Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates a goal against the Stars (Via Getty Images) The Tampa Bay Lightning have ascended to the top spot in The Athletic’s latest NHL Power Rankings despite navigating a minefield of injuries to key players. The franchise’s 31-13-4 record and torrid 13-0-1 run earned them the number one ranking from critics.However, what makes Tampa Bay’s success even more impressive is the fact they’ve accomplished it while missing crucial pieces of their defensive core for extended periods. The Avalanche still hold the most points but the Lightning have come very close to the points leaders
Avalanche still maintain their lead on top but Tampa Bay is catching on fast
Lightning vs. Blackhawks | NHL Highlights | January 23, 2026
Tampa Bay’s blue line had been in shambles since the start of the season, with Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh missing over half the season with various injuries. The absence of two elite defensemen would cripple most teams, yet the Lightning continue rolling.Critics pointed out that while Tampa Bay still trails Colorado by 11 points in the standings, there’s legitimate reason to believe the gap would be much smaller if the Lightning had stayed healthy. But their top defensive pairing, nearly the entire Lightning lineup has suffered from injuries this seasonThe Athletic’s Sean Gentille emphasized that injury excuses only carry weight to a certain point, but Tampa Bay’s situation stands out as particularly challenging compared to what other teams have faced. The fact they’ve maintained championship-level play through it all speaks volumes about their depth.The Lightning’s ability to weather the storm demonstrates their organizational strength and championship pedigree. Role players have stepped up magnificently while stars like Brandon Hagel and Nikita Kucherov carry increased offensive loads in the absence of key contributors.The Colorado Avalanche dropped from first to second in the rankings despite holding the best record in hockey at 34-5-9. Their recent 3-4 stretch coincided with another significant injury blow to their already depleted lineup.Gabriel Landeskog left Colorado’s January 4 game against Florida with an upper-body injury. Devon Toews was already sidelined when Landeskog went down, leaving the Avalanche without two key pieces of their core.The timing proved costly as Colorado lost that game 2-1 to the Panthers. They’ve posted just a 3-4 record in their last seven games as the injuries continued mounting and impacting their performance. But the Avs might be struggling right now; it doesn’t erase what they achieved till December.However, their recent struggles combined with Tampa Bay’s incredible 13-game point streak created enough separation to justify the ranking change. Both teams demonstrate that championship-caliber organizations find ways to win despite adversity. Whether Tampa Bay can maintain their momentum or Colorado rebounds from their rough patch will determine which team ultimately claims supremacy when it matters most in the playoffs.