Super 16: Bruins unanimous No. 1 in season-ending power rankings

The Boston Bruins are historically good this season. That much we already know.

They've set NHL records for wins (64) and points (133) in a single season. They are the unanimous No. 1 in the Super 16 for the seventh consecutive week. It's the 22nd straight week that they have been atop the power rankings.

It gets them to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That's it. That's the reward.

It doesn't seem like much, does it? Oh, but it is, because with their success the Bruins have become the most feared opponent in the NHL, the easy favorite to win the Stanley Cup.

Could they lose, though? Could a team defeat them in a best-of-7 series? We're here to answer that this week, the final Super 16 of the 2022-23 season.

The responses underneath each team ranked 2-16 this week is to one question: Can they defeat the Bruins in the playoffs?

For the Bruins, the response is to the following question: Where are they most vulnerable?

As a reminder, to come up with the Super 16 each week, the 13 voters put together their own version of what they think the rankings should look like. A point total assigned to each with the team selected first is given 16 points, second 15, third 14, and so on down the line.
Here it is.

1. Boston Bruins (64-12-5)

Total points: 208
Last week: No. 1

"When you ask where the Bruins are most vulnerable, you assume that they are vulnerable and, well, I haven't seen a ton of evidence of that this season. This is a team that simply doesn't let up, that doesn't lose the random meaningless end-of-season games when players are resting. (Granted, they were trying to break an NHL record, but still.) If pressed, I'd have to say their weakness is on the power play. They're 11th in the NHL (22.7 percent), but since Jan. 26, they've gone 18-for-111 (16.2 percent, 24th), though it's been trending better lately. It's not much, but it's something that's maybe vulnerable." -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

2. New Jersey Devils (51-22-8)

Total points: 174
Last week: No. 3

"The Devils played the Bruins tough in a 2-1 loss in Boston in their final regular-season game against them April 8. They have been the faster of the two teams, but the Bruins were still smarter with how they managed the puck and performed in critical moments of the game. Boston won the special teams battle, going 1-for-1 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. It also has plenty of postseason experience and their veteran players understand how to win in the second season. Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron has played 167 playoff games, the same number combined of the six Devils defensemen in the lineup April 8. At this point, I don't think New Jersey could defeat Boston in a seven-game playoff series but a strong power play and unworldly goaltending performance could prove me wrong." -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

3. Carolina Hurricanes (51-21-9)

Total points: 172
Last week: No. 2

"The Hurricanes battled the Bruins tough in their three regular-season games, going 1-0-2. Defeating them in a best-of-7 series will be tougher, and, judging by how they've played recently, I don't think they can do it. That said, to face the Bruins, the Hurricanes would have to reach the Eastern Conference Final. That means they'll have won two playoff series and broken out of their late-season slump, 4-5-1 in their past 10 games and 8-8-1 since forward Andrei Svechnikov sustained a season-ending knee injury March 11. Carolina can control play with its forecheck and puck possession, but scoring has been a struggle without Svechikov (30th in NHL at 2.53 goals per game). The Bruins will have the advantage in scoring depth (among other things), so the Hurricanes will need whoever is in net -- Frederik Andersen, Antti Raanta or Pyotr Kochetkov -- to be sharp. It's the same with their special teams, particularly their power play, which is 6-for-49 (12.2 percent) in the past 20 games."-- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

4. Edmonton Oilers (49-23-9)

Total points: 160
Last week: No. 6

"Obviously, it can only happen should both teams reach the Stanley Cup Final and it would be an intriguing matchup, but I can't see the Oilers defeating the Bruins four times in a best-of-7. Boston has the horses on defense, the goaltending and, let's not forget, Bergeron is one of the top defensive centers to ever play the game. I think Boston would hoist the Cup should the two teams come out of their respective conferences." -- Brian Compton, managing editor

5. Colorado Avalanche (49-24-7)

Total points: 158
Last week: No. 5

"Of course, the Avalanche can defeat the Bruins. They are the Stanley Cup champions and know how to win. They have survived a litany of injuries and somehow found their way to the top of the Central Division with a second-half push. They have the best defenseman in the NHL, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews is likely in the top 10 and as good as anything the Bruins have to offer. They have forward Nathan MacKinnon, who should get serious consideration for the Hart Trophy given to the most valuable player, and Mikko Rantanen, a goal-scorer just as dangerous as David Pastrnak. They are deep and fast as a team and are coached by Jared Bednar, who has won at every level. They are battle-tested and even a juggernaut like the Bruins won't intimidate them if they face off in the Stanley Cup Final." -- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

6. Toronto Maple Leafs (49-21-11)

Total points: 149
Last week: No. 8

"For the Maple Leafs to play the Bruins in the postseason, they'd have to first defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference First Round. And if they accomplished that, it would be their first series victory since 2004. There's the rub. Toronto has lost six consecutive series in the Mitchell Marner-Auston Matthews-William Nylander-Morgan Rielly era. It's a mental hurdle that core needs to overcome. Would advancing past Tampa Bay finally squash the self-doubt and give the Maple Leafs' nucleus much needed confidence? It had better because the Bruins have put together a season for the ages. Defeating them is a monumental task. Trying to do it if you still have self-doubts, well, that's pretty much impossible." -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

7. Vegas Golden Knights (50-22-9)

Total points: 146
Last week: No. 4

"The Golden Knights seemingly have one advantage playing the Bruins, their coach. Bruce Cassidy coached the Bruins for six seasons (2016-22) and knows them well. He's coached 17 of the 20 regulars in Boston's lineup, including 10 forwards, five defensemen and each goalie. True, Boston has a new coach and system under Jim Montgomery, who likely will win the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year, but Cassidy has done a great job in Vegas and no doubt owns a plethora of knowledge on the Bruins." -- David Satriano, staff writer

8. New York Rangers (47-21-13)

Total points: 130
Last week: No. 7

"The Rangers were 0-3-0 against the Bruins this season, but they didn't have forwards Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane in the first two games (5-2 loss Nov. 3, 3-1 loss Jan. 19), and their 4-2 loss March 4 was only Kane's second game with them. They also only had 16 skaters on March 4 because of injuries to defenseman Ryan Lindgren and forward Tyler Motte, and defenseman K'Andre Miller's suspension. Now that Kane and Tarasenko are immersed in New York, and the Rangers are whole, they have the skill, special teams, speed, depth and goaltending to defeat the Bruins. But the big question if this were to be the Eastern Conference Final is can the Rangers withstand the constant pressure and unrelenting pressure the Bruins will put on them? New York is prone to a giveaway, allowing odd man rushes, and getting stuck in its own zone. Boston routinely turns giveaways into scoring chances and, eventually, goals. The Bruins force teams into turnovers. The Rangers are excellent in transition, and they can zip it around the offensive zone. Igor Shesterkin is obviously good enough to keep the Rangers in games, but the big question remains, and it could be the Rangers' biggest Achilles heel no matter who they play, but especially if it's Boston in the conference final." -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

9. Dallas Stars (46-21-14)

Total points: 103
Last week: No. 12

"As of now, I don't think the Stars could defeat the Bruins. This isn't a knock on them as much as it's a compliment to the Bruins. They're just so deep at every position. They remind me of the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks, who had a tremendous run through that regular season (though not as impressive as the Bruins, who have done it in an 82-game season as opposed to 48) and ultimately won the Stanley Cup. The Stars have some great things going for them. They have goalie Jake Oettinger. They have forward Jason Robertson, who has his first 100-point season in the NHL. Their ageless forward, Joe Pavelski, is 38 and tied for second on Dallas in points (77) with Jamie Benn behind Robertson. The Stars are very good, but in a head-to-head matchup, I'd give the nod to the Bruins." -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

10. Minnesota Wild (46-25-10)

Total points: 83
Last week: No. 11

"The playoffs are full of surprises, and we all know that. Cliches aside, let's not underestimate the benefits of a good old reality check. As good as the Wild have been this season, there is a reason they have 31 fewer points than the Bruins and why they have scored 60 fewer goals, allowed 45 more and were 0-1-1 against Boston this season. The Bruins are on a mission of historic proportions. The Wild have won four playoff series in 21 seasons, two since 2003-04, and have advanced past the second round once -- 20 years ago. That said, how likely is the Stanley Cup Final featuring the Bruins and the Wild? Not very. How likely is Minnesota to prevail in the said matchup? Even less so." -- Paul Strizhevsky, staff writer

11. Los Angeles Kings (46-25-10)

Total points: 72
Last week: No. 9

"I don't think the Kings could defeat the Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final, but I think the series would be far closer than some might think. The Kings have two of the best shutdown centers in the Western Conference, Anze Kopitar and Phillip Danault. Coach Todd McLellan could opt to play best-on-best and match Kopitar against Bergeron's line or use Danault in that role to free up Kopitar so he can produce more offensively. Where the Kings run into trouble is how they would handle a third line that includes Charlie Coyle and Taylor Hall, two potentially explosive scorers. And after the top defense pair of Drew Doughty and Mikey Anderson, there isn't the kind of dependable depth the Kings would need to defeat a team with the firepower of the Bruins four times in seven games. I think the Kings would have a chance to make it interesting, but the Bruins would be the ones wearing the crown in this matchup." -- Adam Kimelman, managing editor

12. Seattle Kraken (46-27-8)

Total points: 68
Last week: No. 13

"No. Sorry. Seattle is a great story. The Kraken have made the playoffs for the first time, in just their second season since joining the NHL as an expansion team. They've got a balanced lineup. Climate Pledge Arena is sure to have a great atmosphere. But it would be a minor miracle for them to make the Stanley Cup Final, and it would take a major miracle for them to defeat the Bruins. Seattle just doesn't match up with Boston in any way, not that it should." -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

13. Tampa Bay Lightning (45-30-6)

Total points: 57
Last week: No. 10

"Well, a team that has won 11 of its past 12 playoff series can defeat anybody. You can't ever underestimate the Lightning. This season, though, they would have to get brilliant goaltending from Andrei Vasilevskiy to defeat the Bruins. Vasilevskiy has proven capable of winning a series by himself the past three years. The Lightning would also need to win the special teams battle and, for that to happen, they would have to be more discipline than during the regular season. They are the second-most penalized team (919 penalty minutes) behind the Ottawa Senators (1,019)." -- Robert Laflamme, LNH.com senior writer

14. Winnipeg Jets (46-32-3)

Total points: 38
Last week: No. 15

"The Jets have come back strong, going 5-1-0 in their past six games to clinch a playoff berth that, frankly, shouldn't have ever been in doubt. It was because of their inconsistent play, almost a tale of two seasons. They were 29-14-1 through 44 games, averaging 3.34 goals per game and 24.2 percent on the power play. They're 17-18-2 in 37 games since, averaging 2.62 goals per game and 14.8 percent on the power play. They've done their job of late, but it feels like a band-aid on a problem and that doesn't give me belief that they would be able to handle the Bruins in a seven-game series. The only way they'd have a chance is if the Bruins were to limp into the Stanley Cup Final battered and bruised after three rounds. But, if the Jets get there, there's a good chance they would be limping too. With Connor Hellebuyck in net and the firepower the Jets have offensively, they might be able to take a game or two from the Bruins. But four? Unlikely." -- Rosen

15. Florida Panthers (42-31-8)

Total points: 36
Last week: No. 14

"The Panthers could play the Bruins in the Eastern Conference First Round and, no, they would not win the series. As much as I want to say that's not a knock on the Panthers, but instead that it merely shows how much respect I have for the Bruins, it's really not that simple. The Panthers wouldn't have an advantage anywhere on the ice. The Bruins have the better goalies by a landslide. They're deeper up front, harder on the back end. The power plays are about even (Florida 23.0 percent; Boston 22.7 percent), but the penalty killing isn't close (Boston 87.1 percent; Florida 75.6 percent). The Panthers are tied with the Devils for fifth in scoring (3.51 goals per game). To that, the Bruins say so what, because they're second (3.65 per game). Boston allows 2.10 goals per game; Florida allows 3.28. If you go best on best, I don't mind the Panthers' duo of Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk against Bergeron and Pastrnak. But it becomes a disadvantage from there for Florida." -- Rosen

16. New York Islanders (42-31-9)

Total points: 9
Last week: No. 16

"The Islanders could play the Bruins in the first round. They'd make it hard on them because of their style of play and goalie Ilya Sorokin can steal a game or two, but they don't match up. They don't have the necessary firepower to take a series from Boston, especially if they're without center Mathew Barzal. Even if Barzal returns, he'd be back after missing two months and the Islanders would need him to quickly get up to speed against a historically good team. It's asking too much. It's asking too much for the Islanders to defeat the Bruins one time, let alone four. They were 0-2-1 against them this season and outscored 13-6, including 10-3 in the last two games." -- Rosen

Others receiving points: Nashville Predators 3, Buffalo Sabres 1, Calgary Flames 1
Dropped out: None

HERE'S HOW WE RANKED 'EM

AMALIE BENJAMIN
1. Boston Bruins; 2. New Jersey Devils; 3. Colorado Avalanche; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Carolina Hurricanes; 6. Edmonton Oilers; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. New York Rangers; 9. Dallas Stars; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. Seattle Kraken; 12. Minnesota Wild; 13. Florida Panthers; 14. Tampa Bay Lightning; 15. Winnipeg Jets; 16. New York Islanders
BRIAN COMPTON
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. New Jersey Devils; 4. Colorado Avalanche; 5. Edmonton Oilers; 6. Toronto Maple Leafs; 7. New York Rangers; 8. Vegas Golden Knights; 9. Dallas Stars; 10. Seattle Kraken; 11. Los Angeles Kings; 12. Minnesota Wild; 13. Tampa Bay Lightning; 14. Winnipeg Jets; 15. Florida Panthers; 16. New York Islanders
NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. New Jersey Devils; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Toronto Maple Leafs; 6. Edmonton Oilers; 7. New York Rangers; 8. Colorado Avalanche; 9. Dallas Stars; 10. Minnesota Wild; 11. Los Angeles Kings; 12. Seattle Kraken; 13. Tampa Bay Lightning; 14. Winnipeg Jets; 15. Florida Panthers; 16. Nashville Predators
TOM GULITTI
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Edmonton Oilers; 3. Colorado Avalanche; 4. Carolina Hurricanes; 5. New Jersey Devils; 6. Vegas Golden Knights; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. New York Rangers; 9. Dallas Stars; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. Minnesota Wild; 12. Seattle Kraken; 13. Tampa Bay Lightning; 14. Winnipeg Jets; 15. Florida Panthers; 16. New York Islanders
ADAM KIMELMAN
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. Colorado Avalanche; 4. Toronto Maple Leafs; 5. Vegas Golden Knights; 6. New Jersey Devils; 7. Edmonton Oilers; 8. New York Rangers; 9. Dallas Stars; 10. Tampa Bay Lightning; 11. Minnesota Wild; 12. Florida Panthers; 13. Winnipeg Jets; 14. Seattle Kraken; 15. Los Angeles Kings; 16. New York Islanders
ROBERT LAFLAMME
1. Boston Bruins; 2. New Jersey Devils; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Toronto Maple Leafs; 6. Edmonton Oilers; 7. New York Rangers; 8. Colorado Avalanche; 9. Dallas Stars; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. Minnesota Wild; 12. Seattle Kraken; 13. Tampa Bay Lightning; 14. Winnipeg Jets; 15. Florida Panthers; 16. New York Islanders
MIKE G. MORREALE
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. New Jersey Devils; 4. Colorado Avalanche; 5. Vegas Golden Knights; 6. New York Rangers; 7. Edmonton Oilers; 8. Minnesota Wild; 9. Toronto Maple Leafs; 10. Dallas Stars; 11. Los Angeles Kings; 12. Winnipeg Jets; 13. Seattle Kraken; 14. Tampa Bay Lightning; 15. Florida Panthers; 16. New York Islanders
TRACEY MYERS
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. New Jersey Devils; 4. Toronto Maple Leafs; 5. Vegas Golden Knights; 6. Edmonton Oilers; 7. New York Rangers; 8. Colorado Avalanche; 9. Dallas Stars; 10. Minnesota Wild; 11. Los Angeles Kings; 12. Seattle Kraken; 13. Tampa Bay Lightning; 14. Winnipeg Jets; 15. Florida Panthers; 16. New York Islanders
SHAWN P. ROARKE
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Colorado Avalanche; 3. Edmonton Oilers; 4. New Jersey Devils; 5. Vegas Golden Knights; 6. Toronto Maple Leafs; 7. Carolina Hurricanes; 8. Dallas Stars; 9. New York Rangers; 10. Minnesota Wild; 11. Tampa Bay Lightning; 12. Seattle Kraken; 13. Los Angeles Kings; 14. Florida Panthers; 15. Nashville Predators; 16. Winnipeg Jets
DAN ROSEN
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Edmonton Oilers; 3. Colorado Avalanche; 4. New Jersey Devils; 5. Toronto Maple Leafs; 6. New York Rangers; 7. Vegas Golden Knights; 8. Dallas Stars; 9. Carolina Hurricanes; 10. Minnesota Wild; 11. Seattle Kraken; 12. Los Angeles Kings; 13. Tampa Bay Lightning; 14. Winnipeg Jets; 15. Florida Panthers; 16. Buffalo Sabres
DAVID SATRIANO
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. New Jersey Devils; 4. Edmonton Oilers; 5. Toronto Maple Leafs; 6. New York Rangers; 7. Vegas Golden Knights; 8. Colorado Avalanche; 9. Dallas Stars; 10. Seattle Kraken; 11. Minnesota Wild; 12. Florida Panthers; 13. Los Angeles Kings; 14. Tampa Bay Lightning; 15. Winnipeg Jets; 16. New York Islanders
PAUL STRIZHEVSKY
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Toronto Maple Leafs; 3. New Jersey Devils; 4. Carolina Hurricanes; 5. Edmonton Oilers; 6. Colorado Avalanche; 7. Vegas Golden Knights; 8. New York Rangers; 9. Dallas Stars; 10. Minnesota Wild; 11. Seattle Kraken; 12. Los Angeles Kings; 13. Winnipeg Jets; 14. Tampa Bay Lightning; 15. Florida Panthers; 16. Calgary Flames
MIKE ZEISBERGER
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Edmonton Oilers; 3. Colorado Avalanche; 4. New York Rangers; 5. Carolina Hurricanes; 6. New Jersey Devils; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. Vegas Golden Knights; 9. Tampa Bay Lightning; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. Dallas Stars; 12. Minnesota Wild; 13. Seattle Kraken; 14. Florida Panthers; 15. Winnipeg Jets; 16. New York Islanders
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