This is a power ranking of a different kind. A kind where we rank the Washington Capitals rivals so far this season. We'll throw the whole history prior to the season out the window here but that doesn't mean we won't take past bouts into account. No team is safe here. So here's how we'll do this.
We'll eliminate the good guys from the rankings and go down the list 31-1. By the time we reach the top 10 we'll give you the why on those teams are the Caps top rivals this season.
31. Chicago Blackhawks
30. Monteal Canadiens
29. Nashville Predaotrs
28. Ottawa Senators
27. Seattle Kraken
26. San Jose Sharks
25. Anaheim Ducks
24. Detroit Red Wings
23. New York Islanders
22. St. Louis Blues
21. Buffalo Sabres
20. Colorado Avalanche
19. Columbus Blue Jackets
18. Tampa Bay Lightning
17. Calgary Flames
16. Edmonton Oilers
15. Vancouver Canucks
14. Toronto Maple Leafs
13. Dallas Stars
12. Florida Panthers
11. Los Angeles Kings
10. Vegas Golden Knights: Caps swept them this season. That was a first for the regular season.
9. Utah Hockey Club: Welcome to the top 10 new guys. You certainly earned it with this one. Caps will see them again on Feb. 9 from Capital One Arena.
8. Minnesota Wild: Why is a west coast team also here? Well the Wild have had the Capitals numbers in the past and they are now neck and neck with each other among the NHL's elite. Caps will see them on Jan. 2 at home to ring in the New Year. They'll then meet in Minnesota on March 27.
7. Winnipeg Jets: Another Western Conference foe the Caps have yet to see this season. That first meeting will come at COA on Feb. 1 while the season series concludes March 25. The Wild are another high offensive team and if Alex Ovechkin is healthy, he'll somewhat show up in those games. He usually puts up good numbers against West foes.
6. New Jersey Devils: Glad they don't have to potentially see each other until the playoffs. That was an intense four game series this regular season where the road team won every time.
5. Carolina Hurricanes: Caps and Canes already met once this season in Raleigh and it was a rare Caps November loss by the final of 4-2. They'll meet again in D.C. this Dec. 20 and also twice at April both in Raleigh and on 7th and F Street. Metro seeding implications could apply to these games.
4. Philadelphia Flyers: Washington has already won both against the Flyers this season and that includes one of each in both backyards. The Caps will next see the Flyers on Feb. 6 in Philly and then again
3. Pittsburgh Penguins: The Pens took the firs game of he series on Nov. 8 from Capital One Arena as the capter of the Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby rivalry is in it's final chapters. Neither scored in the game by the way. Their next meeting in Jan. 18 from COA before the series shifts to Pittsburgh on Feb. 22 and April 17.
2. Boston Bruins: Another opponent the Caps have yet to face this season but their first bout comes from TD Garden two nights before Christmas. Then they meet at Capital One Arena on New Years Eve. Then the regular season finale is back where the Bruins play on April 1.
1. New York Rangers: Had to put these guys at number one as they are still the team to beat though Washington got their first laugh over New York on Oct. 29 in the form of a 5-3 win. They meet again on Jan. 4 in D.C. before closing it out at The Garden on March 5.