LACE ‘EM UP, HOCKEY FANS! We are officially hitting the mid-season grind where the ice gets harder, the hits get heavier, and the pretenders start looking for the exit! If you can’t handle the heat in January, get out of the rink! We’ve got teams surging like rockets and others sinking like stones in a frozen pond.
Here is your NHL Power Rankings Summary for the week ending January 18, 2026!
THE ELITE FIVE: THE KINGS OF THE ICE
These are the heavyweights. The teams everyone else is terrified to see on the schedule.
- Colorado (1st, 1626) The Avalanche are still the gold standard, holding a 100% chance to make the dance. Even after a weird 7-3 stumble against Nashville, they own the Central with a 98% win probability. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are playing like men possessed.
- Tampa Bay (2nd, 1588) The Bolts are screaming down the tracks! With an 11-game point streak and Vasilevskiy playing out of his mind, they’ve seized a 68% stranglehold on the Atlantic. Their Cup odds jumped to 12% this week!
- Dallas (3rd, 1547) The Stars took a few bruises this week, dropping games to Utah and Anaheim, but they remain a tier-one threat. They are sitting pretty with 98% playoff odds, though their grip on the Central is slipping.
- Vegas (4th, 1543) The Golden Knights are doing what they do best: winning. They dominated Nashville 7-2 and are now the favorites to take the Pacific with a 63% chance to win the division.
- Carolina (5th, +3, 1535) WELCOME TO THE TOP 5, CANES! After absolutely obliterating Florida 9-1, Carolina is the new boss of the Metropolitan. Their odds to win the division skyrocketed by 14% this week to a total of 66%.
THE ROCKET SHIPS: BIGGEST RISERS
Somebody call the fire department, because these teams are RED HOT!
- Utah (15th, +8, 1501): The biggest jump of the week! Utah destroyed Toronto 6-1 and Seattle 6-3. Their playoff odds swung up to a massive 65%. This team is for real!
- Buffalo (7th, +6, 1531): Don’t look now, but the Sabres are charging! They moved up 6 spots and now have a 65% chance to end the drought.
- Boston (13th, +6, 1512): The Bruins are back from the dead! A massive week has their playoff odds sitting at 52%, up significantly from last week.
THE FREE FALLERS: DROPPING LIKE FLIES
Check the parachutes, because these teams are in a controlled (or uncontrolled) descent.
- Philadelphia (26th, -11, 1475): TOTAL DISASTER. The Flyers plummeted 11 spots after a winless week. Their playoff hopes are fading fast at just 28%.
- Seattle (23rd, -8, 1483): The Kraken are lost at sea. They dropped 8 spots in the rankings and their playoff odds fell by 21%, now sitting at a coin-flip 49%.
- Toronto (8th, -3, 1527): Panic in the 6ix! After getting embarrassed by Utah and losing to Vegas, the Leafs are sliding. They only have a 3% chance to win the Atlantic.
DIVISION DOGFIGHTS: THE WAR FOR THE CROWN
Every point is a prisoner! Here’s how the four fronts look:
Atlantic Division
It’s the Tampa Bay (68%) show right now. Detroit (10%) is trying to keep pace after a big OT win against Ottawa, but the Bolts are pulling away. Keep an eye on Buffalo (6%)—they are the dark horse here!
Central Division
Colorado (98%) has the division in a locker and threw away the key. Dallas (1%) and Minnesota (1%) are basically fighting for scrap metal at this point. The Avalanche are playing a different sport.
Metropolitan Division
Carolina (66%) is the undisputed king this week. The NY Islanders (14%) and Pittsburgh (10%) are in a bloody battle for the second spot, while Washington (4%) is fading into the background.
Pacific Division
Vegas (63%) is the frontrunner, but Edmonton (25%) is charging hard! The Oilers just posted back-to-back high-scoring shutouts, including a 5-0 thumping of St. Louis. Seattle (4%) and LA (3%) are barely clinging to the conversation.
Here’s the rankings and ratings. Changes shown are from last week’s report.
The top 5
1. Colorado Avalanche (1626, ▼14)
Record: 33-5-8, 1st in Central Division
Chances of:
- Making the playoffs: >99%
- Winning the President’s Trophy: 90% (▼4)
- Winning the Stanley Cup: 22% (▼3)
Last week: 0-1-1
- January 12: Lost in OT 4-3 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (8th, 1527)
- January 16: Lost 7-3 vs. Nashville Predators (25th, 1478)
Next week:
- January 19: vs. Washington Capitals (14th, 1502)
- January 21: vs. Anaheim Ducks (30th, 1447)
- January 23: vs. Philadelphia Flyers (26th, 1475)
- January 25: @ Toronto Maple Leafs (8th, 1527)
2. Tampa Bay Lightning (1588, ▲13)
Record: 30-13-4, 1st in Atlantic Division
Chances of:
- Making the playoffs: 98% (▲3)
- Winning the President’s Trophy: 6% (▲4)
- Winning the Stanley Cup: 12% (▲2)
Last week: 3-0-1
- January 12: Won 5-1 @ Philadelphia Flyers (26th, 1475)
- January 13: Won in SO 2-1 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (15th, 1501)
- January 16: Lost in SO 3-2 @ St. Louis Blues (21st, 1488)
- January 18: Won 4-1 @ Dallas Stars (3rd, 1547)
Next week:
- January 20: vs. San Jose Sharks (29th, 1449)
- January 23: @ Chicago Blackhawks (31st, 1439)
- January 24: @ Columbus Blue Jackets (24th, 1479)
3. Dallas Stars (1547, ▼18)
Record: 27-13-9, 2nd in Central Division
Chances of:
- Making the playoffs: 98% (▼1)
- Winning the President’s Trophy: 1% (▼1)
- Winning the Stanley Cup: 6% (▼1)
Last week: 1-3-0
- January 12: Won 3-1 @ Los Angeles Kings (19th, 1490)
- January 13: Lost 3-1 @ Anaheim Ducks (30th, 1447)
- January 15: Lost 2-1 @ Utah Mammoth (15th, 1501)
- January 18: Lost 4-1 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (2nd, 1588)
Next week:
- January 20: vs. Boston Bruins (13th, 1512)
- January 22: @ Columbus Blue Jackets (24th, 1479)
- January 23: vs. St. Louis Blues (21st, 1488)
4. Vegas Golden Knights ▲1 (1543, ▲5)
Record: 24-11-12, 1st in Pacific Division
Chances of:
- Making the playoffs: 97% (▲4)
- Winning the President’s Trophy: 1% (▲1)
- Winning the Stanley Cup: 6% (▲1)
Last week: 3-0-0
- January 14: Won in OT 3-2 @ Los Angeles Kings (19th, 1490)
- January 15: Won in OT 6-5 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (8th, 1527)
- January 17: Won 7-2 vs. Nashville Predators (25th, 1478)
Next week:
- January 19: vs. Philadelphia Flyers (26th, 1475)
- January 22: @ Boston Bruins (13th, 1512)
- January 23: @ Toronto Maple Leafs (8th, 1527)
- January 25: @ Ottawa Senators (17th, 1496)
5. Carolina Hurricanes ▲3 (1535, ▲7)
Record: 30-15-4, 1st in Metropolitan Division
Chances of:
- Making the playoffs: 94% (▲4)
- Winning the President’s Trophy: 1% (▲1)
- Winning the Stanley Cup: 6% (▲1)
Last week: 2-1-1
- January 12: Lost in OT 4-3 @ Detroit Red Wings (9th, 1525)
- January 13: Lost 3-0 @ St. Louis Blues (21st, 1488)
- January 16: Won 9-1 vs. Florida Panthers (9th, 1525)
- January 17: Won 4-1 @ New Jersey Devils (27th, 1458)
Next week:
- January 19: vs. Buffalo Sabres (7th, 1531)
- January 22: vs. Chicago Blackhawks (31st, 1439)
- January 24: @ Ottawa Senators (17th, 1496)
Overall Ratings
1 Colorado Avalanche 1626 (▼14) 2 Tampa Bay Lightning 1588 (▲13) 3 Dallas Stars 1547 (▼18) 4 Vegas Golden Knights (▲1) 1543 (▲5) 5 Carolina Hurricanes (▲3) 1535 (▲7) 6 Edmonton Oilers (▲4) 1534 (▲10) 7 Buffalo Sabres (▲1) 1531 (▲3) 8 Toronto Maple Leafs (▼2) 1527 (▼4) 9 (tie) Detroit Red Wings (▼2) 1525 (▼4) 9 (tie) Florida Panthers (▲4) 1525 (▲10) 9 (tie) Minnesota Wild (▼5) 1525 (▼18) 12 Montreal Canadiens (▼1) 1521 (▼1) 13 Boston Bruins (▲5) 1512 (▲22) 14 Washington Capitals (▼2) 1502 (▼19) 15 (tie) Pittsburgh Penguins (▲2) 1501 (▲6) 15 (tie) Utah Mammoth (▲8) 1501 (▲22) 17 Ottawa Senators (▲5) 1496 (▲15) 18 New York Islanders (▼3) 1495 (▼5) 19 (tie) Calgary Flames (▲2) 1490 (▲8) 19 (tie) Los Angeles Kings (▼3) 1490 (▼9) 21 St. Louis Blues (▼1) 1488 (▲3) 22 Winnipeg Jets (▲3) 1487 (▲16) 23 Seattle Kraken (▼4) 1483 (▼5) 24 Columbus Blue Jackets (▲2) 1479 (▲14) 25 Nashville Predators (▼1) 1478 (▲5) 26 Philadelphia Flyers (▼12) 1475 (▼28) 27 (tie) New York Rangers (▼1) 1458 (▼7) 27 (tie) New Jersey Devils (▲2) 1458 (▲3) 29 San Jose Sharks (▲1) 1449 (▲5) 30 Anaheim Ducks (▲1) 1447 (▲11) 31 Chicago Blackhawks (▼3) 1439 (▼22) 32 Vancouver Canucks 1410 (▼23)
Chances of Winning Division
Metropolitan Division
1 Carolina Hurricanes 66% (▲15) 2 New York Islanders 14% (▼3) 3 Pittsburgh Penguins (▲2) 10% (▲2) 4 Washington Capitals 4% (▼5) 5 Philadelphia Flyers (▼2) 3% (▼10) 6 Columbus Blue Jackets 2% (▲1) 7 New Jersey Devils (▼1) 1% 8 New York Rangers (▼2) <1% (▼1)
Atlantic Division
1 Tampa Bay Lightning 68% (▲12) 2 Detroit Red Wings 10% (▼4) 3 Montreal Canadiens 8% (▼4) 4 Buffalo Sabres 6% (▼4) 5 (tie) Boston Bruins (▲1) 3% (▲1) 5 (tie) Toronto Maple Leafs 3% (▼2) 7 Florida Panthers (▼1) 2% 8 Ottawa Senators <1%
Central Division
1 Colorado Avalanche 98% (▲1) 2 (tie) Dallas Stars 1% (▼2) 2 (tie) Minnesota Wild (▲1) 1% 4 (tie) Chicago Blackhawks <1% 4 (tie) Nashville Predators <1% 4 (tie) St. Louis Blues <1% 4 (tie) Utah Mammoth <1% 4 (tie) Winnipeg Jets <1%
Pacific Division
1 Vegas Golden Knights 63% (▲14) 2 Edmonton Oilers 25% (▼1) 3 Seattle Kraken 4% (▼6) 4 Los Angeles Kings (▼1) 3% (▼7) 5 San Jose Sharks 2% (▼1) 6 (tie) Anaheim Ducks 1% 6 (tie) Calgary Flames 1% 8 Vancouver Canucks <1%
Making the Playoffs
Metropolitan Division
1 Carolina Hurricanes 94% (▲4) 2 New York Islanders 64% (▼4) 3 Pittsburgh Penguins (▲2) 54% (▲9) 4 Washington Capitals 38% (▼15) 5 Philadelphia Flyers (▼2) 28% (▼32) 6 Columbus Blue Jackets (▲2) 21% (▲11) 7 New Jersey Devils (▼1) 15% (▲4) 8 New York Rangers (▼2) 7% (▼4)
Atlantic Division
1 Tampa Bay Lightning 98% (▲3) 2 Detroit Red Wings 80% (▲2) 3 Montreal Canadiens 74% (▼1) 4 Buffalo Sabres 65% (▼1) 5 (tie) Boston Bruins (▲2) 52% (▲19) 5 (tie) Toronto Maple Leafs 52% (▼2) 7 Florida Panthers (▼1) 43% (▲3) 8 Ottawa Senators 15% (▲3)
Central Division
1 Colorado Avalanche >99% 2 Dallas Stars 98% (▼1) 3 Minnesota Wild 96% (▼2) 4 Utah Mammoth 65% (▲23) 5 Nashville Predators 37% (▲4) 6 Winnipeg Jets (▲2) 15% (▲5) 7 St. Louis Blues 14% 8 Chicago Blackhawks (▼2) 5% (▼17)
Pacific Division
1 Vegas Golden Knights 97% (▲4) 2 Edmonton Oilers 88% (▲5) 3 Seattle Kraken (▲1) 49% (▼13) 4 Los Angeles Kings (▼1) 46% (▼17) 5 San Jose Sharks 39% (▼1) 6 Anaheim Ducks (▲1) 31% (▲12) 7 Calgary Flames (▼1) 21% (▲1) 8 Vancouver Canucks <1% (▼4)
Winning the President’s Trophy
1 Colorado Avalanche 90% (▼4) 2 Tampa Bay Lightning 6% (▲4) 3 (tie) Carolina Hurricanes (▲2) 1% (▲1) 3 (tie) Dallas Stars (▼1) 1% (▼1) 3 (tie) Vegas Golden Knights (▲2) 1% (▲1)
Everyone else has less than a 1% chance of winning the President’s Trophy.
Winning the Stanley Cup
1 Colorado Avalanche 22% (▼3) 2 Tampa Bay Lightning 12% (▲2) 3 (tie) Carolina Hurricanes (▲1) 6% (▲1) 3 (tie) Dallas Stars 6% (▼1) 3 (tie) Vegas Golden Knights (▲1) 6% (▲1) 6 Edmonton Oilers (▲1) 5% (▲1) 7 (tie) Buffalo Sabres 4% 7 (tie) Detroit Red Wings 4% 7 (tie) Minnesota Wild (▼3) 4% (▼1) 7 (tie) Montreal Canadiens (▲4) 4% (▲1) 11 (tie) Florida Panthers (▲3) 3% (▲1) 11 (tie) Toronto Maple Leafs (▼4) 3% (▼1) 13 (tie) Boston Bruins (▲6) 2% (▲1) 13 (tie) Los Angeles Kings (▲1) 2% 13 (tie) New York Islanders (▲1) 2% 13 (tie) Pittsburgh Penguins (▲1) 2% 13 (tie) Utah Mammoth (▲6) 2% (▲1) 13 (tie) Washington Capitals (▼2) 2% (▼1) 19 (tie) Calgary Flames 1% 19 (tie) Columbus Blue Jackets (▲7) 1% (▲1) 19 (tie) Nashville Predators 1% 19 (tie) Ottawa Senators 1% 19 (tie) Philadelphia Flyers (▼8) 1% (▼2) 19 (tie) San Jose Sharks 1% 19 (tie) Seattle Kraken (▼5) 1% (▼1) 19 (tie) St. Louis Blues 1% 19 (tie) Winnipeg Jets (▲7) 1% (▲1) 28 (tie) Anaheim Ducks (▼2) <1% 28 (tie) Chicago Blackhawks (▼2) <1% 28 (tie) New York Rangers (▼2) <1% 28 (tie) New Jersey Devils (▼2) <1% 28 (tie) Vancouver Canucks (▼2) <1%