Greg WyshynskiOct 30, 2026, 08:00 AM ETCloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.Multiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsWith Halloween upon us, it was the perfect chance to turn this week’s ESPN NHL Power Rankings into an ode to spooky season.We’ve attached a horror movie to every NHL team this season, based on their fortunes and narratives, with the understanding that some of the performances this season are scarier than any of the films listed here.How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday. Those ballots are combined to come up with the rankings you see below.Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the previous edition, published on Oct. 23. Points percentages are through Thursday’s games.Here are 32 horror movies for 32 NHL teams, starting with the best of the best:1. Carolina HurricanesPrevious ranking: 1 Points percentage: 80%”The Exorcist”Look, we can debate the merits of “Psycho” and “The Shining” and any number of other horror classics for the G.O.A.T. of scary movies.
But we’re saying it’s William Friedkin’s 1973 Oscar-winning, head-spinning, demonic possession blockbuster. And because the Hurricanes are a Stanley Cup champion currently near the top of the league, the best get the best.Next seven days: vs. WPG (Nov. 1), @ NSH (Nov. 3), @ NYI (Nov. 5)2. Boston BruinsPrevious ranking: 5 Points percentage: 67.86%”Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey”When the original “Winnie the Pooh” book entered the public domain, a British film company did the only logical thing: Taking Pooh and Piglet and turning them into feral murderers in a slasher film.
As longtime admirers of the Bruins’ Pooh Bear jerseys, this is a natural fit.Next seven days: vs. CHI (Oct. 31), vs. VGK (Nov. 2), @ PIT (Nov. 5)3. Minnesota WildPrevious ranking: 8 Points percentage: 70%”Friday The 13th Part III”A horror movie set in the woods and around a lake is screaming Minnesota, even if Camp Crystal Lake is in a fictional town in New Jersey.
But the reason the Wild get this edition of the classic horror series is that Jason gets his iconic goalie mask in “Part III,” and few goalies have been more frightening than Jesper Wallstedt this season. ‘ki ki ki, ma ma ma …’Next seven days: @ WSH (Nov. 1), @ PHI (Nov. 3)4. Edmonton OilersPrevious ranking: 2 Points percentage: 76.92%”Black Swan”A psychological thriller about how the relentless pursuit of perfection can consume one’s identity and lead to moral ambiguity. There’s also a movie called “Black Swan.”Next seven days: @ NYI (Oct. 31), @ NYR (Nov. 1), @ NJ (Nov. 3), vs. ANA (Nov. 5)5.
Vegas Golden KnightsPrevious ranking: 3 Points percentage: 67.86%”The Thing”John Carpenter’s 1982 horror classic is about an extraterrestrial organism that assimilates, and then imitates, other lifeforms … similar to how a hockey team might constantly bring in other teams’ players to fuel its ongoing success. It’s also a film about paranoia, overreaction and never knowing who’s gone next …Next seven days: vs. NJ (Oct. 30), @ BOS (Nov. 2), @ PIT (Nov. 3), @ DET (Nov. 5)6. Tampa Bay LightningPrevious ranking: 4 Points percentage: 70.83%”Shocker”A guy in the electric chair makes a deal with the devil and becomes pure electricity who can possess others.
Think of that next time they light up the Tesla coil at Tampa home games.Next seven days: @ NSH (Oct. 31), vs. DET (Nov. 3), vs. CHI (Nov. 5)7. New Jersey DevilsPrevious ranking: 17 Points percentage: 61.54%”Scary Movie”Two brothers are the driving force behind a hugely entertaining horror series of varying quality.
OK, actually there were three brothers: Shawn and Marlon Wayans wrote it, Keenan Ivory Wayans directed it. If only there were another brother the Devils could acquire to make this comparison accurate …Next seven days: @ VGK (Oct. 30), vs. EDM (Nov. 3), vs. STL (Nov. 5)8.
Utah MammothPrevious ranking: 6 Points percentage: 64.29%”Halloween (2018)”A horror franchise that had an original incarnation, a reboot and then a reboot of that reboot that ended up better than the reboot, if not the original. At least yet.Next seven days: @ PHI (Nov. 1), @ TOR (Nov. 3), @ MTL (Nov. 5)9. Florida PanthersPrevious ranking: 11 Points percentage: 61.54%”Willard”A 1971 movie about an army of unrelenting murderous rats and the eccentric man who controls them.Next seven days: vs. WPG (Oct. 30), vs.
DET (Nov. 2), vs. CHI (Nov. 4)10. Montreal CanadiensPrevious ranking: 19 Points percentage: 69.23%”The Omen”The NHL’s youngest team (25.88 years old on average, per Elite Prospects) can only be paired with horror’s most evil child, with due respect to the “Children of the Corn” and the “Village of the Damned.”Next seven days: vs. PIT (Oct. 31), vs.
WPG (Nov. 3), vs. UTA (Nov. 5)11. Dallas StarsPrevious ranking: 10 Points percentage: 57.69%”The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”Look, until either Houston or Austin gets invited to join the NHL family, the Dallas Stars are “Texas Hockey,” as their proactive marketing slogan proclaims.Next seven days: vs. CBJ (Oct. 31), @ WSH (Nov. 3), @ CBJ (Nov. 5)12.
Seattle KrakenPrevious ranking: 13 Points percentage: 65.39%”Tentacles”A 1977 Italian horror film (alternate title: “Tentacoli”) in which a peaceful coastal town is terrorized by a giant octopus. Look, some of these write themselves, OK?Next seven days: @ CGY (Oct. 30), vs. CGY (Nov. 4)13. Ottawa SenatorsPrevious ranking: 9 Points percentage: 60.71%”Scream 7″Defiantly moving on after a star leaves.
Although “Scream 7” was much kinder to Jenna Ortega than the Senators fans were to Brady Tkachuk.Next seven days: @ SJ (Oct. 31), @ ANA (Nov. 1), @ BUF (Nov. 4)14. Washington CapitalsPrevious ranking: 15 Points percentage: 66.67%”The Silence of the Lambs”Did you know that Hannibal Lecter, considered one of the greatest characters in cinematic history and an Oscar-winning role for Anthony Hopkins, had only around 16 minutes of face-to-camera screen time in this movie? Just a little footnote as Alex Ovechkin averages 13:47 in ice time per game this season, nearly four minutes fewer per game than his previous career low.Next seven days: vs. MIN (Nov. 1), vs.
DAL (Nov. 3)15. Colorado AvalanchePrevious ranking: 12 Points percentage: 57.69%”The Shining”Not only for the snowbound-ness of it all, but because Nathan MacKinnon might have a little Jack Torrance in him: “Have you ever thought, for a single solitary moment, about my responsibilities to my employers? Has it ever occurred to you what would happen to my future if I were to fail to live up to my responsibilities?!”Next seven days: vs. CGY (Oct. 31), @ CHI (Nov. 2), @ CBJ (Nov. 3), vs.
NSH (Nov. 5)16. Toronto Maple LeafsPrevious ranking: 16 Points percentage: 53.33%”The Grudge”A curse creates a seemingly unending cycle of pain and suffering since at least 1967.Next seven days: @ VAN (Oct. 31), vs. UTA (Nov. 3)17. New York IslandersPrevious ranking: 14 Points percentage: 61.54%”I Know What You Did Last Summer”A mysterious figure dressed as a fisherman goes on a revenge killing spree with some serious hooking violations.
Of course, if the question is, “What did you do last summer?” unfortunately, the answer for the Isles is “probably not enough.”Next seven days: vs. EDM (Oct. 31), vs. CAR (Nov. 5)18. New York RangersPrevious ranking: 7 Points percentage: 53.57%”Scream”The biggest star (Drew Barrymore) leaves the movie just as it’s starting.
Miss you, Igor.Next seven days: vs. EDM (Nov. 1), vs. STL (Nov. 3), vs. PHI (Nov. 5)19.
Buffalo SabresPrevious ranking: 23 Points percentage: 57.69%”Drag Me to Hell”After snapping the longest playoff drought in NHL history last season, it was all happy times and sunny days for the Sabres going forward, right? Well, until shadowy demon hands burst from the ground and you realize making the playoffs again is hard and happy endings are not guaranteed.Next seven days: @ LA (Oct. 31), vs. OTT (Nov. 4)20. Nashville PredatorsPrevious ranking: 20 Points per
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