Vancouver Canucks: Week 12 Pacific Division Power Rankings

Dec 20, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Vancouver Canucks goalie Ryan Miller (30) makes a save against the Florida Panthers in overtime. The Panthers won 4-3 in a shootout at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

With the Pacific Division at its worst, the Vancouver Canucks remain in playoff position, despite losing three of last week’s four games.

You can probably imagine how sick I am of reading — and writing — about how bad the Pacific Division is. But the Vancouver Canucks and their Pacific foes leave us no other choice. Another week of NHL hockey is in the books, and the Pacific Division’s longest active winning streaks are those of the Anaheim Ducks and the Arizona Coyotes. Both have won one game.

Related: Vancouver Canucks World Junior Championship Preview

As much as we love watching Canucks hockey anyway, the World Junior Championship will be a welcome change. Canucks forward Jake Virtanen and Team Canada are looking to defend their title and beat the world’s best hockey nations to another gold medal. The tournament will start on December 26th and end with the final on January 5th. The Canucks have three games during that span, giving us a lot of hockey to watch during the holiday season.

Back to the Pacific Division. The Los Angeles Kings are still in first place, but behind that, literally anything can happen. Vancouver in the playoffs? Anaheim? Calgary? Edmonton? There is no way to know.

Here’s how the teams rank this week, from terribly bad to slightly better but still pretty bad.

Next: 7. Edmonton Oilers

Dec 11, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Jakob Silfverberg (33) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal in the third period against the Carolina Hurricanes during an NHL hockey game at the Honda Center. The Hurricanes defeated the Ducks 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

6. Anaheim Ducks

Last Week’s Record: 1-1-0

Overall Record: 12-14-5

What’s Good?

The Ducks’ goaltender duo of Frederik Andersen and John Gibson is doing alright and… well… that’s it.

What’s Bad?

In 2014-15, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry combined for 125 points. This season, they combine for 38 points in 31 games. Still okay, but not nearly enough to carry the team into playoff contention. Wait, that was a lie? Of course, the Ducks are still in contention, but they wouldn’t be in any other division. Two goals in two games last week — that’s just not enough.

What’s Next?

The Ducks’ four-game road trip continues in New York, with back-to-back games against the Rangers and Islanders — not an easy task. Anaheim needs to pick up scoring, starting with their first-line duo, if they want to take some points home with them. However, no matter if they win or lose, they will easily stay in playoff contention. The Ducks are only four points behind the Canucks, but have four games in hand.

Next: 5. Arizona Coyotes

Dec 17, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes left wing Jordan Martinook (48) celebrates with right wing Shane Doan (19) and center Brad Richardson (12) after scoring a goal in the second period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

5. Arizona Coyotes

Last Week’s Record: 1-1-0

Overall Record: 15-15-2

What’s Good?

The Coyotes scored five times in a 7-5 loss against the Columbus Blue Jackets and shut out the Islanders in a 1-0 victory. Two very different games that had obvious positives and negatives. One five-goal game (awesome), one shutout (awesome), but seven goals against in the first game (terrible) and only one goal scored in the second (similarly bad).

What’s Bad?

As mentioned above, both games had big negatives. However, only the seven goals against really hurt. Goalies Mike Smith and Alex Lindback are terrible as always. But didn’t one of them get a shutout? Nope, that was rookie Louis Domingue in the ninth NHL game of his career, second this season.

What’s Next?

Arizona’s six-game road trip will come to an end this week, as the Coyotes head to Toronto and Los Angeles. The week will be capped off with a home game against the Avalanche. Nothing easy, but at least two points should be possible.

Next: 4. Vancouver Canucks

Dec 18, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Vancouver Canucks players react to a goal by Linden Vey (not pictured) in overtime shootout against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

4. Vancouver Canucks

Last Week’s Record: 1-2-1

Overall Record: 12-14-9

What’s Good?

Even without captain Henrik Sedin, the Canucks can find ways to score — three times against the Detroit Red Wings and four times against the Florida Panthers. The top line that is now centred by rookie Jared McCann is working, and keeping the Sedins split up after Henrik’s return might not be that bad of an idea. Balanced scoring, right?

What’s Bad?

Four games, three losses, one overtime win. There is not much that is going well for Vancouver right now — especially on the injury front. Secondary scoring is still at an all-time low, the defence is struggling without Dan Hamhuis, and Ryan Miller might not be a reliable goalie after all (as if that was news). Oh well.

What’s Next?

Tampa Bay Lightning, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings. Easy games? No, but it could be much worse. Once Henrik is back, it can only go uphill… I think. Oh, and did I mention that the Canucks are still in a playoff spot? Funny, eh?

Next: 3. Calgary Flames

Dec 20, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Calgary Flames defenseman Dougie Hamilton (27) receives congratulations from teammates after scoring in the third period against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. Detroit won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

3. Calgary Flames

Last Week’s Record: 2-2-0

Overall Record: 15-16-2

What’s Good? 

The Flames seemed unstoppable for the longest time, winning seven straight games to move right up the standings — into fifth in the Pacific Division. Still, they beat the Nashville Predators 2-1 and the Dallas Stars 3-1, which is outstanding for two reasons. Firstly, Nashville and especially Dallas are two of the best teams in the league, and secondly, the worst defence in the league limited the scoring trio of Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Patrick Sharp to one lonely goal.

What’s Bad? 

Calgary may have lost two games last week, but nothing is really bad about that. They only surrendered three goals against the St. Louis Blues and four against the Detroit Red Wings. Respectable numbers for the Flames, especially considering that one was an empty-netter.

What’s Next?

The next couple of weeks will be tough for the Flames, with the Jets, Oilers, Ducks and Kings visiting. Some of the weaker teams in the league, but very important match-ups in the playoff race.

Next: 2. San Jose Sharks

Dec 17, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; San Jose Sharks forward Joe Pavelski (8) and forward Joe Thornton (19) celebrate the game winning goal by defenceman Brent Burns (88) in overtime against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. San Jose defeated Toronto 5-4 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

2. San Jose Sharks

Last Week’s Record: 2-1-1

Overall Record: 16-15-2

What’s Good?

The Sharks remain a mistery. After six straight games without a win, they beat the Montreal Canadiens — the best team in the Eastern Conference — and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Next were losses against the Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks. One game the whole team plays well, the next game it is the exact opposite. A mistery.

What’s Bad?

As mentioned above, it is hard to talk about good or bad right now.

What’s Next?

Good or bad don’t matter when you are second in the division. The Sharks win some and lose some, which is currently enough to make the playoffs. They moved from last to second in our power rankings within a week. Unless something changes about the win some, lose some strategy, San Jose should stay in playoff contention for a while — just like the rest of the Pacific.

Next: 1. Los Angeles Kings

Dec 17, 2015; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar (11) celebrates with teammates including Milan Lucic (17) after scoring a goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

1. Los Angeles Kings

Last Week’s Record: 1-2-0

Overall Record: 20-10-2

What’s Good?

Week 11 was a tough one for the Kings. They shut out the Canadiens, which was the lone bright spot in a rather bad week. Goaltender Jonathan Quick saved all 45 shots that were fired at the Kings’ net. The rest of the week was mostly bad, but it wasn’t enough to knock the team off the top of the Pacific Division power rankings.

What’s Bad?

After shutting out the Canadiens, the Sharks got shut out against the Maple Leafs. That’s just the way it goes. Jhonas Enroth got five goals against in his seventh game of the season, and his offence didn’t do much to help him either.

What’s Next?

Next: 3 Canucks Contracts That Can Hurt the Franchise

Even after losing two out of three games last week, the Kings are in first place, eight points ahead of the Sharks. The upcoming weeks may change that, as the Kings will play five straight games within the division. Only the Ducks will have to wait for LA to visit for another two weeks.