NHL Power Rankings: Capitals climb into the top spot, Blackhawks still on the bottom

NHL: Anaheim Ducks at Washington Capitals
Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The Washington Capitals are the new leader in our NHL power rankings.

With last week’s No. 1 team, the Vegas Golden Knights, losing back-to-back home games to the New York Islanders and Rangers and on the road to the Nashville Predators, the Caps rode a 2-0-1 week to the top of the hill. Washington is the only team in the NHL with a points percentage over .700 (.716), and it’s gotten a tremendous lift from unheralded free-agent goaltender Logan Thompson, whose 3-0 shutout of the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday raised his record to 19-2-3.

Vegas dropped to No. 3, falling behind Washington and the Winnipeg Jets, who lead the NHL in scoring (162 goals).

At the other end of the league, the Chicago Blackhawks remain at the bottom of the rankings. Chicago has lost three in a row and seven of nine since the start of the new year.

The most frustrated Hawk might be second-year center Connor Bedard, who scored his 100th career point in his 112th NHL game, a 5-2 home loss to the Calgary Flames on Monday – but said after the game that the losing has “been hard. It’s been a lot of games to lose. It weighs on you.”

2024-25 NHL Power Rankings: From No. 32 to No. 1

32. Chicago Blackhawks (14-28-2)

NHL: Calgary Flames at Chicago Blackhawks
Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

31. San Jose Sharks (14-26-6)

NHL: Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks
Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

30. Nashville Predators (14-22-7)

NHL: Nashville Predators at Vancouver Canucks
Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

29. Buffalo Sabres (17-22-5)

NHL: Buffalo Sabres at New York Islanders
Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

28. Seattle Kraken (19-23-3)

NHL: Seattle Kraken at New York Islanders
Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

27. Anaheim Ducks (18-21-5)

NHL: Anaheim Ducks at Washington Capitals
Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

26. New York Islanders (17-19-7)

NHL: New York Islanders at Utah
Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images

25. Pittsburgh Penguins (18-20-8)

NHL: Edmonton Oilers at Pittsburgh Penguins
Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

24. Philadelphia Flyers (19-20-6)

NHL: Dallas Stars at Philadelphia Flyers
Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

23. New York Rangers (20-20-3)

NHL: New York Rangers at Colorado Avalanche
Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

22. Utah Hockey Club (18-18-7)

NHL: San Jose Sharks at Utah
Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images

21. St. Louis Blues (21-20-4)

NHL: St. Louis Blues at Edmonton Oilers
Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

20. Detroit Red Wings (20-19-4)

NHL: Detroit Red Wings at Winnipeg Jets
Credit: Terrence Lee-Imagn Images

19. Montreal Canadiens (21-18-4)

NHL: Vancouver Canucks at Montreal Canadiens
Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

18. Boston Bruins (22-19-5)

NHL: Boston Bruins at Florida Panthers
Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

17. Ottawa Senators (22-18-3)

NHL: Ottawa Senators at New York Islanders
Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

16. Columbus Blue Jackets (21-17-6)

NHL: St. Louis Blues at Columbus Blue Jackets
Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

15. Vancouver Canucks (19-14-10)

NHL: New Jersey Devils at Vancouver Canucks
Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

14. Calgary Flames (21-15-7)

NHL: Pittsburgh Penguins at Calgary Flames
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

13. Tampa Bay Lightning (23-16-3)

NHL: Boston Bruins at Tampa Bay Lightning
Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

12. Carolina Hurricanes (26-16-3)

NHL: Anaheim Ducks at Carolina Hurricanes
Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

11. Colorado Avalanche (27-17-1)

NHL: Colorado Avalanche at Utah
Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

10. Florida Panthers (26-16-3)

NHL: Vegas Golden Knights at Florida Panthers
Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

9. New Jersey Devils (26-15-5)

NHL: New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils
Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

8. Toronto Maple Leafs (27-16-2)

NHL: Vancouver Canucks at Toronto Maple Leafs
Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

7. Minnesota Wild (27-14-4)

NHL: Ottawa Senators at Minnesota Wild
Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

6. Los Angeles Kings (24-12-5)

NHL: Colorado Avalanche at Los Angeles Kings
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

5. Dallas Stars (28-14-1)

NHL: Dallas Stars at Toronto Maple Leafs
Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

4. Edmonton Oilers (28-13-3)

NHL: Stanley Cup Final-Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers
Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images

3. Vegas Golden Knights (29-12-3)

NHL: Calgary Flames at Vegas Golden Knights
Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images

2. Winnipeg Jets (30-12-3)

NHL: Vancouver Canucks at Winnipeg Jets
Credit: Terrence Lee-Imagn Images

1. Washington Capitals (29-10-5)

NHL: Washington Capitals at Nashville Predators
Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

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