For a brief moment, the Colorado Avalanche appeared unstoppable, but like many top contenders, they quickly showed vulnerabilities. The Avalanche dropped to 4-2 on the road after a tough Week 14 start, falling in regulation for the first time consecutively this NHL season, starting with a 2-1 loss to the defending Stanley Cup champs, the Florida Panthers.
Florida has become a tough challenge for Colorado, but the team bounced back strongly at home, thrashing the Ottawa Senators 8-2 and shutting out the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0. The week ended with a narrow 4-3 overtime defeat against the Toronto Maple Leafs, with Martin Necas’s goal securing a point late in the third period.
Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs capped off a perfect week with four wins, breaking a 10-game point streak and climbing into the top 10 in the league standings. The Vegas Golden Knights went undefeated in four games, and both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Detroit Red Wings won all three of their last weekly games. The Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers managed to earn points in each of their four outings. On the flip side, five teams failed to secure a win, with the Vancouver Canucks anchoring the bottom at 0-4-0.
Every week, rankings will be updated based on teams’ recent performances and overall season records, accompanied by a brief analysis to explain placement decisions. Here’s how the NHL power rankings shape up heading into Week 15:
Colorado Avalanche (Week 14: 2-1-1, Overall: 33-4-8)
The Avalanche remain unbeaten in scoreless ties at Ball Arena, holding a 19-0-3 home record with four games left on their seven-game homestand. Nathan MacKinnon’s production dipped slightly, being held scoreless twice recently, though he still boasts six points in nine games and tops the NHL in goals (36) and points (81), aiming for a fourth straight 100-point season. Defenseman Cale Makar led NHL blueliners with 53 points last week, supported by contributions from veterans Brent Burns and Josh Manson, along with rookie Ilya Solovyov, who scored in three consecutive games after a slow start.Dallas Stars (Week 14: 2-1-1, Overall: 27-10-9)
After a winless stretch, the Stars rebounded with a 6-3 win over the Hurricanes during a six-game road trip. Key players Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston shone, with Robertson adding three assists and maintaining a strong scoring streak. Mikko Rantanen leads Dallas with 62 points and has been consistently producing, recording points in 11 of his last 13 games.Tampa Bay Lightning (Week 14: 3-0-0, Overall: 28-13-3)
The Lightning boast a recent 10-game winning streak, the only active streak of such length in the league. Since their last loss in mid-December, Tampa Bay hasn’t dropped a game and has scored four or more goals consecutively. Stars like Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel, and Brandon Hagel have been prolific, with Kucherov especially impressive, registering points in every game during the winning streak.Detroit Red Wings (Week 14: 3-0-0, Overall: 28-15-4)
Detroit capped a flawless week by clinching an overtime win over Carolina. Andrew Copp’s crucial overtime goal prevented a late collapse, and Alex DeBrincat contributed early and assisted the game-winner. DeBrincat remains a reliable scorer, Lucas Raymond leads the team with 49 points, and goalie John Gibson has been excellent, posting three shutouts this season.Minnesota Wild (Week 14: 1-1-1, Overall: 26-12-9)
The Wild have stumbled lately, losing five of their last seven games and dropping three spots in the rankings. Despite this, they’ve secured points in eight of their last ten contests. Brock Faber has been outstanding on offense for a defenseman, riding a five-game point streak and matching his career-high in points.Carolina Hurricanes (Week 14: 3-0-1, Overall: 28-14-4)
The Hurricanes seem to be regaining form after a rough patch, finishing Week 14 strong with three wins and a close overtime loss. The return of Seth Jarvis proved pivotal; the young center scored and assisted in key games, igniting the team’s resurgence. Other notable contributors include Logan Stankoven, who had impressive point streaks, and defenseman K’Andre Miller.Montreal Canadiens (Week 14: 3-1-0, Overall: 26-14-6)
Montreal has maintained solid form, going 11-3-3 since early December. Though Nick Suzuki missed goal scoring recently, he made up with assists and has been consistent overall. Rising stars like Calder-winning defenseman Lane Hutson, Juraj Slavkowski, and Olivier Kapanen have kept the team’s offense rolling, with Alexandre Texier enjoying his best scoring week since joining Montreal.Vegas Golden Knights (Week 14: 4-0-0, Overall: 21-11-12)
Vegas shrugged off a slump with a perfect week, winning all four games. Jack Eichel and captain Mark Stone have been constant point producers, with Stone’s streak ending during a dominant victory over San Jose. Tomas Hertl and Shea Theodore also made significant offensive contributions after returning from injury.Toronto Maple Leafs (Week 14: 4-0-0, Overall: 23-15-7)
Toronto’s coaching changes sparked a remarkable turnaround from a disappointing stretch, currently enjoying an 8-0-2 run without a regulation loss. Their power play has improved as well, moving from last to 24th in efficiency. Rookie Easton Cowan played a big part in recent wins, while William Nylander made a strong return from injury with back-to-back multi-point games.Buffalo Sabers (Week 14: 3-1-0, Overall: 24-16-4)
Despite ending Week 14 with a loss to the Panthers, Buffalo’s dominant earlier wins secured them the tenth spot. Players like Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, Ryan McLeod, and Bowen Byram have been offensive standouts, helping Buffalo win 13 out of their last 14 games with consistent scoring depth.
Fan Take:
This update highlights how quickly fortunes can shift in the NHL, with powerhouse teams facing unexpected challenges and others surging with newfound momentum. For hockey enthusiasts, it signals an intensely competitive season ahead where depth and resilience will define who rises to the top, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
