NHL Power Rankings 3/18

The NHL season is coming down to the wire. With most teams having less than 15 games left on the schedule, many will be jockeying for the best playoff spot available down the stretch.

With many tuning up for a deep playoff run. Let's rank the top 10 teams in the NHL as of March 18.

NHL Power Rankings

#1. Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins v Detroit Red Wings

Despite their recent skid, the Boston Bruins still hold a commanding lead on the league’s race for the Presidents’ Trophy. The Bruins may have lost their chance to threaten the NHL win record, but that might be a good thing, as it could cause just that much less distraction heading into a major playoff run.

#2. New Jersey Devils

Tampa Bay Lightning v New Jersey Devils

Despite their recent losses, the New Jersey Devils are still surging. They’ve found their offensive groove and have posed a real threat to the Carolina Hurricanes at the top of the Metropolitan Division. The Devils have been able to score as well as any team in the league, but their goaltending has been suspect due to injuries. If the Devils can get more consistency, they’ll be that much more dangerous.

#3. Carolina Hurricanes

Carolina Hurricanes v Philadelphia Flyers

The Carolina Hurricanes have been perhaps the least talked about team in the NHL this season. If it weren’t for what the Boston Bruins were doing, they might be Stanley Cup favorites. In the past two months, the Canes have had a seven-game winning streak, a five-game winning streak and a four-game winning streak. The Hurricanes will try to replicate that success in the playoffs.

#4. Toronto Maple Leafs

Carolina Hurricanes v Toronto Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs have looked solid, but unlike the Hurricanes and Devils, haven’t been a hot or cold team all season. They have the talent to play the best teams in the NHL, but they haven’t been able to consistently keep the puck out of their own net. The Leafs can score, but they’ll have to shore up their defense down the stretch.

#5. Vegas Golden Knights

Calgary Flames v Vegas Golden Knights

After jockeying for position with the Dallas Stars for most of the season, the Vegas Golden Knights have solidified themselves as true Stanley Cup contenders. They’ve won seven of their last nine games, and their offense is humming. Jonathan Quick has been an incredible pick up and he’s on a vendetta against the rest of the Pacific Division.

#6. Minnesota Wild

NHL - Minnesota Wild v Tampa Bay Lightning

Who would have thought the Minnesota Wild would be in this position in January? The Wild have rode a 14 game point streak to just a single point out of the lead in the Central Division. The most impressive part is that they’ve done it all without their top scorer, Kirill Kaprizov.

#7. Dallas Stars

NHL - Dallas Stars v Seattle Kraken

The Dallas Stars found themselves at the top of the Central Division at the start of the season and haven’t relinquished the position since. The Stars have won six of their last nine games, but have lost their last two. They will be one of the few teams in the Western Conference that have a legitimate shot at a deep run.

#8. New York Rangers

NHL - New York Rangers v Philadelphia Flyers

The Rangers went out and got two of the top guys on the market at the trade deadline, but it didn't seem like they could put it quite together right away. That’s changed. The Rangers have won four out of their last five games and have been able to put the puck in the net consistently in each of them.

#9. Colorado Avalanche

NHL- San Jose Sharks v Colorado Avalanche

Uh oh. Here they come. The champs are heating up like no other team in the league. They’ve won their last five games in a row and six of their last seven. The Avalanche have been getting Vezina caliber goaltending in that time from Alex Georgiev. With Colorado's ability to put the puck in the net, better than average goaltending would make them a real cup contender again.

#10. Los Angeles Kings

NHL - Nashville Predators v Los Angeles Kings

They’ve just been hanging around all season. The Kings have beaten the teams they’ve supposed to beat all season and they’ve stayed in command of a home playoff spot all season. They have also only lost four of their last 16 games, an insane streak that the Kings will look to carry into the final stretch of the season.