Welcome to Week 2 of the TWC Playoff Power Rankings! Here at TWC, we use a statistical model to effectively rank teams on a week to week basis. The model takes into effect winning percentages, CF%, SCF%, HDCF% as well as SV%. Each statistical category is weighed and scored differently, giving each team a unique TWC Score that determines their ranking after each week. The formula puts the highest emphasis on winning percentages over other statistics. All numbers are taken in all situations, to incorporate special teams into the fray. Don’t like where your team is ranked? Unfortunately, they will have to turn it around on the ice, as we take zero personal opinions into effect.

Have any suggestions for the TWC Playoff Power Rankings for next season? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Rank Change Team Last Week Record TWCScore 1 – New York Islanders 1-0 4-0 838.1 2 +5 Colorado Avalanche 3-0 4-1 826.5 3 – Columbus Blue Jackets 1-0 4-0 776.1 4 +7 Dallas Stars 2-1 3-2 732.5 5 -3 Washington Capitals 1-2 3-2 731.3 6 +4 St Louis Blues 2-1 4-2 706.2 7 +5 Toronto Maple Leafs 2-2 3-3 706.2 8 -2 Vegas Golden Knights 1-2 3-3 700.9 9 +4 San Jose Sharks 2-1 3-3 694.2 10 -6 Boston Bruins 2-2 3-3 693.7 11 -3 Winnipeg Jets 1-2 2-4 691.8 12 -7 Nashville Predators 1-2 2-3 666.7 13 +2 Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 2-3 664.6 14 – Tampa Bay Lightning 0-1 0-4 612.3 15 -6 Calgary Flames 0-3 1-4 576.0 16 – Pittsburgh Penguins 0-1 0-4 564.0

Power Ranking Notables

Brackets are officially busted. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins were swept in four games. The Calgary Flames were ousted in five by the Colorado Avalanche, while the Winnipeg Jets were polished off in six by the St. Louis Blues. As it stands right now, only one higher seeded team has won a playoff series: the New York Islanders. This has been a weird post season to say the least.

The Avalanche jump all the way up to the second spot on our list, after easily handling the Flames. The top line of Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and Mikko Rantanen showed exactly why they are the best line in the NHL.

The Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs are heading to Game 7, yet again. The Leafs rolled over in Game 6, but expect an even match-up come Tuesday.

The Washington Capitals, although losing two games in Carolina and T.J. Oshie to injury, should be able to polish off the Hurricanes in six. That being said, the Hurricanes’ have proved all season long that they shouldn’t be taken lightly.

The San Jose Sharks also will be giving us a Game 7 in their series, after winning back-to-back games against the Vegas Golden Knights. The Knights have had their chances, but the Sharks simply keep circling. This could go either way at this point.

Player Standouts

The Good

The Dallas Stars top players are showing up just when they needed, with Alexander Radulov, Jamie Benn, and Tyler Seguin combining for 14 goals. Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty continue to pace the league, with Rantanen close behind after a strong week.

The Bad

The big guns for the #1 seeds did not show up in the first round. Johnny Gaudreau finished with one assist, while Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point finished with a combined three points. Both teams needed more, and while it’s not the sole reason, their respective teams are already on summer breaks.

Biggest Gainer and Loser

Gainer: Dallas Stars (+7)

Two dominant wins and the series lead heading into a Game 6 on home ice has the Stars rolling. The offence is really starting to click as previously mentioned, and Ben Bishop has been the model of consistency. The stars may have been a wild card team, but they are proving they are far from that.

Loser: Nashville Predators (-7)

The team the Stars are facing are trending in the opposite direction. Pekka Rinne has not been himself, and the outstanding defence is having a hard time stopping the aforementioned scorers. With Game 6 being an away game for the Predators, you wonder if another divisional winner is going to fall in the first round.

What are your thoughts? Are you surprised where your team landed this week? Let us know at @wincolumnblog.

Related:

TWC Playoff Power Rankings:

Week 1

Regular Season TWC Power Rankings:

Week 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |26

All data courtesy of Natural Stat Trick.