The Olympic break is only a few days away, so let\u2019s check in on our NHL Power Rankings as we get set for a pause in the NHL action.<\/p>\n
As of today, only two Canadian teams occupy playoff spots: the Montreal Canadiens<\/a> and Edmonton Oilers<\/a>, but neither is our top-ranked Canadian team.<\/p>\n The Ottawa Senators<\/a> sit in the top spot among Canadian teams on our list, ranking eighth overall. Our model is exceptionally bullish on the Senators, who sit 19th overall in points percentage and on the outside of the Eastern Conference playoff race.<\/p>\n The model, which weighs overall process and results with a heavier focus on recent play, believes the Senators are capable of going on a run for a few key reasons. The Sens have the sixth-best expected goal differential of any team. Ottawa\u2019s main issue this season has been goaltending, as the team sits 26th in goals against per game while ranking second-best in expected goals against.<\/p>\n Ottawa is top five in just about every meaningful defensive metric, aside from goaltending. Linus Ullmark<\/a> returned to the Senators\u2019 net Saturday and stopped 26 of 27 shots in a 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils<\/a>. If, and it is a big if, the Senators can get average or above goaltending the rest of the way, our model\u2019s forecast for this team won\u2019t seem so radical.<\/p>\n One spot behind the Senators on our list is the Edmonton Oilers<\/a>. The Oilers are another team where the process looks stronger than their results, as Edmonton sits fourth in expected goal differential per game and 13th in goal differential.<\/p>\n The high-event Oilers have played five straight games with at least seven total goals scored, including their most recent, a 7-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild<\/a>. The Oilers remain an offensive juggernaut, led by scoring leader Connor McDavid<\/a>, but defensive issues remain. Edmonton is still searching for consistent goaltending while ranking 22nd in expected goals against.<\/p>\n The Montreal Canadiens<\/a> check in at 12th on our list. The Habs have rattled off three straight wins against Vegas, Colorado and Buffalo.<\/p>\n Cole Caufield<\/a> is on a tear offensively, leading the NHL with 11 goals since Jan. 15. Caufield has been clutch, as eight of those goals have come with the score tied. He leads all players this season with 18 goals in tie games. After breaking a tie with 15 seconds left in the third period against the Minnesota Wild<\/a> a couple of weeks ago, Caufield will have another opportunity to shine in front of U.S. Olympic team general manager Bill Guerin<\/a> tonight in Minnesota.<\/p>\n The Winnipeg Jets<\/a> are the next Canadian team on our list, ranking 23rd overall. The Jets, 19th in goal differential and 20th in expected goal differential, are currently nine points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.<\/p>\n The Jets have taken a step back defensively this season after ranking first in goals against and eighth in expected goals against last season. Winnipeg sits 14th and 16th in both categories, respectively, this season. Offensively, it has been a struggle to score goals as Winnipeg sits 22nd in goals per game and 31st in slot slots and rush chances.<\/p>\n Another Canadian team to take a step back this season is the Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a>, who sit 27th on our list. The New Jersey Devils<\/a> and New York Rangers<\/a> are the only teams in the Eastern Conference with a worse points percentage.<\/p>\n While the Leafs have struggled to score recently, they have still been an above-average offensive team this season. Unlike last season, goaltending has not been able to cover up for below-average defensive play. The Leafs rank last in the NHL in shots, slot shots, and rush chances against per game. That, combined with lesser goaltending compared to last year, has resulted in Toronto ranking 29th in goals against per game.<\/p>\n The Calgary Flames<\/a>, 29th on our list, snapped a five-game winless streak with a win over the San Jose Sharks<\/a> on Saturday.<\/p>\n Like last season, the Flames have had solid goaltending. Devin Cooley<\/a> leads all qualified goaltenders in save percentage at .921, while Dustin Wolf<\/a> has been closer to league average at .897. The Flames\u2019 biggest issue has been putting pucks in the net, as Calgary sits last in goals per game. The Flames only managed to score more than three goals in a game once in January, a 4-2 win over the New York Islanders<\/a>.<\/p>\n Lastly, the Vancouver Canucks<\/a> sit at the bottom of our Power Rankings and the NHL standings.<\/p>\n