Sports Logic

After a one week hiatus, I have returned with the power rankings. I'm feeling a little under the weather this week, so I may have to "Brophy" these rankings a little. Last week he only made 3 blatant errors, which actually may have won you money if you chose the under.

1. Washington Capitals (18-5-6) LW: 3 – Even without Alex Ovechkin in the lineup, the Capitals keep winning. Putting up 14 goals in their last 2 games without the best player in the league is an impressive feat, I don't care if you like them or not. (You know who you are)

2. Chicago Blackhawks (18-7-3) LW: 2 – I couldn't possibly put the Sharks ahead of the Hawks after that 7-2 drubbing a week and a half ago. At one point in the 2^nd period, the shots in that game were 28-6. To go into San Jose's barn and embarrass them like that is something special.

3. San Jose Sharks (19-7-5) LW: 1 – Even with their impressive start, there are already signs of the Sharks getting ready to gag come playoff time. When the Sharks have had to play the 2 and 3 seed in the West, they have come up short in both games, and more troubling, Heatley, Marleau and Thornton were shut down relatively easily.

4. Pittsburgh Penguins (20-9-1) LW: 4 – Since the return of Evgeni Malkin, the Penguins have their game back on track. They are 5-1-1 in their last 7, which is good. On the downside, Sidney Crosby is having groin issues again.

5. Calgary Flames (18-7-3) LW: 8 – Who wants some "expert analysis"? I'm probably as much of an expert as John Shannon is, so here goes nothing. Calgary is really good in the defensive zone, they are decent in the offensive zone, and they are awful in the neutral zone. Next time you watch a Flames game, watch how often they lose the puck in the neutral zone.

6. New Jersey Devils (19-7-1) LW: 5 – They are 5-1 in their last 6 and that one loss was an absolute dud. Martin Brodeur is allowed a stinker every now and then, and did he ever use it on Wednesday night?

7. Buffalo Sabres (16-7-2) LW: 6 – It took me almost 24 hours to complete something on the Sabres and nothing came to mind. So, I'll use some of that Brophy magic. "Ryan Miller is a good goalie" Outstanding.

8. Phoenix Coyotes (17-11-1) LW: 14 – As unlikely as it sounds, the Coyotes may actually be for real. They are riding a 4 game winning streak and are starting to loosen up a little defensively. Maybe a winning/exciting team will bring fans to the rink in Glend...HAHAHA, I almost finished that sentence.

9. Los Angeles Kings (17-10-3) LW: 15 – Slowly and surely, I am on my way to losing the "Kings won't make the playoffs" bet. The Kings are 4-1-1 in their last 6 and are doing it without any production from Anze Kopitar or Dustin Brown. On top of that, Ryan Smyth is injured, and they still keep winning.

10. Boston Bruins (15-9-5) LW: 19 – You think the Bruins are regretting the 4 year contract extension they gave Tim Thomas? Not that Thomas is playing well, but Tuukka Rask looks like he's ready to become a #1 goalie. Maybe the Bruins could trade Rask to Vancouver for Andrew Raycroft, right Leafs fans?

11. Atlanta Thrashers (15-8-3) LW: 18 – Dear Kari Lehtonen, please pack your things and address them "To be determined on March 4^th" (My guess is Detroit). Ondrej Pavelec has struggled of late, but insert Johan Hedberg who is 7-2 this season with a 2.16 GAA.

12. Detroit Red Wings (14-10-2) LW: 12 – The Wings look like they have finally given up on Chris Osgood. So you know what that means. Jimmy Howard will get them into the playoffs, give up a suspect goal and get yanked for Osgood, who will go 16-0 with a 0.00 GAA on their way to another Stanley Cup.

13. Nashville Predators (16-11-2) LW: 11 – After winning 9 in a row, the Predators look like they are on their way back to earth. Their only win last week was over the lowly Chicago Blackhawks. Wait, I'm getting something...The Hawks are good? When did that happen? But TSN never mentions them...surely TSN would give us the straight dirt on teams right?

14. Vancouver Canucks (16-13-0) LW: 16 – I wasn't being sarcastic when I said it was a terrible coaching decision by Alain Vigneault to sit Luongo against the Hurricanes. Why he would play Luongo in a back to back situation and gave him Saturday afternoon blows my mind. Andrew Raycroft HAS to play that Philadelphia game after Luongo won the night before in New Jersey.

15. Colorado Avalanche (16-9-6) LW: 13 – Every week when I do these rankings, I always seem to drop the Avalanche further down the list. Eventually I will be right for doing so, but for now they are making me look like an idiot. They're even winning without Craig Anderson now.

16. Columbus Blue Jackets (13-11-5) LW: 7 – Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the coldest team in the NHL, the Columbus Blue Jackets!!!! I don't know if it's a Manic Monday topic, but Ken Hitchcock might be the next coach to get fired. He's bickering with the franchise goalie...that's a surefire way to lose your job, right Ted Nolan?

17. Ottawa Senators (14-10-4) LW: 9 – According to That's Hockey, Jonathan Cheechoo is "hot" because he has 3 points in his last 4 games. For a guy who scored 56 goals a few years ago, if that constitutes "hot" the Senators are doomed.

18. Dallas Stars (13-8-8) LW: 17 – Lost another game in a shootout huh? Well, I'll comment on you when you go a week without doing so.

19. St. Louis Blues (12-10-5) LW: 23 – Now this is what we expected from the Blues. Apparently all it takes to get them motivated is John Davidson looking for stamps to mail Andy Murray his pink slip.

20. Philadelphia Flyers (13-12-1) LW: 10 – It's absolutely mind blowing that a team with this much talent could be playing this bad. Did Chris Pronger's wife think Philly is too cold and they secretly moved to Cabo? Is that Sean Pronger in Chris' jersey? By the way, what a terrible hire Peter Laviolette was. And I'm not just referring to the 8-2 beating they took in his debut.

21. Minnesota Wild (13-12-3) LW: 27 – When we last spoke I wrote that if you wore a Minnesota Wild jersey you had to pick up your game. Since that fateful day the Wild are 5-0-1. They are also 10-3-3 in their last 16, but don't let anyone know...they might actually start believing they are good.

22. New York Rangers (14-14-0) LW: 22 – Remember when the Rangers were at the top of these rankings? I don't either...but I remember saying they weren't a playoff team. I'd like to see that blow up real good in New York. Not because I don't like the Rangers, but I really really don't like Glen Sather.

23. Tampa Bay Lightning (11-9-8) LW: 24 – I made a mistake on this one. The Lightning lost 3 in a row last week and I moved them UP in the rankings. That won't happen again...

24. Montreal Canadiens (13-14-2) LW: 20 – Maybe it was the emotion of the centennial ceremony, but the Canadiens really got the job done against the Bruins on Friday. That could possibly be the highlight of their season.

25. Edmonton Oilers (12-13-4) LW: 25 – With Ales Hemsky having shoulder surgery and missing for the rest of the season, it's times like these that Oilers fans can thank their lucky stars that they have Shawn Horcoff...

26. New York Islanders (11-11-7) LW: 26 – What can we say about the play of Jack Hillen this season? He's 2^nd on the team in plus/minus. And you thought he wasn't capable of being a shutdown defenseman. PFFT!!

27. Florida Panthers (11-13-5) LW: 21 – I don't care if it is predictable...We can sum of the entire Panthers franchise right HERE

28. Anaheim Ducks (10-12-6) LW: 28 – Last week the Ducks beat Calgary and Chicago and looked to be on their way up the standings. Then they lost 5 in a row. Such is the life of a Ducks fan without BURKEY!!!!

29. Toronto Maple Leafs (8-13-7) LW: 30 – For once, I actually don't have anything to say about the Leafs. Sure they are winning more games lately, but beating Tampa, Florida, Montreal and Columbus isn't exactly worthy of planning a parade route. And with that, someone read this and crumpled up their blueprints.

30. Carolina Hurricanes (6-16-5) LW: 29 – Good news for 'Canes' fans!!! Cam Ward is due back this week. So that means the Hurricanes can go back to relying on their goalie to make 45 saves a night in a 7-1 loss. Hooray for everything!!!