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 Thursday, March 30
Hot Devils can't climb over Flyers
 
 Jan. 10, 2000

The Devils would have had to made a pact with one to unseat the Flyers this week. But, New Jersey has closed the gap. Detroit fans can't expect to be handed anything because the top four teams are really close. ... This may anger a few out there, but truth be told, everyone else is -- at best -- pretty average at the moment.

ESPN.com's secret formula has taken it all into account for this week's rankings. To right any wrongs in these rankings, click here and give us a few Rank Comments of your own.

Team PVS W-L-T-RT ESPN.com says
1.   Flyers 1 24-11-6-1 Devils are ahead in the standings, but GM Lou Lamoriello would have to don a tutu and do a pirouette to unseat unbeaten Flyers.
2.   Devils 7 25-12-5-2 Lamoriello in a ballet? What's next, Devils in Cup finals? Jersey is unbeaten in last eight.
3.   Blues 4 25-11-6-0 Earned five of six points at home before embarking on a five-game trip.
4.   Wings 2 27-11-4-1 The Osgood files: Chris needs to be sharper. Or is it more sharp?
5.   Panthers 10 23-14-3-3 With all the attention on Pavel Bure, few notice the Panthers allow the second-fewest goals (98) in the East.
6.   Stars 11 21-16-5-1 Lose to the Canucks and jump five slots? Either reputation goes a long way, or there aren't many NHL teams playing good hockey of late.
7.   Senators 5 21-14-6-2 Alexei Yashin lawsuit moves forward. Public opinion of Vaclav Prospal doesn't. Will he be traded?
8.   Avalanche 8 20-17-5-1 NHL doesn't rule in Chicago, where the Blackhawks took some steam out of the Avs' momentum.
9.   Leafs 3 24-15-4-3 Wendel Clark wasn't expensive. Leafs might be deep enough to utilize Clark in a good way. They need his grit.
10. Penguins 6 18-19-3-5 Pens went 2-2 vs. arguably the NHL's best teams. Pens must learn from Philly loss that when Jaromir Jagr is contained, someone has to step up.
11. 'Yotes 9 22-15-4-0 Detroit win clouded by Osgood's shaky play, so technically, 'Yotes are still slumping.
12. 'Canes 19 17-17-8-0 Message to GM Jim Rutherford: Trade Keith Primeau right now. Team would improve instantly with anyone, even Petr Nedved.
13. Kings 16 18-15-7-2 Win over talented Panthers might signal turnaround in Lipstick City. Kings are three points out of first and three from last.
14. Oilers 17 14-17-11-5 With 11 ties and five regulation ties, Oilers go to OT in nearly 40 percent of their games.
15. Sharks 14 20-20-5-3 Read it here first: Getting rid of Mike Vernon will be viewed as a mistake.
16. Capitals 20 15-17-7-1 Power play is pretty bland. Why not throw Chris Simon out front and at least make it interesting.
17. Flames 12 18-19-5-1 Fred Brathwaite might be little, but how he plays has a big impact on Calgary's chances to win each night.
18. Canucks 23 13-19-8-3 Is Mattias Ohlund's return enough to put this team back in contention?
19. Ducks 18 18-19-5-1 To be winless in their last six should raise the red flags. This team needs a shakeup to survive in the West.
20. Rangers 21 14-20-7-3 Brian Leetch might be back soon. Hopefully, the Rangers won't be totally out of it by then.
21. Predators 13 15-22-5-2 Road losses to Dallas and Detroit shouldn't diminish the fact that this team knows how to battle.
22. Sabres 15 17-20-5-1 In last four games, the Sabres have allowed 21 goals ... or more than five per game.
23. 'Hawks 24 13-23-6-2 Chicago can't decide whether to be bad or average and tough to play against.
24. Bruins 22 14-18-10-2 Jason Allison hurts his other arm. Coach Pat Burns loses more hair by the day because of constant head scratching.
25. Thrashers 27 10-26-4-3 With apologies to the expansion Thrashers: Comeback win in Buffalo will go down as the season highlight.
26. Islanders 26 10-24-5-0 It turns out that a lot of people beat the Bruins.
27. Canadiens 25 12-24-5-1 How can this team be that bad at home (5-11-3).
28. Lightning 28 10-23-6-4 No one said building a winner would be easy.