Five weeks down in the NHL season. As we approach December, the bigger picture is slowly starting to form, and we can begin making predictions as to which NHL teams will perform better moving forward and which ones will likely crash. Whether or not those predictions will be right is a whole other story, however.
Let’s focus on week five here for a bit, though, and grade how each NHL team performed throughout the week.
Which teams got the highest grades in the NHL after week 5?
Anaheim Ducks Grade: D- (Previous grade: Unchanged)
A 4-2 win over the Blue Jackets at the end of the week ended Anaheim’s four-game losing streak. The other good news is that John Gibson also returned to action in that game against Columbus. The bad news is, it likely won’t matter, as Anaheim couldn’t seem to consistently win games even with Lukas Dostal playing his butt off.
Boston Bruins Grade: D- (Previous grade: C)
Another disappointing week for the Bruins. They started off losing 4-0 to their divisional rivals, the Leafs. They then rebounded with a decent 4-3 OT win against the Flames, only to get beat by Senators in OT in Linus Ullmark’s return to Boston. Maybe this is just a skid, and Boston will get their act together, but as of now, they’re in unfamiliar territory, and you can feel the frustration setting in.
Buffalo Sabres Grade: A+ (Previous grade: F)
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It was actually a very good week for the Sabres, as they won all three of their games, two in dominant fashion. They beat the Senators 5-1, followed that up with a very impressive 6-1 domination of the Rangers, then ended their week with a 3-2 shootout win over the Flames. That being said, it’s advised not to get your hopes up just because they had a good week. They’ve fooled us before.
Calgary Flames Grade: D+ (Previous grade: D-)
The Flames played three games this week and only won one. They beat Montreal 3-2 in OT as their one win. Their two losses were a 4-3 OT loss to the Bruins and a 3-2 shootout loss to the Sabres. While they did lose two out of three, they also got points in all three games, which is helping them desperately cling to their above .500 record. How long can they keep it up though?
Carolina Hurricanes Grade: A (Previous grade: A+)
The Hurricanes had their eight-game winning streak come to an end at the hands of a 6-4 defeat to Colorado at the end of their week. Before that, they had beaten the Penguins 5-1 and the Flyers 6-4. The Hurricanes have looked very, very good in the last couple of weeks, and they’ll be hoping to jump right back on the train and continue that success as they play Vegas to start this next week.
Chicago Blackhawks Grade: D+ (Previous grade: A)
Despite losing 4-1 to Detroit and 3-1 to Dallas, Chicago ended their week on a high note with a 2-1 OT win over a streaking Minnesota. While wins like that can certainly garner confidence, I would remind NHL fans not to get their hopes up too high, as this is still the same Chicago team. There’s most likely still a lot of struggles left to go through this season.
Also Read: Grading All 32 NHL Teams’ After Week 4 Games Of The 2024 Season
Colorado Avalanche Grade: B+ (Previous grade: F)
The Avs had a pretty okay week this week. Not only did they beat the Kraken 6-3, they were also responsible for ending the Hurricanes’ eight-game winning streak when they beat them 6-4 to end their week. They did lose 1-0 to the Jets, but that was a pretty decent losing effort. Maybe they can build off this week, or maybe they’ll fall right back into their hole.
Columbus Blue Jackets Grade: F (Previous grade: C)
A bad trip through California now has Columbus in the middle of a five-game losing streak. They kicked off the trip with a 2-1 OT loss to San Jose. They followed that up with a 5-2 loss to the Kings. They then ended it with a 4-2 loss to the Ducks. They didn’t look bad against Anaheim, but they just couldn’t score, and Anaheim capitalized on opportunities they were given.
Dallas Stars Grade: C (Previous grade: D)
The Stars only played two games this week, and they split them. They beat the Blackhawks 3-1, then got thoroughly outplayed in a 4-1 loss to the Jets. It’s been a couple of disappointing weeks in a row for Dallas now, and they’re going to be looking for a way to get back on their horse. We’ll see if they can or if there’s another hard week up ahead.
Detroit Red Wings Grade: D+ (Previous grade: C)
The Red Wings went 1-2-0 this week, which has become fairly normal for them this season. Their one win wasn’t against the best competition either, being a 4-1 win over Chicago. Outside of that, they got shut down by the Leafs and Rangers, losing 3-1 and 4-0, respectively.
Edmonton Oilers Grade: D+ (Previous grade: B)
A rather disappointing week for Edmonton, who continue to play without their captain and superstar Connor McDavid. They started off the week with two straight losses, losing 3-0 to New Jersey and 4-2 to Vegas. They ended the week with a solid 7-3 win over Vancouver, though. Edmonton is managing to hang in there, but this is not anywhere close to the level of play that got them into the Finals last season.
Florida Panthers Grade: A+ (Previous grade: Unchanged)
With a 6-2 win over the Predators and a 4-3 shootout win over the Flyers, the Panthers now find themselves in the midst of a seven-game winning streak. With Carolina losing on Sunday, this streak is currently the longest active winning streak in the NHL. The defending champs will most definitely want to continue this momentum into this next week and rack up as many wins as they can.
Los Angeles Kings Grade: A (Previous grade: D+)
It was a pretty decent week for LA. They shut down the Predators 3-0 to start their week, then followed that up with a very impressive 5-1 win over the Wild. They then lost Canucks 4-2 but were able to rebound with a 5-2 win over Columbus to end their week. This NHL team isn’t blowing away anyone right now, but they are quietly gathering points and winning under the radar with consistent play.
Minnesota Wild Grade: C+ (Previous grade: A+)
The Wild also played four games this week, and they split them, though they got points in three out of four. They started off the week with a rough 5-1 loss to LA. However, they followed that up with a 5-2 win over the Sharks and then a 5-2 win over the Ducks. They ended their week with a 2-1 OT loss to Chicago, which was most likely a result they weren’t overly fond of.
Montreal Canadiens Grade: F (Previous grade: Unchanged)
At the end of week five, Montreal was on a six-game losing streak. They did manage to end that streak with a win to kick off week six, but this is a grade for week five. They lost to the Maple Leafs, Flames, and Devils this week, with the Flames loss coming in OT. The Habs now find themselves with the worst record in the league, albeit not by much.
Nashville Predators Grade: D- (Previous grade: D+)
The Predators had another rough week this week, losing three of their last four games. They kicked things off with a 3-0 loss to the Kings. They then followed that up with a 3-2 loss to the Capitals, then a 6-2 loss to the Panthers. They managed to end their week with a 4-0 win over Utah, but it did little to stop the damage of this week.
New Jersey Devils Grade: A- (Previous grade: Unchanged)
The Devils likely would have gotten an A+ this week had they not ended the week with a 1-0 loss to the Sharks. Getting shut out by San Jose is not a good look for anyone, especially when it happens on home ice. They won their other three games, though, beating the Oilers 3-0, the Canadiens 5-3, and the Islanders 4-3 in a shootout.
New York Islanders Grade: B- (Previous grade: D-)
It was a relatively decent week for the Islanders this week, especially considering past weeks of the season. They went 2-0-1 in three games, getting at least a point in all three. They beat the Penguins 4-3 in a shootout, then beat the Senators 4-2, then ended their week on a 4-3 shootout loss to the Devils. Not terribly bad, and possibly something they could build off of.
New York Rangers Grade: D (Previous grade: A)
The Rangers only played two games this week, and one of them was a 4-0 win over the Red Wings. That being said, their grade has been seriously brought down by a rather embarrassing 6-1 loss to the Sabres. Losing to Buffalo as an elite NHL team would’ve been bad enough, but to get blown out by them on home ice is a rough, rough look.
Ottawa Senators Grade: D (Previous grade: C)
The Senators three games this week certainly didn’t go the way they wanted them to. They were 1-2-0 this week, with their one win being a 3-2 OT win over the Bruins. Granted, that was a pretty cool moment for Linus Ullmark as he was making his return to Boston against his former goaltending partner, Jeremy Swayman. That was about the only highlight Ottawa had this week.
Philadelphia Flyers Grade: D+ (Previous grade: A)
The Flyers did lose the majority of their games this week, but they gave decent accounts of themselves in those losses. They started off the week with a 6-4 loss to the Hurricanes. They followed that up with a 2-1 shootout win over Tampa, then followed that up with a 4-3 shootout loss to Florida. Getting three out of a possible six points isn’t terrible.
Pittsburgh Penguins Grade: D+ (Previous grade: A-)
The Pens were unable to carry their momentum from last week into this one. They lost two out of three. However, their one win was an impressive 4-2 win over the Capitals. Their losses were a 4-3 shootout loss to the Islanders and a 5-1 loss to the Hurricanes. Definitely not the worst week they could’ve possibly had, but they definitely could’ve had a lot better.
San Jose Sharks Grade: A (Previous grade: A-)
The Sharks have sneakily won five of their last seven games. How they’ve done it is a mystery, but they’ve done it. They did lose 5-2 to the Wild this week, but they also beat the Blue Jackets 2-1 in OT and shut out the Devils on the road 1-0. I’m not entirely sure what’s going on, but suddenly, the Sharks aren’t the laughing stock they were last season. I’m not saying they’re good, though.
Seattle Kraken Grade: C (Previous grade: D-)
A short week for the Kraken, though maybe it was needed to try and regroup. They only had two games, and they split them. They lost to the Avs 6-3 but bounced back with a solid 4-3 OT win over the Golden Knights. This NHL team has potential, but they’re failing to realize it time and time again. This season is beginning to be a retelling of the last one.
St Louis Blues Grade: D- (Previous grade: Unchanged)
A decent 3-2 win over Tampa wasn’t enough to get St Louis through the week. They would drop their next game 4-2 against Utah and then get absolutely embarrassed by the Capitals 8-1. They’ll definitely be licking their wounds after that game, but they’re back in action Tuesday and will have to put it behind them ASAP.
Tampa Bay Lightning Grade: F (Previous grade: C)
The Bolts have now lost four in a row, only getting one point in those four games. They lost 3-2 to the Blues and lost 2-1 in a shootout to the Flyers. They’ve definitely slipped out of gear a bit from the start of the year. The short week means they got some decent rest, so maybe they’ll be able to pull together a solid week in week six.
Toronto Maple Leafs Grade: A+ (Previous grade: C)
The Leafs won all three games this week, and they did it relatively easily. After beating the Bruins 4-0 to start the week, they would go on to beat the Red Wings 3-1 and then the Habs 4-1 to end their week. They’re now in sole possession of second place in the Atlantic and so far have been the only real competition to Florida. It’s a very sad state that the division is in right now.
Utah Hockey Club Grade: D (Previous grade: Unchanged)
Utah might’ve burned themselves out too fast with their quick start. It was another middling week, only managing to get themselves one win out of three games. They did manage to beat St Louis 4-2, but the Blues are also middling about right now. Their other two games were a 3-0 loss to the Jets and a 4-0 loss to the Predators. The offensive production has dropped tremendously, and they can’t seem to get it back.
Vancouver Canucks Grade: B- (Previous grade: D)
Despite winning two of three this week, they’re rather poor performance against Edmonton, which is bogging down their grade. They did get a 4-2 win over the Kings and a 5-2 win over Anaheim, but they ended their week with a 7-3 loss to the Oilers, where they never really seemed able to get it together.
Vegas Golden Knights Grade: B- (Previous grade: A-)
It was a short week for Vegas, only playing two games, but I can’t say it was the best they looked. They did beat the Oilers 4-2 in an impressive comeback win, but they ended their week with a 4-3 OT loss to the Kraken. Still, they got 3 out of a possible four points and maintained their spot in the division. Definitely not the end of the world for them by any means.
Washington Capitals Grade: B- (Previous grade: A)
After beating the Predators 3-2 to start off their week, the Capitals would then lose 4-2 to the Penguins. A slower week than we’re used to seeing Washington, that is until they played St Louis at the end of their week. They absolutely whooped the Blues 8-1, never looking like they were struggling at any point in the game. It was definitely a solid note to end their week on, and gives them decent momentum heading into week six.
Winnipeg Jets Grade: A+ (Previous grade: Unchanged)
The Jets are now 14-1-0 to start the season. That’s the best start of any team in NHL history. With a 3-0 win over Utah, a 1-0 win over Colorado, and a 4-1 win over Dallas, Winnipeg has now won another six in a row. They just look like they’re on another level right now. Obviously, that could change in a flash, but right now, they’re on top of the world.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NHL Teams After Week 4 Games
