NHL Power Rankings: Updated poll, plus all 32 teams as horror movies

With Halloween upon us, it was the perfect chance to turn this week's ESPN NHL Power Rankings into an ode to spooky season.

We've attached a horror movie to every NHL team this season, based on their fortunes and narratives, with the understanding that some of the performances this season are scarier than any of the films listed here.

How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday. Those ballots are combined to come up with the rankings you see below.

Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the previous edition, published on Oct. 23. Points percentages are through Thursday's games.

Here are 32 horror movies for 32 NHL teams, starting with the best of the best:

1. Carolina Hurricanes

Previous ranking: 1

Points percentage: 80%

"The Exorcist"

Look, we can debate the merits of "Psycho" and "The Shining" and any number of other horror classics for the G.O.A.T. of scary movies. But we're saying it's William Friedkin's 1973 Oscar-winning, head-spinning, demonic possession blockbuster. And because the Hurricanes are a Stanley Cup champion currently near the top of the league, the best get the best.

Next seven days: vs. WPG (Nov. 1), @ NSH (Nov. 3), @ NYI (Nov. 5)

2. Boston Bruins

Previous ranking: 5

Points percentage: 67.86%

"Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey"

When the original "Winnie the Pooh" book entered the public domain, a British film company did the only logical thing: Taking Pooh and Piglet and turning them into feral murderers in a slasher film. As longtime admirers of the Bruins' Pooh Bear jerseys, this is a natural fit.

Next seven days: vs. CHI (Oct. 31), vs. VGK (Nov. 2), @ PIT (Nov. 5)

3. Minnesota Wild

Previous ranking: 8

Points percentage: 70%

"Friday The 13th Part III"

A horror movie set in the woods and around a lake is screaming Minnesota, even if Camp Crystal Lake is in a fictional town in New Jersey. But the reason the Wild get this edition of the classic horror series is that Jason gets his iconic goalie mask in "Part III," and few goalies have been more frightening than Jesper Wallstedt this season. 'ki ki ki, ma ma ma ...'

Next seven days: @ WSH (Nov. 1), @ PHI (Nov. 3)

4. Edmonton Oilers

Previous ranking: 2

Points percentage: 76.92%

"Black Swan"

A psychological thriller about how the relentless pursuit of perfection can consume one's identity and lead to moral ambiguity. There's also a movie called "Black Swan."

Next seven days: @ NYI (Oct. 31), @ NYR (Nov. 1), @ NJ (Nov. 3), vs. ANA (Nov. 5)

5. Vegas Golden Knights

Previous ranking: 3

Points percentage: 67.86%

"The Thing"

John Carpenter's 1982 horror classic is about an extraterrestrial organism that assimilates, and then imitates, other lifeforms ... similar to how a hockey team might constantly bring in other teams' players to fuel its ongoing success. It's also a film about paranoia, overreaction and never knowing who's gone next ...

Next seven days: vs. NJ (Oct. 30), @ BOS (Nov. 2), @ PIT (Nov. 3), @ DET (Nov. 5)

6. Tampa Bay Lightning

Previous ranking: 4

Points percentage: 70.83%

"Shocker"

A guy in the electric chair makes a deal with the devil and becomes pure electricity who can possess others. Think of that next time they light up the Tesla coil at Tampa home games.

Next seven days: @ NSH (Oct. 31), vs. DET (Nov. 3), vs. CHI (Nov. 5)

7. New Jersey Devils

Previous ranking: 17

Points percentage: 61.54%

"Scary Movie"

Two brothers are the driving force behind a hugely entertaining horror series of varying quality. OK, actually there were three brothers: Shawn and Marlon Wayans wrote it, Keenan Ivory Wayans directed it. If only there were another brother the Devils could acquire to make this comparison accurate ...

Next seven days: @ VGK (Oct. 30), vs. EDM (Nov. 3), vs. STL (Nov. 5)

8. Utah Mammoth

Previous ranking: 6

Points percentage: 64.29%

"Halloween (2018)"

A horror franchise that had an original incarnation, a reboot and then a reboot of that reboot that ended up better than the reboot, if not the original. At least yet.

Next seven days: @ PHI (Nov. 1), @ TOR (Nov. 3), @ MTL (Nov. 5)

9. Florida Panthers

Previous ranking: 11

Points percentage: 61.54%

"Willard"

A 1971 movie about an army of unrelenting murderous rats and the eccentric man who controls them.

Next seven days: vs. WPG (Oct. 30), vs. DET (Nov. 2), vs. CHI (Nov. 4)

10. Montreal Canadiens

Previous ranking: 19

Points percentage: 69.23%

"The Omen"

The NHL's youngest team (25.88 years old on average, per Elite Prospects) can only be paired with horror's most evil child, with due respect to the "Children of the Corn" and the "Village of the Damned."

Next seven days: vs. PIT (Oct. 31), vs. WPG (Nov. 3), vs. UTA (Nov. 5)

11. Dallas Stars

Previous ranking: 10

Points percentage:57.69%

"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre"

Look, until either Houston or Austin gets invited to join the NHL family, the Dallas Stars are "Texas Hockey," as their proactive marketing slogan proclaims.

Next seven days: vs. CBJ (Oct. 31), @ WSH (Nov. 3), @ CBJ (Nov. 5)

12. Seattle Kraken

Previous ranking: 13

Points percentage: 65.39%

"Tentacles"

A 1977 Italian horror film (alternate title: "Tentacoli") in which a peaceful coastal town is terrorized by a giant octopus. Look, some of these write themselves, OK?

Next seven days: @ CGY (Oct. 30), vs. CGY (Nov. 4)

13. Ottawa Senators

Previous ranking: 9

Points percentage: 60.71%

"Scream 7"

Defiantly moving on after a star leaves. Although "Scream 7" was much kinder to Jenna Ortega than the Senators fans were to Brady Tkachuk.

Next seven days: @ SJ (Oct. 31), @ ANA (Nov. 1), @ BUF (Nov. 4)

14. Washington Capitals

Previous ranking: 15

Points percentage: 66.67%

"The Silence of the Lambs"

Did you know that Hannibal Lecter, considered one of the greatest characters in cinematic history and an Oscar-winning role for Anthony Hopkins, had only around 16 minutes of face-to-camera screen time in this movie? Just a little footnote as Alex Ovechkin averages 13:47 in ice time per game this season, nearly four minutes fewer per game than his previous career low.

Next seven days: vs. MIN (Nov. 1), vs. DAL (Nov. 3)

15. Colorado Avalanche

Previous ranking: 12

Points percentage: 57.69%

"The Shining"

Not only for the snowbound-ness of it all, but because Nathan MacKinnon might have a little Jack Torrance in him: "Have you ever thought, for a single solitary moment, about my responsibilities to my employers? Has it ever occurred to you what would happen to my future if I were to fail to live up to my responsibilities?!"

Next seven days: vs. CGY (Oct. 31), @ CHI (Nov. 2), @ CBJ (Nov. 3), vs. NSH (Nov. 5)

16. Toronto Maple Leafs

Previous ranking: 16

Points percentage: 53.33%

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"The Grudge"

A curse creates a seemingly unending cycle of pain and suffering since at least 1967.

Next seven days: @ VAN (Oct. 31), vs. UTA (Nov. 3)

17. New York Islanders

Previous ranking: 14

Points percentage: 61.54%

"I Know What You Did Last Summer"

A mysterious figure dressed as a fisherman goes on a revenge killing spree with some serious hooking violations. Of course, if the question is, "What did you do last summer?" unfortunately, the answer for the Isles is "probably not enough."

Next seven days: vs. EDM (Oct. 31), vs. CAR (Nov. 5)

18. New York Rangers

Previous ranking: 7

Points percentage: 53.57%

"Scream"

The biggest star (Drew Barrymore) leaves the movie just as it's starting. Miss you, Igor.

Next seven days: vs. EDM (Nov. 1), vs. STL (Nov. 3), vs. PHI (Nov. 5)

19. Buffalo Sabres

Previous ranking: 23

Points percentage: 57.69%

"Drag Me to Hell"

After snapping the longest playoff drought in NHL history last season, it was all happy times and sunny days for the Sabres going forward, right? Well, until shadowy demon hands burst from the ground and you realize making the playoffs again is hard and happy endings are not guaranteed.

Next seven days: @ LA (Oct. 31), vs. OTT (Nov. 4)

20. Nashville Predators

Previous ranking: 20

Points percentage: 50%

"Predator"

An easy call given the shared names, the pinpoint accuracy of their shooters -- hello, seven-goal seasons for Steven Stamkos and Ryan O'Reilly -- and their ability to become invisible for significant stretches.

Next seven days: vs. TB (Oct. 31), vs. CAR (Nov. 3), @ COL (Nov. 5)

21. Detroit Red Wings

Previous ranking: 25

Points percentage: 57.69%

"Cube"

A few people desperately trying to leave the place in which they're trapped only to realize it's a nearly unsolvable puzzle.

Next seven days: vs. STL (Oct. 31), @ FLA (Nov. 2), @ TB (Nov. 3), vs. VGK (Nov. 5)

22. San Jose Sharks

Previous ranking: 22

Points percentage: 53.57%

"Obsession"

The new classic. Inde Navarrette and Macklin Celebrini, shaking hands meme under the caption "it's hard to remember there was a time before they entered our lives." Now, if only the Sharks could use the One Wish Willow to get back to the playoffs. Figure out the negative implications later.

Next seven days: vs. OTT (Oct. 31), vs. CGY (Nov. 2), @ LA (Nov. 4)

23. St. Louis Blues

Previous ranking: 21

Points percentage: 50%

"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"

The Blues wear the note on their sweaters, so of course they're going to be given a musical horror movie. Especially one with that much slashing.

Next seven days: @ DET (Oct. 31), @ NYR (Nov. 3), @ NJ (Nov. 5)

24. Pittsburgh Penguins

Previous ranking: 26

Points percentage: 46.15%

"Alien: Romulus"

The latest chapter of a long-running horror series that had its share of masterpiece installments, this release is a balance of blatant nostalgia baiting and brazen attempts at reinvention. Both have their exciting innovations -- dodging acid blood in zero gravity! Egor Chinakhov! -- but ultimately the best days of this franchise are behind it.

Next seven days: @ MTL (Oct. 31), vs. VGK (Nov. 3), vs. BOS (Nov. 5)

25. Columbus Blue Jackets

Previous ranking: 27

Points percentage: 45.45%

"The Swarm"

There are actually several options for killer insect movies. Including the 2015 horror comedy "Stung." But we'll go with this 1978 Irwin Allen disaster film featuring Michael Caine battling a swarm of marauding bees.

Next seven days: @ DAL (Oct. 31), vs. COL (Nov. 3), vs. DAL (Nov. 5)

26. Anaheim Ducks

Previous ranking: 24

Points percentage: 42.31%

"28 Days Later"

Watching speed-running rage zombies sprinting after helpless victims is a bit like watching the Ducks trying to defend this season.

Next seven days: vs. OTT (Nov. 1), @ VAN (Nov. 3), @ EDM (Nov. 5)

27. Winnipeg Jets

Previous ranking: 18

Points percentage: 42.31%

"The Devil's Advocate"

The most important person in the company burns his coworkers before finally being revealed as the (New Jersey) Devil himself.

Next seven days: @ FLA (Oct. 30), @ CAR (Nov. 1), @ MTL (Nov. 3), vs. VAN (Nov. 5)

28. Calgary Flames

Previous ranking: 31

Points percentage: 41.67%

"Plan 9 from Outer Space"

Considered one of the worst horror movies ever, but one with its own eccentric charm, thanks to director Edward D. Wood Jr.

Next seven days: vs. SEA (Oct. 30), @ COL (Oct. 31), @ SJ (Nov. 2), @ SEA (Nov. 4)

29. Los Angeles Kings

Previous ranking: 30

Points percentage: 41.67%

"It Follows"

The team's inevitable rebuild continues to follow the Kings shambolically no matter how they try to ignore it.

Next seven days: vs. BUF (Oct. 31), vs. SJ (No. 4)

30. Philadelphia Flyers

Previous ranking: 28

Points percentage: 33.33%

"Split"

It takes place at the Philadelphia Zoo, but more importantly, it's about a monster that embodies an unpredictable number of personalities. Almost like being in the second round of the playoffs one month and then being near the bottom of the league a few months later, with fans wanting the coach fired.

Next seven days: vs. UTA (Nov. 1), vs. MIN (Nov. 3), @ NYR (Nov. 5)

31. Chicago Blackhawks

Previous ranking: 29

Points percentage: 30.77%

"The Mummy"

"The Mummy" (2017) is a terrible movie, an ill-conceived epic that was supposed to launch a new successful franchise (The "Dark Universe"). But much like the Blackhawks are still worth watching for Connor Bedard and Patrick Kane, "The Mummy" still has the undeniable charms of Tom Cruise and a late-career Russell Crowe.

Next seven days: @ BOS (Oct. 31), vs. COL (Nov. 2), @ FLA (Nov. 4), @ TB (Nov. 5)

32. Vancouver Canucks

Previous ranking: 32

Points percentage: 23.33%

"Manos: The Hands of Fate"

Considered one of the worst horror movies ever, swapping eccentric charm for utter tedium and incoherence. Unless, of course, a man stranded in space and his robot friends are watching it with you ...

Next seven days: vs. TOR (Oct. 31), vs. ANA (Nov. 3), @ WPG (Nov. 5)

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