1-32 poll, plus every team’s superpower

It’s certainly been a tumultuous start to the week, given a slew of additional game postponements due to COVID-19 — and many players and team staff entering the protocol — but the Power Rankings march on. And for the second straight week — and fifth time this season — the Florida Panthers top our list.

But every team from one through 32 has at least one thing at which they excel, and we took this opportunity to identify every team’s “superpower” too.

How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors rates teams against one another — taking into account game results, injuries and upcoming schedule — and those results are tabulated to produce the list featured here.

Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to last week’s edition, published on Dec. 8. Points percentages are through Tuesday’s games.

Previous ranking: 1
Points percentage: 0.714
Upcoming schedule: vs. LA (Dec. 16), @ MIN (Dec. 18), @ CHI (Dec. 21)

Superpower: Depth. Aleksander Barkov missed 11 of Florida’s first 27 games. Anthony Duclair has been in and out of the lineup. How have the Panthers stayed elite? Depth of contributions. Over half of the team’s roster is in double-digit point totals, the Panthers have been limiting shots against and Sergei Bobrovsky is rebounding admirably. Super stuff.

Previous ranking: 4
Points percentage: 0.714
Upcoming schedule: @ CHI (Dec. 15), @ WPG (Dec. 17), vs. LA (Dec. 19), @ PHI (Dec. 21)

Superpower: Consistency. The Capitals appear unflappable. They have not lost consecutive games in regulation and they have not been shut out this season. When one area isn’t firing as well — like the power play lately — the penalty kill aligns to keep pucks out of the net. Washington is a well-oiled machine.

Previous ranking: 5
Points percentage: 0.722
Upcoming schedule: vs. DET (Dec. 16), vs. LA (Dec. 18), vs. NSH (Dec. 19), @ BOS (Dec. 21)

Superpower: All-around all-stars. There are no real glaring holes for the Hurricanes. They can do it all….