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NHL Power Rankings: The East Rises?

The Eastern Conference barges in for the first time since these ratings began two seasons ago.

By Derek Zona
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

About these rankings:

Two seasons ago, I set out to eliminate the non-sense behind power rankings by building a power rankings model based on underlying statistics and their predictive ability. The rankings were built on points earned, special teams, even strength play and goaltending, so they were constantly in flux.

I'm still playing around with the model, but here is my best effort at predicting the standings and playoff pairings at the end of the season. One item of note - 38% of the game is luck, and I don't attempt to predict or model that 38%, and I don't plan to.

Rank Team Share
1 Minnesota Wild 1.2
2 Washington Capitals 2.7
3 St. Louis Blues 3.9
4 Chicago Blackhawks 4.4
5 Pittsburgh Penguins 5.2
6 Anaheim Ducks 5.2
7 New York Islanders 6.9
8 Vancouver Canucks 8.1
9 Boston Bruins 8.4
10 Montreal Canadiens 8.9
11 New York Rangers 9.0
12 Nashville Predators 9.2
13 New Jersey Devils 10.2
14 Winnipeg Jets 10.5
15 Dallas Stars 10.7
16 Arizona Coyotes 10.8
17 Toronto Maple Leafs 11.2
18 Tampa Bay Lightning 11.2
19 Florida Panthers 11.3
20 Detroit Red Wings 12.0
21 Philadelphia Flyers 12.0
22 Ottawa Senators 12.5
23 San Jose Sharks 12.9
24 Calgary Flames 13.3
25 Columbus Blue Jackets 13.3
26 Los Angeles Kings 13.4
27 Edmonton Oilers 13.8
28 Buffalo Sabres 15.1
29 Carolina Hurricanes 16.5
30 Colorado Avalanche 16.6

Western Conference Rankings

Rank Team Share
1 Minnesota Wild 1.2
3 St. Louis Blues 3.9
4 Chicago Blackhawks 4.4
6 Anaheim Ducks 5.2
8 Vancouver Canucks 8.1
12 Nashville Predators 9.2
14 Winnipeg Jets 10.5
15 Dallas Stars 10.7
16 Arizona Coyotes 10.8
23 San Jose Sharks 12.9
24 Calgary Flames 13.3
26 Los Angeles Kings 13.4
27 Edmonton Oilers 13.8
30 Colorado Avalanche 16.6

Eastern Conference Rankings

Rank Team Share
2 Washington Capitals 2.7
5 Pittsburgh Penguins 5.2
7 New York Islanders 6.9
9 Boston Bruins 8.4
10 Montreal Canadiens 8.9
11 New York Rangers 9.0
13 New Jersey Devils 10.2
17 Toronto Maple Leafs 11.2
18 Tampa Bay Lightning 11.2
19 Florida Panthers 11.3
20 Detroit Red Wings 12.0
21 Philadelphia Flyers 12.0
22 Ottawa Senators 12.5
25 Columbus Blue Jackets 13.3
28 Buffalo Sabres 15.1
29 Carolina Hurricanes 16.5

Playoff Matchups:

Western Conference
Central Pacific
1 Minnesota Wild 6 Anaheim Ducks
12 Nashville Predators 14 Winnipeg Jets
3 St. Louis Blues 8 Vancouver Canucks
4 Chicago Blackhawks 16 Arizona Coyotes

Eastern Conference
Metropolitan Atlantic
2 Washington Capitals 9 Boston Bruins
11 New York Rangers 13 New Jersey Devils
5 Pittsburgh Penguins 10 Montreal Canadiens
7 New York Islanders 17 Toronto Maple Leafs

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