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NHL Power Rankings Week 23: The Playoff Puzzle is Being Put Together

This week,the playoff picture starts taking shape. Teams have clinched, others have been eliminated, and others are close. Biggest winners are Phoenix and the Islanders, even though the Islanders are insignificant.

 

Eastern Conference

This Week Last Week Rationale
Rating
Bruins_medium 1 1 The Bruins have a three point lead with two games in hand in the NE Division, but they've only gotten 11 of a possible 20 points.
1.699
Flyers_medium 2 2 Philadelphia has already clinched a playoff spot, with a 5 point lead and a game in hand in the Atlantic Division.
1.567
Capitals_medium 3 4 The Capitals moved up a spot here while clinching a playoff spot. Getting 18 of 20 points is damn impressive.
1.343
Penguins_medium 4
3
Pittsburgh only needs 4 points to clinch a playoff spot, which will surely come this week.
1.331
Canadiens_medium 5
5
The Canadiens are in 6th place in the East, and they are 42% likely to wind up there.
1.249
Sabres_medium 6
6
Buffalo is only in 8th place, but they have a 76% chance of making the playoffs.
1.166
Rangers_medium 7
8
The Rangers are in 7th, 6 points up with one additional game played, but are 97% likely to make the playoffs.
1.150
Lightning_medium 8
7
Tampa Bay is still struggling in the power rankings, thanks to a minus-6 goal differential, but they only need 8 points to clinch.
1.069
Hurricanes_medium 9
9
The Hurricanes only have a 22% chance to sneak in, as they are 3 points behind 8th place.
0.963
Maple_leafs_medium 10
11
Toronto only has a 4% chance of making the playoffs, as they are 5 points out with one too many games played.
0.885
Thrashers_medium 11
10
The Thrashers are clinging to a spot above the Devils in the East, but they're done.
0.831
Islanders_medium 12
14
New York is the big mover this week, getting 5 of 6 points and 15 of their last 20.
0.785
Panthers_medium 13
12
The Panthers are only 5 points away from being eliminated. Just make it stop.
0.770
Devils_medium 14 13 New Jersey finally came back to Earth, only collecting 2 of 8 points. They are now 9 points out of the playoffs.
0.737
Senators_medium 15 15 The Senators are officially eliminated.
0.595

 

Western Conference


This Week Last Week Rationale
Rating
Canucks_medium 1 1 The Canucks have already clinched the Northwest. This happens when you are the only team in the division in the playoffs.
1.733
Coyotes_medium 2 4 Phoenix jumps up here thanks to getting 6 of 8 points and only giving up 5 goals in 4 games.
1.369
Blackhawks_medium 3
3
The Blackhawks have an 86% chance to make the playoffs, despite only being 2 points up on 9th place.
1.342
Red_wings_medium 4
2
Detroit only got 3 of a possible 8 points and dropped here, but they're still in 2nd in the West.
1.328
Sharks_medium 5
6
The Sharks are a near lock to make the playoffs, as they are 8 points up on 9th place.
1.275
Predators_medium 6
7
Nashville is clinging to 7th place as a result of playing one additional game.
1.274
Kings_medium 7
5
The Kings dropped here as a result of only getting 3 out of 6 points, and two of them coming from a shootout.
1.184
Stars_medium 8
8
Dallas only needs one point to jump over Anaheim, and they're only 2 points out of 5th.
1.176
Flames_medium 9
9
The Flames sit in 10th place, only two points out. But they have played 3 additional games, so they are a longshot.
1.084
Ducks_medium 10
12
Anaheim may currently occupy 8th place, but they but they are only one point up on Dallas.
1.023
Blue_jackets_medium 11
11
The Blue Jackets are ten points out with 9 games to play. They're essentially done.
0.930
Wild_medium 12
10
Minnesota plummets, as they are only 9 points away from being eliminated.
0.883
Blues_medium 13
13
The Blues are 6 points away from being eliminated, which should happen this week.
0.860
Avalanche_medium 14
14
Colorado is officially eliminated.
0.729
Oilers_medium 15 15 The Oilers are officially eliminated.
0.570