NHL Power Rankings: Donald Trump vs. Hillary Clinton Edition

Carey Price is the picture of calm, Alex Radulov looks like an inspired fit, and the league’s winningest franchise has still yet to lose in regulation.

Presidential quote: “My life has been about winning. My life has not been about losing.”

Defensively sound, New York is also getting fantastic offensive starts from J.T. Miller, Jimmy Vesey, Mika Zibanejad and — most unlikely, for those watching his 2015-16 Leafs games — Michael Grabner, whose hat trick Sunday gives him five goals.

Presidential quote: “Part of the beauty of me is that I am very rich.”

The Blackhawks’ penalty kill is atrocious: 53.1%, or 40% worse than Minnesota’s. No matter, they’re on a two-game win streak.

Presidential quote: “When I think I’m right, nothing bothers me.”

Washington is quietly operating the NHL’s second-best defence. It’s only a matter of time before the forwards catch fire. The Caps aren’t the trendy pick they were last year, but don’t write off Alex Ovechkin’s Cup hopes yet.

Presidential quote: “Anyone who thinks my story is anywhere near over is sadly mistaken.”

Stingy Devan Dubnyk not only posted three consecutive shutouts, but after last week’s win over the Bruins, he made a point to console opposing netminder Malcolm Subban.

Presidential quote: “I believe they like making me out to be something more sinister than I really am.”

The Oilers stumbled in Game 1 of a tricky road trip, yet Connor McDavid’s sixth gear and Cam Talbot’s excellent start have the Oil leading the West. Yet nonbelievers still think it’s only a matter of time before the wheels fall off.
Presidential quote: “Everything in life is luck.”

The Bolts skidded, dropping three in a row, but still think of themselves as a Stanley Cup favourite — and looked like one Tuesday, when Nikita Kucherov got a hat trick in Brooklyn.

Presidential quote: “You have to think anyway, so why not think big?”

Sidney Crosby’s general awesomeness and a three-game win streak have masked the fact that 15 teams have a better goal differential than the champs’ minus-2 mark.

Presidential quote: “I hope the fact checkers are turning up the volume and really working hard.”

Henrik Zetterberg hasn’t scored a goal, and Pavel Datsyuk’s goals only benefit SKA. New faces are being embraced as the Red Wings show early signs that they’ll be in the thick of the Atlantic race.

Presidential quote: “Every moment wasted looking back keeps us from moving forward.”

Craig Anderson’s wife, Nicolle, told him to fly to Edmonton and help the Senators even though she had just been diagnosed with cancer. Then he went out to pitch an emotional 37-save shutout. First Star of the Week, best story of the season.

Presidential quote: “For a man to be successful he needs support at home.”

Brent Burns is right there with Shea Weber in points by defencemen (10) despite seeing less ice time and relying less on power-play points. If Burns wasn’t playing hockey, he says he would’ve joined the Armed Forces. He’d probably excel in that field, too.

Presidential quote: “I will be so good at the military your head will spin.”

The Panthers are hanging in the mix despite major changes in blue line personnel and injuries to three of their top nine forwards. Oh, and Jaromir Jagr’s mullet is looking glorious.
Presidential quote: “I’m undaunted in my quest to amuse myself by constantly changing my hair.”

Picked to mop the Eastern Conference basement, the Blue Jackets have benefited from good goaltending and already have wins over Chicago, Dallas (twice) and Anaheim. This, no doubt, should please combustible coach John Tortorella.

Presidential quote: “Probably my worst quality is that I get very passionate about what I think is right.”

The Blues, as ever, are a strong defensive squad that gets just enough scoring to win. The futures of their head coach and one of their best D-men, Kevin Shattenkirk, remain hazy.

Presidential quote: “I have said publicly no option should be off the table.”

Aside from Taylor Hall, the Devils can’t score. But their goaltending and defence are so solid, it hardly matters. The only team with a bottom-six offence and a positive goal differential.

Presidential quote: “If I have a fault and somebody exposes that fault or talks about that fault, you won’t hear me complain.”

The Avs’ position in the standings is deceptive because they’ve played as many as three fewer games than some of their opponents. Colorado is fun again, and Matt Duchene has raved about the structure installed by new coach Jared Bednar.

Presidential quote: “I enjoy it. I enjoy the system.”

Carrying three capable goaltenders, the new-look Islanders have made it known they are shopping No. 1 netminder Jaroslav Halak. Also: Some fans chanted “Fire Cappy!” during Tuesday’s blowout loss to the Bolts.

Presidential quote: “We are going to embrace the possibilities of change, but real change — not Obama change, real change.”

Great on the PP, among the worst on the PK, the Flyers are better off playing clean, yet still commit more infractions than most. The decedents of the Broad Street Bullies also have had two players suspended this season.

Presidential quote: “The concept of shaking hands is absolutely terrible, and statistically I’ve been proven right.”

A judge will dismiss the charges against Sabres forward Evander Kane stemming from scuffles with women in a bar — if he stays out of future trouble.

Presidential quote: “In the Bible it says they asked Jesus how many times you should forgive, and he said 70 times 7. Well, I want you all to know that I’m keeping a chart.”

A good-news, bad-news week for Anaheim, which settles up with Hampus Lindholm but loses injured Simon Despres for what could be a long time. A lot of money has been invested in a core that may get old fast here.

Presidential quote: “Sometimes your best investments are the ones you don’t make.”

Dallas has gotten younger on defence, and winger Ales Hemsky has been sidelined for five to six months, but the Stars are better than their 27-ranked offence and losing record indicates… right? Right?!

Presidential quote: “I’ll tell you one thing, this is a very good looking group of people here.”

“I’m a negotiator, like you folks,” he said. “Is there anybody that doesn’t renegotiate deals in this room? This room negotiates them — perhaps more than any other room I’ve ever spoken in.”

EA Sports’ pick to win it all this year has been bad. Ryan Johansen, who is supposed to have a breakout year, is still looking for his first 5-on-5 point. P.K. Subban has been solid, but his most-discussed early highlight is that time he doused himself with water and ripped his shirt off at the Titans game.

Presidential quote: “Don’t confuse having a career with having a life.”

After a promising start, the Bruins have been set back with goaltending injuries and their top goal scorer’s suspension. Zdeno Chara, 39, is OK, but the Bruins need a younger D-man who can take some of his 24 minutes a night.

Presidential quote: “I think of myself as a young guy, but I’m not so young anymore. And I’ve been around for a long time.

A nice three-game run of wins — over Chicago, St. Louis and Ottawa — prevented Calgary from freaking out over its playoff-eyeing team’s slow start.

Presidential quote: “There is a sense that things, if you keep positive and optimistic about what can be done, do work out.”

Jacob Trouba continues to wait for a trade, Ondrej Pavelec continues to play in the minors while the kids allow goals, and the Sabres continue to regret trading for Evander Kane.

Presidential quote: “I don’t want to use the word ‘screwed,’ but I screwed him.”

The Canucks couldn’t keep those come-from-behind wins going, so the anemic Vancouver team (NHL-worst 1.78 goals per game) has dropped four in a row.

Presidential quote: “We’re totally predictable. And predictable is bad.”

The Maple Leafs are firing more shots on net than any other team. Combine that with skilled youth and leaky defence, and their games are a hoot from a spectator’s point of view.

Presidential quote: “I try to learn from the past, but I plan for the future by focusing exclusively on the present. That’s where the fun is.”

The Coyotes have taken on bad contracts in order to develop a cheap, young lineup that won’t contend for a while. And when their No. 1 netminder falls, they stay the course — even if that means giving up an NHL-worst 3.89 goals per game.

Presidential quote: “I don’t even consider myself ambitious.”

The goaltending tandem of Cam Ward and Eddie Lack wasn’t so good last season and isn’t any better this season. The Hurricanes could also use a few more goals.

Presidential quote: “It’s easy to diagnose a problem. It’s harder to do something about a problem.”

The injury to Jonathan Quick, and the Kings’ approach to covering for his absence, continue to be a focal point. Yes, Peter Budaj won four in a row… but then he dropped three straight as the Kings offence shriveled up like a week-old jack-o-lantern.

Presidential quote: “What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate.”