Sports Logic

When I was setting up the rankings on paper, it became clear that this week's theme is "benefit of the doubt." This will be the last week of rope to certain teams before they are ranked where they deserve to be.

1. Pittsburgh Penguins (4-1-0) LW: 4 – The Penguins are first by default since the other top teams have faltered. Not that a 3-0 loss to Phoenix on Monday keeps them out of that category.

2. Calgary Flames (4-1-0) LW: 6 – The Flames reeled off four in a row to start the year and were arguably outplayed in all 4. There's something to be said about finding ways to win.

3. New York Rangers (4-1-0) LW: 18 – Maybe, just maybe the Rangers are more than we thought they were. A healthy Marian Gaborik is still the key to success on Broadway.

4. San Jose Sharks (3-2-0) LW: 9 – After a 6-4 loss early in the week, the Sharks rebounded with a 6-3 drubbing of Columbus. The real bad news for the Western Conference, Thornton and Heatley are developing chemistry.

5. Philadelphia Flyers (3-1-1) LW: 2 – Not only are they talent-laden, but they could be the most entertaining team in the league. Whether it is playing high octane hockey against Washington or biting people in Pittsburgh, the Flyers are fun to watch.

6. Los Angeles Kings (3-1-0) LW: 30 – Blowing a 4 goal lead against San Jose is cause for concern. But an undefeated week combined with a seemingly rejuvenated Ryan Smyth is cause for hope in LaLa Land.

7. Columbus Blue Jackets (3-1-0) LW: 11 – Just when Steve Mason looks like he has picked up where he left off last year, insert the San Jose Sharks to light him up. Mathieu Garon is a very talented goalie in case Mason struggles.

8. Detroit Red Wings (2-2-0) LW: 13– Sure the Wings are only .500, but wins over Chicago and Washington shows that they aren't ready to give up their dominance just yet. The Johan Franzen injury may throw a small wrench into their winning ways however.

9. Washington Capitals (2-2-1) LW: 1 – A winless week for the Capitals should drop them further down the list, but look at those losses. The Flyers, Rangers, and Red Wings are all ranked above the Capitals this week. That is a tough schedule, but a real cup contender wins one of those, right?

10. Ottawa Senators (3-1-0) LW: 26 – In a schedule that is pretty much the opposite of Washington's, the Senators played Toronto, Long Island, and Atlanta. To their credit, they won all 3, which is what playoff teams do. Here is one gold star for you Ottawa.

11. Chicago Blackhawks (2-1-1) LW: 5 – One thing is obvious in Chicago: If Cristobal Huet isn't better, the Hawks may be in for a frustrating year. Antii Niemi is primed to steal the starting gig there by January at this rate.

12. Buffalo Sabres (2-0-1) LW: 21 – Beating Nashville and Phoenix by a combined score of 3-1 isn't overly impressive, but much like Ottawa, those are games teams need to win.

13. Edmonton Oilers (2-1-1) LW: 16 – The Oilers could be 4-0 right now if not for a pair of cruel finishes at home against Calgary. Then again, the Oilers started 4-0 last season, and that didn't end well. Maybe this is for the best in Edmonton.

14. Vancouver Canucks (2-3-0) LW: 17 – The good news for Canucks fans, the Canucks have won 2 games in a row. The bad news, Daniel Sedin and Sami Salo are now on the injury list. That is cause for concern.

15. Boston Bruins (2-2-0) LW: 8 – The Bruins are one Islanders collapse away from starting the year 1-3. By scoring 3 goals in eight minutes, the Bruins saved themselves the wrath of Boston sports fans.

16. Atlanta Thrashers (2-1-0) LW: 12 – It's still too early to tell what the Thrashers are going to be this season, but if the first three games are any indication, it could be an exciting March and April in the 202. Is Atlanta the 202? I lost Usher out of my speed dial.

17. New Jersey Devils (2-2-0) LW: 20 – Much like the Thrashers, it's tough to figure out the Devils. I truly find them to be the least compelling team in the league, and being a beat writer for the Devils must be a tough gig.

18. Colorado Avalanche (2-1-1) LW: 10 – The Avs fell back to reality a bit this week with losses to Nashville and Chicago. The silver lining is that they hung with the Blackhawks for 60 minutes in a very entertaining game.

19. Anaheim Ducks (2-2-1) LW: 23 – Is there a more frustrating team in the NHL? They blow a 3 goal lead in a loss to Minnesota, and then they beat Boston and Philadelphia. Just when you think they're on a roll, they look lifeless against the Rangers in a 3-0 loss.

20. Dallas Stars (1-0-3) LW: 22 – The Stars looked motivated in beating the Flames on Friday night. With that kind of effort on a nightly basis, the Stars will be a handful. However, much like Meat Loaf said, "1 out of 4 is pretty bad."

21. St. Louis Blues (2-2-0) LW: 3 – Let's give the Blues the benefit of the doubt that this week was a Helsinki hangover. Obviously the Blues aren't as good as they played against Detroit, but they aren't bad enough to lose to Atlanta and LA on a regular basis either.

22. Nashville Predators (2-1-0) LW: 14 – Is Jason Arnott the only player who literally gets better every year he's in the league for 15 years? At this rate, Arnott will win the Art Ross in 2038 at the tender age of 64.

23. Carolina Hurricanes (2-3-0) LW: 28 – "The Hurricanes won 7-2" "That's good" "It was against Florida" "That's bad" And such is the life of the Hurricanes. They are a perfect combination of good and bad.

24. Tampa Bay Lightning (1-1-2) LW: 29 – Martin St. Louis is in fine form to start the year. Victor Hedman also seems to be a legitimate star in the making. What the hell has happened to Vincent Lecavalier? 3 points in 4 games is respectable, but he's a top 5 talent.

25. Minnesota Wild (1-3-0) LW: 27 – Minnesota hockey fans deserve better than this. They support hockey like no other in the United States and they get saddled with Jacques Lemaire for a decade, and now he's gone and the team stinks. It could be a long year in the state of hockey.

26. New York Islanders (0-0-3) LW: 24 – In keeping with the theme of mentioning a new Islander every week not named Tavares, Richard Park is a team worst minus-5. But he'll improve...he'll improve.

27. Phoenix Coyotes (2-2-0) LW: 19 – The Coyotes sold out their home opener. How much were the tickets you ask? That's not nearly as important as a barnburner 2-0 loss to Columbus. That'll keep them coming back.

28. Montreal Canadiens (2-3-0) LW: 7 – Say what you like, Andrei Markov isn't that important to the Canadiens. Carey Price looks like he's back in last season's form. Also Jacques Martin, bag-skating your team after a 7-1 loss 4 games into the year? Two words: Guy Carbonneau.

29. Florida Panthers (1-3-0) LW: 15 – The Panthers are now showing what they will look like without Jay Bouwmeester and it's not pretty. For my hockey pool's sake, I hope Tomas Vokoun can stand on his head. The Panthers are hoping for the exact same thing.

30. Toronto Maple Leafs (0-3-1) LW: 25 – Elliotte Friedman said it best: "You know, I thought Leafs might possibly make playoffs this year, but this has 50-car pileup written all over it" The Leafs are simply the worst team in the league, and that doesn't look like it's changing anytime soon. PS: Pugnacity