In late October, the Colorado Avalanche endured a four-game winless streak, including two overtime losses and a shootout defeat, with their only regulation loss that season being a 3-2 game against the Boston Bruins on October 25. However, those struggles now feel distant as Colorado has since gone 12-0-1, including a perfect 4-0 week, bringing their overall record to 17-1-5 and riding a 10-game winning streak heading into Week 8.
The Tampa Bay Lightning and Minnesota Wild also maintained unbeaten runs during a 10-day period in Week 7, posting 5-0 and 4-0 records, respectively. Meanwhile, the Washington Capitals impressed by winning five of six games. On the flip side, Week 7 was tough for teams like the Chicago Blackhawks, who dropped out of the top 10 power rankings after a tough week despite a strong prior two weeks.
Weekly rankings are updated based on recent performance and overall season success. Here’s a rundown of the top 10 NHL teams after Week 7 of the 2025-26 season:
1. Colorado Avalanche (4-0-0 Week 7, 17-1-5 overall) dominate with high-scoring offense and strong defense. They scored six points in two games and closed the week with three consecutive shutouts, highlighted by goaltenders Scott Wedgewood, Mackenzie Blackwood, and Nathan MacKinnon’s impressive contributions.
2. Dallas Stars (3-1-1 Week 7, 15-5-4 overall) started with a loss but rebounded well, with Jason Robertson extending a notable scoring streak and captain Jamie Benn returning to action after injury.
3. Tampa Bay Lightning (5-0-0 Week 7, 14-7-2 overall) surged to the top of the Atlantic Division thanks to perfect performance, led by Nikita Kucherov’s continued scoring prowess and contributions from Jake Guentzel, Brandon Hagel, Anthony Cirelli, and Darren Radish.
4. Minnesota Wild (4-0-0 Week 7, 13-7-4 overall) recorded two shutouts and extended their winning streak to six games. Brock Faber and Matt Boldy led offensively, while goaltenders Filip Gustafsson and Jesper Wohlstedt both earned shutouts.
5. Carolina Hurricanes (2-2-1 Week 7, 14-7-2 overall) had a mixed week, starting strong but slowing down. Sebastian Aho and Shayne Gostisbehere stood out with solid offensive performances.
6. New Jersey Devils (2-3-0 Week 7, 15-7-1 overall) struggled without Jack Hughes, dropping three straight games but rebounded with wins late in the week. Nico Hischier stepped up impressively in Hughes’ absence.
7. Washington Capitals (5-1-0 Week 7, 13-9-2 overall) reversed an earlier slump by scoring 29 goals in six games, with Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson leading the charge. Ovechkin matched a career milestone, tying for fourth for most hat tricks in NHL history.
8. Ottawa Senators (3-1-0 Week 7, 12-7-4 overall) won three of four close games on the road, powered by timely goals from Drake Batherson and Tim Stutzle, who leads the team in scoring.
9. Anaheim Ducks (3-2-0 Week 7, 14-8-1 overall) bounced back into the top 10, winning three tight games. Cutters Gauthier, Troy Terry, and Beckett Sennecke were key offensive contributors.
10. Vegas Golden Knights (2-1-2 Week 7, 10-5-8 overall) began the week strong but ended on a losing streak. Jack Eichel and Braden Bowman have been reliable scorers, and captain Mark Stone is returning to form after injury.
Fan Take: The Avalanche’s incredible turnaround and continued dominance are thrilling for hockey fans, signaling a potentially historic season for the franchise. This momentum, combined with the fierce competition from top teams like Tampa Bay and Minnesota, promises an exciting and unpredictable race to the Stanley Cup.
