P.J Stock
12-04-2001, 12:35 PM
ESPN's Power Rankings. Never thought I would see the Rangers at #2!! Great to see. Just need to wings to drop a few in a row now.
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1. Red Wings 1 22-4-1-1 If anyone has a good reason to drop the Wings from the No. 1 spot, please let us know. We're getting bored.
2. Rangers 7 17-9-2-1 Four games in six nights. Two at home, two on the road. Two shutouts. No losses. Enough said.
3. Maple Leafs 3 15-7-2-3 Ice time complaints? What ice time complaints?
4. Oilers 5 16-8-3-1 It's sweet revenge -- or a huge relief -- when your nickname is Juicy Rebound and you post a shutout in your first NHL game. Such is the life of Jussi Markkanen.
5. Senators 4 13-8-3-0 Zen Question of the Week, courtesy of the Ottawa Sun: How is it that Ivan Ciernik and Bill Muckalt need just nine shots between them to knock out eight targets at the skills competition, but don't have a goal between them this season?
6. Islanders 2 15-6-4-1 You've got issues when the coach says, "I hated our game at 2-0," and you were the team up 2-0.
7. Sharks 8 12-7-4-3 When your top defensive defenseman scores two goals, you're firing on all cylinders. Or you could be playing the Ducks.
8. Stars 13 11-7-6-3 The Stars are unbeaten (4-0-2-0) since dealing Donald Audette to Montreal.
9. Flames 6 13-6-5-2 There is a fine line between keeping up with the Oilers and fending off the Wild.
10. Bruins 12 13-7-3-3 The Bruins have played 11 overtime games this season, more than any other team in the league.
11. Canadiens 11 12-9-3-1 Anyone know the number of an exorcist?
12. Flyers 10 11-7-5-1 There's no truth to the rumor that the Flyers, who have the second-fewest power-play goals (10), are going to start declining penalties.
13. Blues 14 13-8-4-1 The Columbus Blue Jackets do a struggling Cup contender good.
14. Blackhawks 9 12-9-7-0 Overtaken by the Chicago blues and St. Louis Blues all in one weekend.
15. Wild 18 11-9-5-2 The Wild were 7-14-4-1 (19 points) through 26 games last season. This season, they're 11-9-4-2 with 28 points.
16. Hurricanes 15 12-11-4-3 Jeff O'Neill has a goal and an assist since cutting his hair. At least something is working.
17. Coyotes 17 11-9-3-3 Right now, we'd take Sean Burke over Curtis Joseph and Martin Brodeur. But we're not Wayne Gretzky, are we?
18. Sabres 21 12-13-2-1 Exactly how is Chris Gratton supposed to create more offense from the fourth line? Just wondering.
19. Avalanche 22 13-12-2-0 It's a good sign when the Avs can play two road games without Rob Blake and come home with a win and a tie.
20. Capitals 23 11-13-3-0 Last season, the Caps were 7-10-6-1 in October and November. So technically, their season is just starting.
21. Canucks 16 11-16-3-0 We're getting the feeling that Dan Cloutier isn't the only one responsible.
22. Penguins 20 10-11-3-2 How can a team that has Mario Lemieux have the worst power play in the league? Oh, that's right. They don't have Lemieux.
23. Devils 19 10-10-2-2 If the goalie says "I don't think we're out of the woods yet," believe him.
24. Blue Jackets 25 7-14-5-1 Transaction-happy GM Doug MacLean to the Post-Dispatch: "I'm getting itchy." The players must have enjoyed reading that.
25. Kings 27 8-12-3-2 Bryan Smolinski has a slight case of separation anxiety. He's registered just 2-1-3 in the 15 games since Glen Murray was traded to Boston.
26. Predators 24 9-15-3-0 Home at last.
27. Lightning 26 10-14-1-1 If Vincent Lecavalier was traded, would anyone notice? Oops. We asked that four weeks ago.
28. Thrashers 28 6-15-2-2 A .500 road trip is plenty of reason to get excited. OK, maybe not excited, but it's positive.
29. Mighty Ducks 30 8-16-3-0 When a minor leaguer gets called up and the coach says he'll be spending time on the top lines, you know it's all about the future.
30. Panthers 29 6-15-2-3 Mike Keenan in favor of Duane Sutter? Florida just got a little hotter.
_______________________________
1. Red Wings 1 22-4-1-1 If anyone has a good reason to drop the Wings from the No. 1 spot, please let us know. We're getting bored.
2. Rangers 7 17-9-2-1 Four games in six nights. Two at home, two on the road. Two shutouts. No losses. Enough said.
3. Maple Leafs 3 15-7-2-3 Ice time complaints? What ice time complaints?
4. Oilers 5 16-8-3-1 It's sweet revenge -- or a huge relief -- when your nickname is Juicy Rebound and you post a shutout in your first NHL game. Such is the life of Jussi Markkanen.
5. Senators 4 13-8-3-0 Zen Question of the Week, courtesy of the Ottawa Sun: How is it that Ivan Ciernik and Bill Muckalt need just nine shots between them to knock out eight targets at the skills competition, but don't have a goal between them this season?
6. Islanders 2 15-6-4-1 You've got issues when the coach says, "I hated our game at 2-0," and you were the team up 2-0.
7. Sharks 8 12-7-4-3 When your top defensive defenseman scores two goals, you're firing on all cylinders. Or you could be playing the Ducks.
8. Stars 13 11-7-6-3 The Stars are unbeaten (4-0-2-0) since dealing Donald Audette to Montreal.
9. Flames 6 13-6-5-2 There is a fine line between keeping up with the Oilers and fending off the Wild.
10. Bruins 12 13-7-3-3 The Bruins have played 11 overtime games this season, more than any other team in the league.
11. Canadiens 11 12-9-3-1 Anyone know the number of an exorcist?
12. Flyers 10 11-7-5-1 There's no truth to the rumor that the Flyers, who have the second-fewest power-play goals (10), are going to start declining penalties.
13. Blues 14 13-8-4-1 The Columbus Blue Jackets do a struggling Cup contender good.
14. Blackhawks 9 12-9-7-0 Overtaken by the Chicago blues and St. Louis Blues all in one weekend.
15. Wild 18 11-9-5-2 The Wild were 7-14-4-1 (19 points) through 26 games last season. This season, they're 11-9-4-2 with 28 points.
16. Hurricanes 15 12-11-4-3 Jeff O'Neill has a goal and an assist since cutting his hair. At least something is working.
17. Coyotes 17 11-9-3-3 Right now, we'd take Sean Burke over Curtis Joseph and Martin Brodeur. But we're not Wayne Gretzky, are we?
18. Sabres 21 12-13-2-1 Exactly how is Chris Gratton supposed to create more offense from the fourth line? Just wondering.
19. Avalanche 22 13-12-2-0 It's a good sign when the Avs can play two road games without Rob Blake and come home with a win and a tie.
20. Capitals 23 11-13-3-0 Last season, the Caps were 7-10-6-1 in October and November. So technically, their season is just starting.
21. Canucks 16 11-16-3-0 We're getting the feeling that Dan Cloutier isn't the only one responsible.
22. Penguins 20 10-11-3-2 How can a team that has Mario Lemieux have the worst power play in the league? Oh, that's right. They don't have Lemieux.
23. Devils 19 10-10-2-2 If the goalie says "I don't think we're out of the woods yet," believe him.
24. Blue Jackets 25 7-14-5-1 Transaction-happy GM Doug MacLean to the Post-Dispatch: "I'm getting itchy." The players must have enjoyed reading that.
25. Kings 27 8-12-3-2 Bryan Smolinski has a slight case of separation anxiety. He's registered just 2-1-3 in the 15 games since Glen Murray was traded to Boston.
26. Predators 24 9-15-3-0 Home at last.
27. Lightning 26 10-14-1-1 If Vincent Lecavalier was traded, would anyone notice? Oops. We asked that four weeks ago.
28. Thrashers 28 6-15-2-2 A .500 road trip is plenty of reason to get excited. OK, maybe not excited, but it's positive.
29. Mighty Ducks 30 8-16-3-0 When a minor leaguer gets called up and the coach says he'll be spending time on the top lines, you know it's all about the future.
30. Panthers 29 6-15-2-3 Mike Keenan in favor of Duane Sutter? Florida just got a little hotter.