RJ’s best and worst

Review-Journal hockey writer Ben Gotz gives his best and worst NHL teams each week (record and goal differential through Friday):

Best

1. Boston Bruins (33-10-12, +45)

Right wing David Pastrnak (38 goals) has been overtaken by Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (40) for the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy lead.

2. Washington Capitals (36-13-5, +37)

Alex Ovechkin has 11 40-goal seasons after recording a hat trick Tuesday. Only Wayne Gretzky (12) has more.

3. Tampa Bay Lightning (34-15-5, +47)

Andrei Vasilevskiy is 15-0-2 in his last 17 games. Only seven goaltenders have a longer point streak in the past 40 years.

4. Pittsburgh Penguins (33-15-5, +32)

Sidney Crosby has 12 points in his last eight games. He can’t let Ovechkin hog the spotlight.

5. St. Louis Blues (32-15-8, +19)

Right wing Vladimir Tarasenko skated with the team Thursday. He still has a long way to go in his recovery from shoulder surgery, but that’s a good sign.

Worst

27. Anaheim Ducks (22-26-7)

They started 3-0. They haven’t had a three-game winning streak since.

28. New Jersey Devils (19-24-10, -44)

Their offense has improved. Too bad they still don’t have defense or goaltending.

29. Ottawa Senators (18-25-11, -38)

They’ve played a lot of extra hockey lately. Six times in their past 12 games, they’ve lost in overtime or a shootout.

30. Los Angeles Kings (19-31-5, -40)

They should get plenty of calls in the next few weeks on defenseman Alec Martinez and right wing Tyler Toffoli.

31. Detroit Red Wings (13-39-4, -97)

They’re 1-8-1 in their last 10 games and continue to go nowhere fast.

Chris O’Meara The Associated Press Lightning center Brayden Point, left, celebrates with teammates Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov after scoring against the Knights on Tuesday.