NHL power rankings: Half of playoff field could be new faces

The NHL regular season ends in a little more than three weeks, and there will be a lot of new faces if the current standings hold up. Two of those teams – the Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks – are leading their divisions despite a combined drought of 21 seasons. They met on Sunday, March 22, with the Ducks prevailing 6-5 in overtime.

Another six teams, as of the morning of Monday, March 23, were in a playoff position despite missing the postseason last season: Pittsburgh, Columbus, Boston, New York Islanders, Utah and Nashville. In the meantime, the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers are currently sitting below the playoff line, as are 2024-25 division winners Winnipeg, Washington and Toronto. The other four 2024-25 playoff teams who could miss out this season: New Jersey, Ottawa, Los Angeles and St.

Louis. Plenty of time remains and only two teams have clinched spots so far. Here are the latest USA TODAY NHL power rankings: NHL power rankings Statistics are through March 22.

Numbers in parentheses indicate changes from the previous power rankings two weeks ago : 1. Colorado Avalanche (0) Captain Gabriel Landeskog scored in his March 22 return from a two-week absence. He needed surgery after being hit by a teammate's slap shot in the lower body and also missed time this season before the Olympics with broken ribs.