Draisaitl Oilers Flames

Photo credit: Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images

The Oilers and Ducks finally win, Timo Meier has a game for the ages, and Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfield return for the Kings.

8. Seattle Kraken (13-24-4)

Last week: 8

Not a bad week at all for the Kraken, even with the 5-0 beating they took from the St. Louis Blues last Friday. They won their other three games, including a 5-3 victory over the Florida Panthers on Sunday. Seattle had 12 different players pick up points in the win, with Mason Appleton the only one who had two. After picking up an assist earlier in the game, he broke a 3-3 tie less than a minute into the third period.

This week: VS NSH, @ PIT, @ NYI, @ NYR

7. Vancouver Canucks (18-19-4)

Last week: 7

Vancouver is just 2-4-1 over its last seven games. Perhaps the Bruce Boudreau boost is wearing off, but we’ll acknowledge that they’ve played a very tough schedule lately. Those seven games have been played against the Florida Panthers (twice), Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, Nashville Predators, and St. Louis Blues.

Perhaps the biggest concern for the Canucks at the moment is their goaltending situation.

This week: VS EDM, @ WPG, @ CGY

6. Edmonton Oilers (19-16-2)

Last week: 6

After an embarrassing 6-0 home loss to the Panthers last Thursday, the Oilers bounced back with a desperately-needed win in the Battle of Alberta on Saturday. Mikko Koskinen made 44 saves and Leon Draisaitl recorded four points in a 5-3 win over the Calgary Flames.

That snapped a seven-game winless drought for the Oilers. Thanks to postponements, it was the first time Edmonton had tasted victory in over a month. As rough as things have been for them lately, Draisaitl’s performance on Saturday was a reminder of why it’s hard to completely give up on a team that has this sort of game-breaking talent.

This week: @ VAN, VS NSH, @ MTL

5. San Jose Sharks (21-19-2)

Last week: 5

We don’t need to rehash the way Timo Meier singlehandedly dismantled the LA Kings last Monday, do we?

Other than that, it actually wasn’t a great week for the Sharks, who lost 3-2 to the Kraken on Thursday and then got their doors blown off by the Lightning, 7-1 on Saturday. That win over LA was San Jose’s only victory over its last five games, and aside from Meier’s explosion against the Kings, this is a team that is really struggling offensively right now.

This week: @ WSH, @ FLA, @ CAR

4. Anaheim Ducks (20-16-7)

Last week: 4

Even with the lack of teams in the Pacific Division making a strong case to move up in our rankings at the moment, I was feeling like I was going to have to find some way to move the Ducks down this week. They went into last Friday’s matchup with the Lightning on a six-game slide and having been shutout in back-to-back games.

However, Anaheim then turned in an impressive performance in a 5-1 win over the two-time defending champs. Derek Grant scored twice to help fuel his team to the victory.

So, the Ducks stay put. For now.

This week: @ BOS, @ TOR, @ MTL, @ OTT

3. Calgary Flames (18-12-6)

Last week: 3

A 5-1 win over the Panthers last Tuesday snapped a four-game skid, but the Flames then let their struggling arch rivals up off the mat in a 5-3 loss to the Oilers on Saturday.

It’s been another tough season for Sean Monahan. A two-goal performance in the win over Florida had to feel good.

This week: VS STL, @ CBJ, @ STL, VS VAN

2. LA Kings (21-16-5)

Last week: 2

The Kings didn’t have a great week. It started with Monday’s Meier Massacre before home losses to two of the league’s best teams in the Lightning and Colorado Avalanche. They got back in the win column on Sunday, though. While you were watching the Chiefs and Bills, the Kings were starting off a six-game road trip with a 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils

LA got some good news before Sunday’s game as All-Star Adrian Kempe was cleared to return from COVID protocol. Quinton Byfield is also back. He hasn’t hit the scoresheet yet through two games, but his play has impressed his coach.

This week: @ NYR, @ NYI, @ PHI, @ PIT

1. Vegas Golden Knights (24-15-2)

Last week: 1

Vegas started the week by blowing a 3-0 lead to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a game they’d go on to lose 5-3. They then needed overtime to take care of the league-worst Montreal Canadiens.

The Golden Knights’ extended homestand is finally over. They didn’t have that much success on it, going 3-3-2. They haven’t been on the road in over a month (we’ll exclude one game played in LA because they probably slept in their own beds that night) but are about to embark on a tough trip.

This week: @ WSH, @ CAR, @ FLA, @ TB

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