Sports Betting

All 32 NHL Teams Ranked by Power Play: 2025/2026 Season

A good power play can flip a game in 120 seconds. A bad one hands momentum right back to the other team. If you're betting NHL games, knowing where each team's man-advantage unit stands is non-negotiable. Power plays create some of the most predictable scoring opportunities in hockey, and teams that convert at elite rates cover more puck lines, push more totals over, and win more close games than the odds account for. This ranking covers all 32 teams by power play strength for the 2025/2026 season, using PP percentage, volume, talent, and betting impact as the core criteria.

March 26, 2026

Who Has the Best Power Play in the NHL This Season?

The elite tier is small. These six teams convert at rates that genuinely move lines and should factor into every bet you place against them when they're drawing penalties.

Edmonton Oilers: Edmonton leads the league in power play percentage, sitting in the low 30s. With elite shooters and a primary puck distributor on the half wall, they remain the standard for one-touch movement and cross-seam chances. Opponents that take penalties against the Oilers pay a steep price.
Dallas Stars: Dallas converts close to 30% of their opportunities, ranking top 3 by most stat sites. Their first unit is loaded with finishers at the bumper and net-front, making them lethal on set plays off faceoffs.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Sitting in the mid-20s, Pittsburgh's veteran core still runs a high-skill umbrella with multiple one-timer threats. They punish undisciplined opponents with quick-strike goals that can change a game's betting trajectory instantly.
Vegas Golden Knights: Vegas posts a PP% in the mid-20s and ranks among the top units league-wide. They rely less on a single superstar and more on layered movement with good east-west passing and a dangerous net-front presence.
Minnesota Wild: Minnesota combines high volume with strong conversion, sitting around the mid-20s while ranking near the league leaders in total opportunities. Their top unit features a heavy point shot and a reliable bumper option.
New York Rangers: The Rangers sit just behind the top group in PP% but are firmly in the upper tier. Their top unit runs through a dynamic playmaker on the wall and a one-timer threat on the off-wing, with a strong net-front presence to clean up rebounds.

Which Teams Have Very Good Power Plays This Season?

These units convert above league average and create genuine betting value, especially in penalty-heavy matchups and on totals.

Boston Bruins: Boston converts in the mid-20s on a strong volume of chances. Their top unit features a high-end shooter on the flank and smart puck retrieval, sustaining zone time even after broken plays.
Ottawa Senators: Ottawa pushes toward the mid-20s in PP% and shows up as one of the better efficiency teams in the league. Their young core moves the puck quickly and attacks downhill, often using a 1-3-1 that funnels shots to a lethal bumper.
Detroit Red Wings: Detroit sits in the low-20s and generates a solid number of opportunities. A strong shooter on the left flank and skill on entries let them threaten off the rush more than most teams in this tier.
Carolina Hurricanes: Carolina's PP% sits a bit above league average, but they generate a huge number of shots and chances relative to their time up a man. Their underlying expected goals per 60 on the power play is strong, relying on volume and movement over one-shot sniping.
Florida Panthers: Florida converts at a solid high-teens to low-20s clip, with a top unit that leans heavily on seam passes and back-door looks. Production can be streaky, but the underlying process is sound.
Colorado Avalanche: Colorado's raw PP% hovers in the mid-teens, slightly lower than you'd expect given their firepower. They generate a ton of shots and attempts, and their underlying process suggests finishing will improve as the season goes on.

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Which Teams Have Above-Average but Streaky Power Plays?

These units are capable of elite stretches but can't sustain them over a full season. They matter on certain nights and in certain matchups, but you can't build a betting strategy around them the way you can with the top tier.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Tampa's PP% sits in the high-teens, not quite at its historical peak but still a clear threat when their stars are on the ice. They remain dangerous on faceoff-win set plays and will punish teams that overcommit to the off-wing shooter.
San Jose Sharks: San Jose surprisingly leads the league in power play opportunities and posts a respectable PP% around the high-teens. Their first unit is competent, using movement to compensate for limited elite talent.
Vancouver Canucks: Vancouver sits around 20% with the man advantage, modestly above league average. Their best looks come from a point shot through traffic and a strong net-front presence, though entries can be inconsistent.
Seattle Kraken: Seattle's PP% hovers near 20% with solid structure. They run a disciplined 1-3-1, rely on tips and deflections from the middle, and avoid many short-handed rushes against.
Buffalo Sabres: Buffalo sits slightly above average in the low-20s, and their young skill players give them high-ceiling nights. Inconsistency in entries and shot selection keeps them out of the top tier.
Winnipeg Jets: Winnipeg comes in around the low-20s, a bit above the middle of the pack. They lean on a heavy shooter at the top and a dangerous bumper, but zone entries can bog down against aggressive penalty kills.
Chicago Blackhawks: Chicago's PP% sits around 21%, boosted by a young star driving their top unit. Production is top-heavy, but that group is dangerous when they're on the ice.

Which Teams Have Middle-of-the-Pack Power Plays?

These teams sit in the mid-teens range, slightly below league average. They're not liabilities on the man advantage, but they're not moving the needle on your bets either.

New York Islanders: The Islanders sit in the mid-teens in PP%, slightly below league average. They can cycle the puck but often lack a consistent one-timer threat, leading to a lot of low-danger point shots.
Washington Capitals: Washington's PP sits under 17%, a significant drop from the peak years. There are still flashes of the old trigger-man look, but age and a less dynamic supporting cast have made their chances more predictable.
Calgary Flames: Calgary converts at around 14%, lagging behind most teams that hope to contend. Their biggest challenge is zone entry and clean setup — when they do get set, east-west seams are hard to come by.
Nashville Predators: Nashville sits in the mid-teens with a power play that looks fine on some nights and static on others. They rely heavily on point shots with traffic and lack an elite half-wall playmaker to consistently break penalty kills down.
Los Angeles Kings: The Kings come in under 15%, reflecting their conservative approach. They prioritize shot volume from the perimeter over high-risk seam passes, which keeps things safe but not explosive.
St. Louis Blues: St. Louis sits under 18% and struggles to generate dangerous looks consistently. The unit can look fine on drawn-up plays but lacks creativity once the first option is taken away.

Which Teams Have the Worst Power Plays in the NHL?

These teams sit at or near the bottom in PP efficiency. When they draw a penalty, it rarely changes the game. That matters for totals, puck lines, and live betting decisions.

Anaheim Ducks: Anaheim's PP% sits just above 17% but grades close to the bottom third in context. Their young talent is improving, yet they struggle to consistently gain the zone with control and often settle for low-percentage point shots.
Philadelphia Flyers: Philadelphia ranks near the bottom in PP efficiency with a low-teens conversion rate. They struggle with controlled entries and sustaining set-zone time, leading to many short, ineffective power plays.
Montreal Canadiens: Montreal sits at or near the bottom of the league by PP%, reflecting a young group still learning how to create high-danger looks. They often default to low-threat perimeter play and rarely threaten back-door or seam passes.
Utah Mammoth: As the newest franchise in the league, Utah is still building their man-advantage structure. Their power play personnel is developing, and it shows in their conversion numbers.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Columbus is in full rebuild mode, and their power play reflects that. Limited high-end talent on the man advantage means opponents don't need to take big risks killing penalties against them.
Detroit / Buffalo cluster: Both teams sit in a similar band where young skill and inconsistent execution cancel each other out. High-ceiling plays on the right nights, but not reliable enough to factor into most bets.

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How to Use Power Play Rankings When Betting NHL Games

The power play ranking only matters if you know how to apply it. Here's where it actually shows up in your betting decisions.

Totals betting: Elite PP teams push games toward the over in penalty-heavy matchups. When two bottom-tier PP teams meet, the under gets more attractive, especially if both penalty kills are solid.
Puck line betting: Teams with top-5 power plays cover puck lines at a higher rate when they draw penalties early. A two-goal deficit is easier to erase when your man advantage converts at 30%.
Live betting: If an elite PP team draws back-to-back penalties in the second period, their live odds to win get more valuable. The market sometimes underweights back-to-back power plays for top-tier units.
Referee tendencies: Some officials call tight games with 10 or more penalties. Before betting totals, check recent officiating patterns. Pairing a penalty-heavy referee with an elite PP team is a strong signal for the over.
Matchup-specific value: Bottom-tier PP teams against elite penalty kills are near-worthless on the man advantage. Factor that in before betting any game where one team's PK is a known strength.

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