Here is this week’s complete breakdown of the NHL power rankings.
PREVIOUS POWER RANKINGS: Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3
NHL Power Rankings 4.0
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
10-2-1, 21 pts (last week: 1)
Scored five goals or more six times already, including three of their last five games. Just put up an eight-spot on the Panthers. Mercy.
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2. St. Louis Blues
10-2-1, 21 pts (last week: 4)
Extended winning streak to four games with three victories in four nights, allowing the Hurricanes, Blue Jackets and Kings a total of four goals.
3. Los Angeles Kings
9-2-1, 19 pts (last week: 3)
Jonathan Quick starring in goal: 1.89 GAA, .942 save percentage, league-high two shutouts.
4. New Jersey Devils
9-2-0, 18 pts (last week: 10)
Rookie Jesper Bratt scored shootout winner over Senators one night and third-period game-winning goal against Coyotes the next. Devils a perfect 5-0-0 in one-goal games now.
5. Columbus Blue Jackets
8-4-0, 16 pts (last week: 15)
Torts strips Brandon Dubinsky of a letter on his sweater as veteran struggles with just two points in first 12 games. You realize Artemi Panarin (one goal) is going to get hot eventually, right?
MORE: Making sense of this Metro Division madness
6. San Jose Sharks
7-5-0, 14 pts (last week: 9)
Return to Shark Tank after long east coast road trip, saluted Patrick Marleau in his return, then dominated Maple Leafs for long stretches in 3-2 win. Play seven of next eight at home.
7. Pittsburgh Penguins
8-5-1, 17 pts (last week: 5)
Defending champs terribly outplayed at even strength this season. Saturday’s 7-1 loss to Jets already third time this season Pens surrendered seven goals or more.
8. Vegas Golden Knights
8-3-0, 16 pts (last week: 6)
Down to their fourth-string goalie, Golden Knights drop first two games of six-game trip to east coast.
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9. Toronto Maple Leafs
8-5-0, 16 pts (last week: 2)
Three-game losing streak. Guessing Roman Polak is not the answer on the back end.
10. New York Islanders
7-4-1, 15 pts (last week: 16)
John Tavares is en fuego with nine goals last four games. Jaroslav Halak emerging as No. 1 goalie ahead of Thomas Greiss.
11. Anaheim Ducks
6-4-1, 13 pts (last week: 11)
Ryan Getzlaf eye injury another blow. He joins Cam Fowler, Patrick Eaves and Ryan Kesler on the sidelines.
MORE: NHL’s worst injuries in 2017-18
12. Dallas Stars
7-5-0, 14 pts (last week: 14)
League-best power play converting at 30.8 percent
13. Winnipeg Jets
6-3-2, 14 pts (last week: 19)
Connor Hellebuyck great again Tuesday, now 6-0-1 in seven starts this season.
14. Ottawa Senators
5-2-5, 15 pts (last week: 8)
My gosh was Saturday’s loss to Canadiens ugly. So ugly that Erik Karlsson was a minus-6.
15. Nashville Predators
5-4-2, 12 pts (last week: 12)
Scott Hartnell has three goals but is a minus-9. Ouch. Ryan Johansen yet to score a goal.
MORE: Out of obscurity, Predators learn to live in NHL spotlight
16. Chicago Blackhawks
6-5-2, 14 pts (last week: 7)
Three-game losing streak. Coach Q splitting up Jonathan Toews and Brandon Saad.
17. Washington Capitals
5-6-1, 11 pts (last week: 12)
Allowing 3.42 goals per game. Have lost three of last four, and four of last six.
MORE: Nathan Walker, NHL’s first Australian player, took ’long, tough’ road
18. Philadelphia Flyers
6-5-1, 13 pts (last week: 18)
Nolan Patrick and Shayne Gostisbehere land on the shelf. Impressive 4-2 road win in Toronto followed by OT loss to Coyotes, Arizona’s only win of season.
19. Vancouver Canucks
6-3-2, 14 pts (last week: 22)
Four-game win streak snapped, but still have at least one point in last five games as surprising start picks up steam.
20. Calgary Flames
6-6-0, 12 pts (last week: 17)
Only 2-4-0 on home ice, though coming off solid 2-1 win over Caps at the ‘Dome.
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21. Colorado Avalanche
6-5-0, 12 pts (last week: 20)
Absolutely crushed by Golden Knights, 7-0, last Friday only to bounce back with 6-3 win over Blackhawks 24 hours later.
22. Edmonton Oilers
3-7-1, 7 pts (last week: 21)
Incredibly averaging a league-low 2.20 goals per game.
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23. Boston Bruins
4-3-3, 11 pts (last week: 23)
David Backes is expected to miss the next eight weeks after undergoing colon surgery.
24. Minnesota Wild
4-4-2, 10 pts (last week: 24)
Two-game winning streak snapped against the Jets Tuesday.
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25. Carolina Hurricanes
4-4-2, 10 pts (last week: 26)
Jeff Skinner has seven goals in first ten games, while Sebastian Aho searches for his first.
26. New York Rangers
4-7-2, 10 pts (last week: 28)
Won two of last three, though it took a four-goal third-period rally against fourth-string goalie to beat Golden Knights on Tuesday.
27. Detroit Red Wings
6-6-1, 13 pts (last week: 25)
Won two in a row after dropping six straight.
MORE: Red Wings face long climb out of salary cap purgatory
28. Florida Panthers
4-6-1, 9 pts (last week: 27)
Cats are sixth in the league in scoring, but have second-worst GAA (3.91)
29. Montreal Canadiens
4-7-1, 9 pts (last week: 29)
Scored 13 goals last two games, wins over Rangers and Senators. Had 17 goals the previous ten games.
MORE: Canadiens’ start has been unsustainably bad
30. Buffalo Sabres
3-7-2, 8 pts (last week: 30)
Own the league’s fifth-worst GAA and are the third-lowest scoring team. Not a good combination.
31. Arizona Coyotes
1-11-1, 3 pts (last week: 31)
Alex Goligoski OT winner in Philly for first ‘Yotes win of season! Followed by another loss to Red Wings Tuesday.