The Power Ranking shows the five climbers and relegators of the week from NHL.com/de. The standings in the table are not necessarily decisive, but the performance in the past week. Statistics and team balances include the games from Thursday to Friday.
The Metropolitan Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes (2-0-0) were the only ones of the four division leaders to not drop points. The Boston Bruins (2-1-0) in the Atlantic Division, the Dallas Stars (1-0-2) in the Central Division and the Seattle Kraken (1-0-1) in the Pacific Division all dropped points.
Five climbers:
1. Buffalo Sabres
In the home game against the Anaheim Ducks (6:3) and as guests of the Stars (3:2 OT), St. Louis Blues (5:3) and Winnipeg Jets (3:2), the Buffalo Sabers knew how to extend their winning streak to six games , in which they each raked in something countable (5-0-1).
Video: BUF 6, ANA 3
Center Tage Thompson (2 goals, 6 assists) leads Buffalo’s internal team standings for the week, ahead of left winger Jeff Skinner (2 goals, 4 assists) and right winger Alex cloth (1 Tor, 5 Assists).
Next week, the Sabers are guests at the Minnesota Wild and await the Hurricanes at their home KeyBank Center.
2. Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators proved their strength at home with double point wins against the Los Angeles Kings (5-3), Jets (2-1) and New Jersey Devils (6-4) and underpinned their ambitions for a place in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the Western Conference.
Video: NSH 5, LAK 3
The players with the best points in the Predators were their Swiss captain Roman Josie (5 assists) and the centers Matt Duchene (3 goals, 1 assist) and Cody Glass (2 Tore, 2 Assists).
The Predators won’t attempt to close their gap to a playoff spot until after the NHL All-Star Game.
3. Columbus Blue Jackets
For the first time in over two months (Nov. 12-17), the Columbus Blue Jackets picked up five points from three straight games. At home they defeated the San Jose Sharks (5:3) and in western Canada they stood up to the Calgary Flames (3:4 OT) and Edmonton Oilers (3:2 OT).
Video: CBJ 5, SJS 3
left winger Patrick Laine (2 goals, 4 assists) lived up to his leadership role and scored in all three games. As the Blue Jackets’ top enforcer, Center made Boone Jenner (3 goals) attracted attention.
The Blue Jackets continue their journey with appearances with the Vancouver Canucks and in Seattle. In their final game before the NHL All-Star Game, they host the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs, as the Bruins’ closest pursuers, dropped just one point in their encounters with the Montreal Canadiens (2:3 OT), New York Islanders (5:2) and New York Rangers (3:2 OT).
Video: TOR 5, NYI 2
Right winger stood out as Toronto’s guarantor of points William Nylander (2 goals, 4 assists) who extended his scoring streak to five games.
Next week, the Maple Leafs will face the Ottawa Senators, Washington Capitals at home and the Bruins in the top game.
5. Pittsburgh Penguins
After a week with two away bankruptcies, the Pittsburgh Penguins managed to score regularly again, twice away at the Devils (1:2 OT) and in Washington (2:3 SO) as well as at home against the Senators (4:1) and Florida Panthers (7:6 OT).
Video: PIT 7, FLA 6 F/OT
With left winger Jake Guentzel (2 goals, 4 assists) and captain Sidney Crosby (2 goals, 4 assists), two veteran forwards lead the scoring in recent appearances. defender Kris Letang (2 goals, 2 assists) put in a 4-point performance against the Panthers.
The Sharks are visiting the Penguins on Saturday.
Five relegated:
1. New York Islanders
The New York Islanders have been losing ground in the league-wide rankings for five weeks now (14th place, 15th, 16th, 18th, 22nd). They are among the relegations of the week for the third year in a row after six games without a win (0-4-2). Most recently, the Islanders lost to the Hurricanes (2-5), the Maple Leafs (2-5) and the Senators (1-2).
The Islanders missed a power play hit on seven occasions last week. Your last overpayment goal is dated January 11th. Since then, her power play record has been 0 out of 20.
Will the Islanders’ downtrend continue in home games against the Detroit Red Wings and Vegas Golden Knights?
2. St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues grew frustrated after losing at home to the Chicago Blackhawks (3-5) and Sabers (3-5) and visiting the Arizona Coyotes (0-5).
Five goals conceded per game was clearly too much, especially when you consider that the Blues conceded the second fewest shots on goal in the league with an average of 24.7.
The Blues have to come up with a more effective defensive behavior in the upcoming guest appearances at the Colorado Avalanche and in Winnipeg.
3. San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are in danger of looking from the bottom of the Pacific Division standings after losing away games against the Blue Jackets (3-5), Bruins (0-4) and Red Wings (2-3 OT ) was only enough to win a point.
The Sharks could rely on the accuracy of their Swiss right winger Timo Meier (2 goals). The man from Herisau scored in eight of eleven games in January (8 goals, 3 assists), but the San Jose squad is lacking in depth.
The Sharks end the month with guest appearances with the Hurricanes and Penguins.
4. Vancouver Canucks
Where is the Vancouver Canucks going? After home defeats by the Avalanche (1-4) and Oilers (2-4), coach Bruce Boudreau had to vacate his chair. Led by Rick Tocchet, they defeated the Blackhawks (5-2) but suffered a defeat by the Kraken the following day (1-6).
left winger Andrei Kuzmenko (3 goals, 1 assist) and center Elias Pettersson (1 goal, 3 assists) had the most personal accomplishments among the Western Canada players.
In the home game against the Blue Jackets, a double point win is almost mandatory for the Canucks.
5. Minnesota Wild
Third in the Central Division, the Minnesota Wild sets the bar high. However, they could only fulfill this claim to a limited extent, although they defeated the Philadelphia Flyers (3:2 OT) at the end of the week. Previously, the Wild had nothing to gain from the Panthers (3-5) and the Tampa Bay Lightning (2-4).
The left wingers Matt Boldy (3 Tore, 3 Assists) und Kirill Kaprizov (1 goal, 4 assists) entered the scorer sheet in each of the three games.
On Saturday, the Sabers will be honored at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center.
