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Andy's NHL power rankings for all 16 teams halfway through Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs of the 2025-2026 season. Where does each NHL team stand in our latest power rankings for the 2025-26 season?
With the opening stretch of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the books, some teams may have already begun to clear out their lockers, while others are on the brink of elimination.
So far, we have seen both top seeds in each conference take care of business, winning their respective series in a week, and several teams, like the Bruins and Penguins, who have to win three straight games to reach Round 2.
All statistics and team records mentioned are updated as of Monday, April 27. Who were the biggest risers and fallers from this past week? Let's dive in!
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No. 16 - Ottawa Senators
Last Week's Ranking - 12
The Senators were the first team to get sent home packing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Sliding into the bracket as the No. 2 Wild Card, they took four straight losses to the Carolina Hurricanes. While they entered the playoffs with some sneaky momentum, they were unable to extend any of it into the playoffs.
They would drop all four games by a combined 11-5 score. They would be held to under two goals in two of these games. Top forwards Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle would be held to only one combined assist and no goals over these four games.
No. 15 - Los Angeles Kings
Last Week's Ranking - 16
The Kings entered the postseason as massive underdogs against the reigning Presidents' Trophy Winners and were the other team swept by the top seed in their conference. The Kings dropped the first three games but managed to push Game 2 into overtime (a 2-1 loss). While their defense held the high-powered Avalanche to under three goals in two of their first three games, their offense has been nonexistent.
On Sunday, they took their fourth loss, falling 5-1 to the Avalanche in Los Angeles.
No. 14 - Pittsburgh Penguins
Last Week's Ranking - 8
The Penguins dug themselves a hole in the Battle of Pennsylvania. They dropped the first three games of the series, including the first two on their home ice. While they were able to get a win on Saturday to avoid a four-game sweep, they still face an impossible task to extend this series.
After being held to just one point over the first three games, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby enjoyed a much-needed breakout effort, scoring his first goal of the postseason and taking a second assist. If he can find his footing, the Penguins could continue to extend this series.
Crosby with a lil KICK ASSIST to Letang who rockets it home 🔥🚨 pic.twitter.com/8AagQznwNw
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 26, 2026
No. 13 - Boston Bruins
Last Week's Ranking - 11
The Bruins took a tough loss in Game 1, blowing a two-goal lead in the final minutes, but quickly got back on track, tying the series in Game 2 and taking down Buffalo by a 4-2 score. However, in Game 3, the Bruins fell back in the loss column, falling 3-1 in the first contest in Boston.
On Sunday, the Boston slump lingered as they dug themselves into an enormous hole in Game 4, going down 4-0 in the opening frame. The B's were unable to get much going in this game and will now go back to Buffalo with their backs against the wall.
No. 12 - Edmonton Oilers
Last Week's Ranking - 13
The Oilers came out hot in Game 1, taking down the Ducks 4-3 in Western Canada, but have hit a bit of a skid. In Game 2, they fell 6-4, and those struggles persisted in Game 3 out of California, when they dropped their second straight game by a 7-4 score. The Ducks have done a great job of shutting down superstar forward Connor McDavid, as he has only totaled two points over these three games.
Goaltender Connor Ingram has now allowed more than three goals in back-to-back games and holds an overall 4.70 GAA with an .849% SV% in the postseason. This forced them to turn to Tristian Jarry in Game 4 on Sunday night, but it did not provide the spark they needed. While Jarry had a better showing than Ingram, the Oilers still fell in overtime and now trail 3-1 in the series.
No. 11 - Vegas Golden Knights
Last Week's Ranking - 10
The Golden Knights enjoyed a hot start to the season, posting a 4-2 victory over the Utah Mammoth to extend their late-season surge. However, the tides would quickly turn, as they would drop both Games 2 and 3 by a combined 7-4 score. They will have a critical Game 4 on Monday night, which could very well dictate the series' direction.
Following Game 1, goaltender Carter Hart held a perfect 7-0 record over his last seven games with a 1.71 GAA and a .923% SV%. However, in Games 2 and 3, Hart posted a much higher 3.68 GAA while stopping 34 of the 41 shots he saw.
No. 10 - Utah Mammoth
Last Week's Ranking - 14
The Mammoth opened their series with a 4-2 loss in Vegas but have rebounded well, picking up two straight victories, including one on the road. In Game 2, the Mammoth evened the series in Las Vegas by a 3-2 score. On Friday evening, the Mammoth took care of business in the first-ever playoff game in Utah, winning 4-2.
Utah netminder Karel Vejmelka remains the x-factor in their series. Over the last two games, Vejmelka has stopped 49 of the 52 shots he has seen while posting a 1.6 Goals Saved Above Expected. If he continues this pace, this Wild Card squad could pull off the upset.
No. 9 - Anahiem Ducks
Last Week's Ranking - 15
After dropping Game 1, the Ducks rebounded quite well, picking up three straight victories over the Oilers. In Game 2, the Ducks put six goals in the back of the net and were led by three-point efforts from Cutter Gauthier, Jackson LaCombe, and Alex Killorn. In Game 3, the Anaheim offense continued to roll, scoring seven goals, with top defender LaCombe chipping in another two points.
On Sunday, they fell down 2-0 early, but were able to tie the game and eventually took a commanding 3-1 series lead in overtime thanks to Ryan Poehling's goal. This team has found its stride at the right time.
No. 8 - Philadelphia Flyers
Last Week's Ranking - 9
The Flyers have enjoyed a dominant start to the postseason. The Flyers marched into Pittsburgh and picked up two straight victories before earning a 3-0 series lead on Wednesday night. While they were unable to complete the sweep on Saturday, they still remain in the driver's seat, up 3-1 heading back to Pittsburgh.
Breakout rookie Porter Martone has been the story for the Philadelphia offense. Martone scored the back-to-back game winner in Games 1 and 2, and has totaled 13 points (six goals) over his first 13 games in the NHL.
No. 7 - Minnesota Wild
Last Week's Ranking - 7
The Wild wasted little time making an impact in their series, taking down the Stars by a 6-1 score in Game 1. However, the Wild would drop the next two games and find themselves in a must-win situation in Game 4 on their ice. In the final minutes, Marcus Foligno would score the game-tying goal to force overtime, and Matt Boldy would eventually be the hero in overtime to tie the series (2-2).
While much of the credit has gone to Minnesota's offense, the young netminder Jesper Wallstedt is enjoying a dominant start to this series. Through four games, Wallstedt has posted a 2.06 GAA with a .929% SV% and appears to be in little danger of losing the starting job.
No. 6 - Dallas Stars
Last Week's Ranking - 5
After dropping the opening game in Dallas, the Stars needed to round into form quickly before losing their grasp on the series. In Game 2, they picked up a massive victory, taking down the Wild by a 4-2 score. In Game 3, they continued to find their footing, taking down the Wild in Minnesota (4-3) in double overtime.
However, on Saturday, they would see their fortunes flipped as the Wild would tie the series off a Matt Boldy game-winner. Both teams will face off in a best-of-three beginning on Tuesday night. This series is projected to go to seven games.
No. 5 - Tampa Bay Lightning
Last Week's Ranking - 6
The first three games of this series went to overtime, which suggests just how even the two teams are. The Lightning dropped Game 1 but rebounded well in Game 2 to even the series. However, on Friday night in Montreal, they would drop their second game, setting up a massive Game 4 on Sunday night.
In this pivotal game, the Lightning got the job done on Montreal, winning 3-2 and forcing a best-of-three series that begins on Wednesday night. In this victory, the Bolts trialed 2-0 but rallied thanks to a two-goal effort from Brandon Hagel, who has now scored six goals this postseason.
WHO ELSE?! 🤯
Brandon Hagel's sixth goal of the series gives the @TBLightning the lead in the third! #StanleyCup
🇺🇸: @espn
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet & @TVASports pic.twitter.com/dYnqGcCeMb— NHL (@NHL) April 27, 2026
No. 4 - Montreal Canadiens
Last Week's Ranking - 3
The Canadiens and Lightning were one of the most contested matchups at the start of the playoffs, and both teams have put on a show in the opening round. As noted earlier, the first three games of this series went to overtime, but the Canadians have gotten the better end of them, winning two of them by an overall 9-8 score.
On Sunday, they got out to a hot start, scoring two straight goals, but were unable to contain Brandon Hagel and the Lightning, who scored three straight to even the series at 2-2. A pivotal Game 5 will be played on Wednesday night in Tampa Bay.
No. 3 - Buffalo Sabres
Last Week's Ranking - 4
The Sabres began the series in thrilling fashion, pulling off a late-game comeback to pick up a massive victory in Game 1. While they were able to pick up another home victory in Game 2, they marched into Boston and escaped with a 3-1 victory thanks to a sharp 24-save effort from Alex Lyon.
On Sunday, the Sabres continued to show why they were the top team in the Atlantic, dominating Boston on their ice and winning 6-1. The Sabres have all of the momentum in this series and could punch their ticket to Round 2 as early as Tuesday night, in front of their home crowd in western New York.
No. 2 - Carolina Hurricanes
Last Week's Ranking - 2
The Hurricanes remain the lone team in the East to have their ticket punched in for Round 2. They took care of the Senators quite easily, winning four straight games by a combined 11-5 score. They allowed just one or fewer goals in two games and never allowed three or more goals in a single contest.
Forward Logan Stankoven has been the heartbeat of the offense, scoring at least one goal in each game and totaling 15 points. They await the winner of the Penguins/Flyers series in Round 2.
No. 1 - Colorado Avalanche
Last Week's Ranking - 1
Sitting just above the Hurricanes are the Avalanche. Like the Hurricanes, the top-seeded club in the Western Conference also took care of business in the opening match, winning 4-0. While the Kings contained their high-powered offense for most of the series, Nathan MacKinnon and company finally broke through on Sunday, scoring five goals.
This team will now be well rested and await the winner of the Stars/Wild series, which will likely go to seven games. The Avalanche remain the clear favorite to come out of the Western Conference.
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