The Blues have a tough week ahead with Anaheim and San Jose on the road, followed by Colorado at home. But for now, they're No. 1. You can't argue with consistency, and along with the Devils, St. Louis has been consistently the best team all season. Watch out for the Montreal Canadiens, who jumped up 12 spots. No team can stay hot forever, but if the Habs can win a few more, the playoffs aren't out of the question.

ESPN.com's secret formula has taken it all into account. To right any wrongs, click here and give us a few Rank Comments of your own. Also, check out which ESPN.com user had his or her Rankings chosen. If you don't like either one, make up your own, and the best will be published next week.

Team	PVS	W-L-T-RT	ESPN.com says
1.   Blues	3	37-15-6-0	Only four losses since Jan. 1. Blues have allowed fewest goals (119) in NHL.
2.   Devils	1	36-16-7-4	Can't win 'em all. But do you have to lose to the Isles?
3.   Stars	4	33-21-5-2	OK, a home loss to Phoenix gets you up a notch? No, but Stars responded with near-flawless defensive hockey in Sunday's win over the Avs.
4.   Wings	2	35-19-6-1	Ken Wregget or Chris Osgood, it doesn't matter. Wings have issues in net. Six goals in Chicago?
5.   Flyers	5	30-17-11-1	Coach Roger Neilson's absence will show how good a leader Eric Lindros can be. It's his show now.
6.   Capitals	7	29-20-9-1	A win vs. Panthers this week will close gap in Southeast. Olaf Kolzig's GAA this month: 1.84.
7.   Kings	8	28-23-7-3	Palffy, Robitaille and Stumpel. It's a good thing they're the hottest line in hockey 'cause it's a bad name for a law firm.
8.   'Yotes	11	32-20-6-1	Two points behind Dallas with a game in hand. Bob Francis deserves major consideration for the Jack Adams Trophy.
9.   Panthers	6	33-21-4-3	One minute they're roaring and the next, they can't beat up a field mouse. Will Trevor Kidd's return hurt or help?
10. Penguins	16	26-26-6-5	Back at .500 after a great road win over Panthers, who they'd play in the playoffs if the season ended today.
11. Senators	13	28-21-9-2	Players help out the owner? It might seem backward, but it helped keep the team in Ottawa.
12. Canadiens	24	23-28-7-3	The game-in-hand line might be overrated, but the Habs are four points out of the No. 8 spot with two games in hand.
13. Sabres	14	24-27-9-2	Which average, middle-of-the-road player will they trade to try to get better up front? Look for Mike Peca to get hot.
14. Sharks	15	25-29-8-7	Here's something new and different. The Sharks didn't lose last week.
15. Leafs	10	30-22-7-3	Toronto has 30 wins. But no one can remember when the last one was. It'll take more than Darcy Tucker to rake up these Leafs.
16. Ducks	19	25-26-9-1	With Paul Kariya out, it'll be an interesting week, but Ted Donato-Matt Cullen-Kip Miller line has been solid.
17. Avalanche	12	28-24-9-1	If the Oilers didn't drop two straight to Calgary, Avs would be second in the Northwest. Not good for one of the league's most talented teams.
18. Oilers	9	21-24-15-8	You can only shake your head. One lousy win over the Flames, and first place!
19. Flames	21	25-29-6-5	Five straight one-goal losses hurt, but hopes not dead after wins over Oilers. Flames must win division to make the playoffs.
20. Islanders	20	17-35-7-1	Definition of intra-state gloating: Isles do what Rangers can't, namely beat the Devils.
21. 'Canes	18	25-27-8-0	Three division games this week will determine Carolina's fate. Only one of two teams not to lose in OT this year.
22. Canucks	22	19-29-10-6	Two great road wins should merit more attention, but there remain 21 better teams than Vancouver.
23. Rangers	17	24-28-9-3	Like the Oilers, just when you think they're poised to make a move, they go in the tank. Front office needs to make the team tougher.
24. 'Hawks	23	20-31-7-2	See note for Vancouver, except insert "Great home win over Detroit" at the beginning and turn 21 into 23.
25. Bruins	28	18-24-16-4	Big jump for the Bs only because all the teams below went pointless, and Boston got one. Baby steps.
26. Predators	25	20-33-6-5	Playing teams tough isn't enough. You have to win once in a while. Preds haven't scored more than two in a game since Feb. 2.
27. Lightning	26	12-38-7-6	New Millenium hasn't been kind. Two wins. Allowed eight goals twice. But GM Rick Dudley keeps insisting that things are headed in right direction.
28. Thrashers	28	11-41-6-4	Tied with the Lightning for least road wins with three. Two were against the Islanders.