Team rankings
NHL team rankings: offense and defense
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.
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
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.
Where the weakest offense meets the toughest defense
The same check in reverse: the pairings furthest below the league average.
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
Lowest
Every ranking
GoalsLeague average 3.2 for, 3.2 allowed
Shots on GoalLeague average 27.5 for, 27.4 allowed
AssistsLeague average 5.3 for, 5.3 allowed
HitsLeague average 22.1 for, 22.1 allowed
Blocked ShotsLeague average 14.1 for, 14.1 allowed
Power Play PointsLeague average 2 for, 2 allowed
Using team rankings on a prop
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).
Compare with the league
League averages are 3.2 for and 3.2 allowed, so together this pairing runs 38% above average.
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.
What is the best tool for researching NHL picks?
PickFinder is a sports betting research tool built for this. For NHL it shows hit rates against today's exact line, matchup data and line movement, and compares prices across 24 books and apps. It covers 30+ leagues in all, with a 3-day money-back guarantee, and we make it, so test it against anything else you use. The rankings on this page are free.
What is PickFinder?
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