A team isn't in sole control of its fate in the rankings. Movement frequently is influenced by the performance of other teams. With the Blues, Devils, Avalanche and Sharks all struggling to some degree, the Flyers, Senators and Penguins have risen.
To their credit, the Flyers are 10-3-0 in their last 13, the Senators have won four in a row, and the Penguins have lost only twice in their last 11 games. Funny how things work out.
ESPN.com's secret formula has taken it in and spit it back out. To right any wrongs, click here and give us a few Rank Comments of your own.
|
Team
|
PVS
|
W-L-T-OL
|
ESPN.com says
|
|
1. Red Wings
|
1
|
35-16-5-4
|
Forget trades. The Wings are peaking. They'll lock up a playoff spot, rest their vets down the stretch, then look out.
|
|
2. Flyers
|
6
|
31-18-9-1
|
An ability to block out the drama. An ability to take advantage of New Jersey's slide. And Gagne-Primeau-Recchi scoring 62 points in 13 games helps.
|
|
3. Senators
|
7
|
33-15-8-2
|
It must have been Jacques Martin's "Does Celine Dion take a night off?" motivational speech.
|
|
4. Blues
|
2
|
37-12-7-2
|
When Chris Pronger and Pavol Demitra come back, the Blues will be better. Right now, they're not.
|
|
5. Sharks
|
5
|
32-16-10-0
|
Those headlights in the rear-view mirror belong to the Stars.
|
|
6. Penguins
|
8
|
29-20-7-2
|
Forget the Mario Lemieux bandwagon. We're all about Alexei Kovalev.
|
|
7. Capitals
|
10
|
29-19-10-1
|
The Caps play 10 of their next 13 at home where they're 16-4-6-1, and don't leave the Eastern time zone for the rest of the season. Talk about controlling your own destiny.
|
|
8. Stars
|
9
|
33-20-5-1
|
The thought of Mike Modano retiring makes us sad.
|
|
9. Avalanche
|
4
|
36-12-9-2
|
1-3-1-1 since Feb. 4. Talk about an All-Star hangover.
|
|
10. Devils
|
3
|
28-15-12-3
|
Proof that no matter how deep a team is, injuries to key players hurt (see also: St. Louis).
|
|
11. Sabres
|
12
|
30-22-5-1
|
Will the Sabres be able to block out the trade/sign-Peca/Hasek drama over the coming weeks?
|
|
12. Coyotes
|
13
|
27-18-12-2
|
Keep J.R. and Burke, sign Khabibulin and trade him along with Tkachuk. See, wasn't that easy?
|
|
13. Canucks
|
15
|
30-19-5-5
|
Cloutier won his first start. See, we told you getting him from Tampa would shore up the Canucks goalie situation.
|
|
14. Maple Leafs
|
11
|
26-20-10-4
|
From the Toronto Star: Dealing for a big name from such an obvious position of weakness is how you get murdered on a transaction. That's two votes against acquiring Lindros.
|
|
15. Bruins
|
14
|
25-23-6-5
|
Keenan was surprised how many Bruins didn't bring their 'A' game to Carolina. Of course, having an 'A' goalie would have helped.
|
|
16. Hurricanes
|
17
|
25-22-7-3
|
Never on a Saturday? The Hurricanes are 0-7-2-2 on the last day of the week.
|
|
17. Oilers
|
18
|
26-24-9-2
|
Edmonton's inability to afford Doug Weight is a good argument for some sort of revenue sharing.
|
|
18. Blackhawks
|
19
|
24-27-5-3
|
The Hawks have the most wins in Central Division play. Unfortunately, there are five other divisions in the league.
|
|
19. Kings
|
16
|
25-25-8-1
|
Even the team president yelled at the team. If that doesn't work, the players are being sent to their rooms without any dinner.
|
|
20. Flames
|
22
|
21-22-11-4
|
If the Flames are still out of the playoffs come March 13, rumor has Val Bure out of Calgary.
|
|
21. Predators
|
20
|
25-27-7-2
|
What happened to Cliff Ronning?
|
|
22. Wild
|
21
|
22-25-8-3
|
We agree with Jacques, but we'd still take Mario in Celebrity Death Match.
|
|
23. Panthers
|
24
|
16-28-8-7
|
5-1-0 in their last six. Oh yeah, the Panthers weren't supposed to be so bad this year.
|
|
24. Rangers
|
26
|
24-29-4-1
|
Figures, the Rangers are just far enough from the playoffs to drive the whole populace batty.
|
|
25. Canadiens
|
23
|
20-31-5-4
|
Adieu, postseason. Adieu.
|
|
26. Blue Jackets
|
25
|
18-29-7-5
|
Oliwa and Odelein go at it as teammates in the bowels of Philips Arena, but they won't on the ice as opponents. Go figure.
|
|
27. Thrashers
|
27
|
18-30-9-2
|
The contract situations of Donald Audette and Ray Ferraro are more than a second-year team should have to deal with. The Thrashers are ahead of the curve.
|
|
28. Islanders
|
28
|
15-36-5-3
|
Mr. Wang jokingly told season ticket holders to "sit down and shut up." Obviously, he hasn't read How to Win Friends & Influence People.
|
|
29. Mighty Ducks
|
29
|
16-31-8-5
|
How bad are the Ducks? Even Paul Kariya is mad.
|
|
30. Lightning
|
30
|
15-37-5-3
|
The Lightning are on pace to become the only team in NHL history to string together four 50-loss seasons.
|
