Metropolitan Division Power Rankings: Capitals on outside looking in
Coming every week for the remainder of the season at Stars and Sticks will be a power rankings of the Metropolitan Division. We’ll dive into who we think are the top 3 teams, which teams are trending upward and downward as well as where the Washington Capitals stand in the think of things.
Right now the Caps are just on the outside looking in as far as our top 3 goes. Last night’s 4-1 defeat to the New York Rangers did them no favors at all. The Caps are 28-16-9 through 53 games with 65 points.
The good news for them is that they’re 10 points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets. And if they want to make up ground it’s basically their job to lose. They’re five points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins with a big divisional matchup coming up against the last place Philadelphia Flyers that could be a must win with the way things are going.
With that said, let’s dive into the top 3 teams of the Metropolitan Division.
#3 Pittsburgh Penguins
Coming in at number three is the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 31-14-8 record with 70 points. They’re just a point behind the New York Rangers and four behind the Carolina Hurricanes. Out of the three teams we’re ranking, the Penguins have played the most games at 53 which is the same amount as the Caps.
What could possibly help the Caps overtake the Penguins in next weeks power rankings is the fact that they lost three in a row. That includes a 6-1 defeat on home ice to the New Jersey Devils.
#2 New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are having a good season and they dominated the Caps 4-1 last night. They’re 33-13-5 through 51 games which is good for 71 points. Their win against the Caps was their second in a row. The Rangers are led by Artemi Panarin with 14 goals and 41 assists for 55 points as well as 20 goal scorer Mika Zibanejad who lit the lamp last night.
#1 Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes have played the least amount of games of the trio at 50 but have the most points. Their 35-11-4 record is good for 74 and they’ve won three in a row. The Jerks are led by Sebastian Aho with 22 goals and 31 assists for 53 points as well as Andrei Svechnikov with 22 goals and 26 assists for 48 points.
Capitals get crushed by Rangers 4-1. light. More
The Caps have two big home games against the Hurricanes next month. Those four points that are up for grabs could help them climb into the power rankings.