NHL Power Rankings Week 5: Surprising Contenders and Parity Define the Early Season

As we reach the one-month mark of the 2025-26 NHL season, the landscape has shifted dramatically from what many anticipated when the puck dropped in October. The power rankings for week 5 reveal a league defined by unexpected contenders, struggling favorites, and a level of parity that has Eastern Conference teams separated by razor-thin margins. With 109 goals scored during Frozen Frenzy last Tuesday—the third-most in a single day in NHL history—offense has dominated the early storyline of this campaign, while several teams have completely rewritten their expected narratives.

From the Montreal Canadiens’ surprising surge to first place in the Eastern Conference to the Anaheim Ducks’ dramatic renaissance under Joel Quenneville, the first month has delivered no shortage of compelling storylines. Meanwhile, traditional powerhouses like the defending champion Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers have struggled to find their footing, raising questions about whether early-season stumbles will prove temporary or indicative of deeper issues. As we dive into the complete 2025-26 NHL power rankings week 5, let’s examine where all 32 teams stand and what the first month tells us about the season ahead.

Top contenders establishing dominance in the 2025-26 NHL power rankings week 5

The Colorado Avalanche have claimed the top spot in multiple power rankings heading into week 5, and their performance justifies the recognition. With a sparkling 7-1-5 record through 13 games, the Avalanche lead the league with the best overall points percentage at 75%. What makes their start even more impressive is that they’ve reached regulation in three of their four-game “losing streak,” demonstrating their ability to compete night after night even when results don’t go their way.

The addition of Mackenzie Blackwood has given Colorado a legitimate answer in goal, which was their primary concern entering the season. Victor Olofsson recently recorded the first three-goal and five-point game of his career, showcasing the offensive depth that extends beyond Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. The Avalanche’s defensive structure has allowed them to control games even when their high-powered offense faces adversity.

The Winnipeg Jets have made a triumphant return to the number one spot in several rankings after spending much of last season at the peak. With a 9-3 record through 12 games, the Jets own the best goal differential in the league and are scoring more goals than any other team. This is particularly impressive considering key players like Cole Perfetti and Adam Lowry have been sidelined with injuries. The Jets’ victory over the Chicago Blackhawks 6-3 on Thursday demonstrated that Scott Arniel’s system is firing on all cylinders.

Montreal’s unexpected emergence as an Eastern Conference powerhouse represents one of the season’s most compelling stories. The Canadiens sit atop the East with a 9-3 record and a 71.4 points percentage, well ahead of their preseason over/under projection of 90.5 points. Nick Suzuki leads the team with 18 points in 12 games, while Cole Caufield has scored his 11th career overtime winner—setting a franchise record at just 24 years old. The chemistry between Suzuki and Caufield has elevated Montreal into legitimate contender status.

The New Jersey Devils, despite falling from the top spot after losing three of four games, remain firmly in the upper echelon with excellent underlying numbers. Jacob Markstrom’s two-year extension signals the team’s commitment to building around their current core, even as they work through early-season inconsistencies. The Devils’ eight-game winning streak earlier in the season proved they possess the firepower to compete with anyone when firing on all cylinders.

Surprising risers reshaping the 2025-26 NHL power rankings week 5 landscape

The Anaheim Ducks have delivered perhaps the most stunning performance of the season’s first month, jumping seven spots in the power rankings with a 7-3-1 record that has them atop the Pacific Division. This represents the Ducks’ first time leading their division since the Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf era, and the transformation under first-year coach Joel Quenneville has been nothing short of remarkable. Leo Carlsson has emerged as a bonafide star with 16 points in his first 11 games, validating the organization’s decision to select him with the second overall pick in the 2023 draft.

Lukas Dostal’s exceptional goaltending has provided the backbone for Anaheim’s success, giving them the confidence to play aggressive hockey knowing they have reliable last line of defense. The Ducks’ current pace of 119.8 points would represent one of the greatest turnarounds in recent NHL history, considering they finished with just 83.5 points projected in preseason expectations. While maintaining this torrid pace throughout the entire season seems unlikely, the early returns suggest that the Ducks have built something special.

The Pittsburgh Penguins continue to defy expectations, sitting tied for first in the Metropolitan Division with an 8-3-2 record. The Penguins boast the league’s second-best powerplay percentage, trailing only the high-flying Edmonton Oilers. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have proven that reports of their demise were greatly exaggerated, with both contributing at elite levels. The goaltending tandem of Arturs Silovs and a resurgent Tristan Jarry has provided stability that many thought impossible after last season’s struggles.

Detroit’s 9-3 start has put the Red Wings in a tie with Montreal atop the Atlantic Division, suggesting that the “Yzerplan” may finally be coming to fruition. This success has come without Patrick Kane, who remains out with injury despite recording five points in his first five games. The Red Wings’ ability to win without one of their key offensive weapons bodes well for their playoff chances once he returns. Both John Gibson and Cam Talbot have done enough in goal to secure victories, and these early-season points could prove critical for a franchise trying to end nine consecutive missed postseasons.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have climbed out of an early-season hole with five consecutive victories, four of which came against teams currently in playoff positions. After starting with just one win in their first seven games, the Lightning have reminded the league that their talented core—led by Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman—remains capable of championship-level hockey. The question now becomes whether this represents a true return to form or a temporary hot streak before regression.

Underperformers and disappointments in week 5 power rankings analysis

The defending back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers have tumbled out of the top 10 in most power rankings, a stunning development for a team expected to contend for a three-peat. The Panthers’ 5-6-2 record can be partially attributed to significant injuries to Aleksander Barkov (out for the regular season), Matthew Tkachuk (returning sometime in December), and Dmitry Kulikov. Still, the depth that carried them through previous playoff runs has failed to materialize, and they now find themselves just a point out of the final wildcard berth rather than comfortably positioned as division leaders.

The Washington Capitals have dropped five spots in the rankings after losing four straight games and five of their last seven. Most notably, Alex Ovechkin has been stuck on 899 career goals for four consecutive games, creating an uncomfortable narrative around whether the greatest goal scorer in NHL history is running out of gas. Pierre-Luc Dubois’s long-term injury announcement has further complicated Washington’s situation, removing a key depth piece from a lineup already struggling to generate consistent offense. The Capitals’ upcoming matchup against the struggling St. Louis Blues could provide the opportunity they need to break out of this slump.

The Minnesota Wild have suffered through one of the most dramatic collapses in recent memory, losing eight of nine games before finally securing a victory against the Vancouver Canucks. Filip Gustavsson’s struggles in goal have been particularly concerning, with the Wild posting the NHL’s 29th-ranked team save percentage. Minnesota sits closer to the Western Conference basement than a playoff spot, a stark contrast to their status as a dangerous postseason team just six months ago. The return of Mats Zuccarello cannot come soon enough for a team desperately seeking offensive consistency.

Edmonton’s underwhelming start has shocked observers who expected the Stanley Cup finalists to build on last season’s success. Despite Connor McDavid approaching his 1,100th career point, the Oilers have managed just a 5-4-3 record through 12 games. The team’s goaltending tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard ranks in the bottom five of the league in save percentage, essentially negating the Oilers’ league-best powerplay. The absence of Zach Hyman has hurt more than anticipated, and his delayed return past the November 1 target date has left the Oilers scrambling for secondary scoring.

The St. Louis Blues have fallen off a cliff with seven consecutive losses, plummeting eight spots to near the bottom of the power rankings. Jordan Binnington’s struggles have been particularly alarming, with his poor play potentially costing him a spot on Team Canada’s roster. The Blues’ combination of the NHL’s worst save percentage and goals-against average has created a toxic situation where even solid offensive performances cannot generate wins. With eight players set to become free agents next summer, the organization faces a critical decision about whether to hold course or begin selling assets ahead of the trade deadline.

Individual performances shaping the 2025-26 NHL power rankings week 5

Cole Caufield’s historic start for Montreal has provided a significant boost to the Canadiens’ surprising position atop the Eastern Conference. His 11th career overtime winner set a franchise record, and at just 24 years old, Caufield appears poised to shatter numerous Montreal scoring marks throughout his career. His 10 goals and 15 points through 12 games place him among the league’s elite scorers, and his chemistry with Nick Suzuki has created one of the most dangerous dueling combinations in hockey.

Matthew Schaefer’s immediate impact for the New York Islanders has been nothing short of sensational. The 2025 first overall pick leads all rookies in scoring despite being a defenseman, and he already plays more minutes than any other player on the team. His heroics against the Columbus Blue Jackets—scoring the opening goal and tying the game with just 1:07 remaining in regulation—demonstrate a composure rarely seen from players with just 12 NHL games under their belt. Schaefer’s presence has energized an Islanders franchise that desperately needed an infusion of young talent.

Connor Bedard finally recorded his first career NHL hat trick in a 7-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators, adding an assist for good measure. While the Blackhawks have slipped to 5-4-3 and fallen in the rankings, Bedard’s continued development remains the central focus of Chicago’s rebuild. The 20-year-old’s ability to take over games single-handedly suggests that the Blackhawks’ timeline to contention may be shorter than many anticipated.

Macklin Celebrini’s remarkable start for San Jose has given the league’s worst team from last season something to build around. The 19-year-old’s 21 points through 14 games tie him for the league scoring lead, an almost unthinkable achievement for a teenager on a rebuilding roster. Celebrini’s performance has elevated the Sharks ahead of their projected 70.5-point pace, and while San Jose remains near the bottom of the standings, their fun brand of hockey has made them appointment viewing for neutral observers.

Jack Eichel’s Hart Trophy campaign for Vegas has kept the Golden Knights firmly in the playoff picture despite significant goaltending injuries. With Adin Hill sidelined and Carter Hart still ineligible to play, the Knights have relied on Akira Schmid and Carl Lindbom, resulting in an .893 team save percentage. Eichel’s offensive production, combined with contributions from Mitch Marner, has helped Vegas maintain a 6-2-3 record despite the defensive challenges. However, the extended absence of captain Mark Stone has significantly impacted their powerplay, which dropped from a blistering 9-for-24 pace with him to just 2-for-19 without him.

Looking ahead: what the 2025-26 NHL power rankings week 5 tells us about the playoff race

The extraordinary parity in the Eastern Conference has created a situation where 12 of 16 teams have either 13 or 14 points, and just a single point separates the top wildcard team from last place. This unprecedented compression means that every game carries massive significance, and teams cannot afford extended losing streaks without risking falling completely out of the playoff picture. The Canadiens and Red Wings currently lead the Atlantic Division, while the Devils and Penguins share the Metropolitan Division lead—a scenario few predicted during the preseason.

In the Western Conference, the Ducks’ emergence atop the Pacific Division has completely altered the competitive landscape. The Avalanche’s dominance in the Central seems secure for now, but the Jets lurking just a point behind with a game in hand suggests that the race for the Presidents’ Trophy could come down to the wire. The Wild’s collapse has opened opportunities for teams like the Seattle Kraken and Los Angeles Kings to establish themselves in the playoff picture, though both must address significant deficiencies to sustain their positioning.

The coming weeks will be crucial for several teams teetering on the edge of respectability. The Oilers desperately need Zach Hyman’s return to provide secondary scoring and stabilize their forward lines. The Panthers must survive until Tkachuk’s December return while hoping that their organizational depth can keep them within striking distance of the playoff positions. The Capitals need Ovechkin to break through for his 900th goal to lift the psychological burden that seems to be affecting the entire roster.

Several milestones loom large in week 5’s slate of games. Connor McDavid sits one point shy of 1,100, which would make him the fourth-fastest player to reach that mark behind only Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Mike Bossy. Nazem Kadri will play his 1,000th NHL game against the Blue Jackets on Wednesday, becoming the ninth player from the 2009 draft class to achieve that feat. Marcus Johansson will reach the same milestone when the Wild host the Flames on Sunday. These individual achievements provide compelling storylines beyond the nightly standings battles.

As the calendar turns from October to November and the early sunsets match the colder temperatures inside NHL arenas, the 2025-26 season has delivered on its promise of unpredictability and excitement. The power rankings will continue to shift as teams find their identity and adjust to the long grind of an 82-game schedule. But one month in, the lesson is clear: preseason projections mean little when the puck drops, and the teams that adapt quickest to adversity will ultimately determine who hoists the Stanley Cup next June. The Avalanche, Jets, and Canadiens have established themselves as the teams to beat, but with offense flowing freely and parity at an all-time high, any team currently in playoff position could conceivably make a deep run. That uncertainty is precisely what makes this season so captivating, and why week 5’s power rankings provide only a snapshot of a constantly evolving competitive picture that promises to deliver drama all season long.