Dec 18, 2017
The 7-Eleven Power Rankings: Lightning, Preds unanimous No. 1, No. 2 picks
Heading into the NHL’s Dec. 24-26 holiday break, members of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators are likely going to be pretty laid-back spending time with family and friends.
![Forsberg shoots on Vasilevskiy, Getty Images Forsberg shoots on Vasilevskiy](/polopoly_fs/1.947178.1513621358!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_620/forsberg-shoots-on-vasilevskiy.jpg)
Heading into the NHL’s Dec. 24-26 holiday break, members of the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators are likely going to be pretty laid-back spending time with family and friends.
The Lightning reached the 50-point mark at the earliest time of the season in their team history, they're first overall in the standings, have won seven straight games and are the best team this week in TSN’s 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.
The Predators, reigning Western Conference champs, allowed just one goal in their three-game sweep of Western Canada teams, Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros earned shutouts and Nashville has won 13 of its last 15 games to move up to No. 2 this week from No. 6 a week ago.
Moreover, both the Lightning and Predators are the unanimous No. 1 and No. 2 picks respectively of our power ranking panel the week before Christmas.
Rounding out the top five this week are the St. Louis Blues, who are stuck at No. 3, followed by the sizzling Washington Capitals, who move up four spots from No. 8 last week and No. 12 two weeks ago, and the slumping Los Angeles Kings who drop three places following three straight losses after being ranked No. 2 a week ago.
The No. 8 Winnipeg Jets are the highest-rated Canadian team, moving up one spot this week after being first overall two weeks ago. They’re followed by the Toronto Maple Leafs, who started the season at No. 10, vaulted to No. 1 by Week 3 and slip six places to No. 10 this week. The Calgary Flames drop to No. 19 from No. 15 a week ago, while the Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks rank No. 23, 24, 25, respectively.
Despite two straight wins and a slight bump up to the No. 28 spot, the Ottawa Senators are the fourth-worst team in the NHL this week, one place below the No. 27 Detroit Red Wings. The NHL’s three bottom-feeding teams this week include the Florida Panthers at No. 29, the No. 30 Buffalo Sabres and the Arizona Coyotes, who return to the lowest rung on the ladder after being second-worst a week ago.
TSN’s 7-Eleven Power Rankings will return early in 2018. Happy holidays and Merry Christmas!
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Tampa Bay Lightning](/polopoly_fs/1.704279.1490287960!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/tampa-bay-lightning.jpg)
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
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2017-1824-6-2
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LAST 108-2-0
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LAST WEEK1
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Nashville Predators](/polopoly_fs/1.704266.1633991582!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/nashville-predators.jpg)
2. Nashville Predators
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2017-1821-7-4
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LAST 107-1-2
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LAST WEEK6
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A St. Louis Blues](/polopoly_fs/1.704251.1490286711!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/st-louis-blues.jpg)
3. St. Louis Blues
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2017-1822-11-2
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LAST 105-4-1
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LAST WEEK3
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Washington Capitals](/polopoly_fs/1.704113.1490279658!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/washington-capitals.jpg)
4. Washington Capitals
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2017-1821-12-1
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LAST 108-2-0
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LAST WEEK8
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Los Angeles Kings](/polopoly_fs/1.704284.1490288122!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/los-angeles-kings.jpg)
5. Los Angeles Kings
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2017-1820-10-4
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LAST 107-2-1
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LAST WEEK2
A trip to the East put a damper on an eight-game winning streak. They allowed 13 goals in losses to New Jersey (5-1 to the Devils), the New York Rangers and the New York Islanders (overtime).
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Vegas Golden Knights](/polopoly_fs/1.869713.1506610550!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/vegas-golden-knights.jpg)
6. Vegas Golden Knights
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2017-1821-9-2
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LAST 106-3-1
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LAST WEEK5
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A New Jersey Devils](/polopoly_fs/1.704332.1490289749!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/new-jersey-devils.jpg)
7. New Jersey Devils
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2017-1818-9-5
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LAST 105-4-1
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LAST WEEK10
Brian Boyle has five goals (of his eight total) in his last eight games, Stefan Noeson has six points (of eight in total) in his last six, and Blake Coleman has four of his eight points in his last five games.
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Winnipeg Jets](/polopoly_fs/1.704304.1490288940!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/winnipeg-jets.jpg)
8. Winnipeg Jets
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2017-1819-10-5
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LAST 104-4-2
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LAST WEEK9
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Columbus Blue Jackets](/polopoly_fs/1.704131.1490280856!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/columbus-blue-jackets.jpg)
9. Columbus Blue Jackets
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2017-1820-12-1
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LAST 105-5-0
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LAST WEEK7
It’s feast or famine for Columbus. Over their last six games they had a six-goal game and a five-goal game. In three other games, however, they scored just one goal, and in the last game they scored two.
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Toronto Maple Leafs](/polopoly_fs/1.704260.1587498571!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/toronto-maple-leafs.jpg)
10. Toronto Maple Leafs
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2017-1820-13-1
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LAST 105-5-0
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LAST WEEK4
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Chicago Blackhawks](/polopoly_fs/1.704116.1490280023!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/chicago-blackhawks.jpg)
11. Chicago Blackhawks
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2017-1817-11-5
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LAST 105-3-2
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LAST WEEK17
It seems to be a thing that when a goalie returns from an injury the team goes on a W streak (Carey Price). Corey Crawford’s return has sparked a five-game winning streak, their longest of 2017-18.
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A New York Rangers](/polopoly_fs/1.704133.1490280932!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/new-york-rangers.jpg)
12. New York Rangers
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2017-1818-12-3
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LAST 106-3-1
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LAST WEEK14
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A San Jose Sharks](/polopoly_fs/1.704136.1490281004!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/san-jose-sharks.jpg)
13. San Jose Sharks
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2017-1817-10-4
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LAST 106-2-2
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LAST WEEK13
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A New York Islanders](/polopoly_fs/1.704269.1490287680!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/new-york-islanders.jpg)
14. New York Islanders
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2017-1818-12-3
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LAST 104-5-1
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LAST WEEK12
The trio are on fire again. In nine-December games, Josh Bailey (4-8-12) John Tavares (3-9-12) are tied for first in team scoring points and Anders Lee (7-3-10) is tied for first in goals.
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Pittsburgh Penguins](/polopoly_fs/1.704129.1490280782!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/pittsburgh-penguins.jpg)
15. Pittsburgh Penguins
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2017-1817-14-3
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LAST 106-4-0
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LAST WEEK11
The Penguins are just 4-4 for the month of December, but don’t blame the penalty killing. They’re the only team with a perfect PK percentage for the month, killing off all 23 short-handed situations.
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Minnesota Wild](/polopoly_fs/1.704141.1490281195!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/minnesota-wild.jpg)
16. Minnesota Wild
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2017-1817-13-3
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LAST 106-4-0
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LAST WEEK19
Five of their last seven wins have come in extra time, three in overtime and two in a shootout. Former Leaf Alex Stalock blanked his old team Thursday for his first NHL shutout in three seasons.
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Boston Bruins](/polopoly_fs/1.704254.1490286853!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/boston-bruins.jpg)
17. Boston Bruins
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2017-1815-10-5
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LAST 106-3-1
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LAST WEEK16
The Bruins, who were 28th five weeks ago, lost to Washington, which wasn’t a big surprise considering it was their 11th straight loss to the Capitals, their longest current losing streak against any team.
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Philadelphia Flyers](/polopoly_fs/1.704298.1490288824!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/philadelphia-flyers.jpg)
18. Philadelphia Flyers
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2017-1814-11-7
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LAST 106-2-2
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LAST WEEK22
The Flyers became the third team in history to win six or more games following a winless stretch of 10 or more games. The 1966-67 Leafs hold the record with seven wins, and they won the Cup that year.
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Calgary Flames](/polopoly_fs/1.704247.1490286442!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/calgary-flames.jpg)
19. Calgary Flames
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2017-1817-14-3
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LAST 104-4-2
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LAST WEEK15
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Dallas Stars](/polopoly_fs/1.704320.1490289402!/fileimage/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/dallas-stars.png)
20. Dallas Stars
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2017-1818-14-2
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LAST 105-4-1
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LAST WEEK18
The Stars have scored just two power-play goals in 38 opportunities, fewest in the NHL, after Nov. 18. That's good for a 5.26 per cent success rate, also worst in the league over that time span.
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Anaheim Ducks](/polopoly_fs/1.704138.1490281069!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/anaheim-ducks.jpg)
21. Anaheim Ducks
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2017-1814-11-8
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LAST 104-2-4
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LAST WEEK20
The Ducks have lost four of seven. But they also have a streak of seven straight games in which they’ve earned a point (3-0-4). Ryan Getzlaf returned from injury to notch two assists in two games.
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Carolina Hurricanes](/polopoly_fs/1.704292.1490288515!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/carolina-hurricanes.jpg)
22. Carolina Hurricanes
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2017-1814-11-7
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LAST 104-3-3
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LAST WEEK24
Not much has been going right for them, so they’ll take what they can get. They finished off a six-game road trip with wins in the final two games, and then scored a 2-1 win in their first game back home.
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Edmonton Oilers](/polopoly_fs/1.704155.1494002794!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/edmonton-oilers.jpg)
23. Edmonton Oilers
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2017-1814-17-2
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LAST 106-4-0
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LAST WEEK25
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Montreal Canadiens](/polopoly_fs/1.702049.1490104513!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/montreal-canadiens.jpg)
24. Montreal Canadiens
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2017-1814-15-4
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LAST 106-3-1
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LAST WEEK23
The Canadiens had a poor start to their seven-game road trip, losing 3-0 outdoors in Ottawa. They play three in Western Canada, and then after Christmas visit Carolina, Tampa Bay and Florida.
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Vancouver Canucks](/polopoly_fs/1.704330.1490289692!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/vancouver-canucks.jpg)
25. Vancouver Canucks
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2017-1815-15-4
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LAST 104-6-0
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LAST WEEK21
The Canucks have lost five of their last six games and surrendered 26 goals for an average of 5.2 per game. Rookie scoring leader Brock Boeser injured his left foot Sunday and could miss some time.
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Colorado Avalanche](/polopoly_fs/1.704339.1490289925!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/colorado-avalanche.jpg)
26. Colorado Avalanche
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2017-1815-15-2
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LAST 104-6-0
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LAST WEEK26
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Detroit Red Wings](/polopoly_fs/1.704311.1490289099!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/detroit-red-wings.jpg)
27. Detroit Red Wings
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2017-1812-13-7
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LAST 102-4-4
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LAST WEEK28
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Ottawa Senators](/polopoly_fs/1.704145.1490281358!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/ottawa-senators.jpg)
28. Ottawa Senators
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2017-1811-13-7
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LAST 103-6-1
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LAST WEEK29
The Senators fared poorly on their seven-game road trip, winning once and getting shut out three times, but in two home games since then they’ve won them both, including a 3-0 shutout of Montreal outdoors.
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Florida Panthers](/polopoly_fs/1.704296.1490288739!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/florida-panthers.jpg)
29. Florida Panthers
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2017-1812-16-5
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LAST 103-4-3
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LAST WEEK27
The Panthers (29 points) visited Vegas (44 points) and faced players they let go to the expansion team, Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith. Marchessault had three points, and Smith had two.
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Buffalo Sabres](/polopoly_fs/1.704308.1490289036!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/buffalo-sabres.jpg)
30. Buffalo Sabres
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2017-188-18-7
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LAST 102-5-3
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LAST WEEK31
Jack Eichel scored two of his three goals against Carolina over a 10-second span in the third to tie the game, then for the fifth consecutive time they lost in overtime. Evander Kane had three assists.
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A Arizona Coyotes](/polopoly_fs/1.704335.1490289847!/fileimage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_140/arizona-coyotes.jpg)
31. Arizona Coyotes
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2017-18 RECORD7-23-5
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LAST 101-7-2
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LAST WEEK30
They’re on a six-game skid, the last five in regulation, and their goal high in those six games was two. They came close to a win against the Pens, tying it in the third only to lose 4-2 in the last 15 seconds.