Super 16: Maple Leafs surge up power rankings behind Marner point streak

Mitchell Marner keeps piling up the points, the Toronto Maple Leafs keep winning, and the voters for the NHL.com Super 16 power rankings have certainly taken notice.

Toronto, with points in 15 straight games (12-0-3), made the jump to No. 2 this week, leaping the New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights, who each dropped one spot.
But the Maple Leafs and Marner, who has 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in a team-record 23-game point streak, will face a challenge against the New York Rangers, who got back into the Super 16 this week at No. 12, at Madison Square Garden on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG, TSN4, ESPN+, SN NOW).
The Rangers have won four in a row, the past three against teams ranked ahead of them (Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche, Devils).
The Pittsburgh Penguins, winners of six consecutive games, also made a big jump, four spots to No. 6, giving the Metropolitan Division three of the top six teams.
As a reminder, to come up with the Super 16 each week, the 13 voters put together their own version of what they think the rankings should look like. A point total assigned to each with the team selected first is given 16 points, second 15, third 14, and so on down the line.
Here is the Super 16, with the thoughts from the staff members, whose individual rankings are below:

1. Boston Bruins (23-4-1)

Total points: 207
Last week: No. 1
"Bruins coach Jim Montgomery has done a great job keeping everyone engaged in the offensive end, even his defensemen, with a fast and predictable pace. That has led to positive results for the Bruins, who remain No. 1 this week. They have a plus-26 goal differential in the third period, outscoring the opposition 42-16, so they know how to close out games effectively, too. The other impressive thing about the Bruins is in addition to their ability to play a fast game, they're strong on pucks and physical when they need to be (ninth in the NHL with 25.31 hits per 60 minutes). Oh, and it helps to rank first on the penalty kill (85.9 percent) and third on the power play (28.6 percent)." -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

2. Toronto Maple Leafs (19-5-6)

Total points: 179
Last week: No. 4
"Including Marner, it's about streaks with the Maple Leafs. Michael Bunting has points in nine straight games and Auston Matthews in eight in a row. I almost put the Maple Leafs, but couldn't do that to the Bruins, who continue to pile up the points and have impressively stayed ahead of Toronto in the Atlantic Division. It's still going to be about what the Maple Leafs do in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but they have to earn their way there and that's exactly what they're doing." -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

3. New Jersey Devils (21-6-2)

Total points: 176
Last week: No. 2
"The Devils are hanging in there despite an 0-2-1 slide. Nobody was expecting them to keep piling wins like they were, but they'll have to limit a long losing streak. Their 11-1-1 road record is what impresses me the most. They'll need to continue to be a strong road team to stay on top of the Metropolitan Division. Young stud Jack Hughes has turned it up a notch in December with three goals and five assists in six games." -- Robert Laflamme, LNH.com senior writer

4. Vegas Golden Knights (21-9-1)

Total points: 169
Last week: No. 3
"I continue to be impressed with what the Golden Knights are doing, especially with forward Jack Eichel missing some time and going on injured reserve Monday with a lower-body injury. It certainly hasn't gone perfectly, and the Golden Knights could be facing a bit of an uphill climb in the short term without Eichel, and defensemen
Alex Pietrangelo
(personal leave), Zach Whitecloud (undisclosed) and Shea Theodore (lower body). But I've taken note of some good wins Vegas has earned of late. That includes a shootout victory to end the Bruins' home winning streak on Dec. 5 and a 6-5 victory against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday. They're continuing to win on the road (13-2-1) and are surprisingly strong contender. I feel like I have them ranked accordingly at No. 4." -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

5. Carolina Hurricanes (16-6-6)

Total points: 150
Last week: No. 6
"Winning six of seven and bringing home 11 out of 12 possible points from a six-game road trip (5-0-1) is impressive enough. Doing so without two of their most important and valuable players is a signature of an elite, championship-caliber team. Injured No. 1 goalie Frederik Andersen (undisclosed) has not played in more than a month, and forward Sebastian Aho, their top scorer prior to going down last week with a lower-body injury, has missed the past two games and Carolina won them without allowing a goal. Pyotr Kochetkov (7-1-4, 2.02 goals-against average, .926 save percentage) has been magnificent filling in for Andersen and is already tied for the NHL lead with three shutouts in 12 games (11 starts). Despite outshooting their opponents by the largest margin in the NHL (8.6 per game) the Hurricanes have had trouble scoring (2.82 goals per game, 27th), which explains their modest goal differential (plus-6). Carolina, once healthy and firing on all cylinders, should consistently rank in the top three." -- Paul Strizhevsky, staff writer
Video: CAR@DET: Kochetkov shuts out Red Wings

6. Pittsburgh Penguins (17-8-4)

Total points: 142
Last week: No. 10
"The Penguins are trending positively in our rankings, and rightly so. Pittsburgh is on a six-game winning streak and 8-1-1 in its past 10. Those numbers make my argument. And remember this, too: They're doing all this while dealing with plenty of storylines. Kris Letang had a stroke Nov. 28 and remarkably returned to the lineup last Saturday. While the Penguins welcomed a defenseman back, they also lost one when Jeff Petry (upper body) was placed on long-term injured reserve Tuesday. And yet, they just keep winning." -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

7. Tampa Bay Lightning (18-9-1)

Total points: 129
Last week: No. 9
"I have the Lightning at No. 8 this week, and truth be told I probably should have had them higher. They're such a smart, well-coached team that knows exactly what it has to do and how it has to play to be successful when it matters. Steven Stamkos is playing some of the best hockey of his NHL career in his 15th season, and Anthony Cirelli coming back from offseason shoulder surgery has given them a huge boost. He's not the first name (or probably second or third) you look for in the Lightning lineup, but he impacts every phase of their game, and there's a reason they're 4-1-0 with him back in the lineup heading into their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; BSSUNX, BSOH, ESPN+, SN NOW)." -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

8. Dallas Stars (17-8-5)

Total points: 124
Last week: No. 7
"Jason Robertson is human. He has no goals in the past five games. Not to worry, I expect another red-hot streak from the Stars forward in due time, but his cold spell after scoring 21 goals in 18 games from Oct. 27-Dec. 4 has not slowed the Stars. They have won three of their past four, including 4-1 at the Devils on Tuesday. I've been on the Dallas bandwagon all season. I think the Stars will be one of the most dangerous teams in the playoffs with their array of talent, skill, speed, experience, goaltending and ability to grind out games. I have them at No. 6 this week, below the Bruins, Maple Leafs, Devils, Penguins and Hurricanes. So, yes, I think they're currently playing like the best team in the Western Conference. They're 9-3-3 against teams from the West, including 6-2-3 in the Central Division." -- Rosen

9. Winnipeg Jets (18-9-1)

Total points: 123
Last week: No. 5
"The Jets are one of the hardest teams to figure out each week in the Super 16. They are an elite team, tied with the Lightning for sixth in points percentage (.661) and two points behind the Stars for first in the Central Division. But there is a fear that their success is goalie-driven. Connor Hellebuyck is having a Vezina Trophy worthy season, tied with Igor Shesterkin of the Rangers for second in wins (14) with a .926 save percentage and three shutouts. He has saved Winnipeg on more than one night. Otherwise, the Jets are in the middle of the pack in most categories on each side of the puck. There are questions about their depth and their ability to score on a consistent basis. Are they a playoff-caliber team? Sure. Are they a threat to run the table? Maybe, but that remains to be seen. More data points in a bigger sample size are needed." -- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

10. Seattle Kraken (16-9-3)

Total points: 76
Last week: No. 8
"To be honest, I'm surprised the Kraken are No. 10. I had them 16th, behind the Washington Capitals, who have won five in a row and eight of 11 but didn't get enough points to get into the Super 16. I have enjoyed the Kraken's run. It's been impressive to see the growth in Year Two, but they have lost four of five since a seven-game winning streak and there are signs that they're fading. Too many goals against (21 in the past five games). Not enough offense (11 goals in the past five games, which includes a 5-2 win against the Florida Panthers). Their power play is 1-for-17, and their penalty kill has allowed five goals. This could be just a slump that the Kraken escape, but it could also be a team leveling out and becoming what we expected: Better than last season but not playoff ready." -- Rosen

11. Colorado Avalanche (15-10-2)

Total points: 72
Last week: No. 11
"The Avalanche have points in three straight games after a 4-0 loss at home to the Bruins last Wednesday, but I still don't think the reigning Stanley Cup champs are a top-10 team given all the injuries they've faced this season, with center Nathan MacKinnon (upper body) the latest victim. Alexandar Georgiev is making the most of this opportunity to be a No. 1 goalie in the NHL, so when the injured players do return, Colorado could be a force again." -- Brian Compton, managing editor

12. New York Rangers (15-10-5)

Total points: 59
Last week: Unranked
"The Rangers are coming around, passing some big tests along the way to win four straight games. They were down a goal going into the third period against the St. Louis Blues but came back to win. They had the unenviable task of playing consecutive road games against the Golden Knights and Avalanche and won them both. They were down 2-0 and 3-1 against the Devils on Monday but rallied to win 4-3 in overtime. Seven players have scored at least two goals in the past four games. Balance is key for the Rangers, who have another big test Thursday against the Maple Leafs. I didn't have them ranked last week because they didn't deserve it. The talent is coming around and consistency has to follow. They're in at No. 12 for me this week. I think they should be a top 10 team. Let's see if they can get there." -- Rosen

13. New York Islanders (17-12-1)

Total points: 58
Last week: No. 13
"The Islanders have been inconsistent of late (2-4-1), but they had an impressive 6-4 win against the Devils on Friday and stood toe-to-toe in Boston, where the Bruins are 15-0-1, in a 4-3 shootout loss Tuesday. But part of that span was a 7-4 loss to the Blues on Dec. 6 and a 3-0 loss to the Hurricanes on Saturday. The Islanders have a challenging week ahead. They continue a five-game road trip with visits to the Kraken (who defeated them 2-0 on Nov. 10), the Western Conference-leading Golden Knights, the Avalanche and the rival Rangers. Emerging from that five-game trip with more than 10 points (.500 points percentage) would give the Islanders a boost heading toward the Christmas break." -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

14. Minnesota Wild (16-11-2)

Total points: 36
Last week: No. 14
"The Wild are slowly starting to win me over. I was quite skeptical of them at the start of the season, and they didn't do anything to change my opinion through the first 20 games when they were 9-9-2. But they've been better since, more along the lines of what I think a lot of other people thought they would be this season. They won four in a row by scoring goals, winning in the shootout twice and a nice rebound from subsequent back-to-back losses. They can score, particularly on the power play (25.0 percent, eighth). Kirill Kaprizov is a highlight reel show unto himself. They're getting some depth scoring, with forwards Connor Dewar and Sam Steel providing some unexpected offense. Things are better overall, but I'm still skeptical about where it goes from here. The field in the Central Division is crowded."-- Rosen

15. Edmonton Oilers (17-13-0)

Total points: 29
Last week: Unranked
"The Oilers have played better as of late, going 7-3-0 in their past 10, but their consistency is why I have them No. 15 in my rankings They haven't been dominant on the road (8-6-0) or at Rogers Place (9-7-0). Their power play is the best in the NHL (31.5 percent), not surprising for a team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. But their penalty kill is on the other end of the spectrum (72.4 percent, 26th). They've allowed 3.40 goals per game (21st). Goalie Jack Campbell (4.04 GAA, .875 save percentage) hasn't been the answer the Oilers had hoped. I fully expect the Oilers to get going and get on a roll at some point, but thus far it's been a mixed bag. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

16. Detroit Red Wings (13-10-6)

Total points: 17
Last week: No. 12
"For me, the Red Wings at No. 16 is the same as for the Oilers' ranking: the consistency factor. Though Detroit is much better this season than last season, it is 3-5-2 in its past 10 games, including 0-3-1 in its past four with a combined four goals. Forward Dylan Larkin, who leads the Red Wings with 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists), was out Wednesday with an undisclosed injury sustained in a 1-0 loss to the Hurricanes on Tuesday. I still like what the Red Wings are doing, but they've fallen off a bit. It happens to most in an 82-game season, right? -- Myers
Others receiving points:Washington Capitals 15, Los Angeles Kings 5, Florida Panthers 2
Dropped out:Kings (No. 15), Nashville Predators (No. 16)

HERE'S HOW WE RANKED 'EM

AMALIE BENJAMIN
1. Boston Bruins; 2. New Jersey Devils; 3. Toronto Maple Leafs; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Winnipeg Jets; 6. Carolina Hurricanes; 7. Seattle Kraken; 8. Pittsburgh Penguins; 9. Tampa Bay Lightning; 10. Dallas Stars; 11. Colorado Avalanche; 12. Detroit Red Wings; 13. New York Islanders; 14. Minnesota Wild; 15. Los Angeles Kings; 16. New York Rangers
BRIAN COMPTON
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Toronto Maple Leafs; 3. New Jersey Devils; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Carolina Hurricanes; 6. Pittsburgh Penguins; 7. Tampa Bay Lightning; 8. Winnipeg Jets; 9. Dallas Stars; 10. Seattle Kraken; 11. Colorado Avalanche; 12. New York Rangers; 13. New York Islanders; 14. Minnesota Wild; 15. Detroit Red Wings; 16. Edmonton Oilers
NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA
1. Boston Bruins; 2. New Jersey Devils; 3. Toronto Maple Leafs; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Carolina Hurricanes; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. Winnipeg Jets; 8. Pittsburgh Penguins; 9. Dallas Stars; 10. Seattle Kraken; 11. Colorado Avalanche; 12. New York Rangers; 13. New York Islanders; 14. Minnesota Wild; 15. Detroit Red Wings; 16. Edmonton Oilers
TOM GULITTI
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Toronto Maple Leafs; 3. New Jersey Devils; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Carolina Hurricanes; 6. Winnipeg Jets; 7. Tampa Bay Lightning; 8. Pittsburgh Penguins; 9. Dallas Stars; 10. Seattle Kraken; 11. Colorado Avalanche; 12. New York Rangers; 13. New York Islanders; 14. Minnesota Wild; 15. Detroit Red Wings; 16. Edmonton Oilers
ADAM KIMELMAN
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Vegas Golden Knights; 3. New Jersey Devils; 4. Toronto Maple Leafs; 5. Winnipeg Jets; 6. Dallas Stars; 7. Pittsburgh Penguins; 8. Tampa Bay Lightning; 9. Colorado Avalanche; 10. Carolina Hurricanes; 11. New York Rangers; 12. Minnesota Wild; 13. Seattle Kraken; 14. New York Islanders; 15. Edmonton Oilers; 16. Detroit Red Wings
ROBERT LAFLAMME
1. Boston Bruins; 2. New Jersey Devils; 3. Toronto Maple Leafs; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Carolina Hurricanes; 6. Pittsburgh Penguins; 7. Dallas Stars; 8. Winnipeg Jets; 9. Tampa Bay Lightning; 10. Seattle Kraken; 11. New York Islanders; 12. Colorado Avalanche; 13. New York Rangers; 14. Edmonton Oilers; 15. Minnesota Wild; 16. Detroit Red Wings
MIKE G. MORREALE
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. Vegas Golden Knights; 4. Pittsburgh Penguins; 5. Winnipeg Jets; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. Dallas Stars; 9. New Jersey Devils; 10. Colorado Avalanche; 11. New York Rangers; 12. Minnesota Wild; 13. New York Islanders; 14. Seattle Kraken; 15. Florida Panthers; 16. Washington Capitals
TRACEY MYERS
1. Boston Bruins; 2. New Jersey Devils; 3. Toronto Maple Leafs; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Dallas Stars; 6. Pittsburgh Penguins; 7. Carolina Hurricanes; 8. Tampa Bay Lightning; 9. Winnipeg Jets; 10. New York Islanders; 11. Seattle Kraken; 12. New York Rangers; 13. Washington Capitals; 14. Los Angeles Kings; 15. Edmonton Oilers; 16. Detroit Red Wings
SHAWN P. ROARKE
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Vegas Golden Knights; 3. Pittsburgh Penguins; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. Tampa Bay Lightning; 6. Carolina Hurricanes; 7. New Jersey Devils; 8. Toronto Maple Leafs; 9. Colorado Avalanche; 10. Winnipeg Jets; 11. New York Islanders; 12. Edmonton Oilers; 13. Seattle Kraken; 14. New York Rangers; 15. Washington Capitals; 16. Minnesota Wild
DAN ROSEN
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Toronto Maple Leafs; 3. New Jersey Devils; 4. Pittsburgh Penguins; 5. Carolina Hurricanes; 6. Dallas Stars; 7. Tampa Bay Lightning; 8. Vegas Golden Knights; 9. Winnipeg Jets; 10. Colorado Avalanche; 11. Minnesota Wild; 12. New York Rangers; 13. Edmonton Oilers; 14. New York Islanders; 15. Washington Capitals; 16. Seattle Kraken
DAVID SATRIANO
1. Toronto Maple Leafs; 2. Boston Bruins; 3. New Jersey Devils; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Pittsburgh Penguins; 6. Carolina Hurricanes; 7. Dallas Stars; 8. Tampa Bay Lightning; 9. Winnipeg Jets; 10. New York Islanders; 11. Seattle Kraken; 12. Washington Capitals; 13. Edmonton Oilers; 14. New York Rangers; 15. Colorado Avalanche; 16. Minnesota Wild
PAUL STRIZHEVSKY
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Toronto Maple Leafs; 3. New Jersey Devils; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Carolina Hurricanes; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. Pittsburgh Penguins; 8. Winnipeg Jets; 9. Dallas Stars; 10. Seattle Kraken; 11. Colorado Avalanche; 12. New York Rangers; 13. New York Islanders; 14. Minnesota Wild; 15. Edmonton Oilers; 16. Washington Capitals
MIKE ZEISBERGER
1. Boston Bruins; 2. Toronto Maple Leafs; 3. New Jersey Devils; 4. Carolina Hurricanes; 5. Vegas Golden Knights; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. Pittsburgh Penguins; 8. Dallas Stars; 9. Winnipeg Jets; 10. Seattle Kraken; 11. New York Rangers; 12. Colorado Avalanche; 13. Edmonton Oilers; 14. Detroit Red Wings; 15. New York Islanders; 16. Minnesota Wild
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