The Red Wings knocked the Rangers out of the playoffs on Saturday. Funny, we thought the Rangers were out of it a while ago. Boston is now the last challenger standing in the East (yawn), which makes the West race more exciting by default.
Losing once in 13 games shouldn't be grounds to drop two spots in the rankings, but that's the state of the nation: With everyone else cruising along, one misstep and ...
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.
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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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49-13-9-4
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If the Avalanche have one weakness, it's in goal. Who will back up Patrick Roy if he gets hurt in the playoffs, David Aebischer? Please.
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2. Senators
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3
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44-20-8-3
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Questions have surrounded Patrick Lalime's lack of playoff experience. Like the Blues, the questions should surround the entire team.
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3. Devils
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1
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42-18-12-3
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What? You thought they were going to win them all?
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4. Red Wings
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4
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45-18-9-4
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Playoff injury reports are starting already. Word is Steve Yzerman and Darren McCarty are hurt more than the Wings are letting on.
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5. Stars
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6
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43-24-7-2
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Joe Nieuwendyk returns this week. Look out.
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6. Sabres
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7
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41-27-5-1
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Why does it come as a surprise that the Sabres have allowed the fewest goals in the NHL this season?
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7. Flyers
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5
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40-23-10-2
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Forget their record for the next two weeks, the Flyers have to figure out how to play with John LeClair again.
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8. Blues
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11
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41-19-11-5
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If the Blues bomb in the playoffs it will have nothing to do with injuries. It's goaltending, and management knows it. They just won't say it.
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9. Penguins
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9
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37-27-9-2
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Let's get this straight: Jagr was slumping because he didn't have someone of Lemieux's caliber to play with. Now they are on separate lines. Like that will work.
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10. Capitals
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8
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38-25-10-2
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The positive side of the Capitals recent losses is they can be attributed to poor defense. Like they say, you can teach defense.
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11. Oilers
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10
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36-26-10-3
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Gotta give props to rookie Mike Comrie. We still think he's overpaid, but hey, aren't they all?
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12. Kings
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14
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34-28-11-1
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No pressure, but the Kings' playoff hopes hinge on this week's home-and-home series with San Jose. In fact, so do the Sharks'.
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13. Hurricanes
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15
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34-29-8-3
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The Hurricanes are 0-9-2-2 in games played on Saturday.
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14. Maple Leafs
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12
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34-26-11-5
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Curtis Joseph should be named to Team Canada -- he deserves to play for a winner.
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15. Sharks
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13
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35-26-11-2
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Leadership is paramount in the playoffs. Paging Owen Nolan.
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16. Coyotes
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16
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32-26-16-2
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Coyotes fans should lighten up about losing Keith Tkachuk. It's not like he's going to win a Cup in St. Louis this year.
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17. Canucks
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17
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35-24-10-7
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What ever happened to the Sedin twins?
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18. Predators
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19
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31-34-9-3
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If we were a betting web site, we'd take Mike Dunham as the starter for Team USA next season.
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19. Bruins
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18
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31-29-8-7
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Pat Burns couldn't do it. Mike Keenan isn't doing it. Pity the next coach in Boston.
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20. Blue Jackets
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21
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25-34-9-6
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March has been the Jackets' best month this season, and there are still three games left.
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21. Blackhawks
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20
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29-35-7-4
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Goalie Jocelyn Thibault apologized for calling his teammates "a bunch of guys who want the season to be over." Why? Isn't it the truth?
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22. Flames
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24
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25-32-14-4
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Fred Brathwaite says the Flames are playing for their jobs next year. Dear Fred: Players can't be fired, that's why the coach was.
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23. Lightning
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23
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23-42-6-4
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If Nikolai Khabibulin's contract is picked up for its option year, it could be worth $22 million. He better be able to stop bullets.
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24. Mighty Ducks
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22
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24-38-9-5
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Newly acquired Jeff Friesen: "This year has just been a nightmare as far as scoring goals." And it wasn't a nightmare as far as getting traded?
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25. Panthers
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26
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20-35-12-9
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Pavel Bure ranks fifth in the NHL in average ice time with 26:35, tops among forwards. The next highest forward is 28th -- Mario Lemieux.
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26. Thrashers
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29
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22-39-12-2
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Look for Wisconsin's Dany Heatley to play in Donald Audette's vacated spot along side Ray Ferraro and Andrew Brunette.
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27. Rangers
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25
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28-41-5-1
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Mark Messier can't retire at the end of the season. He made a promise the Rangers would make the playoffs. He'll keep it.
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28. Canadiens
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27
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24-39-7-5
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How do you say "Hilton Head here we come!" in French?
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29. Wild
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28
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24-35-12-5
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Sergei "I'm working my" Krivokrasov hasn't been doing so lately.
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30. Islanders
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30
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20-45-7-3
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While Ted Nolan certainly deserves to be an NHL head coach, he'd be a better fit in Calgary than on the Isle.
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