Pacific Division Power Rankings: Week 3 & 4

My apologies for missing last week’s Pacific Division power rankings as I had some real-life stuff come up. So this team around we’ll be accounting for how each team has performed over the last two weeks. Lots has changed since then, including the emergence of a team that we were getting ready to write off last time we did this piece.

1. San Jose Sharks (6-3-3, 4-0-2) Last Week: 5

As we figured they would, the pieces are starting to fall into place for the Sharks after a slow start. They have a six game point streak going, with their only two losses coming in the shootout. San Jose is going to be the cream of the crop this year in the division, and they’re finally starting to take off...or swim away from rest of the division.

2. Arizona Coyotes (6-5-0, 5-1-0) Last Week: 8

I know there may be a few eyebrows raised at the Coyotes jumping up from 8 to 2, but they fully deserve it. After not knowing how to score in the early part of the season, they’ve suddenly figured it out and outscored opponents 20-4 over a four game winning streak which is ridiculous. Whether or not it can be sustained remains to be seen, but the Coyotes are HOT and that’s what power rankings are meant to capture.

3. Calgary Flames (7-5-1, 3-3-1) Last Week: 2

Calgary managed to pick up two big road victories after dropping a pair at home to Pittsburgh and Washington. Elias Lindholm has led the way for the Flames with eight goals, and they’ve finally received some decent goaltending with David Rittich. Deciding the 3 and 4 spots between the Alberta teams was really a coin flip, but I gave the edge to Calgary for having won the most their most recent games while the Oilers lost their most recent one.

4. Edmonton Oilers (6-4-1, 4-2-1) Last Week: 4

Prior to Tuesday’s regulation loss to Minnesota, the Oilers had picked up 11 of a possible 14 points in their previous seven games and were clicking, led by his excellence Connor McDavid.

5. Vancouver Canucks (7-6-0, 3-4-0) Last Week: 3

Monday’s victory over the Minnesota Wild was their first regulation victory since October 13, coincidentally almost the same amount of time it was that Elias Pettersen was injured. Vancouver has the young talent to succeed, but can it be sustained as the season continues?

6. Vegas Golden Knights (5-6-1, 2-2-1) Last Week: 7

The Golden Knights have had their moments this season where they start to look like the Golden Knights of 2017-18. They’ve also had many not-so-good moments in there as well. Vegas has been unable to get back to and stay above .500 this year, a game that’s okay to play now, but can haunt you come March-April.

7. Anaheim Ducks (5-6-2, 0-5-1) Last Week: 1

A drop from top spot all the way to #7 for Ducks as they’ve lost a whopping six straight as the whole “Let’s just let John Gibson get obliterated” strategy lasted about a whole two weeks. He’s still provided them with outstanding goaltending, but the team is just plain awful. Good ol’ Randy Carlyle, let’s hope they just stay good enough that he sticks around.

8. Los Angeles Kings (3-7-1, 1-4-0) Last Week: 6

The Kings have looked old and slow this year, and Jonathan Quick is already out for the second time in this short season. Prior to a 4-3 win over the New York Rangers, the Kings had lost six straight games. While there’s still plenty of time left this season, the Kings have quite the hole to get out of.