NHL Power Rankings: Avalanche stay in first; Capitals, Predators improve

In this week’s edition of the NHL Power Rankings the Colorado Avalanche maintain their spot in first place despite a growing injury list that now includes Gabriel Landeskog and Samuel Girard. They are in a tough race with the Carolina Hurricanes (who remain in the second spot) for the Presidents’ Trophy.

There are not many major changes in this week’s top-10, but the Washington Capitals and Nashville Predators both make nice jumps this week thanks to their improved play in recent weeks.

The Capitals might be getting enough goaltending from Vitek Vanecek to allow them to search for other upgrades at the trade deadline, while the Nashville Predators are getting a great bounce back season from Matt Duchene to help further solidify their playoff spot.

We look at all of that and more in this week’s rankings.

Where does your team sit?

1. Colorado Avalanche (Last Week: 1). Injuries to Landeskog and Girard are going to hurt, but their salary cap situation might open up for a big addition before the NHL trade deadline (depending on how long Landeskog is sidelined).

2. Carolina Hurricanes (LW: 2). They are reportedly close to an eight-year contract extension for Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Could be a big win if he becomes the player they hope, but also a little bit of a risk if he does not.

3. Florida Panthers (LW: 5). Their offense is just laughably good. They have scored at least five goals in 25 of their 59 games this season. That is nearly half of their games.

4. Tampa Bay Lightning (LW: 3). Andrei Vasilevskiy is so good that a .918 save percentage seems like a “down” year for him. It is not really a down year.

5. Calgary Flames (LW: 4). This is a really good team, and as long as Jacob Markstrom keeps playing like this they will