Stanley Cup Playoffs Power Rankings: Battle of Two

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:12 p.m. ET

Fansided, Matt Duscharme/FanSided via Puck Prose

Stanley Cup Playoffs Power Rankings – Full 2-Team Analysis with Players to Watch, Injury Reports, Statistical Updates (Leaders, Special Teams, etc.), and More.

Welcome back to our Stanley Cup Playoffs Power Rankings. In addition to my top 2 rankings, I provide in-depth analysis and feature a weekly player to watch profile to help fans now who to keep on eye on during the conference finals. Seven new players appear in the top five below, and you'll be surprised who is number one.

Site expert Matt Duscharme will be covering both teams.

*all stats in this week's NHL Playoff Power Rankings are heading into Monday (May.29th) night's action.

stanley cup playoffs power rankings

May 25, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz (4) and Evgeni Malkin (71) celebrate after Schultz scored against the Ottawa Senators during the third period in game seven of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Don Wright-USA TODAY Sports

Top 5 Forwards
1.Evgeni Malkin, PIT (19gp, 7g, 17a, 24pts)
2.Sidney Crosby, PIT (18gp, 7g, 13a, 20pts)
3.Ryan Getzlaf, ANA (17gp, 8g, 11a, 19pts)
4.Phil Kessel, PIT (19gp, 7g, 12a, 19pts)
5.Jake Guentzel, PIT (19gp, 9g, 7a, 16pts)

Top 5 Defensemen
1.Erik Karlsson, OTT (19gp, 2g, 16a, 18pts)
2.Ryan Ellis, NSH (16gp, 4g, 7a, 11pts)
3.Roman Josi, NSH (16gp, 5g, 5a, 10pts)
4.Justin Schultz, PIT (15gp, 3g, 7a, 10pts)
5.P.K. Subban, NSH (16gp, 2g, 8a, 10pts)

Top 5 Rookies
1.Jake Guentzel, PIT (19gp, 9g, 7a, 16pts)
2.Shea Theodore, ANA (14gp, 2g, 6a, 8pts)
3.Brandon Montour, ANA (17gp, 0g, 7a, 7pts)
4.Brady Skjei, NYR (12gp, 4g, 1a, 5pts)
5.Auston Matthews, TOR (6gp, 4g, 1a, 5pts)

stanley cup playoffs power rankings

May 25, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly (left) presents the Prince of Wales trophy to Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Chris Kunitz (14) and center Sidney Crosby (87) and center Evgeni Malkin (71) as champions of the Eastern Conference after the Pens defeated the Ottawa Senators in double overtime of game seven of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the PPG PAINTS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh Penguins

Previous Ranking: 4 (+2)

Team Record: (12-7)

Goals For:

Goals Against:

Special Teams

PP: (25.0 percent) (3rd)
PK: (85.5 percent) (8th)

Injury List

Tom Kuhnhackl – Lower-Body – Day-to-Day
Kris Letang – Neck – Indefinitely

Statistical Leaders in 2016-17

Top Forward: Evgeni Malkin (19gp 7g 17a 24pts)
Top Defenseman: Justin Schultz (15gp 3g 7a 10pts)
Top Rookie: Jake Guentzel (19gp 9g 7a 16pts)
Top Goaltender: Marc-Andre Fleury (9 wins 2.56GAA .924 save percentage 2so)

Player of the Week: F Sidney Crosby (4gp 2g 3a 5pts)

After a very intense and grueling seven-game series against the Senators, the Penguins have finally made it to the Stanley Cup final once again in hopes of repeating. And after a very terrible start for Marc-Andre Fleury, Matthew Murray has once again taken the reigns and has been lights out for the club posting a 1.35 goals-against-average and a .946 save percentage.

Star forward Sidney Crosby is having a solid post-season and had a fantastic week last week putting up five points in four games. Nashville is going to be a tough opponent for the Pens, they both possess high octane offense's, tremendous d-cores and goaltenders who have been stealing the show. This series can honestly go either way.

Player to Watch: Matthew Murray

2016-17 stats: 3 wins 1.35GAA .946 save percentage 1so

As stated above, when Matthew Murray reemerged in the net he's been absolutely solid for the Pens helping them win in double overtime of game seven against Ottawa. He's definitely going to be relied upon once again and will be the backbone of the team's success.

stanley cup playoffs power rankings

May 22, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly shakes hands with Nashville Predators center Mike Fisher (12) after defeating the Anaheim Ducks alongside the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl after game six of the Western Conference Final of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Nashville Predators

Previous Ranking: 2 (+1)

Team Record: (12-4)

Goals For:

Goals Against:

Special Teams

PP: (14.9 percent) (12th)
PK: (88.1 percent) (4th)

Injury List

Ryan Johansen – Thigh – Out-for-Playoffs
Kevin Fiala – Leg – Day-to-Day

Statistical Leaders in 2016-17

Top Forward: Filip Forsberg (16gp 8g 7a 15pts)
Top Defenseman: Ryan Ellis (16gp 4g 7a 11pts)
Top Rookie: Pontus Aberg (10gp 1g 3a 4pts)
Top Goaltender: Pekka Rinne (12 wins 1.70GAA .941 save percentage 2so)

Player of the Week: F Colton Sissons (2gp 3g 1a 4pts)

Now how about these Predators, the last clinching team in the playoffs has made it to the Stanley Cup finals. Mostly due to the defenseman being able to score at clutch times and goaltender Pekka Rinne standing on his head every single game. The loss of Ryan Johansen and Mike Fisher hasn't slowed the team down one bit since they also have tremendous depth up front.

Colton Sissons had himself a solid week last week putting up four points in two games, and rookie Pontus Aberg has risen as a very solid 200-foot player. Filip Forsberg is finally finding his scoring touch too which is never a bad thing.

Player to Watch: Pekka Rinne

2016-17 stats: 12 wins 1.70GAA .941 save percentage 2so

Now Pekka Rinne has easily been the backbone of this entire team, his numbers throughout the playoffs are just mind boggling with a 1.70 goals-against-average and a .941 save percentage on top of 12 wins and two shutouts. He's going to see a lot of pucks against the Pens but how many he'll be able to stop is yet to be seen, but he should do just fine.