A 1-1 tie to the 'Hawks was the only blemish on another solid week for the Blues. And even in that game, St. Louis peppered Chicago with 36 shots and only allowed 11. Most of the movement this week came outside of the top 10, where the Canucks led a charge upward, and the Maple Leafs made a rare slip out of the top 10.
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Team
|
PVS
|
W-L-T-RT
|
ESPN.com says
|
|
1. Blues
|
1
|
48-17-10-0
|
Ho hum. It's good to be the King. Hopefully, top henchman Pavol Demitra will be back soon.
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2. Wings
|
4
|
45-22-9-2
|
Were the Red Wings that good, or the Rangers that bad in Sunday's 8-2 drubbing?
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|
3. Capitals
|
1A
|
41-23-11-1
|
Solid week on road, and now they finish with five out of seven at home. Question: Give Olaf Kolzig some rest or go for the No. 1 seed in East?
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|
4. Stars
|
3
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41-26-8-5
|
No real concern over loss to Avs. But what may prove worrisome is the 2-for-27 streak on the power play.
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|
5. Avalanche
|
5
|
36-29-11-1
|
Win in Dallas should be a confidence boost, and it solidifies their lead in Northwest. Avoiding the No. 6 seed is a must.
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|
6. Flyers
|
6
|
40-23-12-3
|
Perhaps, having the Beezer in net isn't such a bad idea. You gotta get pumped when your goalie skates the length of the ice to peel another 'tender off a scrum.
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|
7. Devils
|
7
|
42-26-8-5
|
Message to Larry Robinson: Put the Petr Sykora-Jason Arnott-Patrik Elias line back in place. |
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8. Kings
|
11
|
36-30-10-4
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Earning five of six possible points on road is a big plus, especially the three-goal comeback in Boston on Saturday.
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9. Panthers
|
13
|
40-30-5-5
|
OK, so the Panthers rolled over the lightweights. Let's see how it goes this week vs. Dallas and Ottawa.
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10. Senators
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12
|
37-26-11-2
|
Losing Shawn McEachern is a major blow. Without him, Magnus Arvedson and you know who (Alexei Yashin), the future doesn't look too bright.
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|
11. Sabres
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19
|
31-34-10-3
|
Sabres look like they're rolling. With the mess that is the East, they could be playoff favorites ... that is, if they qualify. |
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12. Leafs
|
8
|
41-27-7-3
|
Win over the Devils was encouraging, but even that couldn't offset debacle vs. Islanders. How can a team lose to the Isles and Thrashers at home and then beat the East's top team?
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|
13. Canucks
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18
|
28-34-14-8
|
It's a shame they didn't get hot a little sooner because this team would be fun to watch scratch and claw vs. St. Louis in the first round. |
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14. Sharks
|
21
|
32-34-9-7
|
They're not safe yet, but Sharks may be turning it around at the right time. Owen Nolan, with 44 goals and 100-plus PIMs, may be a Hart Trophy dark horse.
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|
15. Ducks
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15
|
32-33-12-2
|
It's difficult to give too much props to a team that lost 8-1 to the Canucks in the middle of a heated playoff race. That may have ended their season. |
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16. Oilers
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14
|
28-31-16-8
|
Hopes for Northwest title dimming, which means a first round battle against St. Louis, Dallas or ... Colorado.
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|
17. Penguins
|
17
|
32-35-8-6
|
Just when things are looking up, somebody pops Jaromir Jagr in the head ... and he hurts his shoulder?
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|
18. 'Canes
|
23
|
32-33-10-0
|
They're lurking in the shadows, as usual. Two games with Buffalo this week could really define the bottom-rung battle in the East.
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|
19. Flames
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22
|
30-37-9-5
|
Still breathing. Barely. Four of final six are at home, but road games are against Blues and Stars. Odds are not with the Flames.
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|
20. Canadiens
|
16
|
32-35-9-3
|
Even if the Habs don't make the playoffs, coach Alain Vigneault deserves consideration for the Jack Adams award. |
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21. 'Hawks
|
9
|
29-37-9-2
|
Back down to earth, but boy, did you see goalie Jocelyn Thibault against the Blues? Good stuff.
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|
22. Predators
|
10
|
26-43-7-7
|
All remaining games except for one are against teams competing for the playoffs. Playing for pride and to be a spoiler can be fun.
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|
23. Bruins
|
27
|
23-34-18-6
|
Blowing a 4-1, third-period lead at home pretty much sums it up. Stinky season by the Boston habah.
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|
24. Lightning
|
25
|
17-49-8-7
|
Lightning have scored one goal or less 18 times, including in the last three games.
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|
25. Islanders
|
28
|
22-46-8-1
|
Quietly, Mariusz Czerkawski has set career highs in goals (29) and points (62).
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|
26. Thrashers
|
26
|
13-54-7-4
|
The Thrashers are 1-13-2 in their last 16, and the finishing schedule has Philly twice, the Caps and Devils.
|
|
27. Rangers
|
24
|
29-37-11-3
|
With the season on the line, the Rangers lose four straight. Enough said.
|
|
28. 'Yotes
|
20
|
35-33-7-3
|
Three months ago, Phoenix may have been thinking, "Cup." Now, they're thinking, "crap." |
