The powerful Pittsburgh Penguins continue to earn the confidence of the 7-Eleven power rankings panel.
Pittsburgh is the consensus choice of TSN’s Ray Ferraro, Jeff O’Neill, Jamie McLennan, Craig Button and Darren Dreger as the NHL’s No. 1 playoff team with one spectacular, overtime-filled postseason round wrapped up.
The Penguins were also the choice as best team after week one of the playoffs.
Anaheim and St. Louis swap places, with the Ducks going from No. 4 to 2 and the Blues from No. 2 to 4. Nashville’s sweep of Chicago maintains the Predators’ standing as the No. 3 team, while Washington jumps two places to No. 5 after a series win over Toronto that featured five overtime games.
Canada’s two surviving teams check in at No. 6 (Edmonton) and No. 7 (Ottawa). In a rare show of unanimity, all five experts slotted Toronto at No. 9, ranking the Leafs as best of the first-round losers. Montreal is No. 10 and sweep victims Calgary ends its season at No. 16.