By Nick Obergan
This is the first team rankings update since the All-Star break, and there are but a few major changes. Through February, eight of the top-10 teams remain in the top-10, with Chicago and Nashville dropping out, replaced by the red hot Phoenix Coyotes and Ottawa Senators.
At the top, the Detroit Red Wings kept their spot, edging out division rival St. Louis. Detroit averages a half-goal more per game than the Blues, and have been significantly better after regulation (Wings are 10-3 in OT/Shootouts, the Blues are 7-7); Detroit has also scored 34 more goals while 5-on-5.
Columbus, no surprise, remains in the basement; they have been the worst team in the NHL during the entire season.
The highest riser this month was Phoenix, jumping nine spots from 16th to 7th; the biggest drop was made by the free-falling Toronto Maple Leafs, who dropped 14 spots from 12th to 26th.
As always, the rankings are derived from the
OCTR (click
here for more details).
All stats and information include all games played through February 29, 2012.
Rank | Team Name | OCTR Total | Last Month | Change |
1 | Detroit Red Wings | 136.654 | 1 | -- |
2 | St. Louis Blues | 124.440 | 3 | +1 |
3 | Vancouver Canucks | 119.850 | 5 | +2 |
4 | New York Rangers | 118.610 | 4 | -- |
5 | Boston Bruins | 115.534 | 2 | -3 |
6 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 109.808 | 7 | +1 |
7 | Phoenix Coyotes | 100.775 | 16 | +9 |
8 | Philadelphia Flyers | 97.377 | 8 | -- |
9 | San Jose Sharks | 97.319 | 6 | -3 |
10 | Ottawa Senators | 95.171 | 11 | +1 |
11 | Nashville Predators | 94.280 | 10 | -1 |
12 | Colorado Avalanche | 88.629 | 18 | +6 |
13 | Chicago Blackhawks | 87.537 | 9 | -4 |
14 | Dallas Stars | 84.782 | 17 | +3 |
15 | New Jersey Devils | 82.284 | 15 | -- |
16 | Florida Panthers | 79.630 | 20 | +4 |
17 | Washington Capitals | 79.134 | 14 | -3 |
18 | Winnipeg Jets | 77.102 | 25 | +7 |
19 | Los Angeles Kings | 76.768 | 13 | -6 |
20 | Buffalo Sabres | 74.234 | 28 | +8 |
21 | Anaheim Ducks | 72.575 | 24 | +3 |
22 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 72.371 | 23 | +1 |
23 | Calgary Flames | 68.241 | 21 | -2 |
24 | Carolina Hurricanes | 68.020 | 26 | +2 |
25 | Montreal Canadiens | 64.470 | 19 | -6 |
26 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 62.882 | 12 | -14 |
27 | Edmonton Oilers | 59.386 | 29 | +2 |
28 | Minnesota Wild | 58.748 | 22 | -6 |
29 | New York Islanders | 54.129 | 27 | -2 |
30 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 31.936 | 30 | -- |
Nick is the NHL Feature Writer for RealGM. You can reach him by email nick.obergan@realgm.com or on twitter @NickObergan