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In this edition of the hotstove we share our power rankings for the top-5 teams in the NHL. We take into account a variety of factors and don't necessarily rank based off records.
Todd Cordell
1. Dallas Stars (9-3-0)
They have the two leading scorers in the NHL, are an elite possession team and probably have the best forward core in the NHL. If the goaltending holds up they're going to win a ton of games.
2. St. Louis Blues (8-2-1)
Vladimir Tarasenko is averaging a point per game, the defense has been excellent and they are currently the best possession team in the NHL. They're doing all without Jaden Schwartz and Paul Stastny while playing in the toughest division in hockey.
3. Montreal Canadiens (11-2-0)
There are some unsustainable things going on in Montreal - they're shooting 10% and Mike Condon leads the league in save percentage - but they're getting balanced scoring and Carey Price is Carey Price. I'm still not entirely sold on the Habs but it's tough to argue with that record.
4. Washington Capitals (8-2-0)
Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom are tearing it up and Evgeny Kuztnetsov is breaking out in a big, big way. Few teams can keep up with them offensively.
5. Los Angeles Kings (7-4-0)
They've won seven of eight in a very tough conference. Enough said.
James Tanner
1. LA Kings.
They've won seven of their last eight, and they should have won a couple of the games they lost (the Arizona games comes to mind.) They have a decent goalie, two of the best defensemen in hockey and two of the best all-round centres in hockey.
And they have Tyler Toffoli. They also only .03 of a % off the Blues for best possession team in the NHL. And their PDO is STILL under 100.
The fact that they are shooting 5.3% as a team at 5v5 should scare the crap out of the rest of the NHL. Best team in the NHL, bar none.
2. St. Louis
They have allowed a ridiculous 13 5v5 goals against in 11 games, and lead the NHL in possession. They are 8-2-1 and have how many excellent players on the IR?
3. Washington
They have Ovechkin. That alone makes them a good team. Add in a new second line that can score and Kuznetsov who is kicking it, a great goalie, and a dominant possession team and you get a team that is for real.
4. Dallas
Fun to watch, can score a ton, Klingberg is wicked for me in my pool, what's not to like?
5. Buffalo
Oh what did you do Tanner? Buffalo? You idiot!
52% possession.
Ridiculous 95 PDO.
Lead the league in high-danger scoring chances and third in HDSC differential.
They're shooting under 5% and are dressing a goalie I barely ever heard of, but they are a team that is not just on the rise, but a team that has risen. O'Reilly is a monster. Eichal and Reinhart get better by the game. Their D is good, their F is solid.
Do I really think that for 82 games their the fifth best team in hockey? No I don't, but I do think they deserve some props, right now, for being one of the best teams in the NHL so far. Let's not even look at their record, records are useless right now and have way more to do with luck than anything else.
Buffalo is a good team, threatening greatness.
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