NHL Power Rankings: Rangers and Bruins Tumble; Jets and Canucks on Top

Three months ago, it wouldn't have been a stretch to suggest a pair of Western Conference teams would be atop the league come the first full week of 2024.

After all, the last two teams to hoist the Stanley Cup—Vegas and Colorado—were among the forecasted powerhouses for the 2023-24 season, too.

Winnipeg and Vancouver, though? That would have been a bold pick.

Yet, here we are approaching mid-January and it's all about the Jets and Canucks, who lead the Central and Pacific divisions, respectively, and find themselves similarly placed in this week's B/R Power Rankings.

Winnipeg earned 75 percent of the first-place ballots from the hockey staff to leap from third to first and Vancouver scooped up the remaining 25 percent to stay in second. Their surge helped drop last week's top dog, Boston, all the way to fifth, while the No. 3 and 4 spots were seized by Florida (up from No. 8) and Colorado (up from No. 5), respectively.

Last week's No. 4 team, the New York Rangers, fell two spots to sixth.

Scroll through to see where your favorite team wound up and drop a thought of your own in the comments.

Votes were tallied before games on Wednesday, Jan. 10.

Previous Ranking: 32

Overall Record: 9-29-3

The Sharks are mired in the league's overall basement with nine wins in 41 games. But it got even worse, according to coach David Quinn, in a 7-1 loss at Toronto on Tuesday—their 12th straight defeat.

"Arguably our worst game of the year from start to finish," Quinn said. "Every facet of the game really. Not one guy really had their game."

Previous Ranking: 31

Overall Record: 12-27-2

Tuesday's loss to Edmonton was the second straight game without Connor Bedard and there are going to be several more.

Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff reported that the 18-year-old underwent surgery Monday to repair a fractured jaw sustained January 5 against New Jersey and is expected to miss six to eight weeks, which will necessitate a replacement at the All-Star Game.

Previous Ranking: 30

Overall Record: 14-25-1

Sometimes, you just need to get out of California. That was apparently the case for the Ducks, which dropped the final five games and seven of eight overall in a homestand but began a six-game trip with a 5-3 win at Nashville.

The bad news? Trevor Zegras left the win with a lower-body injury and will "be out for a while," according to Anaheim coach Greg Cronin.

Previous Ranking: 27

Overall Record: 14-22-0

Losing when you've led after two periods is hard to swallow. That's what happened to the Senators on Tuesday in Calgary and defenseman Jakob Chychrun was not pleased.

"The room was energized and feeling good about the way we were playing in a road game here in Calgary, and [we] just went out in the third and blew it," he said. "It's as simple as that."

Previous Ranking: 29

Overall Record: 13-20-9

A Tuesday trip to Winnipeg yielded more of the same for the Blue Jackets, which were shut out for the third time this season and have lost seven of their last nine games.

Columbus has gone five straight games without exceeding three goals, scoring just nine times in that stretch while going 2-3-0.

Previous Ranking: 28

Overall Record: 17-20-4

The resolve to deal with in-game adversity has been an issue with the Sabres, which had 19 shots in the first period against Seattle on Tuesday, but ended the session down 2-1.

"(We) shouldn't be able to just dominate like that and then one play doesn't go our way and boo hoo, sit back on our heels and reel it in," forward Alex Tuch told reporters.

Previous Ranking: 26

Overall Record: 17-17-5

Every now and then, Sam Montembeault gives an indication he's the long-term goaltending answer for the Canadiens. That was surely the case in a recent 45-save defeat of the New York Rangers. It was his highest save total since he stopped 47 in a loss to Carolina in April.

The 27-year-old is 6-2-2 in his last 10 starts since mid-November.

Previous Ranking: 25

Overall Record: 17-18-4

Blending a pedestrian offense and an inconsistent power play is usually not a good recipe for winning anywhere, and it hasn't been in Minnesota either.

The Wild went 0-for-6 with the man advantage in a Monday loss to Dallas, their fifth defeat in six games. They are 24th overall with 2.90 goals per game and 21st on the power play at 18.2 percent.

It wasn't much better on Wednesday night, getting blown out by the Stars 7-2 in rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt's debut.

Previous Ranking: 24

Overall Record: 20-18-1

The Blues went goalless on four power plays against Florida on Tuesday and saw a brief two-game win streak end.

St. Louis has converted on just 10.6 percent of its man-advantage opportunities this season, which is the worst in the league. Its nightly output of 2.77 goals is also good for just 26th-best among 32 teams.

Previous Ranking: 23

Overall Record: 18-18-5

No one can suggest the Flames lack resolve. They scored four in the third period to defeat visiting Ottawa on Tuesday, marking the sixth time they've rallied to win when trailing after 40 minutes.

"You've got to control what you can," defenseman Noah Hanifin said. "That's what's in front of you. I thought we did a good job of handling our emotions."

Previous Ranking: 20

Overall Record: 20-17-5

It was a milestone Tuesday night at Amalie Arena for coach Jon Cooper, whose Lightning earned him the 500th win of his career with an OT defeat of Los Angeles.

Cooper is the sixth coach to win 500 games with one team and the third-fastest to hit the number (839 games), trailing just Scotty Bowman (825) and Bruce Boudreau (837).

Previous Ranking: 18

Overall Record: 20-17-2

The Coyotes had lost three straight games by a combined 15-4 count, so it's only natural they'd respond with an OT defeat of powerful Boston, right?

It was particularly pleasing to coach Andre Tourigny.

"Our team had urgency, intensity, no quit, and our 'care' factor was high," he said. "I'm extra proud of the guys."

Previous Ranking: 22

Overall Record: 17-14-9

If you had Joey Daccord on your list of likely heroes in the regular season, take a bow.

The 27-year-old goalie, a seventh-round pick in 2015, has won six straight starts for the surging Kraken, which have won seven in a row and gotten a point in 11 straight.

Daccord has allowed seven goals in those six wins while posting a stingy .966 save percentage.

Previous Ranking: 16

Overall Record: 22-18-1

The Predators have dropped two of three after a 5-3 loss to visiting Anaheim on Tuesday, but the fact that they've been beaten in five of their last six at home is more perplexing to coach Andrew Brunette.

"I wish I had an answer," he said. "It's just a recurring theme. It's kind of the definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over and over again."

Previous Ranking: 21

Overall Record: 20-16-4

It was a successful week in sunny California and nearby Arizona for the surging Red Wings, which swept three games on a western trip before heading home to host red-hot Edmonton on Thursday.

Detroit killed four power plays in Anaheim on Sunday and has killed 20 straight across its last eight games (5-3-0).

Previous Ranking: 15

Overall Record: 19-13-6

The Capitals went the dramatic route to end a two-game skid, scoring twice in the final period—including the game-winner from John Carlson in the final minute—to defeat visiting Los Angeles on Sunday.

Washington had been outscored 12-5 in consecutive home losses to New Jersey and Carolina.

Previous Ranking: 14

Overall Record: 18-12-10

Surrendering a power-play goal late in the first period started a wave of negatives for the Islanders, which dropped a 5-2 decision to visiting Vancouver on Tuesday.

New York is tied for 28th in the league in penalty-kill efficiency at just 72.7 percent.

Veteran defenseman Casey Cizikas left the game after blocking a shot with his left leg and may miss time.

Previous Ranking: 17

Overall Record: 21-15-2

A home loss to Vancouver was bad enough for the Devils because it snapped a brief two-game win streak, but it got even worse with the absence of prolific forward Jack Hughes the day after he'd suffered an upper-body injury against Chicago.

"This is going to be weeks, not months," coach Lindy Ruff said. "So, we'll evaluate him just week to week."

Previous Ranking: 13

Overall Record: 20-14-6

Defenseman Jamie Drysdale, acquired in a Monday trade that sent 2022 draft pick Cutter Gauthier to Anaheim, made his Flyers debut on Wednesday against visiting Montreal.

The 21-year-old was the first blue-liner from his 2020 draft class to reach the NHL and averaged nearly 20 minutes per game across parts of four seasons with the Ducks.

Previous Ranking: 19

Overall Record: 20-15-4

Forward Rickard Rakell is on a roll, and he's taking the Penguins with him. The veteran has points in four straight games and 10 points in his last 10.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has won five of seven after a 4-1 victory at Philadelphia on Monday in which Alex Nedeljkovic made 36 saves.

Previous Ranking: 12

Overall Record: 21-15-1

The memories of a difficult start are fading for the Oilers, which defeated Chicago on Tuesday to get to eight straight wins for the second time since late November.

Edmonton won eight in a row from November 24 to December 12, lost three straight and has rebounded with eight more wins. Only the Winnipeg Jets (16-4-2) have more points since the first streak began.

Previous Ranking: 7

Overall Record: 20-10-7

The margins are narrow, but it's been a consistent stream of recent frustration for the Kings, which lost a lead and dropped an OT decision in Tampa on Tuesday for a sixth straight loss (0-3-3).

"The difference between winning and losing is just a sliver of a moment or a play," coach Todd McLellan said. "We're still finding ourselves on the wrong side."

Previous Ranking: 10

Overall Record: 22-13-5

The good vibes kept coming (albeit in a lesser dose) for the Hurricanes, which got to a shootout before losing to visiting St. Louis on Sunday.

It was a sixth straight game with a point for Carolina, which had arrived with consecutive defeats of Nashville, Montreal, Toronto, New York Rangers and Washington—the final four of which were on the road.

Previous Ranking: 11

Overall Record: 21-10-7

There must be something motivating about signing a $92 million contract.

At least that's the indication being given by forward William Nylander, who locked down an eight-year deal on Monday and produced a three-point night Tuesday in a 7-1 rout of San Jose.

The Swede has a point in 34 of 38 games and leads the team with 57.

Previous Ranking: 9

Overall Record: 23-12-5

The Golden Knights have a chance to put a recent run of seven losses in nine games—including five straight on the road—firmly behind them with a stretch of five straight at T-Mobile Arena through January 20.

Vegas is 14-4-2 in 20 home games this season and has the league's fifth-best home record since joining the NHL in 2017-18. They'll be looking to lick their wounds after getting shut out 3-0 in Colorado on Wednesday night.

Previous Ranking: 6

Overall Record: 23-11-5

Jake Oettinger's recent injury situation isn't ideal, but the Stars must take some solace in the play of youngster Matt Murray, who stopped 23 shots in his first start of 2023-24 for his first career shutout.

"Playing in the NHL is one thing, it's every kid's dream," Murray said, "but to be able to get a shutout is on a level of its own. I'm ecstatic."

Previous Ranking: 4

Overall Record: 26-11-2

It's all about goaltending (or a lack thereof) for the Rangers, which were beaten 6-3 by visiting Vancouver on Monday.

New York is just 4-4-1 in its last nine, a run in which it's surrendered 3.22 goals per game and four or more in each of the regulation losses.

It's a departure from the first 30 games, when the goals-against average was 2.70 and the record was 22-7-1.

Previous Ranking: 1

Overall Record: 24-8-8

Losing three of four and falling to 3-2-2 in the second game of back-to-backs with a loss at Arizona was bad enough, but things could get even worse for the Bruins after goalie Linus Ullmark was helped off ice during overtime.

The reigning Vezina Trophy winner is 13-5-2 this season with a .916 save percentage in 21 games.

Previous Ranking: 5

Overall Record: 26-12-3

If you don't put Nathan MacKinnon on the very short list of the league's best players, there's an excellent chance you don't know what you're watching.

The No. 1 overall pick in 2013 was on pace to establish career bests in goals (42), assists (69) and points (111) through 41 games. If he maintains his current rate, he'll finish with 44 goals and 88 assists for 132 points.

Previous Ranking: 8

Overall Record: 26-12-2

There's no Eastern team hotter than the scalding Panthers, which rolled host St. Louis for their eighth consecutive win—their longest run since going 13 in a row in March/April 2022.

And it's the star names who have been driving the success, with Sam Reinhart scoring in four straight games and Matthew Tkachuk denting the Blues for his fifth career hat trick.

Previous Ranking: 2

Overall Record: 27-11-3

Three games in four nights in metropolitan New York City? No problem for the surging Canucks, which topped the Devils, Rangers and Islanders by a combined 17-9 while extending their Pacific Division leads to six points over Vegas and 10 over Los Angeles.

Vancouver is a pristine 24-0-0 this season when leading after two periods.

Previous Ranking: 3

Overall Record: 27-9-4

Commitment to the system is paying off for the Jets, which rose to the top of the overall standings with Tuesday's 5-0 defeat of Columbus.

Winnipeg has won seven in a row, earned a point in 13 straight and is on a 30-game run of allowing three or fewer goals—the sixth-longest stretch in league history.