Feb 86 min read

NHL Power Rankings 2/8

Last PR drop: January 10th

The 32 squads are done with the intermission and are back for the final stretch of the campaign. Which means it's time to drop the new power rankings post All-Star break. It's been just about a month since the last drop, so you already know cases have changed and the rankings have been altered. A new top dawg, a ferocious climb, and two teams inside the top ten for the first time on their campaign. Time to start the fastbreak.

Record since last drop: 7-1-0

Current Streak: W3

Notable wins: @ PHI, vs LAK

Lightning are strikin' havoc of late! Tampa Bay now sits third in the Atlantic and 5th in the Eastern Conference standings. Bolts had won eight of their last ten contest going into the All-Star break and look to continue their heatwave with action returning to the ice tonight. Nikita Kucherov has been a driving force for the Lightning as he continues to be a favorite for the Hart Trophy (MVP). If he continues to shred the ice, those around him will continue to elevate, which will keep the Bolts deliverin' winning energy. Winning won't be easy in February as they face a 4-game road trip off the start and play the best of the best for most of the month. Giddy up.

Next up: @ NYR; @ NYI; @ CBJ; @ BOS; vs COL; vs FLA

Record since last drop: 7-3-1

Current Streak: W1

Notable wins: @ NYR, vs EDM, vs BOS

It's been the same story for Vegas. Up and down. Winning and losing. Spurts of each. That all continued in January, but fortunately, most of it was winning going into the All-Star break for the Knights. Winning against top teams too. They slide down a spot in the top ten, but can use a two week span in February to jump back up the ladder. So, nothing too concerning right now despite the slide down. They just need to lose the rollercoaster vibes and stay consistent in the winning column. Losing here and there is figured, but VGK needs to avoid losing spurts. Vegas won a big one in the first game back from intermission to spoil the Oilers from making history. Vegas has a light slate of comp' in February they must take advantage of. Look for them to climb back up by March.

Next up: @ ARI; vs MIN; vs CAR; @ SJS; vs NSH; vs TOR

Record since last drop: 8-1-0

Current Streak: L1

Notable wins: @ DET, vs TOR

Oilers came oh-so-close to breaking NHL history. Edmonton's 16-game winnin' streak was snapped last night by the Golden Knights. Spoiled just one win away from tying the NHL's record for longest winning streak. What a streak it was as the Oilers used it to MASSIVELY jump my power rankings. The first two drops of the season saw the Oilers in the bottom five, now they reach the top eight. What a springboard. What a turnaround. McDavid is back to being the game's biggest playmaker and the cats around him are takin' in his energy and producing along with him. Great times in Edmonton right now. Lets see if they can continue this winning wave going into the final stretch.

Next up: @ ANA; @ LAK; vs DET; @ STL; @ DAL; @ ARI

Record since last drop: 5-5-1

Current Streak: W2

Notable wins: vs COL

Rangers started to ride the slopes going into the All-Star break as they lost 8 of their last 11 games going into the intermission. They stay in the top seven by a thread. A good note: New York finished the month of January off better than how they started. More losses piled up, but they weren't giving up 4+ goals in every game like the start of the month. They need Igor Shesterkin to snap out of this slump of his in the net. Quick has been real solid, but Igor is killing the Rangers of late. The lackluster defense isn't helping. New York needs to make the right adjustments as they try and stay in the top three of the Eastern Conference standings.

Next up: vs TBL; @ CHI; vs CGY; vs MTL; vs NYI (Stadium Series - NJ)

Record since last drop: 3-4-1

Current Streak: L4

Notable wins: N/A

After claiming the top spot on the last drop, the Jets have faced some issues in the air and fall back to the 6-spot in my ranks. Winnipeg has lost four in a row and five of their last seven after winning eight games in a row. Hopefully they didn't use up all of their winning ingredients! The front office traded for center Sean Monahan to come in and help aid the brutal power-play and special teams. A nice addition with star forward Kyle Connor returning from the shelf soon. Jets look to stop the losing as they fight strong in a bloodbath atop the Western Conference.

Next up: @ PHI; vs PIT; vs SJS; @ VAN; @ CGY; vs MIN

Record since last drop: 8-2-1

Current Streak: W4

Notable wins: @ DET

Dallas is back in the top five of my PRs as they use a strong stretch of winning to catapult them to the 2-spot atop the Western Conference. Dallas is gettin' consistent production from Jake Oettinger in the net and are winning a slew of close games. Stars look to continue to be stout on the road as they travel in eight of their next ten games. The fight atop the Central with the Avs is quite the storyline as we return from the intermission.

Next up: @ TOR; @ MTL; vs CAR; @ NSH; vs EDM; @ BOS

Record since last drop: 6-3-1

Current Streak: L2

Notable wins: vs VGK (shutout)

Avs stay true in the top five, but have the Stars breathin' down their back both in my rankings, and atop the Central division. Colorado might occasionally still enjoy slope play, but they are winnin' more than they are losing of late. Against a tough slate of road comp'. Colorado continues to be lights out at home, however. They are 20-5-0 inside Ball Arena and have won four straight with dubs over the Bruins and the Golden Knights. It's playin' on the road that causes some difficulties for the Avs. They have lost two in a row to start their six-game road trip... they better figure out some ways to win on the road and quickly.

Next up: @ CAR; @ FLA; @ WAS; @ TBL; vs ARI; vs VAN

Record since last drop: 5-3-2

Current Streak: L1

Notable wins: vs LAK (shootout)

Panthers followed up their 9-game winning streak with a 4-L skid just to win another 4 in a row after that. Despite that small hiccup, they continue to be one of the more feared teams in hockey as they sit in the 2-spot atop the Eastern Conference. I labeled this team the "most feared" team headin' into the final stretch of the season... time to see if they prove me right.

Next up: vs WAS; vs COL; @ PIT; @ BUF; @ TBL; vs OTT

Record since last drop: 7-2-1

Current Streak: L1

Notable wins: vs COL, vs WPG, @ PHI

Bruins refuse to lose their top spot atop the Eastern Conference as they continue to glide above the rest of the pact. After a slight drop down in the last PR drop, the Bruins began their climb back into the top two with the grand number 1 in their crosshairs. Boston is looking to return to their dominant winning ways, but have rough waters ahead with a difficult slate of comp' in February. Can they reclaim the top spot? They have two February meetings with the Canucks in attempt to answer that question.

Next up: vs VAN; vs WAS; vs TBL; vs SEA; vs VGK; vs DAL

Record since last drop: 7-0-2

Current Streak: W2

Notable wins: @ CAR, @ BUF (shutout)

Vancouver reclaims the top spot as they are the current President in the standings with the final stretch now upon us. Canucks have two shutouts on their case for this PR drop and continue to be the most dominant offense. They bolstered that offense even more by acquiring Elias Lindholm from Calgary. Lindholm scored two goals in his Canucks debut, last night. Canucks just got even better... they may decide to keep the top seat for some time moving forward. They have a long road-trip next to conquer if they want to start their comfortable driving.

Next up: @ BOS; @ DET; @ WAS; @ CHI; vs DET; vs WPG

NHL Power Rankings 2/8

11-32:

Biggest Risers & Decliners:

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