Nashville Predators: Time to unleash our Western Conference Power Rankings
With a quarter of the NHL season complete, teams are settling into their true selves. How do the Nashville Predators stack up in our initial Western Conference power rankings?
With the completion of all the games last night, every team in the Western Conference has 20 games under their belt. The rust from the offseason is off and each team is starting to show who their identity. Some teams, like the Nashville Predators, are battling injuries. Others have already made coaching changes due to their team’s performance. A twenty- game sample sets a solid foundation for assessment.
It’s been a rather interesting start to the season. The Western Conference Champion Vegas Golden Knights learned that last season was beginners luck. With a similar roster to last season and the addition of Max Pacioretty, Vegas was thought to be a solid contender for the conference. However, the house usually wins and the Golden Knights are looking for Lady Luck.
More from Predators News
- Joakim Kemell Flashes his Offense in Nashville Predators Loss to Tampa
- Nashville Predators 2023 Training Camp Spotlight: Luke Schenn
- Nashville Predators 2023 Training Camp Roster Officially Announced
- Nashville Predators Rookie Camp will Showcase Loaded Prospect Pool
- How Crazy Would Signing Phil Kessel be for the Nashville Predators?
The Chicago Blackhawks took off to start the season, briefly leading the Central Division for a time. The road has been unkind to Chicago as they are 3-5-2 away from the home. St. Louis is singing the blues of a poor season, with only seven wins thus far. And the Kings are hoping to escape the dungeon. All three teams fired their head coaches. White flags are starting to raise.
Edmonton also fired their head coach, but immediately hired Ken Hitchcock. With the team hovering around contention, could they make a push with their new leadership?
Eight teams will make the playoffs at the end of the season. We rank the eight best teams in the Western Conference right now.
Number Eight
Arizona Coyotes
Record: 9-9-2
Points: 20
In terms of the standings, the Coyotes are on the outside looking in. However, they have a 0 goal differential, and are 12th in the NHL in CorsiFor percentage. Their strength? The penalty kill. On the season, Arizona has the best kill (91.67%) in the NHL. Why? Because they have scored 10 short-handed goals, far and away leading everyone.
Let’s not get our hopes us, however. At 5v5 the Coyotes are the worst team in play, and the only one with less than 30 goals at even-strength. Still, ESPN and CBS have them as the eighth-best team in the Western Conference as well. We aren’t the only ones that think this way. Vancouver dropping five games in a row certainly didn’t help their chances.
Number Seven
Dallas Stars
Record: 11-9-2
Points: 24
The Stars are riding their penalty kill and goaltending so far this season. Their 49.39 CorsiFor per 60 is the lowest in the league, but their 92.75 save percentage at 5v5 is eighth overall. Also, they kill of 82.54% of all penalties. In total, they are seeing 5.38 total goals per game which is fifth-lowest in the NHL.
Number Six
Colorado Avalanche
Record: 11-6-4
Points: 26
The good news: Colorado has one of the best top lines in all the NHL. Mikko Rantanen leads the league with 32 points. Linemates Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon both have 13 goals. The bad? The Avalanche are 1-3-4 in games decided by a goal or less. Only St. Louis is worse. Either they score
Number Five
Winnipeg Jets
Record: 12-5-2
Points: 26
At home, the Jets are great. Against the Pacific Division, they have yet to lose a game in regulation. But, there is a bit of a concern. The Jets are 20th in goals scored. Last season, they earned 277 goals, second best in the league. Right now, they are on pace for 264 goals. Additionally, Connor Hellenbuyck is not playing up to his Vezina levels. He is saving only 87% of shots from middle-danger areas, and 82% of high-danger shots. The Flames just hammered the Jets with 5 goals in the first period last night. Ouch.
Number Four
San Jose Sharks
Record: 11-7-4
Points: 26
It was a slow start for the Sharks. Few teams had high expectations to start the year, making the start concerning. Erik Karlsson made the defense better, but he only has one goal so far. That will change. The Sharks are second best in CorsiFor%, and their penalty kill is stellar. But, they are struggling with stopping the puck from going in the net. If they can’t improve there, their Stanley Cup hopes will fade.
Just saying, NHL.com picked Martin Jones to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. Sorry, guys.
Number Three
Minnesota Wild
Record: 13-7-2
Points: 28
The Wild were an afterthought when the season started. At least, to many. First-year GM Paul Fenton came in like a pillow. Commonly, a new GM comes in and cleans house. Fenton did very little to change the team. They were just in the playoffs last season, but injury hampered the Wild’s chances in winning. Devan Dubnyk is playing well in net, but is struggling against high-danger chances. His 80% HDSV% is 30th of all goalies with 200 or more minutes. Still, the Wild are 6-2-2 in one-goal games. Not bad.
Number Two
Calgary Flames
Record: 13-8-1
Points: 27
When the season started, no one really projected the Flames to do much. NHL.com said Calgary would be the second wild-card team in the playoffs, but that is about the highest you will find. However, they took over the top spot in the Pacific Division last night in demolishing the Jets. Their 205 high-danger chances is seventh in the league, and 75 total goals are 5th. They have scored 16 power play goals but given up 16 goals on the penalty kill.
Number One
Nashville Predators
Record: 16-5-1
Points: 33
The Predators sit atop the NHL in terms of points. It helps when you are the best team during 5v5 action. With 57 even-strength goals for the Predators and only 33 against, Nashville has a +24 goal differential. Until last week, the Predators has not lost back-to-back games. A long road trip wore them down, losing three straight games. Pekka Rinne is showing the world that the Vezina Trophy win was no fluke. However, the special teams. Thoughts and prayers still appreciated.
Next. No monkeys were harmed. dark
Can the Predators hold onto this spot as the season go? With wins against some of the best teams in the league under their belt, the Predators are poised for a good season.