First overall in the Western Conference standings with 38 points, the Winnipeg Jets just keep getting better.
The Jets are the best team in this week’s TSN 7-Eleven Power Rankings, according to consensus rankings formulated by the TSN Power Ranking panel of Ray Ferraro, Jeff O’Neill, Jamie McLennan, Craig Button and Darren Dreger.
Winnipeg, ranked No. 4 last week, has shifted its offensive machine into high gear, with captain Blake Wheeler (fourth in NHL scoring with 35 points, including a league-best 28 assists, one up on teammate Mark Scheifele) leading the charge. The club is also getting consistent goaltending from Connor Hellebuyck (15-2 record, .925 save percentage, 2.31 goals-against average). It’s hard to believe the Jets were last overall in Week 2 of the power rankings in early October.
The Tampa Bay Lightning, tied with Winnipeg for first overall in the league standings but with a game in hand, remain No. 2 for the second straight week followed by the slumping St. Louis Blues, who drop to No. 3 – losing three straight – after being ranked first last week. The Columbus Blue Jackets move up a spot to No. 4 while the surging Los Angeles Kings, winners of five straight after being No. 12 a week ago, round out the top-five teams.
The Jets remain the top-ranked team in Canada, with the No. 7 Toronto Maple Leafs – who won two of three in Western Canada last week – the country’s second best, moving up from No. 9. Thanks to the return of Carey Price, the rejuvenated Montreal Canadiens are the third-best team in the country, catapulting 13 spots in the rankings to No. 13 from No. 26 last week. The Canadiens are followed by the No. 17 Calgary Flames, the Vancouver Canucks at No. 21 and the improving Edmonton Oilers, who move up five places to No. 22 from No. 27 a week ago. The Ottawa Senators are Canada’s worst team, falling to No. 27 overall from No. 24 last week.
Ottawa is also the fifth-worst team in the rankings this week, followed by the Arizona Coyotes at No. 28, who climb two spots from No. 30 a week ago. The tanking Detroit Red Wings, who were No. 22 last week, fall to No. 29 overall after seven consecutive losses, while the Philadelphia Flyers, who have lost 10 straight, continue their spiral to No. 30 overall.
The low-scoring Buffalo Sabres, who have yet to be ranked higher than No. 25 overall (Week 1 prior to the start of the regular season), are the league’s worst team for the second consecutive week.