Pick any two teams and play the game 10,000 times, as if it were being played today. Shot by shot: each club's shooting against the other's defense, the goalie in net, the power plays, the empty net, 3-on-3 overtime and the shootout. Then read it against the Power Index and make your own call.
How it works: each club generates shots at its own rate against the other club's rate of allowing them. Every shot beats the goalie with a chance set by the shooting club's finishing and the goalie's save percentage. Power plays, the empty net, 3-on-3 overtime and the shootout are played on top. This season's numbers are blended with last season's — mostly last year's in October, mostly this year's by December — and a goalie's save percentage is blended the same way so a hot or cold week does not become his number. Goals and assists in the game log are credited to skaters by their share of the club's scoring. This is a simulation as of today: injuries, lineups and ratings can change before any game is actually played, if it is played at all. It is separate from the Megasports Power Index and does not change any rating or line on the site — the Index is the price; the sim is what the on-ice numbers say.