NHL Top 10: Jan. 11
The Boston Bruins have been the best team in the NHL all season and take the top spot at the power rankings this week.
With just four regulation losses in 40 games on the season the Bruins have been clear Stanley Cup favorites so far this season and are a stunning 8-0-2 in their last 10 games.
Another team from the Atlantic Division, the Maple Leafs have also been good as of late, winning 6 of their last 10.
The big four forwards of Mitchell Marner, Auston Matthews, William Nylander and John Tavares each have over 40 points this season while the biggest question is what Toronto will do with Nylander as he is a free agent after next season and demanding a raise.
The Dallas Stars have been one of the best teams in the Western Conference so far this season and are 7-3 in their past 10 games.
Jason Robertson has been a budding star in the NHL this season and has carried the Stars with 57 points on the season while the next closest player on the team has 44.
The leadership of Joe Pavelski has also provided stability as the Stars have been a tough team to play against since he arrived in free agency.
Carolina is leading the Metropolitan Division but has lost four straight since January 5th and will look to turn it around at Columbus.
During the four-game losing streak the Hurricanes have scored three goals in every game but have given up five goals in three out of four games which is not what a winning team does.
The return of goaltender Fredrick Andersen soon should help solve these issues.
The New Jersey Devils have completely turned their franchise around and are a likely playoff contender barring a January and February collapse.
New Jersey recently beat the Hurricanes and will likely beat Anaheim on Friday and have a real shot at winning the division this season.
The Kings have really turned it on as of late with a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 games.
Goaltending has been Los Angeles’s biggest problem, but Pheonix Copley is 11-2 with a 2.56 GAA since getting called up to the NHL and has been one of the biggest reasons the Kings are where they are.
Vegas sits just ahead of Los Angeles but has cooled off of late by only winning five of the last ten games, but the return of Jonathan Marchessault should provide a boost to the lineup.
As of late, Seattle has also been one of the best teams in the NHL with a six-game winning streak that will be put to test against the best team in the NHL, the Bruins on Thursday.
Martin Jones has returned to old form and has won 19 games so far this season meanwhile former prized free agent Philipp Grubauer has won just four.
Winnipeg received a huge boost as Nikolaj Ehlers, Blake Wheeler and Nate Schmidt have been activated off IR the past week.
The Jets were on a four-game winning streak before the Red Wings beat them with a seven-goal game recently which was star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck’s worst games this season.
The New York Rangers take the tenth spot on this week’s power rankings with a 6-2-2 record in their past 10 games.
Igor Sheshterkin has been everything he was expected to be this season, but the story will be how the secondary scoring holds up throughout the season.
James Morrison is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jpm6920@psu.edu.
