"Post-Olympic fatigue doesn't appear to be much of an issue, as Brock Nelson, Martin Necas, Gabriel Landeskog and Cale Makar all hit the scoresheet in their first game back -- a victory over Utah in which they could afford to rest Nathan MacKinnon. Already the cream of the NHL crop, and with new defender Brett Kulak aboard, the Avs could be even stronger via trade by next week."
"The Bolts remain the class of the East, on pace to claim the division with some breathing room at the end. But 113.5 is still a bold line. Especially if they manage to get there before the final week of the season and rest some key players in the final games."
Following the 2026 Olympic ice hockey tournament, NHL teams have returned to regular season play with several notable players sidelined by injury, including Kevin Fiala, Sidney Crosby, and Mikko Rantanen. ESPN has released updated power rankings based on games through Wednesday, featuring a 1-32 poll from hockey commentators, analysts, reporters, and editors. Alongside the rankings, analysts Sean Allen and Victoria Matiash assess over/under points totals for each team, recommending betting strategies. The Colorado Avalanche demonstrate strong post-Olympic performance with multiple players contributing immediately upon return, while maintaining competitive positioning. Tampa Bay Lightning maintain Eastern Conference dominance. Rankings incorporate recent game results, injury status, and upcoming schedules to evaluate team trajectories.
#nhl-power-rankings #olympic-athletes-return #overunder-betting-analysis #injury-updates #team-performance-assessment
Read at ESPN.com
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