
Photo credit: Christopher Mast/NHLI via Getty Images
The LA Kings keep rolling, the Ducks are slumping, and the Oilers hit another new low.
8. Seattle Kraken (10-23-4)
Last week: 8
The Kraken went 0-4-0 last week to extend their losing streak to six games. This season is officially about figuring out which players they went to move forward with. One of those guys appears to be Jared McCann, who set a new career-high with his 15th goal in just his 30th game of the season last Wednesday.
YES, HE MCCANN!!! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/0SUR25DoiY
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) January 13, 2022
This week: VS CHI, VS SJ, VS STL, VS FLA
7. Vancouver Canucks (17-18-3)
Last week: 6
The Canucks snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Sunday. It’s been a tough season for Elias Pettersson, but Vancouver will hope his two-goal performance in the victory can get him going.
LET IT RIP EP40! pic.twitter.com/8pQqJkFDRz
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) January 16, 2022
This week: @ NSH, VS FLA, VS STL
6. Edmonton Oilers (18-15-2)
Last week: 5
The Oilers were back in action on Saturday for the first time since January 5th. The break didn’t seem to do much to help reverse their fortunes, as they turned a 3-1 lead over the Ottawa Senators in the third period into a 6-4 loss, their sixth consecutive defeat. Edmonton hasn’t won a game since December 18th.
Connor McDavid seems to be at a loss for words as to why his team’s season has made such a sharp turn for the worse.
Reporter: "Is this one of the most frustrating regular-season losses you've had?"
Connor McDavid: "It's definitely up there, yeah."#Oilers pic.twitter.com/ZuRxQCNjI1
— Tim and Friends (@timandfriends) January 16, 2022
This week: VS FLA, VS CGY
5. San Jose Sharks (20-17-2)
Last week: 7
After opening the week with a 3-2 overtime win over the Detroit Red Wings, their third consecutive victory, the Sharks managed to score just a single goal over the course of their last two games. They did manage to get a point out of a 2-1 OT loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, though.
San Jose is getting great seasons from Timo Meier, Tomáš Hertl, and Logan Couture, but no one else is doing much to help pick up the slack offensively. San Jose did less to move up in these rankings than Vancouver and Edmonton did to move down.
#SJSharks win 3-2 in OT!!!! pic.twitter.com/ALVzXTTLHJ
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) January 12, 2022
This week: VS LA, @ SEA, VS TB
4. Anaheim Ducks (19-15-7)
Last week: 4
The Ducks were outscored 14-4 over the course of an 0-3-0 week. Fortunately for them, so many other teams in the Pacific are also struggling right now, so they stay put in the fourth spot.
Also fortunate for them is that they still have Trevor Zegras.
Now you Z it, now you don't 🃏@AnaheimDucks | #FlyTogether | @tzegras11 pic.twitter.com/pE4KtIqk5v
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) January 15, 2022
This week: VS COL, VS TB
3. Calgary Flames (17-11-6)
Last week: 2
Calgary is 4-4-4 at home this season, with those four home wins tied with the Arizona Coyotes for the fewest in the league. Even with all the postponements going on, especially in Canada, it seems pretty crazy that they’ve only played 12 home games so far, right?
Brady Tkachuk and the Senators got the best of Matthew Tkachuk and the Flames at the Saddledome last Thursday, handing Calgary its fourth straight loss in a 4-1 decision. Things got a little chippy between the brothers at times.
Matthew Tkachuk doesn't care whether he gets to be an uncle someday pic.twitter.com/vWUJFDs8vC
— Sammy Hudes (@SammyHudes) January 14, 2022
This week: VS FLA, @ EDM
2. LA Kings (20-13-5)
Last week: 3
The LA Kings continue to climb our rankings after another good week. They went 3-0-0 to extend their winning streak to four games.
The week was going pretty well for Adrian Kempe. He was named to his first All-Star Game and set a new career-high with his 17th goal of the season on Saturday. Unfortunately, the week ended with him being placed in COVID protocol.
Kempe with the hand eye on the finish 🚨#GoKingsGo @LAKings pic.twitter.com/JhsSNwGAtr
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) January 16, 2022
This week: @ SJ, VS TB, VS COL, @ NJ
1. Vegas Golden Knights (23-14-2)
Last week: 1
Vegas played just one game last week, in which they lost 4-3 in a shootout to the Toronto Maple Leafs despite a 34-18 edge in shots. The Golden Knights had games scheduled for later in the week in Edmonton and Calgary postponed.
In sharp contrast to the Flames, who have barely played at home this season, the Knights have gotten to spend a ton of time at home lately. They’ve only played one road game since December 19th, and that was just a short trip to LA back on December 28th. Thanks to those postponements, their homestand will extend through this week.
you have our permission to go wild pic.twitter.com/XUzMPNlMSF
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) January 12, 2022
This week: VS PIT, VS MTL