The Carolina Hurricanes remain the top-ranked team in the NHL as of November 2, 2026, holding a projected 53.0 wins and a 98.0% chance of making the playoffs. The Edmonton Oilers have climbed seven places to third in the power rankings, driven by a surge in scoring and a significant rise in projected wins.
Carolina Maintains Dominance
The Hurricanes have maintained their number one position for four consecutive weeks. According to Puck and Stats, the team went 3-0-0 last week, outscoring opponents 12-3 and concluding the week with a 7-0 victory over Winnipeg on November 1. Carolina currently holds a 12-2-2 record and leads the league with 26 points.
Defensive Strength Rises
Goaltending has become a strength for Carolina rather than a weakness, as Pyotr Kochetkov has won all 10 of his starts with a .929 save percentage, including a shutout against the Jets. The team's save percentage has risen from .890 to .903, placing them fifth in the league. Sebastian Aho leads the team with 21 points in 16 games, while Logan Stankoven has recorded 10 goals.
Oilers Climb Rankings
The Edmonton Oilers have seen a significant rise, moving up seven places to third in the power rankings. The Oilers went 3-0-1 last week, outscoring opponents 15-5 and recording consecutive shutouts against Calgary and the Islanders. Connor McDavid has accumulated 39 points in 15 games, and the team's goals-against average has dropped from 3.55 to 2.93 per game.
Major Movers in the West
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins tied Kevin Lowe's franchise record of 1,037 games at the Rangers on November 1. Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche have recorded the largest jump among all teams, rising seven places to fourth in the power rankings. The Avalanche won twice last week and currently hold a projection of 49.6 wins.
Winnipeg Faces Steep Decline
The Winnipeg Jets experienced the largest decline in the league, dropping to 28th in the power rankings. The Jets have lost five straight games and are 1-7-2 in their last 10 contests. Their projection has dropped 6.8 points to 82.7, leaving them with a 17.6% chance of making the playoffs.
Utah Mammoth Outlook
The Utah Mammoth currently sit eighth in the power rankings with 102.3 projected points. Although the team has taken 57.4% of the expected goals, which ranks fourth in the league, their save percentage is .868, ranking 30th. The Mammoth hold a 9-6-0 record with a +2 goal difference.
Ranking Methodology
NHL power rankings are updated daily, using a model that blends season projections with actual results. As of November 3, 2026, the top five teams are the Carolina Hurricanes, Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, and Minnesota Wild.
