Where do teams stand in the NHL?
The NHL season is in full swing and after six weeks of the Regular Season and the cream has started to rise the the top. The Rangers have been on fire as have the Dallas Stars – minus their recent games against the Leafs! The Habs have cooled but that was to be expected with Carey Price out of the lineup.
NHL Lines & Matchup Insight
So where does your favorite team sit after six weeks of the NHL Regular Season?
Let’s take a look.
1. New York Rangers (14-2-2) Two Weeks Ago: 6
The Rangers have been off-the charts as of late – nine straight wins heading into this week and 11-0-2 in their last 13 games overall. Henrik Lundqvist has once again proven why he’s regarded as the best in the game and the offense is providing 3.11 goals for per game. New York can beat you any number of ways and are as well rounded a team as there is in the game right now.
2. Montreal Canadiens (13-3-2) Two Weeks Ago: 1
The Habs have weathered the storm since All-World goaltender Carey Price went down – they are just 5-3-2 in their last 10 games but have been competitive nonetheless. Montreal continues to be one of the better offensive teams in the game – surprising and when Price returns (that may not be for a while) the Habs are scary indeed
3. Dallas Stars (14-4-0) Two Weeks Ago: 2
The Stars have four losses on the year – two have come at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs – strange! The team is averaging a terrific 3.61 goals per game thus far and the defense has been bolstered by the strong play of Kari Lehtonen who is 8-1 with a .921 save percentage this year. We knew the Stars would score some goals – we didn’t know they would play good defense!
4. Washington Capitals (11-4-1) Two Weeks Ago: 4
The Caps have just one regulation win in their last four games but still sit fourth in the league standings. Everything is clicking for the Caps righty now – it is hard to see this balanced club falling too far down the Rankings.
5. Nashville Predators (10-3-3) Two Weeks Ago: 8
The Preds scored seven goals twice last week! Amazing. The offense is a surprise – nine Nashville Predators have at least nine points so far. Add in the strong play of Pekka Rinne and the incredibly strong blue line and the Preds look like a true contender this year. Watch out for Nashville – this just may be their year… finally!
6. Los Angeles Kings (11-6-0) Two Weeks Ago: 5
After starting the season with three straight losses the Kings have caught fire despite average effort from Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik so far. The Kings are still one of the most difficult teams to play against in the NHL and an easy top 6 this week.
7. Minnesota Wild (10-3-3) Two Weeks Ago: 9
Have gone 3-0-1 in their last four games and have played well despite the injury to Zach Parise. Devan Dubnyk has picked up right where he left off last year – the Wild are 6-2-2 in their last 10 and tied for third in the league’s overall standings – amazing!
8. St. Louis Blues (11-5-1) Two Weeks Ago: -3
Have lost two straight games ahead of this week but are still one of the NHL Heavyweights. Goal scoring has been a bit of an issue – just 2.76 per game so far but Jake Allen has held this team in – he has a .936 save percentage in 12 games thus far. The Blues are a tad banged up – they should be top 5 once healthy!
9. Chicago Blackhawks (10-7-1) Two Weeks Ago: 15
The Hawks have won two straight games ahead of this week but are just 5-4-1 in their last 10 games overall. Expect a huge uptick in the win column however – Duncan Keith is back in the fold and Patrick Kane has been virtually unstoppable. Chicago is starting to resemble the team that we thought they were – finally!
10. New York Islanders (9-6-3) Two Weeks Ago: 10
The Isles hold strong at #10 but it’s a tenuous spot. New York is just 4-4-2 in their last 10 games. The offense has struggled so far (something that will change) but the defense and goaltending has been very good – the goaltenders have given up just 2.28 goals per game so far.
11. New Jersey Devils (10-6-1) Two Weeks Ago: 18
Believe it! The Devils have won two straight games ahead of this weekend and are 7-3-0 in their last 10 games overall. The Devils aren’t scoring a ton – they aren’t playing all that great defensively but they are winning – that’s all that matters. We are all waiting for the crash but it hasn’t come yet!
12. Pittsburgh Penguins (10-7-1) Two Weeks Ago: 7
The Penguins lost both games on the weekend – to the Blue Jackets and the Devils. Shockingly this team is averaging just 2.06 goals per game – thank goodness for Marc-Andre Fleury and the Pens defense that has allowed just 2.18 goals per game so far.
13. Boston Bruins (8-7-1) Two Weeks Ago: 12
14. Tampa Bay Lightning (8-5-4) Two Weeks Ago 14
15. Vancouver Canucks (7-6-5) Two Weeks Ago: 14
16. Ottawa Senators (8-5-4) Two Weeks Ago: 16
17. San Jose Sharks (9-8-0) Two Weeks Ago: 22
18. Detroit Red Wings (8-8-1) Two Weeks Ago: 17
19. Anaheim Ducks (5-8-4) Two Weeks Ago: 28
20. Florida Panthers (7-7-3) Two Weeks Ago: 19
21. Buffalo Sabres (8-8-1) Two Weeks Ago: 24
22. Colorado Avalanche (7-9-1) Two Weeks Ago: 28
23. Winnipeg Jets (8-8-2) Two Weeks Ago: 11
24. Arizona Coyotes (9-7-1) Two Weeks Ago: 20
25. Carolina Hurricanes (6-9-2) Two Weeks Ago: 23
26. Philadelphia Flyers (6-8-3) Two Weeks Ago: 21
27. Toronto Maple Leafs (5-9-4) Two Weeks Ago: 27
28. Edmonton Oilers (6-12-0) Two Weeks Ago: 25
29. Columbus Blue Jackets (6-12-0) Two Weeks Ago: 30
30. Calgary Flames (6-12-1) Two Weeks Ago: 26
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