NHL Power Rankings: Predators riding high heading into playoffs

The 14th and final regular-season installment of theScore's NHL Power Rankings was put together by hockey editors Josh Gold-Smith, Craig Hagerman, and Cory Wilkins.

1. Nashville Predators (53-18-11) a-^2

Previously 4th

There's no beating around it - the Predators are the team to beat going into the postseason. They are the Presidents' Trophy winner and a reigning Stanley Cup finalist.

They're also built to contend once again. Anything short of another Cup Final appearance is sure to be a disappointment. - Hagerman

2. Winnipeg Jets (52-20-10)

Previously 2nd

The Jets are entering the playoffs after going 9-1-0 in their last 10 games, including five straight victories. Their top six is arguably the best in the league and they're also relatively healthy, even without Dmitry Kulikov.

If anyone in the West can give the Preds a scare, it's the Jets. - Hagerman

3. Tampa Bay Lightning (54-23-5) a-1/4

Previously 1st

With losses in five of their last eight games to close out the season, the Lightning aren't entering the playoffs with an overly hot hand. That being said, you can't discount their body of work all season.

Specifically, they scored 19 more goals than the next closest team, and have the best goal differential in the league. - Hagerman

4. Boston Bruins (50-20-12) a-1/4

Previously 3rd

From Jan. 1 on, only the Predators had a better record than the Bruins.

The club has been dominant, and even in the face of numerous injuries, it always finds ways to win games. Now, with a healthy lineup, a lethal top line that's intact, and incredible resiliency that keeps them in every game, the Bruins could be the scariest team in the East. - Hagerman

5. Vegas Golden Knights (51-24-7) a-^2

Previously 6th

This is the most successful expansion team in league history.

The Golden Knights had a season to remember, and while they stumbled in the final week - especially in their 7-1 loss to Calgary - they've been mighty consistent, especially on home ice. - Hagerman

6. Toronto Maple Leafs (49-26-7) a-1/4

Previously 5th

Statistically, the Maple Leafs had the best season in franchise history.

Toronto set a club record for home wins and points in a single season, while Frederik Andersen established the team's single-season wins record among goalies. Heading into the playoffs, the power play is rolling and Auston Matthews has points in nine straight games since his return from injury. - Hagerman

7. Washington Capitals (49-26-7) a-^2

Previously 8th

The Capitals closed out the regular season with an impressive 8-2-0 record over their final 10 games.

Meanwhile, Alexander Ovechkin finished just one shy of his eighth 50-goal campaign, and John Carlson had a career year by leading all defensemen with 68 points. However, those personal achievements will mean very little if the Capitals once again choke in the playoffs. - Hagerman

8. Pittsburgh Penguins (47-29-6) a-^2

Previously 10th

Can the Penguins three-peat?

With the best power play in the league, three players with 89 or more points, and experience on their side, it's hard to bet against them. - Hagerman

9. Anaheim Ducks (44-25-13) a-^2

Previously 14th

An incredible 8-1-1 record down the stretch helped the Ducks sneak into second place in the Pacific Division, giving them home-ice advantage in the first round.

If you're betting on the hot hand coming into the postseason, keep an eye on this team. - Hagerman

10. San Jose Sharks (45-27-10) a-1/4

Previously 7th

After making a surge in the previous edition of these rankings, the Sharks have fallen back back down to earth.

The team has won just five of its last 10 games, and that slide cost it home ice in the first round. Meanwhile, with Joe Thornton not expected to return for the start of the playoffs, the club will have to continue playing without arguably its most experienced leader. - Hagerman

11. Los Angeles Kings (45-29-8) a-^2

Previously 17th

The Kings finished the regular season by going 4-1-1, and while they didn't secure one of the Pacific Division's top three playoff spots, they have the edge in terms of postseason experience over the Golden Knights in Round 1. - Gold-Smith

12. Minnesota Wild (45-26-11) a-1/4

Previously 9th

The Wild wrapped up their slate with a less-than-ideal mini-road swing in California, falling to the Ducks and Kings on back-to-back nights before doubling up the Sharks on Saturday. They'll face the white-hot Jets in the opening round of the playoffs, and they won't be favored. - Gold-Smith

13. Columbus Blue Jackets (45-30-7)

Previously 13th

The Blue Jackets went five straight games without losing in regulation until the Predators beat them 4-2 on Saturday night, but Columbus' top-10 defense will now be put to the test by the Capitals' top-10 offense. - Gold-Smith

14. New Jersey Devils (44-29-9) a-^2

Previously 16th

New Jersey won seven of its last 10 down the stretch and clinched a playoff berth for the first time since its Stanley Cup Final run in 2012. Taylor Hall, Nico Hischier, and Co. have the Devils headed in the right direction, regardless of how their first-round series goes. - Gold-Smith

15. Philadelphia Flyers (42-26-14)

Previously 15th

The Flyers ride into the postseason on a high, having won four of their last five and two straight - including a blowout, playoff-berth-clinching win over the New York Rangers. That sends them into a highly anticipated intrastate series against the rival Penguins with some momentum. - Gold-Smith

16. Colorado Avalanche (43-30-9) a-1/4

Previously 11th

The Avalanche punctuated their remarkable turnaround with a win over the Blues on Saturday night that knocked St. Louis out and gave Colorado a playoff spot, a year after the team finished with the worst record of the salary-cap era. Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen are really fun to watch, and they could give the Predators a headache or two. - Gold-Smith

17. Florida Panthers (44-30-8) a-^2

Previously 18th

The Panthers reeled off five straight victories to close their season and prevented the Bruins from clinching the Atlantic Division title in the finale Sunday. That's little consolation for a club that will be on the outside looking in when the playoffs begin Wednesday night. - Gold-Smith

18. St. Louis Blues (44-32-6) a-1/4

Previously 12th

All the Blues had to do to make the playoffs was earn a point against the Avalanche on Saturday night, so that loss is going to sting for a while. St. Louis deserves credit for getting back in the race after a pre-deadline tailspin forced the Paul Stastny trade, but it doesn't much matter now. - Gold-Smith

19. Dallas Stars (42-32-8)

Previously 19th

An eight-game losing skid in March stuck a fork in the Stars, who had high hopes for the season with the additions of Alexander Radulov and Ben Bishop, among others. John Klingberg took a significant step forward, but the team as a whole still has plenty of room for growth. - Gold-Smith

20. Carolina Hurricanes (36-25-11) a-^2

Previously 21st

Defeating the Lightning in overtime Saturday night was a nice way to end another discouraging campaign in Carolina, but the Hurricanes missed the playoffs yet again and won only two of their final seven contests. - Gold-Smith

21. Calgary Flames (37-35-10) a-1/4

Previously 20th

A disappointing season is made even worse when you consider the Flames moved an eventual lottery pick for defenseman Travis Hamonic. A second straight underwhelming year could also be bad news for head coach Glen Gulutzan. - Wilkins

22. New York Islanders (35-27-10) a-^2

Previously 25th

The only thing that matters in Brooklyn right now is the immediate future of John Tavares. The Islanders' captain will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and a departure would be devastating for the franchise. - Wilkins

23. Edmonton Oilers (36-40-6) a-1/4

Previously 22nd

Imagine having Connor McDavid in your lineup and still missing the playoffs by nearly 20 points. The big concern in the Alberta capital is wondering whether last year's playoff team was a fluke and if this season's edition is closer to reality. - Wilkins

24. Chicago Blackhawks (33-39-10)

Previously 24th

The Blackhawks' days of chasing Cups are over, but the usual duo will be tasked with bringing the team back to contention; general manager Stan Bowman and head coach Joel Quenneville will both return next season. - Wilkins

25. Vancouver Canucks (31-40-11) a-^2

Previously 30th

The Sedins are done, but the next wave is on the way in Vancouver, with Brock Boeser, who scored 29 goals as a rookie, Swedish recruit Elias Pettersson, and 2018 Hobey Baker Award winner Adam Gaudette in the fold. Lottery luck could also see the Canucks add to their budding prospect pool. - Wilkins

26. New York Rangers (34-39-9) a-1/4

Previously 23rd

The shake-up continued in Manhattan on Saturday with the dismissal of coach Alain Vigneault, whose exit followed the deadline departures of franchise mainstays Ryan McDonagh, Rick Nash, and J.T. Miller. Next up: Will the Rangers' rebuild successfully avoid the temptations of free agency this offseason? - Wilkins

27. Arizona Coyotes (29-41-12) a-^2

Previously 28th

After posting a winning record once the calendar flipped to 2018, brighter days are ahead in the desert. Look for another busy offseason, as GM John Chayka has hinted that significant moves are to come. - Wilkins

28. Detroit Red Wings (30-39-13) a-1/4

Previously 26

If it wasn't evident already, the rebuild is on in Hockeytown, with the Red Wings deciding that GM Ken Holland is the right man to steer the franchise through that process. Obtaining three picks for Tomas Tatar at the trade deadline made for a strong start. - Wilkins

29. Montreal Canadiens (29-40-13) a-1/4

Previously 27th

This Canadiens' offseason plan looks a lot like last summer's agenda - upgrade up the middle. The experiment of Jonathan Drouin as a center failed, which means the addition of a top pivot must be the main priority for returning GM Marc Bergevin. - Wilkins

30. Ottawa Senators (28-43-11) a-1/4

Previously 29th

Putting protections on the first-rounder involved in the Matt Duchene deal proved to be a wise move by GM Pierre Dorion, as the Senators hold the second-best odds entering the draft lottery. Ottawa can defer its 2019 first-round pick to the Avalanche. - Wilkins

31. Buffalo Sabres (25-45-12)

Previously 31st

There's Jack Eichel, and there's more hope on the way in former first-rounders Alex Nylander and Casey Mittelstadt. Still, the Sabres' lack of depth was exposed this season. A full year at the helm for Jason Botterill should give the rookie GM plenty of ideas on where his squad needs help. - Wilkins

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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