NHL team rankings: offense and defense

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PickFinder Team•Updated:

The Colorado Avalanche lead NHL teams in goals at 4.3 per game in 2026-27. The Carolina Hurricanes allow the fewest (2.3) and the Vancouver Canucks allow the most (4.5).

The biggest mismatch on goals: the Colorado Avalanche (1st in goals, 4.3 per game) against the Vancouver Canucks (32nd allowed, 4.5 per game). These are 2026-27 numbers through about 14 games per team.

Offense: 1st produces the mostDefense: 1st allows the least (toughest)

Green always means more of the stat, red means less. So a green defense is a soft one, and a green offense is a productive one. These are team totals per game.

Offense and defense, 2026-27

Team offense and defense per game with league ranks, 2026-27, best goals offense first.
Colorado Avalanche144.31st3.214th30.83rd28.118th7.81st5.110th15.931st22.217th
Edmonton Oilers154.31st2.97th26.320th26.512th6.73rd4.78th25.36th25.228th
Carolina Hurricanes163.93rd2.31st33.31st22.61st6.82nd3.71st2122nd22.318th
Seattle Kraken143.93rd3.931st25.726th31.431st5.98th5.722nd16.928th26.732nd
Toronto Maple Leafs163.85th3.419th28.312th28.924th6.35th5.518th20.524th25.530th
Boston Bruins153.76th2.43rd26.320th28.222nd67th44th2219th22.116th
Tampa Bay Lightning133.76th3.214th30.45th256th5.611th5.214th21.621st23.323rd
Montreal Canadiens143.68th3.111th28.113th28.118th5.413th5.110th20.823rd19.76th
Utah Mammoth153.68th3.521st29.87th24.34th6.44th5.518th26.92nd194th
Vegas Golden Knights153.68th39th29.38th25.89th5.89th4.35th2219th18.53rd
Anaheim Ducks143.511th3.829th25.127th27.516th6.16th6.328th25.64th19.65th
Pittsburgh Penguins143.511th3.625th28.69th28.118th5.89th5.722nd11.632nd23.724th
New Jersey Devils143.413th2.97th32.62nd24.75th5.119th5.315th16.629th2321st
Washington Capitals133.413th3.214th27.716th28.222nd5.413th5.417th22.616th21.513th
Minnesota Wild163.315th2.31st30.45th25.17th5.315th3.82nd22.915th21.212th
Ottawa Senators163.315th3.318th25.825th27.415th5.315th5.315th24.210th24.726th
Buffalo Sabres143.117th3.625th28.113th27.214th5.512th6.127th1927th26.331st
Florida Panthers143.117th2.85th28.69th24.13rd5.119th4.46th321st2111th
Nashville Predators143.117th3.521st26.718th29.725th5.218th5.518th22.317th17.72nd
St. Louis Blues143.117th39th26.419th2817th5.315th5.110th19.525th23.825th
Detroit Red Wings14321st3.111th30.74th25.58th4.923rd5.110th24.87th20.610th
Dallas Stars142.922nd2.43rd26.123rd22.92nd4.524th3.82nd19.426th22.419th
New York Islanders142.922nd2.85th25.924th26.110th4.326th4.57th24.48th20.27th
New York Rangers152.922nd3.111th24.729th26.311th521st59th25.83rd25.127th
Vancouver Canucks162.922nd4.532nd21.432nd3232nd521st7.432nd23.811th2321st
Los Angeles Kings132.826th3.521st2815th28.118th4.326th626th22.118th22.920th
San Jose Sharks152.727th3.521st27.517th31.230th4.326th5.518th25.55th20.27th
Calgary Flames142.628th3.728th28.511th29.927th4.425th6.328th23.414th21.614th
Columbus Blue Jackets122.429th3.214th24.928th26.813th4.326th5.824th23.513th16.71st
Philadelphia Flyers162.330th3.419th23.430th30.128th3.830th5.925th23.712th20.39th
Winnipeg Jets152.330th3.625th26.222nd29.725th3.632nd6.531st24.48th21.715th
Chicago Blackhawks142.232nd3.829th2331st30.429th3.731st6.430th16.330th25.429th

Where the best offense meets the softest defense

For each main stat: the three most productive offenses against the three softest defenses. These are league-wide pairings, not this week's schedule, so use them when the two teams meet.

Offense and defense pairings with the biggest gap above the league average.
Colorado AvalancheVancouver CanucksAssists7.81st7.432nd+43%
Colorado AvalancheVancouver CanucksGoals4.31st4.532nd+38%
Edmonton OilersVancouver CanucksGoals4.31st4.532nd+38%
Colorado AvalancheWinnipeg JetsAssists7.81st6.531st+35%
Colorado AvalancheChicago BlackhawksAssists7.81st6.430th+34%
Florida PanthersSeattle KrakenHits321st26.732nd+33%
Florida PanthersBuffalo SabresHits321st26.331st+32%
Carolina HurricanesVancouver CanucksGoals3.93rd4.532nd+31%
Florida PanthersToronto Maple LeafsHits321st25.530th+30%
Carolina HurricanesVancouver CanucksShots on Goal33.31st3232nd+19%
Carolina HurricanesSeattle KrakenShots on Goal33.31st31.431st+18%
Carolina HurricanesSan Jose SharksShots on Goal33.31st31.230th+18%

Where the weakest offense meets the toughest defense

The same check in reverse: the pairings furthest below the league average.

Offense and defense pairings furthest below the league average.
Pittsburgh PenguinsColumbus Blue JacketsHits11.632nd16.71st-36%
Pittsburgh PenguinsNashville PredatorsHits11.632nd17.72nd-34%
Pittsburgh PenguinsVegas Golden KnightsHits11.632nd18.53rd-32%
Winnipeg JetsCarolina HurricanesAssists3.632nd3.71st-31%
Chicago BlackhawksCarolina HurricanesGoals2.232nd2.31st-30%
Chicago BlackhawksMinnesota WildGoals2.232nd2.31st-30%
Winnipeg JetsDallas StarsAssists3.632nd3.82nd-30%
Winnipeg JetsMinnesota WildAssists3.632nd3.82nd-30%
Chicago BlackhawksBoston BruinsGoals2.232nd2.43rd-28%
Vancouver CanucksCarolina HurricanesShots on Goal21.432nd22.61st-20%
Vancouver CanucksDallas StarsShots on Goal21.432nd22.92nd-19%
Vancouver CanucksFlorida PanthersShots on Goal21.432nd24.13rd-17%

Highest and lowest goals games

A team's goals for and against, added up. High means both its offense and its defense push the number up. League average: 3.2 for, 3.2 allowed.

Highest

Teams whose games have the most goals.
Seattle Kraken3.93rd3.931st7.8
Colorado Avalanche4.31st3.214th7.5
Vancouver Canucks2.922nd4.532nd7.4
Anaheim Ducks3.511th3.829th7.3
Edmonton Oilers4.31st2.97th7.2
Toronto Maple Leafs3.85th3.419th7.2

Lowest

Teams whose games have the fewest goals.
Dallas Stars2.922nd2.43rd5.3
Minnesota Wild3.315th2.31st5.6
Columbus Blue Jackets2.429th3.214th5.6
Philadelphia Flyers2.330th3.419th5.7
New York Islanders2.922nd2.85th5.7
Winnipeg Jets2.330th3.625th5.9

Every ranking

GoalsLeague average 3.2 for, 3.2 allowed
Goals per game for and against each team.
Colorado Avalanche144.31st3.214th
Edmonton Oilers154.31st2.97th
Carolina Hurricanes163.93rd2.31st
Seattle Kraken143.93rd3.931st
Toronto Maple Leafs163.85th3.419th
Boston Bruins153.76th2.43rd
Tampa Bay Lightning133.76th3.214th
Montreal Canadiens143.68th3.111th
Utah Mammoth153.68th3.521st
Vegas Golden Knights153.68th39th
Anaheim Ducks143.511th3.829th
Pittsburgh Penguins143.511th3.625th
New Jersey Devils143.413th2.97th
Washington Capitals133.413th3.214th
Minnesota Wild163.315th2.31st
Ottawa Senators163.315th3.318th
Buffalo Sabres143.117th3.625th
Florida Panthers143.117th2.85th
Nashville Predators143.117th3.521st
St. Louis Blues143.117th39th
Detroit Red Wings14321st3.111th
Dallas Stars142.922nd2.43rd
New York Islanders142.922nd2.85th
New York Rangers152.922nd3.111th
Vancouver Canucks162.922nd4.532nd
Los Angeles Kings132.826th3.521st
San Jose Sharks152.727th3.521st
Calgary Flames142.628th3.728th
Columbus Blue Jackets122.429th3.214th
Philadelphia Flyers162.330th3.419th
Winnipeg Jets152.330th3.625th
Chicago Blackhawks142.232nd3.829th
Shots on GoalLeague average 27.5 for, 27.4 allowed
Shots on Goal per game for and against each team.
Carolina Hurricanes1633.31st22.61st
New Jersey Devils1432.62nd24.75th
Colorado Avalanche1430.83rd28.118th
Detroit Red Wings1430.74th25.58th
Minnesota Wild1630.45th25.17th
Tampa Bay Lightning1330.45th256th
Utah Mammoth1529.87th24.34th
Vegas Golden Knights1529.38th25.89th
Florida Panthers1428.69th24.13rd
Pittsburgh Penguins1428.69th28.118th
Calgary Flames1428.511th29.927th
Toronto Maple Leafs1628.312th28.924th
Buffalo Sabres1428.113th27.214th
Montreal Canadiens1428.113th28.118th
Los Angeles Kings132815th28.118th
Washington Capitals1327.716th28.222nd
San Jose Sharks1527.517th31.230th
Nashville Predators1426.718th29.725th
St. Louis Blues1426.419th2817th
Boston Bruins1526.320th28.222nd
Edmonton Oilers1526.320th26.512th
Winnipeg Jets1526.222nd29.725th
Dallas Stars1426.123rd22.92nd
New York Islanders1425.924th26.110th
Ottawa Senators1625.825th27.415th
Seattle Kraken1425.726th31.431st
Anaheim Ducks1425.127th27.516th
Columbus Blue Jackets1224.928th26.813th
New York Rangers1524.729th26.311th
Philadelphia Flyers1623.430th30.128th
Chicago Blackhawks142331st30.429th
Vancouver Canucks1621.432nd3232nd
AssistsLeague average 5.3 for, 5.3 allowed
Assists per game for and against each team.
Colorado Avalanche147.81st5.110th
Carolina Hurricanes166.82nd3.71st
Edmonton Oilers156.73rd4.78th
Utah Mammoth156.44th5.518th
Toronto Maple Leafs166.35th5.518th
Anaheim Ducks146.16th6.328th
Boston Bruins1567th44th
Seattle Kraken145.98th5.722nd
Pittsburgh Penguins145.89th5.722nd
Vegas Golden Knights155.89th4.35th
Tampa Bay Lightning135.611th5.214th
Buffalo Sabres145.512th6.127th
Montreal Canadiens145.413th5.110th
Washington Capitals135.413th5.417th
Minnesota Wild165.315th3.82nd
Ottawa Senators165.315th5.315th
St. Louis Blues145.315th5.110th
Nashville Predators145.218th5.518th
Florida Panthers145.119th4.46th
New Jersey Devils145.119th5.315th
New York Rangers15521st59th
Vancouver Canucks16521st7.432nd
Detroit Red Wings144.923rd5.110th
Dallas Stars144.524th3.82nd
Calgary Flames144.425th6.328th
Columbus Blue Jackets124.326th5.824th
Los Angeles Kings134.326th626th
New York Islanders144.326th4.57th
San Jose Sharks154.326th5.518th
Philadelphia Flyers163.830th5.925th
Chicago Blackhawks143.731st6.430th
Winnipeg Jets153.632nd6.531st
HitsLeague average 22.1 for, 22.1 allowed
Hits per game for and against each team.
Florida Panthers14321st2111th
Utah Mammoth1526.92nd194th
New York Rangers1525.83rd25.127th
Anaheim Ducks1425.64th19.65th
San Jose Sharks1525.55th20.27th
Edmonton Oilers1525.36th25.228th
Detroit Red Wings1424.87th20.610th
New York Islanders1424.48th20.27th
Winnipeg Jets1524.48th21.715th
Ottawa Senators1624.210th24.726th
Vancouver Canucks1623.811th2321st
Philadelphia Flyers1623.712th20.39th
Columbus Blue Jackets1223.513th16.71st
Calgary Flames1423.414th21.614th
Minnesota Wild1622.915th21.212th
Washington Capitals1322.616th21.513th
Nashville Predators1422.317th17.72nd
Los Angeles Kings1322.118th22.920th
Boston Bruins152219th22.116th
Vegas Golden Knights152219th18.53rd
Tampa Bay Lightning1321.621st23.323rd
Carolina Hurricanes162122nd22.318th
Montreal Canadiens1420.823rd19.76th
Toronto Maple Leafs1620.524th25.530th
St. Louis Blues1419.525th23.825th
Dallas Stars1419.426th22.419th
Buffalo Sabres141927th26.331st
Seattle Kraken1416.928th26.732nd
New Jersey Devils1416.629th2321st
Chicago Blackhawks1416.330th25.429th
Colorado Avalanche1415.931st22.217th
Pittsburgh Penguins1411.632nd23.724th
Blocked ShotsLeague average 14.1 for, 14.1 allowed
Blocked Shots per game for and against each team.
Washington Capitals1317.21st12.97th
Seattle Kraken1416.32nd11.42nd
Philadelphia Flyers16163rd14.923rd
Los Angeles Kings1315.54th15.528th
Ottawa Senators1615.35th15.426th
Anaheim Ducks1415.26th13.19th
Nashville Predators1415.17th13.513th
Toronto Maple Leafs1615.17th10.21st
Detroit Red Wings14159th14.418th
Boston Bruins1514.810th12.65th
Columbus Blue Jackets1214.810th13.311th
Dallas Stars1414.810th13.513th
New York Rangers1514.713th14.721st
San Jose Sharks1514.614th13.19th
Minnesota Wild1614.415th13.915th
Utah Mammoth1514.415th17.231st
Tampa Bay Lightning1314.317th16.229th
Vancouver Canucks1614.317th12.86th
Colorado Avalanche1414.119th15.124th
Vegas Golden Knights1514.119th12.97th
Edmonton Oilers1513.721st12.34th
New York Islanders1413.622nd14.520th
Winnipeg Jets1513.523rd13.311th
Montreal Canadiens1413.324th13.915th
Buffalo Sabres1413.225th14.418th
Pittsburgh Penguins1412.926th14.721st
Calgary Flames1412.627th15.426th
Carolina Hurricanes1612.128th15.325th
New Jersey Devils1411.929th18.432nd
St. Louis Blues1411.630th14.217th
Chicago Blackhawks1411.331st11.63rd
Florida Panthers1410.932nd16.330th
Power Play PointsLeague average 2 for, 2 allowed
Power Play Points per game for and against each team.
Utah Mammoth153.51st2.725th
Anaheim Ducks143.42nd2.826th
Florida Panthers143.42nd1.914th
Edmonton Oilers153.34th217th
Nashville Predators143.15th1.14th
Minnesota Wild162.76th1.68th
Toronto Maple Leafs162.67th0.92nd
Carolina Hurricanes162.48th1.68th
Detroit Red Wings142.48th2.927th
San Jose Sharks152.48th1.68th
Vegas Golden Knights152.311th2.118th
Calgary Flames142.212th1.711th
Seattle Kraken142.212th2.927th
Colorado Avalanche141.914th2.118th
St. Louis Blues141.914th1.14th
Vancouver Canucks161.914th3.430th
Boston Bruins151.817th2.422nd
Pittsburgh Penguins141.718th1.14th
Buffalo Sabres141.619th3.430th
New Jersey Devils141.619th1.711th
New York Rangers151.619th0.92nd
Tampa Bay Lightning131.619th1.813th
Dallas Stars141.523rd0.61st
Los Angeles Kings131.523rd3.532nd
Philadelphia Flyers161.523rd2.118th
New York Islanders141.426th1.57th
Ottawa Senators161.426th2.927th
Winnipeg Jets151.426th2.422nd
Washington Capitals131.229th1.914th
Chicago Blackhawks141.130th1.914th
Columbus Blue Jackets12131st2.524th
Montreal Canadiens140.832nd2.118th

Using team rankings on a prop

  1. Read both sides of the game

    Take the Colorado Avalanche against the Vancouver Canucks. On goals, the offense averages 4.3 (1st) and the defense allows 4.5 (32nd).

  2. Compare with the league

    League averages are 3.2 for and 3.2 allowed, so together this pairing runs 38% above average.

  3. Go from team to player

    A team edge goes to whoever takes the volume. The defense vs position table shows which position gets it, and the app shows each player's hit rate against today's line.

How this is counted

Team totals per game for 2026-27: every player's stat on the team, added up per game, for the team's own players (offense) and for the players it faced (defense). Offense ranks 1st for the most, defense ranks 1st for the least, with ties sharing a rank. Mismatches take, for each of the first four stats, the three most productive offenses against the three softest defenses and show how far each side sits from the league average, averaged. Computed each morning from every box score of the season, preseason excluded, and refreshed here by 8:40 AM ET.

Team rankings FAQ

Which NHL team has the best offense?

On goals, the Colorado Avalanche at 4.3 per game, against a league average of 3.2. These are 2026-27 numbers through about 14 games per team.

Which NHL team has the best defense?

On goals, the Carolina Hurricanes, allowing 2.3 per game. The Vancouver Canucks allow the most, at 4.5.

What is the biggest NHL mismatch on goals?

The Colorado Avalanche (1st in goals, 4.3 per game) against the Vancouver Canucks (32nd allowed, 4.5 per game). Together that runs 38% above the league average. It is a league-wide pairing, so it applies when these teams meet.

Whose games have the most goals?

The Seattle Kraken: 3.9 for and 3.9 against, 7.8 a game combined.

Is a low defense rank good?

Yes for the defense. 1st allows the least and the last rank allows the most. On offense it is the other way: 1st produces the most.

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