The Colorado Avalanche continue to dominate the NHL, holding the top spot in power rankings with an impressive 19-1-6 record and a plus-50 goal differential. The Minnesota Wild and Tampa Bay Lightning are surging, entering the top five thanks to standout goaltending and strong recent play. Other teams like the Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks remain competitive in their divisions.
In the latest NHL power rankings, the Colorado Avalanche maintain their position at number one, boasting a league-best plus-50 goal differential and only one regulation loss in 26 games. They have earned at least a point in 17 consecutive games, with Nathan MacKinnon emerging as a front-runner for the MVP award. Analysts note the Avalanche's potential to surpass the 2022-23 Boston Bruins' plus-128 goal differential, marking them as possibly the best team in the salary cap era.
The Minnesota Wild have climbed into the top five, fueled by goaltender Jesper Wallstedt's exceptional November performance, including four shutouts in six starts. The Wild, with a 15-7-5 record and plus-6 goal differential, have not lost in regulation since November 6, thanks to the strong tandem of Wallstedt and Filip Gustavsson.
Tampa Bay Lightning sit at number four with a 16-8-2 record and plus-18 goal differential, going 8-2-0 in their last 10 games. Andrei Vasilevskiy is off to a Vezina Trophy-worthy start, while Nikita Kucherov ranks in the top 10 for scoring. Despite injuries, the Lightning are considered the best team in the Eastern Conference.
The Dallas Stars hold third place at 17-5-5 with a plus-21 differential, on a five-game winning streak and 8-1-1 in their last 10. They battle for the Central Division lead with balanced home (8-4-1) and road (9-1-4) records, though Tyler Seguin suffered an ACL injury. In the Pacific, the Anaheim Ducks lead with 16-9-1 and plus-12, despite cooling off after a seven-game win streak and relying on third-string goalie Ville Husso.
Other notable movements include the Washington Capitals' rise to seventh on an 8-1-1 run, tied for the Metro lead, and the Carolina Hurricanes at sixth with superior forward depth. The Vancouver Canucks have fallen to last place at 32nd with a 10-14-3 record, losing nine of their last 11.