The Colorado Avalanche kicked off Week 13 with a victory, marking their second 10-game winning streak of the 2025-26 NHL season. They ended the week with only their third regulation loss, which also marked the midpoint of their season, narrowly missing the NHL record for points at the halfway mark. They finished with a 31-3-7 record, earning 69 points, just four points shy of the 1929-30 Boston Bruins’ record.
The Avalanche faced a 2-1 comeback defeat against the two-time Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Sunday. Last week, four teams maintained undefeated records, while the Chicago Blackhawks stood at 3-0-1. The Pittsburgh Penguins swept all four games, including a home-and-away series against the Detroit Red Wings. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Seattle Kraken each claimed three wins, and the Boston Bruins notched two victories.
Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabers matched a franchise record with a 10-game winning streak and ended their road winning streak at seven following a 5-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. Six teams remained winless last week, with the Winnipeg Jets, the NHL’s lowest-ranked team, losing all three of their games. The Edmonton Oilers faced their first back-to-back losing streak since November, dropping two games.
Every week, we rank the top 10 NHL teams based on their recent performance and season achievements. Here’s a snapshot of the Week 14 power ratings:
1. Colorado Avalanche (2-1-0 last week, 31-3-7 overall) – Despite their recent loss, they hold an 11-point lead for the Presidents’ Trophy. Nathan MacKinnon reclaimed the scoring lead with impressive performances, and the team boasts strong goalkeeping with Scott Wedgewood backing up injured Mackenzie Blackwood.
2. Minnesota Wild (1-1-2, 25-11-8) – The Wild performed steadily during a seven-game road trip, with key contributions from Kirill Kaprizov and standout defenseman Quinn Hughes, who has been scoring consistently since joining the team.
3. Dallas Stars (0-2-1, 25-9-8) – Currently enduring their worst slump of the season, losing five straight games, though Jason Robertson remains a consistent offensive threat.
4. Tampa Bay Lightning (3-0-0, 25-13-3) – They recorded their second perfect week, with Nikita Kucherov continuing to dominate offensively and Darren Radish achieving franchise history as a defenseman.
5. Detroit Red Wings (2-1-1, 25-15-4) – The Red Wings have maintained strong momentum lately, led by Lucas Raymond and captain Dylan Larkin’s scoring consistency.
6. Montreal Canadiens (3-1-0, 23-13-6) – The Canadiens have been reliable in recent matches, with Nick Suzuki and rookie standout Ivan Demidov making significant offensive impacts.
7. Carolina Hurricanes (1-3-0, 25-14-3) – After a rough start to the week, they bounced back with key performances from Sebastian Aho and Nikolaj Ehlers despite ongoing struggles.
8. Pittsburgh Penguins (4-0-0, 20-12-9) – The Penguins have rebounded impressively without Evgeni Malkin, with Sidney Crosby on a hot streak and Brian Rust contributing crucial points.
9. Buffalo Sabers (1-1-0, 21-15-4) – The Sabers fell just short of extending their winning streak to 11, but Tage Thompson continues to lead the team offensively.
10. Washington Capitals (2-1-1, 22-15-6) – The Capitals edged out close competitors, highlighted by Justin Sourdiff’s first career hat trick and ongoing contributions from key players despite injuries.
Fan Take: This update highlights the competitive intensity and rising stars in the NHL, demonstrating how even powerhouse teams can face unexpected challenges. For hockey fans, these developments suggest an exciting and unpredictable season ahead, with record-breaking performances and potential shifts in team dominance shaping the future of the sport.
