. After beating the second period buzzer with his fifth goal of the season, Andrei Markov was fortunate that his 10-minute misconduct penalty was followed by a Paul Byron overtime goal 17 seconds later to win in Buffalo.
23. Arizona Coyotes (69 points)
Last week: 25 (67 points)
The Coyotes actually had a three-game winning streak before Tampa Bay shut them out, so they still are trending in the right direction. It probably will not be enough to make the playoffs, however. Trading for Alex Tanguay has worked wonders for Antoine Vermette. In wins against Calgary, Edmonton, and San Jose, Vermette racked up four goals and two assists. The duo Tanguay and Vermette, along with Maxi Domi and Anthony Duclair, should be interesting to watch next season.
24. Buffalo Sabres (68 points)
Last week: 26 (65 points)
The Sabres, like the Coyotes, should be another interesting team to watch next season. They are slowly beginning to separate themselves from the bottom of the league. It did not help, however, that they were crushed in Toronto on Saturday. Jack Eichel may be the guy that brings the fans to the arena, but Sam Reinhart has joined him in the 20-goal category after scoring against Ottawa on Friday.
25. Vancouver Canucks (66 points)
Last week: 23 (66 points)
The Canucks were hilariously bad this week. They scored just three goals this week and were shut out twice in a row (to Edmonton and St. Louis). When does the front office pull the plug and start over? Ryan Miller can only do so much when he faces 50 shots on goals against a Blues team that is thinking about playoff success. Meanwhile, nobody knows what his teammates, especially his injury-riddled defense, was thinking giving up that many shots while the offense could only get 19.
26. Columbus Blue Jackets (66 points)
Last week: 24 (64 points)
They had been lifeless this week, but they came out firing against New Jersey on Saturday. They ripped off six goals after getting half as many in their last three losses. After making his NHL debut on Thursday, Oliver Bjorkstrand made his presence known by scoring his first two NHL goals in the win over the Devils. The Danish right winger was Columbus’s third round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft.
27. Calgary Flames (66 points)
Last week: 28 (61 points)
It would hurt. It would be really painful for the Flames to finish behind their provincial rivals this season. So they turned things up this week with convincing wins over St. Louis and Winnipeg, with their offense being the usual reason for the success. They one point from the shootout loss to Colorado is the difference between them and Edmonton’s 65 points in the Pacific Division. Michael Frolik had one of those magical weeks. In two games in front of the home crowd, he scored a hat trick (on the Blues) and followed it up with a goal and two assists (on the Jets). He may not be the star in Calgary, but he could see a spike in jersey sales.
28. Edmonton Oilers (65 points)
Last week: 27 (61 points)
After Sunday’s game against Colorado, the Oilers only have Pacific Division teams remaining on their schedule. It would be more suspenseful if they were in the playoff picture. Cam Talbot dominated against one of those divisional teams, the Canucks, on Friday. He shut them out with a 40-save night. Maybe the Oilers finally have a respectable goalie.
29. Winnipeg Jets (63 points)
Last week: 29 (61 points)
Winnipeg had no problems taking care of the floundering Canucks, but their blowout losses to Calgary and Chicago was pretty much a plea to move on to next season. They currently have the fewest point of any Western Conference team, which is certainly not desirable considering they were just in the postseason last year. Marko Dano, the main return from the Andrew Ladd trade, may have found a home in Winnipeg. He shredded Vancouver with two goals and an assist on Monday.
30. Toronto Maple Leafs (61 points)
Last week: 30 (55 points)
While others are mad because they do not want the Oilers getting the #1 pick again, the Maple Leafs can rejoice knowing that they may have something cooking in the Air Canada Centre. Milan Michalek used a toe drag to net his first goal as a Maple Leaf in the win over Buffalo.