Avalanche
Brock Nelson has been a terrific No. 2 middle spot for the Avs. He is on tempo for 40 targets, which might be a brand new profession excessive on the age of 34. He additionally boasts a five-on-five anticipated targets share of 59.3%, which is best than Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. — 33-5-8
2

Lightning
Tampa has now rattled off 11 straight wins, however Brayden Level might have suffered a big harm on Tuesday night time. The Bolts have already thrived despite the harm bug this season, however a prolonged stretch with out Level would actually check their mettle. — 29-13-4
3

Crimson Wings
One of many largest causes for this surge from the Crimson Wings has been the play of John Gibson. He received off to an abysmal begin together with his new workforce, however he is been a wall because the Christmas break. In his final seven appearances, Gibson has saved 8.87 targets above common. 3 29-16-4
4

Hurricanes
The on-ice purpose differential might not present it, however Ok’Andre Miller has been glorious for the Canes. His 57.6% anticipated targets share is phenomenal, and with 21 factors in 39 video games, he might effectively set a brand new profession excessive in that class. — 29-15-4
5

Golden Knights
There is a bender happening in Vegas. Mark Stone simply scored targets in seven straight video games. That streak got here to an finish on Sunday, and all he managed to do was register three assists towards the Sharks. What a slacker. 8 23-11-12
6

Wild
The younger Matt Boldy has taken his scoring to a different degree. He is already as much as 27 targets this season, which matches his complete from 2024-25 and is simply 4 away from his profession excessive of 31. Boldly has seen a slight uptick in pictures per sport, however his ending has been the distinction with a 17.6% capturing proportion. 3 26-13-9
7

Canadiens
Juraj Slafkovsky has been scorching these days. Since Dec. 20, he is fourth within the NHL with 18 factors in simply 13 video games. Couple that with good five-on-five impacts, and the 21-year-old Slafkovsky appears to be climbing towards his potential within the NHL. 2 26-15-7
8

Sabres
Who wants Owen Energy to take the subsequent step when you may have Mattias Samuelsson? The rangy defenseman has already set profession highs in targets (7), assists (15) and factors (22). In the meantime, his plus-12 purpose differential at five-on-five leads the workforce. — 26-16-4
9

Stars
Jake Oettinger hasn’t been very sharp because the Christmas break. In his final 5 stars, Oettinger has allowed a minimum of three targets 4 occasions, and his save proportion is .861 in that span. Oettinger ought to get again on observe, however he is had a hand within the Stars’ latest dip. 4 27-12-9
10

Islanders
Mat Barzal is having a whale of a season, and that is a welcome sight on Lengthy Island after accidents restricted him to 30 video games in 2024-25. He is as much as 37 factors, and the Islanders are hammering opponents when Barzal is on the ice. One of many NHL’s extra underrated stars, Barzal is buoying his workforce. 3 26-16-5
11

Oilers
Since Zach Hyman rejoined the lineup on Nov. 15, he is given the Oilers a huge carry with 16 targets and 11 assists in 28 video games. Over that span, Edmonton has gone 15-9-4 whereas climbing towards first place within the Pacific Division. 1 23-17-8
12

Panthers
With Aleksander Barkov out, Anton Lundell has struggled in a bigger function. Due largely to elevated ice time, Lundell is on tempo for profession highs within the conventional counting stats, however his five-on-five impacts go away lots to be desired. Will Florida discover the commerce market to seek out one other middle? 1 24-19-3
13

Bruins
Marat Khusnutdinov scored 4 targets towards the Rangers final week. Previous to this season, he’d by no means scored greater than three in a single marketing campaign. Now as much as 9 targets and 20 factors, Khusnutdinov has given Boston some surprising depth scoring, even when the underlying numbers aren’t terribly flattering. 3 27-19-2
14

Flyers
Matvei Michkov replace: Zero targets and three assists in his final eight video games. His ice-time is now down greater than two minutes per sport in comparison with final season. Michkov’s sophomore hunch has turn out to be an actual concern for Philly. 2 22-16-8
15

Maple Leafs
Joseph Woll did not get his first begin till Nov. 15 attributable to harm. Since then, he is recorded 11.2 targets saved above common (eighth within the NHL) and a .883 high-danger save proportion. He is given the Leafs an edge within the crease as they make strikes up the standings. 5 23-16-8
16

Penguins
Erik Karlsson will miss a number of weeks with a hand harm, and that’s terrible information for the Pens. The veteran defenseman has been a internet constructive at five-on-five, and he leads the workforce with 29 assists. This can be a troublesome blow for Pittsburgh because it tries to claw again right into a playoff spot. 3 22-14-10
17

Kraken
After just a few depressing seasons in Seattle, Philipp Grubauer is having a resurgence. His 10.1 targets saved above common are eighth within the NHL, and together with Joey Daccord, Grubauer has given the Kraken top-of-the-line goalie tandems within the NHL. 6 21-16-9
18

Capitals
The Capitals simply have to make Logan Thompson a workhorse in purpose. Which may be simpler stated than performed attributable to a compressed Olympic schedule, however Charlie Lindgren has been considerably of a legal responsibility. He is allowed 3.62 targets above common and has a .796 high-danger save proportion behind a workforce that does not have a ton of firepower up entrance. 3 24-18-6
19

Sharks
The subsequent step within the Sharks’ rebuild needs to be buying an impression defenseman. They’ve Sam Dickinson within the prospect pipeline, however he is solely 18 years outdated. San Jose is in dire want of blue liners who can drive play from the again finish persistently. 1 24-20-3
20

Kings
Over the past month, the Kings’ goaltenders have mixed for a .877 save proportion. Los Angeles merely can’t afford to have its goaltending falter for any sort of important stretch as a result of we all know very effectively this workforce is unable to outscore its issues. 2 19-16-11
21

Devils
The Devils might not have landed Quinn Hughes. They could be 4 factors out of a playoff spot. However a minimum of they went into Minnesota and received the Hughes Bowl in decisive style. It is the little issues. — 24-21-2
22

Senators
What per week it has been in Canada’s capital. The overall supervisor calls out “trolls and sick individuals” for beginning rumors about Linus Ullmark’s absence. In the meantime, the workforce has misplaced 4 straight video games in regulation. 8 22-19-5
23

Mammoth
Nate Schmidt has turned out to be a savvy addition. The veteran defenseman has a 59.2% anticipated targets share and a plus-17 purpose differential at five-on-five. That is on prime of 13 factors, which does not sound like a lot however places Schmidt on tempo for his most since 2021-22. 3 24-20-4
24

Geese
Third-year phenom Leo Carlsson received off to a blistering begin, however he is been ice chilly because the Geese have tumbled down the standings. Carlsson simply snapped a 12-game purpose drought on Saturday, and he has only one purpose and 4 assists since Dec. 13. 7 22-21-3
25

Predators
Previous to Tuesday night time’s win over the Oilers, the Predators surrendered the primary purpose in 10 straight video games. They had been 6-4-0 over that stretch. Nashville has lived dangerously in latest weeks, nevertheless it hasn’t mattered. The Preds have to attract first blood extra usually. — 23-20-4
26

Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets have pulled the fireplace alarm by firing Dean Evason simply midway by his second season. I do not know what Columbus anticipated out of him, however we’ll see whether or not Rick Bowness can get extra out of this group. 2 21-19-7
27

Blackhawks
Tyler Bertuzzi has been an actual weapon for the Blackhawks on the facility play this season. He is received 9 targets on the person benefit already, and that is one shy of his profession excessive with 39 video games left on the schedule. 2 19-21-7
28

Flames
Mackenzie Weegar’s five-on-five outcomes — which embody a minus-23 purpose differential — have been ugly. Nevertheless, these outcomes are largely pushed by abysmal puck luck. His on-ice PDO is .930, which is sort of inconceivable. 1 20-23-4
29

Jets
Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi have mixed for 46.3% of the Jets’ targets. No different participant is on tempo for greater than 14 tallies this season. Winnipeg has a particularly top-heavy offense. 3 19-22-5
30

Blues
It sounds just like the Blues are on the verge of hanging a “For Sale” signal out in entrance of the Enterprise Middle. That is in all probability a sensible transfer as a result of the commerce market is flooded with demand, however no groups have been keen to offer the availability. — 19-21-8
31

Rangers
Over the past month, the Rangers have precisely two regulation wins. This workforce, which is now under .500, is unhealthy. There’s simply no different option to slice it. 7 20-22-6
32

Canucks
Brock Boeser hasn’t scored since Nov. 28, which quantities to a 21-game drought. He solely has 5 assists over that span. Ouch. 1 16-26-5