Vancouver Canucks: Week 13 Pacific Division Power Rankings

It would be crazy to suggest that Pacific Division teams are good enough to compete against the Central Division, but the Vancouver Canucks and their Pacific rivals are certainly starting to get in shape.

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The Vancouver Canucks are still plagued by injuries, but that did not prevent them from winning their only two games last week. But they are not the only ones. Except for the Edmonton Oilers, every Pacific team finished the week with a win. The division combined for three regulation losses, and three teams won 100 percent of their games.

That means the following for our weekly Pacific Division Power Rankings.

7. Edmonton Oilers

Last Week’s Record: 1-1-1

Overall Record: 15-19-3

The Oilers are struggling again. That is something we are more than used to, but it looked like they might be able to turn it around a little while ago. Last week, they lost two important games against Vancouver and Calgary. The problem is the same as always: Taylor Hall continues to score, but just about everything else about the team sucks. Hall is fourth in NHL scoring with 40 points in 37 games, Leon Draisaitl has 31 in 26, but that’s it. Edmonton traded AHL backup Ben Scrivens to the Montreal Canadiens for ex-Canuck Zack Kassian, which might be a good move, but none that will turn around the franchise.

6. Anaheim Ducks

Last Week’s Record: 1-1-1

Overall Record: 13-15-6

The Ducks, a pre-season Stanley Cup favourite, just cannot get it together. Another up-and-down week with a 5-2 loss against the New York Islanders and a 3-2 OT loss against the Rangers. The latter was a good game, but Anaheim failed to score the winning goal. As if the current situation was not bad enough, Cam Fowler will be out for quite some time. The only win of the week came against the Philadelphia Flyers — a must-beat team for just about anyone in the league. Next up are division rivals Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver in three extremely important match-ups.

5. San Jose Sharks

Last Week’s Record: 1-0-0

Overall Record: 17-15-2

The Sharks only had one game last week. It was a big one, and the Sharks took home a big win — a 5-3 victory against the Pacific’s No. 1, the Los Angeles Kings. San Jose was thought to be entering a rebuild, but they are still in the playoff race — and they are playing good hockey… occasionally. Next up are Colorado, Philadelphia and Winnipeg — three teams that are definitely beatable.

4. Vancouver Canucks

Last Week’s Record: 2-0-0

Overall Record: 14-14-9

The Vancouver Canucks won 2-1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning and 2-1 against the Oilers. They even won a 3-on-3 overtime game for the first time ever. Not enough to shoot up the power rankings, though. Still in third in the division, the Canucks need to watch out for the Sharks, Coyotes and Flames, who all want that spot as well. The injuriy woes won’t stop, and the Kings and Ducks are coming to Van City this week.

3. Calgary Flames

Last Week’s Record: 2-0-0

Overall Record: 17-16-2

Two games, two wins. The Flames are now 9-2-2 in December, proving they are capable of beating anyone. Only one point away from the Coyotes and the Canucks, Calgary can finally sneak into a playoff position again this week. To do so, they will have to beat Anaheim and Los Angeles at home, and it certainly would not hurt to take two points from Colorado home as well.

2. Arizona Coyotes

Last Week’s Record: 2-0-1

Overall Record: 17-15-3

Arizona is tied with the Canucks at 37 points. However, they have two games in hand over Vancouver, and will try to get away from the Canucks with wins on their two-game home stand this week. Unfortunately for the Coyotes, their first game this week will be against the Chicago Blackhawks. Next up are Winnipeg and Edmonton. The most important game will follow the week after, as Arizona and Vancouver will meet to battle for second in the division.

Next: Canucks Could Be the Next Oilers

1. Los Angeles Kings

Last Week’s Record: 1-1-0

Overall Record: 21-11-2

Is anyone really surprised by this? The Kings are still the reigning team in the Pacific Division and a lot will need to happen before that changes. There is, however, no better time than now for Pacific teams to change it up. The Kings already played against San Jose and Arizona last week, losing 5-3, and will have to face Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary this week. Want to get to the top of the division? Here’s your team to beat — the only club that can compete with the rest of the Western Conference.

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