OUTSIDER SPORTS BUZZ: NHL Weekly Report
Welcome to Outsider Sports Buzz, NHL edition. Here we will break down the biggest news in the NHL over the course of the week and the Outsider Sports staff give their power rankings.
AP Photo credit to Matt Slocum
History Made
The Boston Bruins continued to prove this past week just how amazing a season they are having when they became the fastest team to reach 100 points on the season, picking up 101 points in 61 games with Thursday’s win over Buffalo. This also came during a week where they added multiple pieces at the trade deadline, including Tyler Bertuzzi.
Stars Add Domi
We knew that Max Domi could be moved by the Chicago Blackhawks this season as they continue to blow things up and tank for Connor Bedard. Here come the Dallas Stars, a team I pegged for Jonathan Toews before he decided to step away. Domi fits in well with this Dallas team and in a wide-open Western Conference, he could put them into Stanley Cup contention.
Colorado Still Has Problems After Deadline
Heading into last week, it looked like the Colorado Avalanche had things finally heading in the right direction as they try to repeat as Stanley Cup champs. But after back-to-back games allowing seven goals to New Jersey and Dallas, It’s clear that goaltending is a glaring issue for this team.
Against New Jersey, we saw Justus Annunen allow seven goals on 29 shots, including six goals on the first 22 shots. On the road in Dallas, it was Alexandar Georgiev giving up five goals on 19 shots and Keith Kinkaid was forced into the game in the second period. Pavel Francouz has been good for the Avalanche when he’s been able to play, but he’s played just 15 games and hasn’t played since February 7th.
OUTSIDER SPORTS POWER RANKINGS
Members of the Outsider Sports Hockey Podcast Tom Leone and Mikey D along with myself each provided our top 10 teams in the NHL. How did we rank them? Where we ranked each team was how many points assigned to them, with first getting ten points and tenth getting one point. The team with the most points is ranked first. How we ranked each team individually is underneath our rankings.
1. Boston Bruins (30 points)
There really isn’t much more to add about the Bruins at this point. They continue to roll, they added depth at the deadline and should be the most-feared team going into the playoffs.
2. Carolina Hurricanes (27 points)
The Hurricanes got a much-needed win beating Arizona on the road, but two losses to Anaheim and Vegas had the Devils just one point behind them heading into Friday’s games. Their win coupled with the Devils shootout loss helped them gain a 2-point cushion.
3. New Jersey Devils (23 points)
New Jersey trading for Timo Meier really pushed the needle for a lot of people and showed the hockey world that this team is ready to compete. They also added Curtis Lazar on deadline day, helping stretch the roster’s depth for the stretch run.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs (21 points)
The Leafs made a bunch of moves and had a flashy trade deadline, but they lost 5-2 in Edmonton and followed that up with a close in in Calgary and a 4-1 loss in Vancouver. A big road game in New Jersey looms Tuesday, and the Devils are expected to have Meier and Lazar healthy and in the lineup.
5. Tampa Bay Lightning (16 points)
The Bolts went on a nice streak to get into the top five, but they’ve lost four straight heading into a tough matchup with Carolina Sunday. If the losing continues, they will find themselves falling quickly.
6. Dallas Stars (15 points)
The Stars added Domi and then followed that up with a convincing win over Colorado. They currently lead the Central Division and can make a push for home ice through the West.
7. New York Rangers (14 points)
Unlike Tampa, the Rangers recent losing skid can be credited to playing short-handed, or just playing Boston. They added strong pieces at the deadline and with K’andre Miller coming back they’ll be in much better shape.
8. Vegas Golden Knights (10 points)
Goaltending has been the unexpected issue for Bruce Cassidy’s club. After Logan Thompson stepped in for Robin Lehner with an all-star first half, his injury has left the Golden Knights strapped for answers. In steps Jonathan Quick. He hasn’t had the best season but maybe his redemption story can be enough to get him back to form. There’s also Adin Hill, who stopped 47 of 50 shots against a piping hot Devils team that scored 7 goals in back-to-back games coming in. That was just his 100 th career NHL game, but he looked unbeatable, especially in overtime and the shootout. That duo is going to have to make it work for Vegas to have success.
9. Minnesota Wild (4 points)
Things are certainly looking better for the Wild than they did in the middle of February. They now find themselves in a playoff spot thanks to a 9-game point streak and four straight wins.
10. Los Angeles Kings (3 points)
The Quick trade may be hard to stomach for Kings fans and players, but at the end of the day it was a great trade that helped the team acquire a second goalie to not only pair with Phoenix Copley, but to potentially be the guy of the future with Copley over the age of 30.
Also receiving votes: Colorado Avalanche (2 points)
How we ranked them:
Ben Mandell: Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings.
Tom Leone: Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, Los Angeles Kings.
Mikey D: Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Dallas Stars, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, Los Angeles Kings.