Vancouver Canucks: Week 16 Pacific Division Power Rankings
When the Vancouver Canucks win, their biggest competitors win as well. That’s how the Pacific Division seems to work.
The Vancouver Canucks had a rather successful Week 15, winning three of their four games, including a victory against the Florida Panthers — the Atlantic Division’s top team.
Related: Are the Canucks Canada’s Best NHL Team?
Unfortunately, their Pacific Division rivals had decent weeks as well. The division combined for five regulation losses and five in overtime through 23 games.
Here is what that does to our Pacific division power rankings.
7. Edmonton Oilers (last week: 7)
Last Week’s Record: 1-0-2
Overall Record: 18-23-5
The Edmonton Oilers finished Week 15 without a regulation loss. But let’s be honest here, this team totally sucks. Connor McDavid isn’t returning early and this looks like just another lost season for the club. Edmonton will face the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators this week — it might get ugly.
6. Calgary Flames (last week: 6)
Last Week’s Record: 1-1-1
Overall Record: 20-20-3
What if I told you the Calgary Flames beat Florida 6-0? Well, that’s exactly what happened. Still, as the season progresses, the Flames continue to lose touch to the playoff spots. Calgary has played three games less than the Canucks, but they would need a win and an overtime loss in those games to catch up with Vancouver again. That won’t be the hardest task, as the Flames will play against the New Jersey Devils, Columbus Blue Jackets and Carolina Hurricanes this week. But one thing is clear: if they fail to gather at least four points this week, they can probably say goodbye to their playoff hopes.
5. Anaheim Ducks (last week: 5)
Last Week’s Record: 2-1-0
Overall Record: 19-18-7
The Anaheim Ducks’ season is continuing in crazy fashion. Anaheim has just 88 goals in 44 games — ranking last in the NHL in that category — but stays in the playoff hunt. Wins against the Ottawa Senators (4-1) and Dallas Stars (4-1) proved the Ducks worthy of a playoff spot, but that could change again quickly. Anaheim brought in David Perron from Pittsburgh for Carl Hagelin in a desperate attempt to improve scoring.
4. Arizona Coyotes (last week: 2)
Last Week’s Record: 1-1-1
Overall Record: 22-17-5
The Arizona Coyotes are only moderately succesful in their seven-game homestand. A 4-0 win against the Nashville Predators was followed by a 4-3 victory against the Oilers, but the Yotes went on to lose 3-2 in OT against the Detroit Red Wings and 2-0 in regulation against the New Jersey Devils. The trend is clearly going down, and the upcoming week won’t be easy. The Coyotes will travel to California to face off against the San Jose Sharks and the Los Angeles Kings — the Pacific’s current top teams.
3. Vancouver Canucks (last week: 3)
Last Week’s Record: 3-1-0
Overall Record: 19-17-10
Dan Hamhuis is dearly missed. But who would have thought that the Vancouver Canucks can be this successful with their roster still decimated? This past week, the Canucks snapped the Florida Panthers’ 12-game winning streak, followed by a loss against the Washington Capitals, before recovering with wins against the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Islanders. All three wins were by one goal, which can be seen as both a poitive and negative thing: the Canucks are failing to beat teams by more than one goal, but they have started to win one-goal games. Vancouver is still in the hunt for the second divisional playoff spot and we will see how Brandon Sutter can help achieve that goal.
2. San Jose Sharks (last week: 4)
Last Week’s Record: 4-0-0
Overall Record: 23-18-2
The San Jose Sharks’ winning streak is up to five. Therefore, the club is back in the hunt for the divisional and wild card playoff spots. Unfortunately for the Sharks, they are failing to bring any kind of consistency to their team, alternating winning and losing streaks. Don’t be surprised to see four losses next week. If they manage to win a couple more, though, the Canucks will have to watch out.
1. Los Angeles Kings (last week: 1)
Last Week’s Record: 2-1-0
Overall Record: 28-13-3
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The Los Angeles Kings have been the Kings of the Pacific right from season’s start. They don’t necessarily look like the best team in the league, but they manage to win games, which is all that matters in the end. Speaking of the best team in the league, there is one category the Kings are consistent leaders in — puck possession. Just like in years prior, the Kings’ Corsi stats are outstanding — and it’s paying off, proving all advanced stat gurus right once more.
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