When the Colorado Avalanche suffered their second regulation lack of the 2025-26 NHL season on Dec. 4, some thought the workforce would start coming again to Earth after its 19-1-6 begin. However head coach Jared Bednar’s membership is proving it has no intention of taking its foot off the fuel.

Colorado has adopted its 6-3 setback in opposition to the New York Islanders with a five-game level streak, successful 4 contests whereas dropping the opposite in a shootout. The Avalanche opened Week 10 with that 4-3 defeat in Nashville, incomes the purpose after defenseman Cale Makar scored the game-tying purpose with eight seconds remaining within the third interval, however returned dwelling to submit wins in opposition to the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers and Predators to maintain the practice rolling.

The Avalanche high the NHL with 53 factors however are solely 4 in entrance of the Dallas Stars, who break up their 4 contests final week. Three different groups are climbing the ladder because of sturdy performances, nonetheless, because the Carolina Hurricanes gained all 4 of their video games to extend their level complete to 44 whereas the Minnesota Wild and New York Islanders each went 3-0-0 to offer them 43 and 41 factors, respectively.

In the meantime, the Los Angeles Kings didn’t report a victory in Week 10, dropping extra time choices to the Seattle Kraken and Calgary Flames earlier than falling to Dallas in regulation to drop out of this week’s high 10 rankings. Los Angeles has misplaced 9 of its final 13 contests, though it earned a degree in 5 of these setbacks.

Every week in the course of the season, I will rank the league’s high 10 groups primarily based on each the earlier week’s performances and total physique of labor in 2025-26. I will additionally give transient synopsis for every membership that explains why they’re ranked the place they’re.

Let’s dive into the ability rankings coming into Week 11 of the 2025-26 NHL season and spotlight just a few of the groups’ notable accomplishments.

NHL Week 11 energy rankings 

1. Colorado Avalanche (2-0-1 in Week 10; 23-2-7 total)

The Avalanche earned 5 out of a attainable six factors final week, and it nonetheless boggles my thoughts that they’ve didn’t report one solely twice of their first 32 video games of the season. The Boston Bruins set NHL data with 65 wins and 135 factors in 2022-23 however suffered 4 regulation losses of their first 26 contests. The 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens completed with a league-record eight regulation losses however dropped two of their first seven video games and had been 9-3-1 over their first 13 outings. Nathan MacKinnon posted three two-point performances in Week 10 and leads the NHL with 26 targets and 52 factors. The 2024 Hart Trophy winner has been stored off the scoresheet simply 5 occasions this season, as has Cale Makar. A two-time Norris Trophy recipient, Makar is using a six-game level streak and is first amongst all defensemen in assists (28) and factors (38) whereas rating second in targets (10). In the meantime, Martin Necas was held with out a level by Nashville on Saturday, ending a five-game streak throughout which he racked up a purpose and 9 assists.

2. Carolina Hurricanes (4-0-0; 21-9-2)

Carolina’s 4-0-0 week may be a bit deceptive, as every of its final three victories got here in a shootout. However the Hurricanes gained the video games nonetheless and enter Week 11 atop the Metropolitan Division. And so they recorded all 4 wins with none offensive contribution from Sebastian Aho, who’s tied with Seth Jarvis for the workforce lead with 26 factors however is within the midst of a five-game drought. Taylor Corridor and Alexander Nikishin had been the one three gamers to land on the scoresheet in three of Carolina’s 4 contests, and the latter is carrying a three-game level streak into the brand new week. Jarvis was a think about three of the victories as effectively, scoring in regulation in opposition to the Columbus Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers whereas netting the decisive shootout purpose versus the Washington Capitals.

3. Minnesota Wild (3-0-0; 19-9-5)

Minnesota is using a four-game successful streak throughout which it allowed fewer than three targets in every triumph. Marcus Johansson has been concerned offensively amid the run, notching three targets and three assists throughout a four-game level streak that has adopted a five-game dry spell. Joel Eriksson Ek additionally bought on the scoresheet in all 4 victories after a five-game drought, netting three tallies and organising 4 others. Matt Boldy collected two targets and three assists final week to extend his level complete to 37 and forge a tie for the workforce lead with Kirill Kaprizov, who recorded two of every and is tied for third within the NHL with 20 tallies. The 28-year-old Russian left wing grew to become one in every of solely 4 gamers within the league to succeed in the 20-goal plateau to this point this season by changing twice in opposition to the Boston Bruins on Sunday. The Wild additionally acquired a right away contribution in that win from 2024 Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes, who scored a purpose in his workforce debut two days after being acquired from the Vancouver Canucks.

4. Dallas Stars (2-2-0; 22-7-5)

Considered one of Minnesota’s victories in Week 10 was a 5-2 overcome the Stars, who break up their 4 video games and dropped just a few spots within the rankings. Dallas adopted that defeat with its first shutout lack of the season, a 4-0 setback in opposition to the Panthers, however ended the week with a 4-1 win versus the Los Angeles Kings. Mikko Rantanen racked up three assists in a 4-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets to increase his level streak to seven video games however was blanked in back-to-back outings earlier than netting a tally and organising one other in opposition to the Kings. The 29-year-old Finnish proper wing is tied for fourth within the NHL with 44 factors, whereas Jason Robertson shares third in targets with 20 after scoring twice final week. Wyatt Johnston additionally had a strong week offensively, recording a tally and 4 assists. In the meantime, Matt Duchene made his presence felt versus Los Angeles as he registered a purpose and an help. The veteran was held with out a level in his first 4 video games again from a concussion that stored him sidelined for twenty-four contests.

5. New York Islanders (3-0-0; 19-11-3)

After making their season debut within the rankings previous to Week 9, the Islanders climbed 5 spots by defeating three sturdy groups within the Vegas Golden Knights, Anaheim Geese and Tampa Bay Lightning. Emil Heineman has gone eight video games with out a level and has notched only one in his final 12 contests however was the workforce hero final week, because the 24-year-old Swedish left wing scored the decisive purpose in shootout wins in opposition to Vegas and Tampa Bay. Bo Horvat got here up with a two-goal efficiency versus the Golden Knights however missed the assembly with the Lightning as a result of a lower-body damage and can start Week 11 on the sideline. Mathew Barzal notched an assists in all three video games final week, whereas captain Anders Lee scored two targets and arrange two others within the Isles’ 5-2 overcome Anaheim.

6. Vegas Golden Knights (2-0-1; 16-6-9)

Despite the fact that captain Mark Stone was stored off the scoresheet for the primary time this season on Saturday, the Golden Knights nonetheless prolonged their level streak to seven video games (6-0-1) with a 3-2 overcome the Blue Jackets. The 33-year-old proper wing, who missed 16 contests this marketing campaign with an upper-body damage, recorded no less than one level in every of his first 14 outings of 2025-26 and ranks fourth on the workforce with 24. Stone did register a pair of two-point performances in Week 10, organising two targets in Vegas’ shootout loss to the Islanders final Tuesday earlier than scoring twice in opposition to the Flyers two days later. Columbus additionally halted Jack Eichel’s run of 4 straight multi-point efforts, however the 29-year-old middle notched an help within the win to increase his total level streak to 5 video games. Mitch Marner completed the week with 5 factors after gathering three assists versus the Blue Jackets, whie Pavel Dorofeyev (two targets, one help) landed on the scoresheet in all three of Vegas’ contests final week. 

7. Anaheim Geese (2-2-0; 20-12-1)

The Geese started a five-game highway journey final Tuesday with a shootout win over the Pittsburgh Penguins however suffered three-goal losses in opposition to the Islanders and New Jersey Devils earlier than posting a 4-1 victory in opposition to the New York Rangers. Leo Carlsson netted the decisive tally versus the Penguins and notched a degree in every of Anaheim’s subsequent three video games, whereas Troy Terry recorded three targets and an help over the workforce’s first three contests of the week. Cutter Gauthier scored twice in opposition to the Rangers to finish his four-game drought and take over the workforce lead with 18 targets, and 19-year-old proper wing Beckett Sennecke picked up an help within the triumph after going back-to-back video games with out a level for the primary time since a four-game dry spell from Oct. 23-31. Defenseman Jackson LaCombe, who netted two tallies and arrange one other in Week 10, has registered a degree in 5 of his final six outings.

8. Detroit Crimson Wings (2-1-0; 18-12-3)

The Crimson Wings continued to choose up factors final week, successful two of their three video games over a span of 4 days. The membership has earned no less than one level in seven of its final eight contests (5-1-2) after struggling 4 regulation losses in 5 outings. Alex DeBrincat registered a pair of three-point performances to seize the workforce lead with 37 factors, whereas Patrick Kane notched two factors twice. DeBrincat scored two targets and arrange one other in a 4-3 overcome the Flames final Wednesday and repeated the feat in a 4-0 win in opposition to the Chicago Blackhawks three days later as Detroit wrapped up a 4-1-1 highway journey. Kane arrange two tallies in Calgary earlier than recording a purpose and an help at Chicago.

9. Washington Capitals (0-1-1; 18-10-4)

Washington solely performed twice in Week 10 however didn’t submit a victory, dropping to Carolina 3-2 in a shootout earlier than falling 5-1 to Winnipeg. Connor McMichael recorded a purpose and an help in opposition to the Hurricanes after notching only one level (help) over his earlier 5 video games. Defenseman Rasmus Sandin ended his nine-game level drought with a pair of assists in that contest, whereas Alex Ovechkin additionally arrange two targets final week. In the meantime, Jakob Chychrun netted his twelfth tally within the loss to Winnipeg, placing him two forward of Colorado’s Makar for the NHL lead amongst blue-liners.

10. Tampa Bay Lightning (2-1-1; 18-12-3)

The Lightning endured a depressing Week 9 as they scored a complete of 4 targets whereas struggling 4 regulation losses. They recovered by incomes factors within the first three of their 4 video games final week, defeating the Montreal Canadiens and Devils by a mixed rating of 14-5 earlier than dropping a 3-2 resolution to the Islanders in a shootout, however completed with a 5-2 loss to Florida. Nikita Kucherov collected a purpose and 7 assists, Jake Guentzel netted a tally and arrange 4 others and Oliver Bjorkstrand doubled his level complete for the season with two targets and three assists. Brayden Level landed on the scoresheet in all 4 of Tampa Bay’s contests, registering two targets and 5 assists, and defenseman Darren Raddysh did the identical with 4 tallies and a pair of assists. The 29-year-old Raddysh is having an incredible season offensively as he already has set a profession excessive with seven targets and ranks fourth on the workforce with 24 factors.