Pacific Division Power Rankings: Week 9

Say what you will about the talent gap between the Central and Pacific divisions, but the Pacific Division is finally starting to look at least respectable in terms of points of each team. A lot of teams have been heating up over the last week, and that’s reflected in the rankings.

1. Calgary Flames (18-9-2, 4-0-0) Last Week: 1

The Flames are hot. 4 straight wins and 17 points out of a possible 20 in their last ten games. Calgary has five players currently scoring a point per game pace, and are getting some solid goaltending from Mike Smith, arguably the only thing that was missing earlier in the year.

2. Anaheim Ducks (15-10-5, 3-0-0) Last Week: 3

Somehow the Ducks are managing to look like a pretty good hockey team, despite their questionable makeup and coaching staff. The Ducks pulled four wins in five games on an East Coast trip, punctuated by a 6-5 comeback win from four goals down against the Washington Capitals. Anaheim has won five straight and seven of eight.

3. Vegas Golden Knights (16-13-1, 3-1-0) Last Week: 2

Don’t look now, but the Knights are back in a playoff spot thanks to their 4-3 win over Chicago and Minnesota’s 2-0 loss to Calgary. It’s been quite the road back to Vegas, but it looks like things are finally starting to come together for them.

4. Arizona Coyotes (13-12-2, 3-1-0) Last Week: 6

The Coyotes managed to get above .500 thanks to a four game winning streak and some solid goaltending by Adin Hill. They had their streak snapped by the Capitals on Thursday, but now that they’re above .500, they have a shot to put something together.

5. San Jose Sharks (14-10-5, 2-1-0) Last Week: 4

The Sharks were able to salvage the final game of an otherwise disastrous road trip with a 3-1 victory in Montreal. San Jose then came home and thumped Carolina 5-1. Can the Sharks finally get things going? It’s hard to say.

6. Edmonton Oilers (14-12-2, 3-1-0) Last Week: 5

In the last 7 games, the Oilers have scored a whopping 11 goals in regulation. They’ve also only given up 15. It’s safe to say that Ken Hitchcock has taken over in Edmonton. However since his arrival the Oilers have gone 5-2-1 so I don’t think they’re complaining too much.

7. Vancouver Canucks (12-16-3, 1-3-0) Last Week: 8

Canucks move out of the basement simply because they beat the Western Conference leading Nashville Predators. Not a lot is going right for Vancouver, but good on them to get a big win against one of the league’s best.

8. Los Angeles Kings (10-18-1, 1-4-0) Last Week: 7

Sad trombone.

by Michael MacGillivray