Super 16: Bruins No. 1 in power rankings; questions before playoffs begin

The New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers could be on a collision course to face off in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the sixth time in NHL history and first time in 11 years.

The New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers could be on a collision course to face off in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the sixth time in NHL history and first time in 11 years.
The teams that make up the "Hudson River Rivalry" nearly collided in the Super 16 power rankings this week.
The Devils are ahead of the Rangers by one voting point, 152-151, but down one spot from last week to No. 4 this week. New York, which had won three straight before a 2-1 loss to New Jersey at Prudential Center on Thursday, are up three spots to No. 5.
The Boston Bruins, to nobody's surprise, are again the unanimous No. 1. It's the fifth consecutive week the Bruins are the unanimous No. 1 among the 13 voters who participate in the Super 16 rankings each week. It's their 20th straight week atop the Super 16.
They clinched the Presidents' Trophy as the team with the best regular season record in the NHL and set a Bruins record for wins in a season with 58 in a 2-1 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at TD Garden on Thursday. Boston won 57 games in 1970-71 before a seven-game loss to the Montreal Canadiens in the Quarterfinals.
But the Bruins, like the Devils, Rangers and the other 13 teams ranked this week, all have questions they need to answer before the 2023 playoffs begin. For some, the questions need to be answered ASAP if they plan to just simply get in the playoffs.
That's the theme this week for the Super 16, the one big question facing each team as the regular season grinds to a close in the next two weeks.
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 it is, with a participating voter writing about one big question facing each team.

1. Boston Bruins (58-12-5)

Total points: 208
Last week: No. 1
"Uh? Have they peaked? Are they too good? Will they run into the curse of the Presidents' Trophy? Seriously, though, it's pretty tough to come up with questions for a team that has been this good all season. But I'll dig deep and find one: What are the Bruins going to do with their goaltending, both down the stretch and into the Stanley Cup Playoffs? It sounds like a ridiculous question when their top goalie, Linus Ullmark, is the projected favorite for the Vezina Trophy awarded to the best in the NHL at his position, but Jeremy Swayman has been no slouch. He's won his past four straight games, allowing five goals on 130 shots (.962 save percentage). Not a bad guy to have sitting on the bench, just in case." -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

2. Carolina Hurricanes (47-18-9)

Total points: 184
Last week: No. 2
"The biggest question for the Hurricanes heading into their final eight games is if they'll be able to find enough consistency and hold onto first place in the Metropolitan Division. They lead the Devils by one point and the Rangers by five with one game in hand on each. The Hurricanes have struggled of late, going 4-6-1 in their past 11 games and allowing at least three goals in nine of them. If the Devils weren't also going through a rough patch (3-4-2 in their past nine), the Hurricanes might have already dropped out of first. But the Rangers are 9-2-1 in their past 12, so Carolina needs to string some wins together to head into the playoffs with some momentum and avoid dropping into a more difficult first-round series against New York or New Jersey." -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer

3. Colorado Avalanche (44-24-6)

Total points: 156
Last week: No. 5
"Will the Avalanche be healthy, or healthier, when the playoffs begin? Injuries have been a massive part of their season, but they haven't let them be their plague. They are still pushing for first place in the Central Division, still one of the best teams in the NHL and still have forwards Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, and defenseman Cale Makar. Alexandar Georgiev has proven himself as a No. 1 goalie, at least in the regular season. But to make a run at a repeat Stanley Cup championship, Colorado needs all its weapons. Will forward Gabriel Landeskog be able to play in the postseason? He has missed the entire regular season following offseason knee surgery. Will they have forward Artturi Lehkonen (finger) back in the first round? What about defenseman Josh Manson (lower body)? If the answer is yes to all three, the Avalanche could be primed for another Cup run. If it's no to any of them, it'll be harder." -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

4. New Jersey Devils (47-20-8)

Total points: 152
Last week: No. 3
"The Devils need to play with a little more consistency, particularly on the defensive side of the puck. They've been outscored 30-24 in their past nine games. Goaltending, an area that wasn't much of a concern earlier this month, has been average at best, and average just won't cut it in the postseason. Forward Timo Meier, acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on Feb. 26, has seven points (five goals, two assists; 0.50 points per game) while averaging 18:10 of ice time in 14 games since joining the Devils. The 26-year-old was averaging 0.91 points and 19:59 of ice time in 57 games for the Sharks." -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

5. New York Rangers (44-21-10)

Total points: 151
Last week: No. 8
"Igor Shesterkin is on top of his game, sharpening up at just the right time. The Rangers goalie is 9-3-0 with a 2.07 goals-against average, .932 save percentage and one shutout in 12 starts since Feb. 26. He had allowed at least three goals in seven straight starts from Jan. 25-Feb. 25 for a 3.85 GAA and .863 save percentage. The fact that Shesterkin is playing his best now bodes well for the Rangers, but the biggest question they face is still in the defensive zone and if they will be able to clean up some of their play in front of him. They're still prone to lapses in the 'D' zone that force Shesterkin to make 10-bell saves. Captain Jacob Trouba said after a 6-2 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday that it's becoming too consistent of a theme, that they have to protect Shesterkin instead of always being so reliant on him. The Rangers have enough skill and scoring to do a lot of damage in the playoffs and go on a long run if they can tighten up in the defensive zone." -- Rosen

6. Vegas Golden Knights (46-22-7)

Total points: 150
Last week: No. 4
"The question with Vegas, at this point, is if 37-year-old goalie Jonathan Quick has another long playoff run in him. Logan Thompson has played only one game since Feb. 9 because of an injury, and didn't finish it, getting injured again against the Calgary Flames on March 23. It doesn't look serious, and hopefully the rookie goalie will be ready when the playoffs begin April 17. If not, Quick will have to answer the bell. He won the Stanley Cup twice with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014 and will get the chance to get his third ring, only this time in the desert." -- Robert Laflamme, LNH.com senior writer

7. Los Angeles Kings (43-22-10)

Total points: 133
Last week: No. 6
"Who will start Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round regardless of who the Kings play? Pheonix Copley and Joonas Korpisalo had alternated for 12 games before Korpisalo started the past two, including a 2-0 loss at the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. They've both been solid, save for Copley allowing six goals on 22 shots in a 7-6 win against the St. Louis Blues on Sunday. He is 5-0-1 with a 2.31 GAA and .902 save percentage in that stretch; it was 1.58 and .934 before he allowed six to St. Louis. Korpisalo has been better; 4-2-1, 1.86 GAA and .934 save percentage in seven starts since Los Angeles acquired him in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Feb. 28. The Kings have seven games left to make a decision on their Game 1 starter while they continue to battle for first place in the Pacific Division." -- Rosen

8. Minnesota Wild (44-22-9)

Total points: 130
Last week: No. 9
"The Wild have their fingers crossed for superstar forward Kirill Kaprizov, who has missed 10 games with a lower-body injury Yes, the Wild are 7-1-2 in those games. Yes, they have scored 4.2 goals per game in that time span, third in the NHL. And yes, Matt Boldy has stepped into the breech, scoring 11 goals in those 10 games. But the Wild, who have not advanced past the first round since 2015, will need every gamebreaker they can get to defeat the quality opponent they will draw. Nobody is better at that than Kaprizov, who scored seven goals in a six-game series loss to the Blues in the 2022 Western Conference First Round. Will he be back, healthy, and ready to go for Game 1?" -- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

9. Toronto Maple Leafs (44-20-10)

Total points: 124
Last week: No. 7
"Can one goalie, specifically Ilya Samsonov, find momentum that can be carried into the playoffs? Though there has been recent debate among Maple Leafs fans and media as to who that goalie should be, it says here that Samsonov should easily get the nod. Matt Murray has allowed four goals in seven of his previous eight games and Samsonov is 24-9-4 in 37 games (36 starts) this season. The choice seems obvious. Now the goal must be getting Samsonov back into form after he missed a past week for the birth of his son; he made 26 saves in a 3-2 loss to the Florida Panthers on Wednesday. With center Steven Stamkos, forward Nikita Kucherov and the Tampa Bay Lightning appearing to be Toronto's first round opponent again, goaltending, as always, will be a key." -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

10. Edmonton Oilers (44-23-9)

Total points: 89
Last week: No. 12
"It takes goaltending and defensive depth to go on a long run in the playoffs, and those would be my two biggest concerns surrounding the Oilers heading into April. Their skill up front is unquestioned. They are averaging an NHL-best 3.95 goals per game but also allowing 3.29 goals-against per game. Everything tightens up come playoff time, so Edmonton will need to be stronger at keeping the puck out of its own end when the postseason gets underway." -- Brian Compton, managing editor

11. Dallas Stars (40-20-14)

Total points: 83
Last week: No. 10
"I guess the biggest question for the Stars right now is will goalie Jake Oettinger's workload lighten at all heading into the playoffs? It depends on the health of backup Scott Wedgewood, who has been out since Feb. 18 with an undisclosed injury. If Wedgewood can come back, and Dallas coach Peter DeBoer said he's close to doing so, it would be a good chance to rest Oettinger, who has played an NHL career-high 56 games (55 starts) this season. Oettinger was outstanding in the first round last season, his work almost pushing the Stars past the Calgary Flames in seven games. He's been great, and the Stars want him healthy and as fresh as possible going into the postseason." -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

12. Tampa Bay Lightning (44-26-6)

Total points: 76
Last week: No. 11
"Could time finally be catching up with the Lightning? The grind of playing 71 playoff games the past three seasons finally could be showing itself because they have not looked like the same team the past few months. They're 21-15-5 since Jan. 1. They've won consecutive games twice since Feb. 9-14; they won three straight from March 14-18, but that preceded a four-game losing streak. Their 5-1 win against the Washington Capitals on Thursday salvaged a .500 points percentage for March. Might Tampa Bay be biding its time? The Lightning certainly have the knowledge baked into them of how hard to push on the accelerator at certain points during a season, and maybe they've eased off the gas pedal a bit. But their core group -- Stamkos, Kucherov and center Brayden Point, defensemen Victor Hedman and Mikhail Sergachev and goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy -- have played a lot of hockey. It's fair to wonder how much gas is left in their tank." -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

13. New York Islanders (39-28-9)

Total points: 48
Last week: No. 14
"What's up with Mathew Barzal and will the Islanders' top center be back for the postseason, provided they get there, of course? The Islanders hold the first wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference. They'd have to lose a lot down the stretch to miss out, so if we assume they get in, it begs the question about Barzal, who has missed 17 games with a lower-body injury. There's been very little in the way of an update on him; all coach Lane Lambert would say Saturday is Barzal has not yet resumed skating. They've done well without Barzal, going 11-4-2 in those 17 games, but getting him back in the lineup will be key to pulling off a first-round upset, provided they get there, of course." -- Rosen

14. Seattle Kraken (41-25-8)

Total points: 43
Last week: No. 13
"The biggest question here is will the Kraken finish the job and clinch a playoff berth? They are five points clear of the Jets and seven ahead of the Calgary Flames for a postseason spot and have a seemingly favorable schedule, with five of their remaining eight games against teams already eliminated from contention. Though five of the Kraken's final eight are at home, they have actually played much better on the road, going 24-10-4, and are 17-15-4 at Climate Pledge Arena. The longer it takes them to clinch, the more pressure there will be. They should get in, but will have to earn it." -- Bill Price, Editor-in-Chief

15. Winnipeg Jets (41-31-3)

Total points: 18
Last week: No. 15
"The Jets, who looked like a surefire bet for a playoff berth in the wide-open Western Conference just a few weeks ago, are now clinging to the second wild card. With seven games left, the most obvious question is will they even get in? With their offense hitting a brick wall, it's not looking promising at the moment. They're 3-5-0 in their past eight games, outscored 23-12 and getting shut out three times. An upcoming five-game homestand, which will include visits from each direct competitor, Calgary and the Nashville Predators, can help, but the Jets will have to bring back a much better version of themselves than we've seen the past couple of months." -- Paul Strizhevsky, staff writer

16. Pittsburgh Penguins (37-28-10)

Total points: 12
Last week: Unranked
"The Penguins have been inconsistent all season, but luckily the teams below them have been as well, which is why they are clinging to the second wild card from the East. Their biggest question has been and continues to be: Who will step up from the bottom six? Jeff Carter has scored 12 goals. Mikael Granlund has one goal in 14 games since he was acquired from the Predators on March 1. We know the top forward group, including Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust and Jason Zucker, can always be counted on, but it's the others who Pittsburgh needs more from." -- David Satriano, staff writer
Others receiving points:Nashville Predators 6, Calgary Flames 4, Vancouver Canucks 1
Dropped out:None

HERE'S HOW WE RANKED 'EM

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