Caps top season-ending 7-Eleven Power Rankings

The Presidents' Trophy winners for the second year in a row and third time in team history didn't let their foot off the gas at all, winning 10 of their last 12 games. 

The Western Conference’s top team for the season and the league's best team (20-4-2) February through March took a pre-playoff vacation in April, going winless in four games. 

The Penguins ended the season against the Leafs and the Rangers with losses, but rested a number of key players once the clinched home ice in their playoff matchup with the Blue Jackets. 

A current 14-game point streak (11-0-3) included a home win over Calgary. That comes as little surprise considering they've beaten the Flames an NHL record 25 straight times at home.  

A great stretch run of 12-2-0 helped the Oilers reach the playoffs for the first time since 2005-06 and the 100 point mark for the first time since 1986-87.

Montreal went from a .603 team heading south under Michel Therrien to a .688 team heading north under Claude Julien – due largely to Carey Price’s improved play.

The Blue Jackets lost six of their last seven games, averaging two goals per game over that span. Not even Sergei Bobrovsky could stop the bleeding. 

The Blues built on their strong second half, winning four of their last five. Since March 1, the Blues are 15-3-2 and are 22-8-2 since Mark Yeo took over as head coach.  

The Wild may have righted the ship just in time with four straight wins to close out the season after winning three times in their previous 15 games.

Just one regulation loss in their final eight games (6-1-1) allowed Boston to secure a playoff spot. That stretch included two shutouts, and just 10 total goals allowed. 

Resiliency has been a theme for the playoff-bound Senators this year. After losing five straight from March 25 to April 3, they rebounded nicely in their final four regular season games, winning three of them.

Mike Smith is the latest candidate in the annual search for a reliable No. 1 goalie, and the late signing of Jaromir Jagr as well as the addition of blueliner Travis Hamonic should help out in Calgary.

With a late surge from the Isles and Lightning, clinching a playoff spot was anything but easy for the Leafs. But they're going to the playoffs in an 82-game season for the first time since 2003-04.

Ryan Johansen earning four points (1-3-4) in two games against the mighty Blackhawks is what GM David Poile imagined when he sacrificed Seth Jones for the young centre.

The Rangers will limp into the playoffs while Henrik Lundqvist struggled since returning from injury, losing five of his last six starts. His .910 save percentage this season is the lowest of his career. 

Little change in their lineup means little change likely in their fortunes, but it will be up to the two Joes - Thornton and Pavelski - and Norris winner Brent Burns to have any hope beyond Game No. 82.

Despite an injury plagued year, the Lightning fought to the end for a playoff spot, winning 10 of their last 12 contests and allowing four goals in their final five games.

Not much else matters this season until one thing happens: Getting John Tavares signed. The acquisition of Jordan Eberle and his soft hands should help Tavares have a shot at a 30-goal season.

Winnipeg closed out their season with seven straight wins including five vs. playoff teams. Their last three wins were recorded by three different goalies - Hellebuyck, Comrie and Hutchinson.

A 5-1-2 record over the final two weeks was a nice way to end the season. The Flyers made the playoffs twice in the last five years, losing in the first round both times. 

The Hurricanes struggled in the month of April, losing five of their last six games. Over that span, they allowed 3.5 goals per game, well up from their season average of 2.8. 

The Kings recorded their lowest win total in eight years. They’ve failed to make the playoffs in two of the last three seasons after winning two Stanley Cups in three years prior to that. 

After missing the playoffs for the first time in 26 years, the Red Wings have made few changes, almost ensuring it will be the second time in 27 years. It’s time to replenish this roster with a Top 5 pick.

A year-over-year 30-point drop is not the worst in the league – Colorado’s 34-point drop is – but it represents the worst in franchise history. 

James Reimer dazzled with two shutouts to end the season, but before that they dropped six straight and were outscored 28-12 during that span, knocking them out of playoff contention. 

The Sabres lost five of their last six to close out the season. It’s the sixth straight year they’ve missed the playoffs and have not been above 90 points since 2011.

Three wins in their final five games pushed the Coyotes out of last place in the Pacific Division, but they missed the playoffs for the fifth straight season.

The Devils lost nine of their last 10 games to end the season, scoring 1.6 goals per game over that stretch, well below the league’s season average of 2.8. 

The Canucks ended a miserable season with eight straight losses to put them in last place in the Pacific. But their dismal finish did vault them into second place in lottery odds.

The Avalanche lost their last three games to end a miserable season. Their 48 points is the fewest since the 1999-00 season, when the expansion Atlanta Thrashers recorded 39.