Power rankings are back! With a new season comes new rankings, but the same formula. If you recall from last year, the formula looks at non-shootout win point totals per game, and multiplies that by five-on-five goal ratio. The numbers end up between 0 and 2 normally, but in the early season, those numbers are highly volatile.
In any event, here we go:
Eastern Conference
| This Week | Last Week |
Rationale | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1 | -- | The Flyers are off to a fantastic start, one of only four NHL teams without a regulation loss so far this year. Their 5-on-5 goal differential puts them just above Toronto so far. |
4.078 |
 |
2 | -- | Toronto is off to a blazing fast start so far, but falls short of the number 1 spot due to being one-third of a goal behind the Flyers' 5-on-5 differential. |
4.000 |
 |
3 | -- | The Sabres have three players with three goals in four games. Tomas Vanek and Drew Stafford are common names, but Luke Adam is a surprise. |
3.000 |
 |
4 |
-- |
The Capitals are the lowest ranked undefeated team according to the formula, largely because they have a shootout win and a mediocre 5-on-5 goal differential. |
2.188 |
 |
5 |
-- |
The Islanders have gotten some excellent play from John Tavares and Al Montoya so far this year, and they look to surprise a lot of people this season. | 2.100 |
 |
6 |
-- |
Montreal is off to a slow start, with only one win in four games. But they're winning the even-strength battle. |
1.125 |
 |
7 |
-- |
The Rangers have yet to win a game this year, but have an OT loss and a SO loss. With a mediocre 5-on-5 ratio, they stay afloat in the East. |
0.833 |
|
|
8 |
-- |
The Devils have six points in four games, but they won two of them in the shootout. Coupled with their below-average 5-on-5 ratio, and you have a middling team. |
0.710 |
 |
9 |
-- |
Pittsburgh is sitting on three wins and eight points, putting them 5th in the NHL, but with a worse 5-on-5 ratio than Carolina, they aren't looking very good early. |
0.665 |
 |
10 |
-- |
Tampa Bay has only one win in five games and has a negative goal differential, just like last year. Sign of trouble to come? | 0.640 |
 |
11 |
-- |
The Bruins will probably hear about a Stanley Cup hangover, but with an even 5-on-5 ratio, there are signs of another good team. |
0.600 |
 |
12 |
-- |
Florida has four points in three games, a sign of a successful overhaul. But their 5-on-5 ratio is dragging them down here. |
0.600 |
 |
13 |
-- |
The Hurricanes have two wins and five points - the same as Vancouver - but a miserable 5-on-5 ratio is keeping them near the bottom of the league. |
0.580 |
|
14 | -- | Ottawa has two points in five games, but even that win came in the shootout. The league-worst 5-on-5 ratio means the Senators are likely the worst team in the NHL this year. |
0.086 |
 |
15 | -- | The Jets haven't won a game yet, as they sit 0-3. They have the second-worst 5-on-5 ratio this year, barely above Ottawa's, so they will be challenging for worst team in the NHL. |
0.000 |
Western Conference
| This Week | Last Week |
Rationale | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1 | -- | The Red Wings are off to a crazy good start, winning all four of their games in regulation and having a 3.67 goal ratio at 5-on-5. They are the only Western Conference team without a regulation loss. |
7.340 |
 |
2 | -- | Chicago won two games in regulation out of four and have a good 5-on-5 ratio. Dave Bolland also has three goals in three games, which is unexpected |
1.875 |
 |
3 |
-- |
The Ducks are struggling with offense, but their defense has been stingy. Two regulation wins and only one loss puts them in a good spot with a mediocre 5-on-5 ratio. |
1.500 |
 |
4 |
-- |
Phoenix has seen their first round pick in 2009 score three goals in four games. From the blueline. Oliver Ekman-Larsson has been a pleasant surprise while Shane Doan continues to carry the team. |
1.463 |
 |
5 |
-- |
The Stars have won four of five games, but they have an even 5-on-5 ratio. Don't expect them to win 80% of their games going forward. |
1.400 |
 |
6 |
-- |
St. Louis has the second best 5-on-5 goal differential in the West but have only won two of five games. Look for one to change in the other direction. |
1.256 |
 |
7 |
-- |
The Canucks are off to a mediocre start, winning two of five games with a mediocre 5-on-5 ratio. Don't expect that to last. |
1.120 |
 |
8 |
-- |
Colorado is surprising a lot of people behind the strong pay of Semyon Varlamov. Four wins in five games, but they're being outscored at 5-on-5. Something has to change. |
1.056 |
 |
9 |
-- |
The Kings have a rather weak 5-on-5 ratio, but they managed to win two of four games. After the long road trip to the season, the Kings look forward to returning home. |
1.038 |
 |
10 |
-- |
Minnesota is off to a pretty good start, winning two of five games, losing another two in the shootout. With an even 5-on-5 ratio, the Wild are hanging tough. |
1.000 |
 |
11 |
-- |
The Sharks have a really good 5-on-5 ratio, but only one win in three games. Look for the Sharks to improve soon. |
0.887 |
 |
12 |
-- |
Nashville has a miserable 5-on-5 ratio, yet they've still managed to collect 5 points in 4 games. David Legwand is currently at a 2.00 points per game pace. Neither will last. |
0.775 |
 |
13 |
-- |
The Oilers are showing signs of improvement, with an even 5-on-5 ratio and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scoring 4 goals in three games. It's about to get exciting in Edmonton. |
0.667 |
 |
14 |
-- |
Calgary only has one win in four games, but their 5-on-5 ratio suggest they aren't that bad. Still bad, yes, but not that bad. |
0.400 |
 |
15 | -- | The Blue Jackets are win-less in five tries. And they just found out Jeff Carter has a hairline fracture in his foot while also sending Matt Calvert down to the AHL. Clearly, they're in trouble. |
0.164 |