🚨 Power Surge! The NHL Hits Cruising Altitude in December 🚨
We’ve officially hit the one-third mark of the regular season, and the battle for supremacy on the ice is heating up! The McDonald NHL Power Ratings still feature the same five titans at the top, but the week’s action has brought shake-ups, spectacular rises, and a truly dizzying plunge!
The Unshakeable Elite
The Colorado Avalanche (1st, 1614) remain the undisputed kings of the league, holding steady at the top after a solid 3-1-0 week. Their only blemish? A stunning 6-3 regulation loss to the surging New York Islanders, marking just their second regulation defeat of the year—a rare, humbling stumble. But the Avs quickly righted the ship, taking down Vancouver and Philadelphia, and grabbing an overtime victory against the Rangers. Their path to the President’s Trophy looks clear, with their probability climbing to a dominant 60%!
Charging hard behind them are the Dallas Stars (2nd, 1582, ▲8), who had a fantastic 3-0-1 showing, snatching a cool 8 rating points. After an opening overtime defeat to the Rangers, the Stars locked it down, posting two regulation wins (including a shutout against New Jersey!) and sealing the week with a clutch shootout win over the now-red-hot Penguins. Their Stanley Cup probability is now in double digits at 10%, making them a clear Western Conference force.
Metropolitan Mayhem: The Capital Gains
The Washington Capitals (3rd, ▲1, 1567) are making a serious push, climbing one spot after banking an impressive 18 rating points with a 3-0-1 week. The Caps were all business in regulation against top-ten Los Angeles and struggling San Jose and Columbus. Their one hiccup—a shootout loss to the gritty Anaheim Ducks—is a minor note in an otherwise brilliant run that has catapulted their playoff odds to 89%! They are becoming legitimate contenders, with their Cup chances rising by 3 percentage points to 9%.
The Vegas Golden Knights (4th, ▲1, 1552) also moved up, sweeping their three-game week! They dominated New Jersey with a shutout, squeaked by Chicago in a shootout, and bested the Rangers in overtime. The Golden Knights are trending up, with a playoff chance of 88% and a Cup probability of 7%.
The Freefall and the Frenzy
The biggest story of the week is the Tampa Bay Lightning (5th, 1538, ▼2), who suffered a catastrophic 0-3-0 week, hemorrhaging a massive 26 rating points and sliding out of the top three. Swept by the Islanders and falling to the Penguins, the Bolts’ outlook is suddenly grim, with their chances across the board taking a huge hit—their playoff probability is down 13% to 78%, and their Cup hopes are down 3% to a nervous 5%.
But while Tampa Bay struggled, others thrived! The Pittsburgh Penguins (6th, ▲4, 1525) and the New York Islanders (12th, ▲8, 1506) were the week’s top performers, each grabbing 19 rating points!
-
The Islanders are on a tear, not only handing the Avs a rare regulation loss but also humbling Tampa Bay twice, resulting in a dramatic eight-spot leap into the top half of the league!
-
The Penguins have also surged, moving from 10th to 6th after a 2-0-1 week that saw them take down the Flyers and the faltering Lightning.
On the flip side, the New Jersey Devils (26th, ▼12, 1473) had an absolute nightmare, losing all four games in regulation and shedding an eye-watering 30 rating points! They crashed 12 spots in the rankings, and their playoff chances have plummeted by 33% to a meager 35%! The alarm bells are ringing LOUDLY in Newark!
The stage is set for an electrifying week ahead as the league’s heavyweights continue their slugfest!
Here’s the rankings and ratings. Changes shown are from last week’s report.
The top 5
1. Colorado Avalanche (1614)
Record: 21-2-6, 1st in Central Division
Chances of:
- Making the playoffs: >99%
- Winning the President’s Trophy: 60% (▲4)
- Winning the Stanley Cup: 16%
Last week: 3-1-0
- December 2: Won 3-1 vs. Vancouver Canucks (30th, 1456)
- December 4: Lost 6-3 @ New York Islanders (12th, 1506)
- December 6: Won in OT 3-2 @ New York Rangers (13th, 1504)
- December 7: Won 3-2 @ Philadelphia Flyers (24th, 1477)
Next week:
- December 9: @ Nashville Predators (31st, 1438)
- December 11: vs. Florida Panthers (17th, 1493)
- December 13: vs. Nashville Predators (31st, 1438)
2. Dallas Stars (1582, ▲8)
Record: 20-5-5, 2nd in Central Division
Chances of:
- Making the playoffs: 98% (▲2)
- Winning the President’s Trophy: 20% (▲5)
- Winning the Stanley Cup: 10% (▲1)
Last week: 3-0-1
- December 2: Lost in OT 3-2 @ New York Rangers (13th, 1504)
- December 3: Won 3-0 @ New Jersey Devils (26th, 1473)
- December 5: Won 4-1 vs. San Jose Sharks (31st, 1438)
- December 7: Won in SO 3-2 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (6th, 1525)
Next week:
- December 9: @ Winnipeg Jets (11th, 1508)
- December 11: @ Minnesota Wild (15th, 1499)
- December 13: vs. Florida Panthers (17th, 1493)
3. Washington Capitals ▲1 (1567, ▲18)
Record: 18-9-3, 1st in Metropolitan Division
Chances of:
- Making the playoffs: 89% (▲11)
- Winning the President’s Trophy: 6% (▲3)
- Winning the Stanley Cup: 9% (▲3)
Last week: 3-0-1
- December 2: Won 3-1 @ Los Angeles Kings (7th, 1524)
- December 3: Won 7-1 @ San Jose Sharks (31st, 1438)
- December 5: Lost in SO 4-3 @ Anaheim Ducks (22nd, 1489)
- December 7: Won 2-0 vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (23rd, 1488)
Next week:
- December 11: vs. Carolina Hurricanes (8th, 1518)
- December 13: @ Winnipeg Jets (11th, 1508)
4. Vegas Golden Knights ▲1 (1552, ▲5)
Record: 14-6-8, 2nd in Pacific Division
Chances of:
- Making the playoffs: 88% (▲8)
- Winning the President’s Trophy: 3% (▲1)
- Winning the Stanley Cup: 7% (▲1)
Last week: 3-0-0
- December 2: Won in SO 4-3 vs. Chicago Blackhawks (26th, 1473)
- December 5: Won 3-0 @ New Jersey Devils (26th, 1473)
- December 7: Won in OT 3-2 @ New York Rangers (13th, 1504)
Next week:
- December 9: @ New York Islanders (12th, 1506)
- December 11: @ Philadelphia Flyers (24th, 1477)
- December 13: @ Columbus Blue Jackets (23rd, 1488)
5. Tampa Bay Lightning ▼2 (1538, ▼26)
Record: 16-10-2, 1st in Atlantic Division
Chances of:
- Making the playoffs: 78% (▼13)
- Winning the President’s Trophy: 2% (▼6)
- Winning the Stanley Cup: 5% (▼3)
Last week: 0-3-0
- December 2: Lost 2-1 @ New York Islanders (12th, 1506)
- December 4: Lost 4-3 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (6th, 1525)
- December 6: Lost 2-0 vs. New York Islanders (12th, 1506)
Next week:
- December 8: @ Toronto Maple Leafs (10th, 1509)
- December 9: @ Montreal Canadiens (21st, 1490)
- December 11: @ New Jersey Devils (26th, 1473)
- December 13: @ New York Islanders (12th, 1506)
Overall Ratings
1 Colorado Avalanche 1614 2 Dallas Stars 1582 (▲8) 3 Washington Capitals (▲1) 1567 (▲18) 4 Vegas Golden Knights (▲1) 1552 (▲5) 5 Tampa Bay Lightning (▼2) 1538 (▼26) 6 Pittsburgh Penguins (▲4) 1525 (▲19) 7 Los Angeles Kings (▼1) 1524 (▼11) 8 Carolina Hurricanes (▼1) 1518 (▼14) 9 St. Louis Blues 1510 (▲1) 10 Toronto Maple Leafs (▲8) 1509 (▲17) 11 Winnipeg Jets (▼3) 1508 (▼8) 12 New York Islanders (▲8) 1506 (▲19) 13 New York Rangers (▲4) 1504 (▲11) 14 Edmonton Oilers (▲2) 1500 (▲6) 15 Minnesota Wild (▼5) 1499 (▼7) 16 Ottawa Senators (▼6) 1496 (▼10) 17 (tie) Detroit Red Wings (▲9) 1493 (▲15) 17 (tie) Florida Panthers (▼2) 1493 (▼5) 17 (tie) Utah Mammoth (▲2) 1493 (▲2) 20 Calgary Flames (▲2) 1491 (▲7) 21 Montreal Canadiens (▼11) 1490 (▼16) 22 Anaheim Ducks (▲3) 1489 (▲8) 23 Columbus Blue Jackets (▼1) 1488 (▲4) 24 Philadelphia Flyers (▼2) 1477 (▼7) 25 Boston Bruins (▲4) 1476 (▲9) 26 (tie) Chicago Blackhawks (▲1) 1473 (▼2) 26 (tie) New Jersey Devils (▼12) 1473 (▼30) 28 Seattle Kraken (▼7) 1470 (▼15) 29 Buffalo Sabres (▼1) 1466 (▼5) 30 Vancouver Canucks 1456 (▼3) 31 (tie) Nashville Predators 1438 (▲5) 31 (tie) San Jose Sharks (▲1) 1438 (▲8)
Chances of Winning Division
Metropolitan Division
1 Washington Capitals (▲1) 40% (▲16) 2 (tie) Carolina Hurricanes (▼1) 17% (▼13) 2 (tie) Pittsburgh Penguins (▲2) 17% (▲7) 4 New York Islanders (▲2) 8% (▲4) 5 (tie) New York Rangers (▲3) 5% (▲2) 5 (tie) Philadelphia Flyers 5% (▼4) 7 Columbus Blue Jackets (▼1) 4% 8 New Jersey Devils (▼5) 3% (▼13)
Atlantic Division
1 Tampa Bay Lightning 39% (▼19) 2 Montreal Canadiens 13% (▼1) 3 Toronto Maple Leafs (▲2) 11% (▲7) 4 Detroit Red Wings (▲1) 10% (▲6) 5 Ottawa Senators (▼2) 9% 6 Boston Bruins (▼1) 8% (▲4) 7 Florida Panthers (▼3) 7% (▲2) 8 Buffalo Sabres 2%
Central Division
1 Colorado Avalanche 71% (▼2) 2 Dallas Stars 26% (▲4) 3 Minnesota Wild 1% (▼1) 4 (tie) Chicago Blackhawks (▲2) <1% 4 (tie) Nashville Predators (▲2) <1% 4 (tie) St. Louis Blues (▲2) <1% 4 (tie) Utah Mammoth <1% (▼1) 4 (tie) Winnipeg Jets <1% (▼1)
Pacific Division
1 Vegas Golden Knights 44% (▲12) 2 Los Angeles Kings (▼1) 21% (▼11) 3 Anaheim Ducks 18% (▲5) 4 Edmonton Oilers (▲1) 9% (▲1) 5 Seattle Kraken (▼1) 5% (▼5) 6 (tie) Calgary Flames 2% 6 (tie) San Jose Sharks (▲1) 2% (▲1) 8 Vancouver Canucks (▼1) 1%
Making the Playoffs
Metropolitan Division
1 Washington Capitals (▲1) 89% (▲11) 2 Carolina Hurricanes (▼1) 71% (▼10) 3 Pittsburgh Penguins (▲1) 70% (▲15) 4 New York Islanders (▲2) 56% (▲17) 5 New York Rangers (▲2) 46% (▲12) 6 Philadelphia Flyers (▼1) 41% (▼10) 7 Columbus Blue Jackets 37% (▲3) 8 New Jersey Devils (▼5) 35% (▼33)
Atlantic Division
1 Tampa Bay Lightning 78% (▼13) 2 Montreal Canadiens 50% (▼10) 3 (tie) Detroit Red Wings (▲3) 45% (▲13) 3 (tie) Toronto Maple Leafs (▲4) 45% (▲14) 5 (tie) Boston Bruins 41% (▲7) 5 (tie) Ottawa Senators (▼2) 41% (▼10) 7 Florida Panthers (▼3) 37% (▼2) 8 Buffalo Sabres 16% (▼5)
Central Division
1 Colorado Avalanche >99% 2 Dallas Stars 98% (▲2) 3 Minnesota Wild 61% (▼5) 4 Winnipeg Jets 46% (▼8) 5 Utah Mammoth 42% (▲1) 6 St. Louis Blues 37% (▲1) 7 Chicago Blackhawks 31% (▼3) 8 Nashville Predators 8% (▲2)
Pacific Division
1 Vegas Golden Knights 88% (▲8) 2 Los Angeles Kings (▼1) 73% (▼7) 3 Anaheim Ducks 70% (▲11) 4 Edmonton Oilers (▲1) 52% (▲6) 5 Seattle Kraken (▼1) 37% (▼13) 6 (tie) Calgary Flames 21% (▲3) 6 (tie) San Jose Sharks 21% (▲3) 8 Vancouver Canucks 14% (▼3)
Winning the President’s Trophy
1 Colorado Avalanche 60% (▲4) 2 Dallas Stars 20% (▲5) 3 Washington Capitals (▲2) 6% (▲3) 4 Vegas Golden Knights (▲2) 3% (▲1) 5 (tie) Carolina Hurricanes (▼1) 2% (▼2) 5 (tie) Pittsburgh Penguins (▲4) 2% (▲1) 5 (tie) Tampa Bay Lightning (▼2) 2% (▼6) 8 (tie) Anaheim Ducks (▲1) 1% 8 (tie) Los Angeles Kings (▼2) 1% (▼1) 8 (tie) Minnesota Wild (▲1) 1%
Everyone else has less than a 1% chance of winning the President’s Trophy.
Winning the Stanley Cup
1 Colorado Avalanche 16% 2 Dallas Stars 10% (▲1) 3 Washington Capitals (▲1) 9% (▲3) 4 Vegas Golden Knights 7% (▲1) 5 Tampa Bay Lightning (▼2) 5% (▼3) 6 (tie) Carolina Hurricanes 4% (▼1) 6 (tie) Los Angeles Kings 4% (▼1) 6 (tie) Pittsburgh Penguins (▲2) 4% (▲1) 9 (tie) New York Islanders (▲5) 3% (▲1) 9 (tie) Toronto Maple Leafs (▲5) 3% (▲1) 11 (tie) Anaheim Ducks (▲3) 2% 11 (tie) Boston Bruins (▲13) 2% (▲1) 11 (tie) Columbus Blue Jackets (▲13) 2% (▲1) 11 (tie) Detroit Red Wings (▲13) 2% (▲1) 11 (tie) Edmonton Oilers (▲3) 2% 11 (tie) Florida Panthers (▲3) 2% 11 (tie) Minnesota Wild (▼3) 2% (▼1) 11 (tie) Montreal Canadiens (▼3) 2% (▼1) 11 (tie) New York Rangers (▲3) 2% 11 (tie) Ottawa Senators (▼3) 2% (▼1) 11 (tie) Philadelphia Flyers (▲3) 2% 11 (tie) St. Louis Blues (▲3) 2% 11 (tie) Utah Mammoth (▲3) 2% 11 (tie) Winnipeg Jets (▼3) 2% (▼1) 25 (tie) Buffalo Sabres (▼1) 1% 25 (tie) Calgary Flames (▼1) 1% 25 (tie) Chicago Blackhawks (▼1) 1% 25 (tie) New Jersey Devils (▼17) 1% (▼2) 25 (tie) Seattle Kraken (▼11) 1% (▼1) 25 (tie) Vancouver Canucks (▼1) 1% 31 (tie) Nashville Predators <1% 31 (tie) San Jose Sharks <1%