Todd Cordell
1. Tampa Bay (23-6-2)
They can score at will and rank 5th in expected goals against/60 at 5v5, meaning they are quite sound defensively. This team is scary good.
2. St. Louis (21-10-2)
They've hit a little bump in the road due to injury problems but, in my opinion, they're the best defensive team in the league and they still have a healthy Vladimir Tarasenko. They should be fine.
3. Nashville (20-7-4)
I think they're a little undeserving of their record – they have won a few games where they were clearly outplayed – but with Kyle Turris in the fold, and the team getting healthy, they have a lot of depth and should be very good moving forward.
4. Columbus (20-11-1)
They have a balanced offense, an elite top pairing, and a Vezina winning goaltender. Right now, I think they're the best bet in the East to beat Tampa Bay.
5. Chicago (16-11-5)
Their underlying numbers are good and they have the best penalty differential in the league. They're finally starting to pile up the wins and I expect that to continue.
Jared Crozier
1. Tampa Bay (23-6-2)
On a 6 game win streak, with 5 of those coming with margins of 3 or more goals. They just keep rolling along and have a 7 point gap and 3 games in hand over second place Toronto.
2. Nashville (20-7-4)
Finally reeled in the Blues for first in the Central Division. 7-1-2 in their last 10. Forsberg, Turris leading the way offensively.
3. Washington (20-12-1)
8-2 in their last 10, climbed into a 3-way tie for first in the Metro. Ovechkin on pace for 55 goals.
4. Los Angeles (20-10-3)
Can't shake the Golden Knights in the race for first in the Pacific, and after an 8 game winning streak they have lost the first two on a current 4 game road trip through the Metro
5. Boston (15-10-4)
After a slow start, the Bruins are rolling with a 9-3 record in their last month, with two of those losses coming to Nashville and Washington, who are above them in these rankings.
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