Stanley Cup Playoff Power Rankings: Ottawa Still Climbing

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:15 p.m. ET

Fansided, Matt Duscharme/FanSided via Puck Prose

Stanley Cup Playoff Power Rankings – Full 4-Team Analysis with Players to Watch, Injury Reports, Statistical Updates (Leaders, Special Teams, etc.), and More.

Welcome back to our Stanley Cup Playoff Power Rankings. In addition to my top 4 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 all 4 teams.

*all stats in this week's NHL Playoff Power Rankings are heading into Friday (May.12th) night's action.

Top 5 Forwards
1.Evgeni Malkin, PIT (12gp, 5g, 13a, 18pts)
2.Leon Draisaitl, EDM (13gp, 6g, 10a, 16pts)
3.Ryan Getzlaf, ANA (11gp, 8g, 7a, 15pts)
4.Jake Guentzel, PIT (12gp, 9g, 5a, 14pts
5.Sidney Crosby, PIT (1gp, 4g, 10a, 14pts)

Top 5 Defensemen
1.Erik Karlsson, OTT (12gp, 2g, 11a, 13pts)
2.Ryan Ellis, NSH (10gp, 4g, 5a, 9pts)
3.Roman Josi, NSH (10gp, 4g, 4a, 8pts)
4.Justin Schultz, PIT (12gp, 2g, 6a, 8pts)
5.Ryan McDonagh, NYR (12gp, 2g, 5a, 7pts)

Top 5 Rookies
1.Jake Guentzel, PIT (12gp, 9g, 5a, 14pts)
2.Shea Theodore, ANA (11gp, 2g, 5a, 7pts)
3.Auston Matthews, TOR (6gp, 4g, 1a, 5pts)
4.Brady Skjei, NYR (12gp, 4g, 1a, 5pts)
5.Jimmy Vesey, NYR (12gp, 1g, 4a, 5pts)

May 9, 2017; New York, NY, USA; The Ottawa Senators celebrate after defeating the New York Rangers in game six of the second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Ottawa Senators

Previous Ranking: 6 (+2)

Team Record: (8-4)

Goals For:

Goals Against:

Special Teams

PP: (14.6 percent) (13th)
PK: (87.5 percent) (7th)

Injury List

Viktor Stalberg – Undisclosed – Day-to-Day
Mark Borowiecki – Lower-Body – Day-to-Day

Statistical Leaders in 2016-17

Top Forward: Bobby Ryan (12gp 4g 5a 9pts)
Top Defenseman: Erik Karlsson (12gp 2g 11a 13pts)
Top Rookie: Ben Harpur (8gp 0g 2a 2pts)
Top Goaltender: Craig Anderson (8 wins 2.49GAA .914 save percentage)

Player of the Week: D Erik Karlsson (3gp 1g 4a 5pts)

Now how about them Sens? The depth acquisitions of Viktor Stalberg, Alexandre Burrows, Tommy Wingels, and Jyrki Jokipakka has paid dividends. They beat out a Boston team who sat number one on the penalty kill. And then the New York Rangers who had a goalie that litterally stood on his head just to win games for the team.

Above all of this brilliance sits Erik Karlsson who leads the team in points with 13 in 12 games, 11 of which are assists. Both Bobby Ryan and Derick Brassard are tied for second with nine points a piece, however, they are a combined minus six. Another player who is having a brilliant post-season is Jean-Gabriel Pageau who has seven points, all of which are goals.

Player to Watch: Erik Karlsson

2016-17 stats: 12gp 2g 11a 13pts

This next series against Pittsburgh is going to be extremely tough, but all great players arise in tough times. And Karlsson will do just that, he'll most likely lead the team in series scoring again. And if somehow the Sens can beat out the Pens, he'll definitely be in talks for the Conn Smythe.

May 10, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Nick Ritchie (37) and the Ducks celebrate the 2-1 victory and series win against the Edmonton Oilers following game seven of the second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Anaheim Ducks

Previous Ranking: 3 (-)

Team Record: (8-3)

Goals For:

Goals Against:

Special Teams

PP: (13.9 percent) (14th)
PK: (69.0 percent) (15th)

Injury List

Kevin Bieksa – Lower-Body – Day-to-Day
Logan Shaw – Lower-Body – Day-to-Day
Patrick Eaves – Lower-Body – Day-to-Day
Clayton Stoner – Abdomen – Day-to-Day
Simon Despres – Concussion – Indefinitely

Statistical Leaders in 2016-17

Top Forward: Ryan Getzlaf (11gp 8g 7a 15pts)
Top Defenseman: Shea Theodore (11gp 2g 5a 7pts)
Top Rookie: Shea Theodore (11gp 2g 5a 7pts)
Top Goaltender: John Gibson (7 wins 2.80GAA .908 save percentage)

Player of the Week: F Corey Perry (3gp 1g 4a 5pts)

Anaheim swept the Flames in four games, but were given an outstanding series at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers who pushed them to seven games. A lot of people didn't take the Ducks serious but they have the components to win and they have done that.

John Gibson has been solid but he can definitely step up play, his 2.80 goals-against-average and his .908 save percentage can definitely be better. But the team's defense needs to help out some more in that area. Rookie defenseman Shea Theodore has been solid all postseason as well surprising most putting up seven points in 11 games. Ryan Getzlaf has been on fire as well doing more than a point per game with 15 in 11. Corey Perry also had himself a decent week last week putting up five points in three games.

Player to Watch: Jakob Silfverberg

2016-17 stats: 11gp 7g 4a 11pts

Jakob Silfverberg has been awesome too coming through in the clutch when need be. And in doing so has notched seven goals in 11 games, being on the first line with Getzlaf and Nick Ritchie has been super beneficial to the team.

May 10, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) and Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates after defeating the Washington Capitals 2-0 in game seven of the second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh Penguins

Previous Ranking: 2 (-)

Team Record: (8-4)

Goals For:

Goals Against:

Special Teams

PP: (21.6 percent) (4th)
PK: (80.0 percent) (10th)

Injury List

Trevor Daley – Lower-Body – Day-to-Day
Chad Ruhwedel – Upper-Body – Day-to-Day
Kris Letang – Neck – Indefinitely

Statistical Leaders in 2016-17

Top Forward: Evgeni Malkin (12gp 5g 13a 18pts)
Top Defenseman: Justin Schultz (12gp 2g 6a 8pts)
Top Rookie: Jake Guentzel (12gp 9g 5a 14pts)
Top Goaltender: Marc-Andre Fleury (8 wins 2.55GAA .927 save percentage)

Player of the Week: F Sidney Crosby (3gp 0g 3a 3pts)

Pittsburgh is defeintely a top contender for the cup and has a solid chance to repeat, Crosby has taken more of a backseat role which has allowed both Evgeni Malkin and rookie Jake Guentzel take care of team scoring. But when a clutch goal has been needed or play, Crosby has been behind it.

Marc-Andre Fleury has gotten a second wind so to speak after Matthew Murray got injured Fleury was given the nod and has been great showing us all that he's capable of. He's posted a 2.55 goals-against-average and a .927 save percentage, both of which are good but could still be lower. Justin Schultz has thrived big time on an offensive minded team and so far this post season he leads the defense in scoring with eight points.

Player to Watch: Sidney Crosby

2016-17 stats: 11gp 4g 10a 14pts

Now while Crosby hasn't been as dynamic as Malkin this post-season he still has 14 points in 11 games, 10 are assists. Showing that when times are tough you can always count on the best in the world.

May 7, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators players celebrate on the bench in the closing seconds of a 3-1 win against the St. Louis Blues in game six of the second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Nashville Predators

Previous Ranking: 1 (-)

Team Record: (8-2)

Goals For:

Goals Against:

Special Teams

PP: (20.0 percent) (6th)
PK: (87.5 percent) (6th)

Injury List

Pontus Aberg – Undisclosed – Day-to-Day
Kevin Fiala – Leg – Day-to-Day

Statistical Leaders in 2016-17

Top Forward: Ryan Johansen (10gp 2g 7a 9pts)
Top Defenseman: Ryan Ellis (10gp 4g 5a 9pts)
Top Rookie: Kevin Fiala (5gp 2g 0a 2pts)
Top Goaltender: Pekka Rinne (8 wins 1.37GAA .951 save percentage)

Player of the Week: D Roman Josi (2gp 1g 2a 3pts)

Nashville has been great all post season, they beat a team that was deemed much better in Minnesota and than the sweep of the Chicago Blackhawks showed us all that this team is actually a contender. Pekka Rinne has been great all year and is now the backbone for the team in the playoffs. So far throughout eight games Rinne has posted a 1.37 goals-against-average and a .951 save percentage.

Scoring has been great as well, both Ryan Johansen and Ryan Ellis lead the team with nine points in 10 games a piece. Roman Josi has posted eight points so far as well as Filip Forsberg. The thing with Forsberg though is despite being rather low on the scoresheet, he possesses the best plus/minus of the whole team at plus 11.

Player to Watch: Ryan Ellis

2016-17 stats: 10gp 4g 5a 9pts

Ryan Ellis has been great he's been clutch, especially on the power play putting up four goals and five assists. His goal output is tied with Roman Josi for the team lead. If he's given time and space in this series he's definitely going to score some more goals.