playESPN staffNov 13, 2026, 08:00 AM ETMultiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsClosing in on the quarter mark for NHL teams — which is exactly 21 games, thanks to the expanded 84-game schedule — and some teams have emerged as clear Stanley Cup contenders while others have cropped up as front-runners for strong positioning in the draft lottery.The Hurricanes, who are No. 1 in the Power Rankings again, are in that top group. But just how good have they been, based on expectations?This week, alongside our new 1-32 poll, we examine how each team has done compared with their preseason over/under point total. And there are some shockers!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 Nov. 6.
Points paces and percentages through the games of Nov. 11.1. Carolina HurricanesPrevious ranking: 1 Points percentage: 78.95%Preseason O/U: 107.5 Current pace: 132.6Even without reigning Conn Smythe winner Jordan Staal for much of the season, the Canes keep rolling.Next seven days: vs. SEA (Nov. 14), vs. MTL (Nov. 19)2.
Minnesota WildPrevious ranking: 2 Points percentage: 75%Preseason O/U: 100.5 Current pace: 126Although the Quinn Hughes long-term question remains unanswered, the short-term results have been superb.Next seven days: @ BOS (Nov. 14), vs. NSH (Nov. 17), @ CGY (Nov. 19)3. Boston BruinsPrevious ranking: 4 Points percentage: 75%Preseason O/U: 88.5 Current pace: 126No one outside the 617 area code seemed to believe in the B’s this season, but they appear to be one of the NHL’s strongest clubs after nearly a quarter of the campaign.Next seven days: vs. MIN (Nov. 14), vs.
LA (Nov. 17), @ DET (Nov. 18)4. Edmonton OilersPrevious ranking: 3 Points percentage: 77.5%Preseason O/U: 104.5 Current pace: 130.2An inspired Connor McDavid is apparently a very dangerous Connor McDavid, and the first-round ouster from the 2026 playoffs seems to have done the trick.Next seven days: @ TOR (Nov. 14), @ PHI (Nov. 15), @ FLA (Nov. 17), @ TB (Nov. 19)5. Tampa Bay LightningPrevious ranking: 5 Points percentage: 72.22%Preseason O/U: 102.5 Current pace: 121.3At some point down the road, the Lightning will fall out of the realm of perennial playoff contenders. But that point is not, apparently, 2026-27.Next seven days: vs.
DET (Nov. 14), vs. WSH (Nov. 17), vs. EDM (Nov. 19)6. New Jersey DevilsPrevious ranking: 7 Points percentage: 68.42%Preseason O/U: 99.5 Current pace: 114.9As with any team, health will continue to be a big factor.
But acquiring a three-time Vezina Trophy winner in Connor Hellebuyck appears to have solved the goaltending deficiency.Next seven days: @ WSH (Nov. 14), vs. MTL (Nov. 18)7. Vegas Golden KnightsPrevious ranking: 6 Points percentage: 70%Preseason O/U: 103.5 Current pace: 117.6There’s no Cup Final losing team hangover here, and only a fool would expect the Knights to be anywhere but a top-two spot in the Pacific by season’s end.Next seven days: vs. NSH (Nov. 13), vs.
VAN (Nov. 15), vs. DAL (Nov. 17), vs. DAL (Nov. 19)8. Montreal CanadiensPrevious ranking: 8 Points percentage: 72.22%Preseason O/U: 98.5 Current pace: 121.3A hipster Cup pick this preseason, the Canadiens have had some bumps along the way but are delivering on that promise from an overall standpoint.Next seven days: vs.
COL (Nov. 14), @ NYR (Nov. 16), @ NJ (Nov. 18), @ CAR (Nov. 19)9. Colorado AvalanchePrevious ranking: 11 Points percentage: 63.16%Preseason O/U: 107.5 Current pace: 106.1Only for a team with as high expectations as the Avs would a 106-point pace feel like a disappointment. But we might not have seen this team’s top gear yet either.Next seven days: @ MTL (Nov. 14), @ UTA (Nov. 18), vs. ANA (Nov. 19)10.
Dallas StarsPrevious ranking: 9 Points percentage: 64.71%Preseason O/U: 100.5 Current pace: 108.7One of the other Central powers appears to be chugging along right on schedule, a bit ahead of pace and right in the mix for the division title.Next seven days: vs. BUF (Nov. 14), vs. FLA (Nov. 15), @ VGK (Nov. 17), @ VGK (Nov. 19)11. Nashville PredatorsPrevious ranking: 19 Points percentage: 65.79%Preseason O/U: 85.5 Current pace: 110.5Our first major surprise.
After finishing outside of the playoff picture in 2025-26, the Preds have roared back into the conversation in 2026-27.Next seven days: @ VGK (Nov. 13), @ SJ (Nov. 15), @ MIN (Nov. 17)12. Ottawa SenatorsPrevious ranking: 13 Points percentage: 63.16%Preseason O/U: 94.5 Current pace: 106.1No Brady Tkachuk, no problem? The bounce-back campaign from Linus Ullmark has been a nice boost, as has Tim Stutzle leveling up from star to superstar.Next seven days: @ PIT (Nov. 14), @ WPG (Nov. 17), vs. PHI (Nov. 19)13.
Washington CapitalsPrevious ranking: 15 Points percentage: 62.5%Preseason O/U: 101.5 Current pace: 105Despite Alex Ovechkin failing to launch (with just one goal to this point), the Caps appear to be in the thick of the playoff contenders in the East.Next seven days: vs. NJ (Nov. 14), @ TB (Nov. 17), vs. BUF (Nov. 19)14. Florida PanthersPrevious ranking: 12 Points percentage: 57.9%Preseason O/U: 107.5 Current pace: 97.3Three teams tied for the highest over/under in the preseason; the Canes are smashing that number now, the Avs are just under pace and the Cats are a bit off track.
But there’s a lot of season left — and they’ll get Brad Marchand and Aleksander Barkov back for part of it, too.Next seven days: @ STL (Nov. 14), @ DAL (Nov. 15), vs. EDM (Nov. 17)15. Utah MammothPrevious ranking: 10 Points percentage: 55.26%Preseason O/U: 96.5 Current pace: 92.8An uneven stretch in recent weeks dropped the Mammoth below their projected pace. Another winning streak in the weeks ahead will get them back where they belong.Next seven days: vs.
SJ (Nov. 14), vs. VAN (Nov. 16), vs. COL (Nov. 18)16. Anaheim DucksPrevious ranking: 23 Points percentage: 55.26%Preseason O/U: 95.5 Current pace: 92.8Heavy is the head that wears the playoff contender crown, and the Ducks had some difficulty in the early season given those heightened expectations.Next seven days: vs.
NYI (Nov. 14), vs. CGY (Nov. 15), @ STL (Nov. 17), @ COL (Nov. 19)17. Seattle KrakenPrevious ranking: 14 Points percentage: 59.38%Preseason O/U: 81.5 Current pace: 99.8Another of this season’s most pleasant surprises, it seems that we’ll need to take the Kraken seriously as the playoff races heat up.Next seven days: vs. CAR (Nov. 14), vs.
VAN (Nov. 19)18. New York RangersPrevious ranking: 20 Points percentage: 57.5%Preseason O/U: 86.5 Current pace: 96.6Despite a season-ending injury to franchise goaltender Igor Shesterkin, the Rangers keep plugging along at an impressive clip.Next seven days: @ VAN (Nov. 13), vs. MTL (Nov. 16)19. Buffalo SabresPrevious ranking: 16 Points percentage: 52.78%Preseason O/U: 96.5 Current pace: 88.7Similar to the Ducks, last season’s playoff appearance seems distant now as the Sabres struggle to keep up in the ridiculously tough Atlantic.Next seven days: @ DAL (Nov. 14), @ PHI (Nov. 17), @ WSH (Nov. 19)20.
New York IslandersPrevious ranking: 17 Points percentage: 52.94%Preseason O/U: 88.5 Current pace: 88.9What can we say, sometimes the sportsbooks nail these projections!Next seven days: @ ANA (Nov. 14), vs. CBJ (Nov. 17), @ WPG (Nov. 19)21. St. Louis BluesPrevious ranking: 22 Points percentage: 50%Preseason O/U: 84.5 Current pace: 84See the Isles’ entry above.Next seven days: vs.
FLA (Nov. 14), vs. ANA (Nov. 17), @ PIT (Nov. 19)22. Winnipeg JetsPrevious ranking: 29 Points percentage: 50%Preseason O/U: 84.5 Current pace: 84OK, this is getting a bit uncanny now …Next seven days: @ CHI (Nov. 14), vs. OTT (Nov. 17), vs.
NYI (Nov. 19)23. Toronto Maple LeafsPrevious ranking: 18 Points percentage: 45%Preseason O/U: 95.5 Current pace: 75.6Hope sprung eternal this summer, as the Leafs welcomed No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna into the
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