Wallsy’s Weekly NHL Power Rankings: Week One

The NHL season has kicked off and the first week is in the books. At this point we probably do not have enough to go on. One thing is for sure, Rivalries are going to be great this year. The Eastern Division is a going to be a bloodbath with one or two really good hockey clubs missing the playoffs. Tampa Bay is still Tampa Bay. Colorado or Vegas in the West? The North is wide open with all Canada has to offer battling it out.

Think I’m wrong? Let me know in the comments. Who should be higher and who should be lower? This first week is always hardest to rank.

1. Tampa Bay Lightning  ~2-0-0 4pts 10GF 3GA +7~
   Steven Stamkos had a big start to the season with 5pts as the Lightning took down the Blackhawks twice with ease. Offensive depth, great defense, great goalie. This team has it all, no reason to move them down until they make me. Next up: A big lay-off leading into a two gamer at Columbus starting Thursday.
2. Colorado Avalanche ~1-1-0 2pts 9GF 4GA +5~
   Colorado split games against the Blues and their offensive machine emerged on Friday as they blew out St. Louis 8-0. Nathan MacKinnon is a superstar, and this team has a chance to make some noise. Next up: Two gamer in Los Angeles and a two gamer at Anaheim.
3. Las Vegas Golden Knights ~3-0-0 6pts 11GF 5GA +6~
   Vegas took both games against Anaheim  and with the second going to overtime. Mark stone lead the way with 5pts while Max Pacioretty added three goals in the first three games. This team should be there deep in the playoffs.  Next up: Home and Away games vs Arizona.
4. Philadelphia Flyers ~2-1-0 4pts 12GF 11GA +1~
   A lot of people do not know what to make of Philly. Was last year a product of a late-season hot streak or are they the real deal? Two wins against their bitter rival went a long way in proving they are legitimate. The Flyers are deep on offense and they showed that against the Penguins as they scored 11 goals. They haven’t played their best though and that caught up to them after getting Dummied by the Sabres 6-1. Next up: Two home games vs Buffalo and two games at Boston.
5. Washington Capitals ~2-0-1 5pts 11GF 9GA +2~
   Washington opened with two wins against buffalo and dropping a game in the shootout against rival Pittsburgh. The usual suspects Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin lead the team with 4 points apiece. New coach Peter Laviolette has a history of getting the most out of his teams immediately, Capitals should be in it this season. Next up: Another game at Pittsburgh and the third match vs Buffalo.
6. St. Louis Blues ~2-1-0 4pts 9GF 13GA -4~
   The blues split games with Colorado and despite getting patty wacked 8-0 in the second. They took care of business against San Jose last night. I think they’ll be a player all season. Next up: Two home games, against the sharks and LA.
7. Toronto Maple Leafs ~3-1-0 6pts 14GF 12GA +2~
   John Tavares led the way with 5pts while Toronto beat Montreal in OT and split games against the senators. They beat Winnipeg last night to go 3-1. Next up: Two vs Edmonton.
8. NY Islanders ~2-1-0 4pts 5GF 5GA Even~
   New York traded shut-outs with…New York. Anders Lee had a couple of goals. They beat the Bruins last night. The Islanders might be the most underrated team in the league. They are deep and well-coached. Next up: A game against the Devils later in the week.
9. Boston Bruins ~1-1-1 3pts 4GF 5GA -1~
   A shoot-out win and an overtime loss were the results as the Bruins struggled against a lesser opponent. They followed that up with a shutout loss at the hands of the Islanders. Maybe they should be ranked higher as they lead the league in points last year but count me among the people that think the Bruins might be trending downward. Next up: Two home games vs Philly.
10. Montreal Canadiens ~2-0-1 5pts 12GF 7GA +5~
    Jeff Petry led the team with 5pts, while Tomas Tatar scored three. After losing in overtime to the leafs, The Habs bounced back with two big wins over the Oilers. Next up: Three away games at Vancouver.
11. Pittsburgh Penguins ~1-2-0 2pts 9GF 14GA -6~
    Pittsburgh played well against the Flyers but couldn’t stop Philly’s timely scoring and ability to finish. They saved face with a win against Washington in their version of rivalry week. Next up: A continuation of Rivalry week with one more against Washington and a date with the Rangers.
12. Carolina Hurricanes ~2-1-0 4pts 9GF 6GA +3~
    The Canes split games with Detroit while Andrei Svechnikov had a couple of goals. The Hurricanes are a better team than Detroit and will look to have a better week. They started that with a win over Nashville. Next up: A game at Nashville and two vs Florida.
13. Minnesota Wild ~2-1-0 4pts 8GF 7GA +1~
    Kirill Kaprizov led the way with 4pts as the wild took down the Kings in overtime twice. Next up: A game at Anaheim and a game against San Jose.
14. Nashville Predators (2-1-0 4pts 10GF 7GA +3)
    Filip Forsberg and Luke Kunin both netted two goals as the Predators won both games against the Jackets. A loss to Carolina followed.  Next up: A game against the Hurricanes and a game against Dallas.
15. Calgary Flames ~2-0-1 5pts 11GF 6GA +5~
    Matthew Tkachuk led the way with 2 goals as Calgary lost in overtime to the Jets and then shutout Vancouver. Vancouver couldn’t put out the Flames with another win Monday. Next up: A week off?
16. Edmonton Oilers ~1-3-0 2pts 10GF 15GA -5~
    Split games with Vancouver and got a wake up call losing back to back games to Montreal. Maybe they should be lower, but they do have two of the best players in the world. This top-heavy line-up will rely on its two superstars. If they don’t start winning they will plummet down this ranking. They’re lucky to be in the top 20. If they don’t get it together soon, the Oilers should have to drop down into the AHL. It’s offensive how many opportunities they have had. How many first overall picks does it take to be a contender? Oilers fans must be sharpening their pitchforks. Next up: Two games at Toronto.
17. New York Rangers ~1-1-0 2pts 5GF 4GA +1~
    A team that I think will climb up this list split games against a tough Islanders team. Artemi Panarin already tossed in two goals, the Rangers have sneaky firepower. Unfortunately for them, they play in the toughest division in hockey. A really good team will miss the playoffs in the Eastern Division. Next up: A game vs Devils and a game at Pittsburgh.
18. Winnipeg Jets ~1-1-0 2pts 5GF 6GA +1~
    Patrik Laine scored twice in a win over Calgary. They followed up with a loss to Toronto. The Jets are deep, and I have no idea how I have them this low in the rankings. They will prove me wrong. Next up: Two games at Ottawa, and one game vs Ottawa.
19. Vancouver Canucks~1-3-0 2pts 9GF 16GA -7~
    The Canucks split games against Edmonton and then got engulfed by Flames… Twice. Next Up: Three straight home games against the Habs.
20. Arizona Coyotes ~1-1-1 3pts 10GF 11GA -1~
    The Coyotes split games with the sharks with their loss coming in a shootout. Phil Kessel had a big week scoring 3 goals. Arizona dropped their first to Vegas. Another team that falls in the category of mysterious teams that I have no idea what to expect from. Next up: Two more vs  powerhouse Golden Knights.
21. Florida Panthers ~1-0-0 2pts 5GF 2GA +3~
    Jonathan Huberdeau had three points in the Panthers only game so far, a win over the lowly Blackhawks. Not much was learned about this team. Next up: Chicago again followed by two games at Carolina.
22. Columbus Blue Jackets ~1-2-0 2pts 6GF 10GA -4~
    Columbus was thrashed by the Predators losing two games and uncharacteristically having defensive issues letting up eight goals total. They beat the Red Wings. Next up: Another winnable game against the Red Wings and two prayers against vs Lightning.
23. Buffalo Sabres ~1-2-0 2pts 11GF 9GA +2~
    Buffalo is in a real pinch; they will have to shock everyone to make the playoffs in the juggernaut Eastern Division and they already dropped two against Washington despite solid play from newcomer Taylor Hall 3 points. They did tear the brakes off of Philly 6-1. Next up: A tough week with one more at Philly and another vs Washington.
24. Ottawa Senators ~1-1-0 2pts 7GF 6GA +1~
    The Senators split games against the Leafs. Brady Tkachuk led the way with 3 points. Next up: Three games against the Winnipeg Jets are no cakewalk.
25. New Jersey Devils ~1-0-1 3pts 4GF 4GA Even~
    The Devils must be happy stealing 3 points in their two gamer against the veteran Bruins. Maybe this team is too low and will make a little noise. But, like the Sabres and the Rangers, they play in an impossible division and are a long shot to make the playoffs. Next up: Two games in New York, one with the Rangers and the other at Islanders.
26. San Jose Sharks ~1-2-0 2pts 11GF 13GA -2~
    San Jose split games with Arizona, their win coming by way of a shootout. A loss to the Blues followed. Maybe the Sharks will surprise me but I am not expecting much. Next up: A game against the Blues and a game against the wild.
27. Detroit Red Wings ~1-2-0 2pts 6GF 8GA -2~
    The Red Wings are in the middle of a rebuild. They did win a game in their two gamer with the Hurricanes but this team has a slim chance to make the playoffs. Next up: One vs Columbus and a game at Chicago.
28. Anaheim Ducks ~1-1-1 1pts 4GF 7GA -3~
    The Ducks got three goals from Max Comtois, but it wasn’t enough to take down a superior Vegas team as it lost two games. Not expecting much from this team. It’s early. Next up: A game vs Minnesota and a game vs Colorado.
29. Los Angeles Kings ~0-0-2 0pts 6GF 8GA -2~
    Los Angeles lost two overtime games to the wild. Kudos for fighting all the way to the end against a good hockey team. The Kings are another team in a transitionary period. Next up: Tough week ahead with two games vs Colorado and a game at St. Louis.
30. Chicago Blackhawks ~0-3-0 0pts 5GF 15GA -10~
    After an off-season of upheaval, the product so far is as expected. This team stinks and I feel bad for some of the players on the Blackhawks. Then again, they won three Stanley Cups so forget that. Next up: A game at Florida and a game vs Detroit

NO RANKING: Dallas Stars ~0-0-0 0pts 0GF 0GA Even~
You do not get ranked if you cannot play. This could turn out to be a great thing for this team as they won’t have to worry about COVID-19 the rest of the season. Next week expect them ranked among the league’s best.