The Colorado Avalanche experienced their first regulation defeat in over a month during Week 9 of the 2025-26 NHL season, falling 3-2 to the Boston Bruins. Despite this setback, they maintained their position as the top-ranked team. Following the October 25th loss, Colorado rebounded with a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks, marking their 17th consecutive game without a loss (14-0-3). Although they faced some challenges on a four-game road trip, including a 6-3 defeat to the New York Islanders after conceding the initial four goals, they quickly recovered by beating the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers in overtime.
The Las Vegas Golden Knights were the only team to remain undefeated in Week 9, sweeping all three of their games. The Dallas Stars, Washington Capitals, Detroit Red Wings, and Toronto Maple Leafs also had strong weeks, going 3-0-1. Conversely, the New Jersey Devils struggled without star forward Jack Hughes, managing just one goal in their last three losses and extending their losing streak to five games. The Tampa Bay Lightning had the toughest week, losing four times and being shut out in their last two games, which caused them to drop out of the top 10 after a seven-game win streak had elevated them to third place.
Weekly rankings of the NHL’s top 10 teams consider both recent performances and overall season success. After Week 9, the power rankings highlighted key team achievements:
1. Colorado Avalanche (3-1-0 in Week 9, 21-2-6 overall): Despite their loss, the Avalanche solidified their status as the league’s best. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar continued exceptional play, contributing points in most games. Martin Necas also impressed with multiple multi-point outings. Their dominant home record (11-0-2) and upcoming games at Ball Arena suggest they will likely remain atop the rankings.
2. Dallas Stars (3-0-1; 20-5-5): The Stars recovered from an overtime loss and the loss of Tyler Seguin to a torn ACL, finishing strong with three wins. Mikko Rantanen, Jason Robertson, and other key players have been consistently scoring, supporting Dallas’ position just three points behind Colorado.
3. Washington Capitals (3-0-1, 18-9-3): The Capitals adjusted well despite an injury to defenseman John Carlson and a shootout loss to the Ducks. Tom Wilson’s continued scoring and Logan Thompson’s strong goaltending were highlights.
4. Vegas Golden Knights (3-0-0; 14-6-8): With a four-game win streak, including a dramatic overtime win against the Rangers, the Knights have been led by Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, and Tomas Hertl, along with strong defense from Shea Theodore and Mark Stone.
5. Anaheim Ducks (2-1-0; 18-10-1): After a heavy loss early in the week, the Ducks bounced back with wins over Washington and Chicago, driven by Leo Karlsson and rookie Beckett Sennecke.
6. Minnesota Wild (2-2-0; 16-9-5): Despite back-to-back losses during a road trip, the Wild finished strong by defeating the Seattle Kraken, with continued scoring from Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov, plus outstanding goaltending from Jesper Wohlstedt.
7. Carolina Hurricanes (1-2-0; 17-9-2): The Hurricanes slipped with two losses but managed a high-scoring win against Nashville, featuring contributions from Nikolaj Ehlers and Jackson Blake.
8. Detroit Red Wings (3-0-1; 16-11-3): Detroit reversed a losing trend with three wins and one shootout loss, led by Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, Alex DeBrincat, and Moritz Sider.
9. Los Angeles Kings (2-2-0; 14-8-7): The Kings lost early but rebounded with impressive wins, boosted by Adrian Kempe and two-goal efforts from Brant Clark and Joel Armia.
10. New York Islanders (3-1-0; 16-11-3): The Islanders notched notable wins over the Avalanche and Tampa Bay, with balanced scoring and strong goaltending from Ilya Sorokin, who earned his third shutout this season.
Fan Take: This update shows how competitive the NHL is this season, with powerhouse teams like the Avalanche facing challenges but still proving their resilience. The rise and fluctuations of contenders highlight the intense battles that keep fans engaged and make each game crucial for playoff positioning, promising an exciting season ahead for hockey enthusiasts.
