Is it parity or mediocrity? No team between 11 and 19 in last week's Rankings had a winning record. What happens to those guys when teams like Washington and Montreal go 3-0? Well, from the looks of it, some odd things happen, that's what. Our favorite: Montreal four spots ahead of Phoenix.
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Team
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PVS
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W-L-T-OL
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ESPN.com says
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1. Avalanche
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2
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19-4-3-0
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Hey, you don't even need Peter Forsberg. Why don't you lend him to someone else who does.
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2. Blues
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3
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17-4-3-0
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If it weren't for the Avs, we'd be touting these guys a lot more. Comeback win in Toronto was amazing.
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3. Devils
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4
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12-8-5-0
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Don't look at it as two ties vs. one of the league's worst teams. Look at it as the Devils ran into a super-hot goalie in John Vanbiesbrouck. |
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4. Sharks
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5
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15-5-3-0
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Tie in Edmonton is example of type of game Sharks would have lost a year ago.
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5. Senators
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10
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15-7-4-0
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Vaclav "I stink" Prospal might be the only one on this team with negative karma right now.
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6. Stars
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1
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14-7-3-1
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Every time Ken Hitchcock publicly criticizes Brett Hull, The Golden Brett goes off. This time, it was two goals and three points vs. Phoenix.
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7. Maple Leafs
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7
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14-7-3-2
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Leafs scored 19 goals in their last three games. Tie Domi has the same number of goals (eight) as Mats Sundin.
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8. Red Wings
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6
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16-9-1-2
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Wings welcome back Stevie Y with shutout loss to Tampa Bay. Next four are at home vs. East teams.
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9. Canucks
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8
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14-8-3-2
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Surprising stat department: Canucks lead the league in goals with 93.
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10. Sabres
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9
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13-8-2-1
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We thought this team was supposed to be better on offense. Sabres have lowest goal total of any team over .500 and don't have a player with more than 10 goals. If Domi were on the team, he'd be tied for the team lead.
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11. Penguins
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13
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12-9-3-1
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Hey Jaromir. One ... two ... three ... cry. |
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12. Capitals
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21
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9-10-6-1
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OK, so beating Tampa Bay and Boston twice isn't exactly toppling giants. But Caps are where they want to be, namely first place in the Southeast.
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13. Canadiens
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28
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9-15-3-0
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Habs still not a playoff team, but earning five points in three-game, cross-Canada swing is pretty impressive.
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14. Hurricanes
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20
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10-11-3-1
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If the Canes can stay in the hunt and get some good, young talent for Rod Brind'Amour, things could be looking up in Raleigh.
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15. Predators
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22
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10-10-5-1
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Next four on road, three of which are in Western Canada, where wins can be hard to come by.
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16. Blackhawks
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24
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10-13-2-2
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Who cares who they've beaten and how. Hawks are two ahead of Boston (in the positive direction) for the competition for worst Original Six team.
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17. Coyotes
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12
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13-8-6-0
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Claude Lemieux signed. Now, he can work out without fear of getting kicked out of the team gym facilities.
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18. Kings
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11
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12-9-6-0
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Ziggy Palffy's shooting percentage (20.9) is better than anyone else in the NHL's top 10 scoring list.
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19. Rangers
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16
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13-14-0-0
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Rangers have dropped three in a row and have allowed a whopping 26 goals the last four.
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20. Ducks
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18
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9-12-4-3
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We entered a 4-0 shutout win over the Kings into the computer formula, and the computer didn't believe us and kept spitting the data back at us.
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21. Flyers
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15
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11-11-4-0
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Has anyone looked at their offensive stats? That's exactly what they are: Offensive. Second-year player Simon Gagne leads the team with 19 points in 26 games.
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22. Oilers
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14
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14-11-4-0
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To compete in the West, Oilers can't blow 3-0 leads to teams like San Jose. |
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23. Lightning
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17
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9-12-2-2
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Maybe the real Dan Cloutier will continue to show up.
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24. Thrashers
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25
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7-10-6-1
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Adam Burt's entry into the Thrashers' holiday cookbook: "Bruschetta a la Adam."
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25. Islanders
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30
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7-12-4-2
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The Beezer singlehandedly got the Isles two points, stopping 71 of 72 shots vs. the defending Cup champ Devils.
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26. Flames
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27
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6-12-6-4
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Comeback win at Dallas is the type of game that can turn around a season. Next three are at home.
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27. Panthers
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19
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5-11-4-4
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Just when you think they're going to fulfill expecations, Panthers start sucking again.
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28. Bruins
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26
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8-13-3-2
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Mike Keenan showing patience? Not really, but he's showing that he's got the right approach to a situation that has no quick solution.
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29. Wild
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23
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7-15-4-1
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Now introducing the next captain of the Minnesota Wild: Wes Walz. Yup, the Swiss League vet is now donning the 'C'.
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30. Blue Jackets
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29
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7-18-1-1
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Losers of eight in a row. They better win one this week because after two at home, Jackets hit the road for five, going from Cali to Quebec.
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