During the early months of the 2025-26 NHL season, the Colorado Avalanche appeared to be on an unsustainable winning streak. This month, their performance confirmed those doubts. The Avalanche managed to earn at least one point in their first 40 games, boasting a record of 31-2-7 after a 5-3 win against the Carolina Hurricanes in early January. However, since then, their record has dipped to 5-7-2, with three losses in Week 17, reducing their lead in the Presidents’ Trophy race to just five points. Notably, five of their nine losses were at home, despite starting the season with an impressive 17-0-2 record before the new year. The team has one more game at Ball Arena before the NHL pausing for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
In a competitive week, the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars both continued their strong performances, each winning four games and narrowing the gap behind Colorado. Other teams like the Blue Jackets, Kraken, and Senators also enjoyed streaks of perfection, while the Canadiens, Hurricanes, and Sabers posted solid records. Conversely, the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers struggled, with the Panthers losing four regulation games and the Rangers going winless last week, with Vegas remaining winless in regulation but earning two points through overtime and shootouts.
The Week 18 power rankings reflect these performances: Colorado remains at the top but has shown vulnerability. The Lightning, Stars, Wild, and Hurricanes all moved closer, their recent streaks positioning them as serious contenders. Teams like the Red Wings and Bruins saw some setbacks but remain in the playoff conversation, while the Penguins and others continue fighting for positioning.
Fan Take: This amount of movement in the rankings shows how tight the league is this season, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. For hockey fans, these developments mean a lot — unpredictability is alive and well, promising exhilarating battles down the stretch as teams jostle for playoff positions and chase the coveted Stanley Cup.
