Super 16: Bruins remain No. 1; Jets, Rangers climb power rankings

The Winnipeg Jets are the biggest climbers in the Super 16 power rankings this week, moving up four spots from last week to No. 7 thanks to a three-game winning streak.

Ironically, the Jets were also No. 7 two weeks ago, but they tumbled four spots to No. 11 last week because of three straight losses.
The New York Rangers got a bump this week after a 5-3 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. They became the first team to defeat the Hurricanes in regulation since Nov. 23 and were rewarded by jumping three spots to No. 10.
It was a tough week for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche.
The Penguins tumbled seven spots to No. 13. The Avalanche went down five spots to No. 14.
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 is the Super 16 for this week, with a thought on each ranked team from a select member of the voting panel.

1. Boston Bruins (29-4-4)

Total points: 207
Last week: No. 1
"Easy. After their comeback 2-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park on Monday, the Bruins lead the NHL in points (62) and points percentage (.838) by a big margin. They haven't lost in regulation at home (19-0-3), including the outdoor game at Fenway. They're second in goals per game (3.73) and best in goals against per game (2.16). As a fan said atop the Green Monster at the end of the Winter Classic, "This team is special this year." -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

2. Carolina Hurricanes (25-7-6)

Total points: 196
Last week: No. 2
"It was a tight one for me this week in the top two spots, tighter than it's been in a while. But I can't knock the Bruins from their perch yet, thus the Hurricanes maintaining their spot at No. 2 in my personal Super 16. The Hurricanes have been on a tear, soaring up the standings with an 11-game winning streak and 17-game point streak (15-0-2) that ended Tuesday. But if this team keeps up the way it has, it's going to be harder and harder to sort out those spots every week." -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

3. Toronto Maple Leafs (23-8-7)

Total points: 168
Last week: No. 3
"Toronto is once again getting great production from its top forwards. William Nylander leads the Maple Leafs with 45 points (22 goals, 23 assists). Auston Matthews, who reached 501 NHL points in a 6-5 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, is next with 44 (19 goals, 25 assists) and Mitchell Marner is third with 43 (14 goals, 29 assists). The Maple Leafs have also been strong defensively. They're allowing 2.61 goals per game, tied with the Hurricanes for fourth in the NHL behind the Bruins (2.16), Jets (2.55) and New Jersey Devils (2.55). The Maple Leafs have been fun to watch, and you can't count them out any night." -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

4. Dallas Stars (23-11-6)

Total points: 162
Last week: No. 5
"I not so sure there were many who predicted the Stars would have this successful a start, including me. I have them No. 5 for several reasons. For starters, they have one of the best top lines in hockey with Roope Hintz (19 goals, 25 assists) between left wing Jason Robertson (26 goals, 29 assists) and right wing Joe Pavelski (12 goals, 26 assists). They've received secondary scoring with first-round NHL Draft picks Wyatt Johnston (11 goals, six assists) and Ty Dellandrea (five goals, nine assists), and free agent forward Mason Marchment (nine goals, 12 assists). Dallas captain Jamie Benn has done his part with 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists). The goaltending tandem of Jake Oettinger and Scott Wedgewood has produced the seventh-lowest goals-against average in the NHL (2.68). Dallas also ranks sixth in goals per game (3.48), fifth on the power play (27.2 percent), and is tied for fourth on the penalty kill (82.7 percent)." -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

5. Vegas Golden Knights (26-12-2)

Total points: 155
Last week: No. 4
"I wasn't sold anymore. The Golden Knights were so good at the start of the season, 13-2-0 in their first 15 games. I was sold. But then came some adversity, some injuries, the loss of defenseman Alex Pietrangelo for personal reasons, and a 9-9-1 stretch followed. That's when I started to lose my belief in them. But they're reeling me back in, going 4-1-1 in their past six games, a 3-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche on Monday being their latest strong showing. The talent is there. Logan Thompson looks like he should be the real deal in net. We know they're well coached with Bruce Cassidy behind the bench. If this is the Golden Knights putting it all back together, then this should be the start of them running away with first place in the Pacific Division. Vegas is back to No. 6 in my personal Super 16 after dropping to No. 12 last week. Maybe this is just me being kneejerk in my reactions, but I think it's really the Golden Knights starting to play the way they're capable of playing again." -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

6. Tampa Bay Lightning (24-12-1)

Total points: 148
Last week: No. 7
"Tampa Bay is looking more like the team that reached the Stanley Cup Final three consecutive years as this season progresses. Although they lost 5-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday, the Lightning have won four of five and are 9-3-0 in their past 12 games, climbing to within four points of Toronto for second in the Atlantic Division. The Lightning have six players with at least 12 goals, led by Brayden Point (22), Steven Stamkos (17), Brandon Hagel (15), Nicholas Paul (14), Nikita Kucherov (13) and Alex Killorn (12). Hagel and Paul have fit in seamlessly since being acquired prior to the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline and are core contributors. Victor Hedman and Mikhail Sergachev anchor a solid defense that continues to be backed by one of the best goalies in the NHL, Andrei Vasilevskiy. The Lightning have more than half of its regular-season schedule remaining, but what team would want to face them in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs?"-- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

7. Winnipeg Jets (24-13-1)

Total points: 111
Last week: No. 11
"The Jets enter a big test against the Lightning on Friday riding a three-game winning streak. They're a top-10 team in my view given the remarkable contributions they've received all season from defenseman Josh Morrissey (43 points in 38 games), the continued consistency of goalie Connor Hellebuyck (19 wins, .928 save percentage, three shutouts in 29 games) and the play up front from forwards Kyle Connor, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Mark Scheifele. Winnipeg could be a very dangerous team come playoff time." -- Brian Compton, managing editor

8. New Jersey Devils (24-11-3)

Total points: 104
Last week: No. 8
"I have the Devils at No. 10 in my Super 16 because I'm still not sure what team they are. Are they the team that started 16-3-0, including a 13-game winning streak? Or are they the team that's gone 8-8-3 in the 19 games since? Are they the team that dominated the puck the first six weeks of the season, averaging 3.84 goals and 36.4 shots on goal per game? Or are they the team that has allowed almost as many goals (53) as they've scored (56) in those 19 games? The Devils have some great young talent, Jack Hughes is one of the more entertaining players in the NHL, and with Vitek Vanecek the goaltending is considerably improved. The Devils have shown they can be a good team, but to me, I think they need to prove they can be that good team on a more consistent basis." -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

9. Washington Capitals (21-13-6)

Total points: 95
Last week: No. 10
"Impressive. The Capitals have stayed afloat in the Metropolitan Division despite a rash of injuries. As impressive is the performance of that guy named Alex Ovechkin. Washington thrived during the captain's race to goal No. 802, going 11-1-2 since Dec. 5. Ovechkin himself is on fire with six goals in his past three games and has 28 goals this season. The Capitals are about to get help with forwards Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson returning, but they can't catch a break with injuries. They recently lost veteran defenseman John Carlson (face) indefinitely." -- Robert Laflamme, LNH.com senior writer

10. New York Rangers (21-12-6)

Total points: 91
Last week: No. 13
"The Rangers have won three of five and had a statement win Tuesday, when they bounced back after allowing the Hurricanes to score less than a minute after they scored on two occasions and handed them their first regulation loss this season when they were leading after the second period (16-1-2). This is exactly the kind of win that could propel the Rangers up the Eastern Conference standings." -- David Satriano, staff writer

11. Minnesota Wild (22-13-2)

Total points: 80
Last week: No. 12
"This is not the Wild of old, trying to grind out 2-1 victories and hoping a conservative, physical style delivers as it should in the playoffs. They still have those elements but are offensively dynamic now. Since Dec. 1, the Wild have gone 12-4-0, and their .750 points percentage is fourth in the NHL during that. In those 16 games, they have scored a whopping 57 goals. Sure, forwards Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello (20 points each) are driving the bus during the hot stretch, but they have help. Forwards Matt Boldy (13), Joel Eriksson Ek (12) and Sam Steel (11), and defenseman Jared Spurgeon (12), have also reached double-digit points. Goalie Filip Gustavsson is 6-1-0 with a 1.85 goals-against average, .936 save percentage and one shutout." -- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

12. Los Angeles Kings (22-13-6)

Total points: 69
Last week: No. 14
"I'll be honest, it shocks me that the Kings are No. 12 this week. They should be higher than this. I have them No. 7 in my personal Super 16. They're 7-1-1 since Dec. 15 with wins against the Bruins (a shootout in Boston), Golden Knights, Avalanche (a shootout in Denver) and Stars. They've played half their season (41 games) and are four points behind the Golden Knights in the Pacific Division. They're one of three teams in the Western Conference with at least 50 points. Pheonix Copley has quietly been one of the best stories in this NHL season, the 30-year-old journeyman goalie coming in from Ontario of the American Hockey League and saving the Kings. They're better than 12th." -- Rosen

13. Pittsburgh Penguins (19-12-6)

Total points: 55
Last week: No. 6
"The Penguins would be higher here if not for a recent so-so trend that's seen them lose five in a row (0-3-2). Kris Letang's injury plagued season has left Pittsburgh's defense a bit thin at times, and now goalie Tristan Jarry is being evaluated after leaving the Winter Classic in the first period with a lower-body injury. But this team's pedigree, led by captain Sidney Crosby, is well established, and coach Mike Sullivan is one of the best in the biz. Pittsburgh is poised to go on an impressive run at any time but, as one of the older teams in the NHL, health is a huge determining factor." -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

14. Colorado Avalanche (19-14-3)

Total points: 53
Last week: No. 9
"It would be unfair to blame a world-renowned symphony orchestra for sounding a bit disjointed when the conductor, the virtuoso lead violinist, a couple of cellists, and a contrabass player are all out sick. It has been all that and more for the badly bruised Avalanche team this season, who, unlike an orchestra, cannot postpone a few tour dates. The defending Stanley Cup champions have already dressed a whopping 38 players, six who have played in all 36 games. All things considered, hanging on within a point of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference with three games in hand on the Edmonton Oilers can be viewed as an overachievement. Scoring has been the biggest problem for the Avalanche (2.89 goals per game, tied for 25th), down almost a full goal from last season (3.76, fourth). They have scored more than three goals once in their past 15 games." -- Paul Strizhevsky, staff writer

15. Seattle Kraken (20-12-4)

Total points: 37
Last week: No. 15
"OK, bear with me for a second for an analogy. So, that feeling I had skating at Fenway Park with many other media members Saturday night, the confidence that I know I'm capable but that fear of falling flat on my face and embarrassing myself, that's the same feeling I get when I think about fully investing in the Kraken as a playoff team this season. I want to do it. They're giving me zero reason not to, like coming back from 2-0 down to defeat the Oilers 5-2 on Tuesday. That's a four-point swing that kept Seattle third in the Pacific Division. The Kraken have three games in hand on the Oilers and Calgary Flames, but they're 5-7-1 since Dec. 3. I still have reservations about their goaltending, defense and game breaking ability. They've played 36 games and I need to see more, but I can't ignore them, or I would be embarrassed, and that's why they're No. 16 in my personal Super 16." -- Rosen

16. New York Islanders (22-15-2)

Total points: 20
Last week: No. 16
"The Islanders have won four of five and have a tough back-to-back set at the Oilers on Thursday and Flames on Friday. However, they're never out of any game with Ilya Sorokin, who is in the Vezina Trophy conversation, and Semyon Varlamov. If the Islanders can find timely scoring and improve the power play (19.0 percent; 25th in NHL), they should be in the mix for a playoff spot in the second half of the season." -- Satriano
Others receiving points:Buffalo Sabres 12, Oilers 3, Flames 2
Dropped out:None

HERE'S HOW WE RANKED 'EM

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