As Philly Flounders, Devils Chase the High-Flying Penguins
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

NHL Power Rankings
With two consecutive shutouts, the Devils’ defense has gotten back on track, largely because of the strong play of star netminder Martin Brodeur. Brodeur’s save percentage has risen to an impressive .909, and he has rebounded nicely from a horrific stretch where he gave up 10 goals in 90 minutes to the Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins.
But New Jersey’s foundering power play must improve dramatically if the Devils are to have any chance of surpassing the highflying Penguins. Rookie Evgeni Malkin has proven to be worthy of his considerable advance billing. But even more important to the Pens’ success has been the play of defenseman Ryan Whitney (10 points in nine games) and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (.925 save percentage).
At the other (far) end of the spectrum are the Philadelphia Flyers, who failed yesterday in their attempt to convince NHL executive vice president (and former New York Rangers bench boss) Colin Campbell to take over as their general manager. Not surprisingly, the floundering Flyers have moved up only slightly in this week’s rankings, from dead last to 29th overall.
So here’s how the teams line up this week. Statistically, teams are measured from left to right by W-L-OTL, standings points, goals scored, goals allowed, power play success, and penalty-killing success.
1 BUFFALO SABRES (1) – The Sabres’ winning streak came to an end on Saturday night, and now the injury bug has bitten them. Buffalo will have to do without valuable defenseman Henrik Tallinder (broken arm) for the next two months.
10–0–1 21 50 27 19.4% 93.4%
2 DALLAS STARS (2) – The acrobatic Marty Turco has been absolutely sensational between the pipes for the Stars thus far this season, stopping 93% of the shots he’s faced while posting an impressive 9–2 record.
9–2–0 18 34 21 14.5% 90.3%
3 MINNESOTA WILD (4) –The Wild have played quite well without star forward Marian Gaborik. When the star Slovakian winger returns to the lineup — perhaps as soon as tonight’s game against Vancouver — the Wild will once again be devastating.
9–2–0 18 30 21 15.6% 92.9%
4 ANAHEIM DUCKS (3) – The Ducks have gotten sparkling goaltending from both Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Ilya Bryzgalov. Of course, Anaheim’s goalies have the easiest job in the business playing behind the likes of Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger. 9–0–3 21 39 24 22.8% 90.1%
5 SAN JOSE SHARKS (6) – Defensemen Christian Ehrhoff and Matt Carle have been quite impressive. Ehrhoff scored the game-winning goal against the Panthers on Tuesday, while Carle’s 12 points in 13 games have him tied for the lead among NHL blueliners.
9–4–0 18 42 29 27.5% 87.9%
6 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (8) – There was no questioning the quality of the Pens’ young core. But what has been a huge surprise has been how quickly they’ve jelled into a cohesive, dangerous team; much credit is due mercurial head coach Michel Therrien.
6–3–0 12 33 24 23.1% 91.9%
7 NASHVILLE PREDATORS (10) – The key to the Predators’ success is Steve Sullivan; when healthy, he is Nashville’s primary offensive weapon. Judging from his strong performance against the Canucks on Tuesday, Sullivan’s back spasms are behind him.
7–3–1 15 36 33 14.3% 81.1%
8 EDMONTON OILERS (7) – With Pronger out of the picture, rearguards Daniel Tjarnqvist and Steve Staios have done a really nice job of filling the void. Staios leads the team in plus/minus and penalty minutes, while Tjarnqvist quarterbacks the top power play unit.
7–4–0 14 33 28 17.4% 88.5%
9 ATLANTA THRASHERS (5) – With all due respect to Crosby and Malkin, the duo of Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk might well be the NHL’s most dangerous 1–2 punch. They are currently tied for second (behind Jaromir Jagr) in the scoring race.
8–2–3 19 45 33 20.0% 88.2%
10 MONTREAL CANADIENS (9) – The Habs’ power play is constructed, which works quite nicely. The Canadiens are among the NHL’s best with the man advantage, while Souray leads all NHL blueliners in scoring.
6–2–3 15 37 32 20.0% 97.2%
11 DETROIT RED WINGS (24) – That the Wings have done as well as they have with the league’s fourth-worst power play is actually a good sign. With the likes of Nicklas Lidstrom, Mathieu Schneider, and Pavel Datsyuk, that’s sure to improve.
6–4–1 13 29 26 8.8% 78.6%
12 NEW JERSEY DEVILS (21) – Young Zach Parise is rapidly emerging as a top-flight player for the Devils. With goals in each of the last two games — and eight points in 11 games overall — Parise is one of the Devils’ most important offensive contributors.
6–4–1 13 27 31 9.7% 84.2%
13 VANCOUVER CANUCKS (12) – The Canucks always get strong production from their defense, and with Ed Jovanovski and Nolan Baumgartner out of the picture, Lukas Krajicek and Kevin Bieksa are getting plenty of time on the point of the power play.
7–5–1 15 33 28 10.7% 86.4%
14 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (13) – It’s unclear what’s more surprising about this season’s Leafs: that Bryan McCabe scored only once in the first 13 games, or that grinder Darcy Tucker is the team’s top offensive producer?
6–4–3 15 42 46 12.9% 86.8%
15 COLORADO AVALANCHE (11) – Young defenseman John-Michael Liles is generous with the puck on the Avs’ power play and generous off the ice as well; he recently gave up his #26 to rookie Paul Stastny, who now gets to wear his father Peter’s old number. 5–4–2 12 37 34 18.6% 85.2%
16 NEW YORK ISLANDERS (18) – Mike Sillinger was the star of the Isles’ recently completed seven-game homestand. He scored eight points, including five goals, while helping the Isles earn 10 of a possible 14 points.
5–4–2 12 29 33 19.7% 78.9%
17 TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (15) – After getting off to a horrendous start, 2004 Hart Trophy winner Martin St. Louis has been on a torrid pace of late, tallying eight points in five games (including a hat trick against the Carolina Hurricanes).
5–6–0 10 32 31 10.9% 76.0%
18 OTTAWA SENATORS (16) – The Senators’ power play is the worst in the NHL when one takes into consideration their propensity for giving up shorthanded goals. The Sens have scored six times with the man advantage, while surrendering four shorthanded.
5–6–0 10 34 27 3.1% 93.0%
19 NEW YORK RANGERS (19) – With a minus-four rating in only three games played, Sandis Ozolinsh’s return to MSG will surely be unpleasant. Rumors persist that the Blueshirts are on the verge of a deal with the Blackhawks. Would Chicago take Ozolinsh?
5–6–0 10 38 43 15.4% 82.6%
20 CAROLINA HURRICANES (23) – After a slow start, Eric Staal come on very strong ; the Canes will need much better work between the pipes from Conn Smythe winner Cam Ward if they’re to get into the playoff hunt. 5–5–2 12 40 44 14.3% 86.8%
21 WASHINGTON CAPITALS (17) – Alexander Ovechkin is getting some nice support now, with Alexander Semin, Chris Clark, Dainius Zubrus, and power play quarterback Brian Pothier all delivering consistent offensive production. 4–3–4 12 35 35 15.3% 81.8%
22 FLORIDA PANTHERS (22) – Power forward Todd Bertuzzi has missed the last seven games with back spasms, and he is now preparing to go in for surgery. Assuming all goes well and there are no complications, “Big Bert” should be back the Cats’ lineup in about eight weeks.
5–7–2 12 37 45 22.0% 83.3%
23 COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (28) – The Blue Jackets have been a disappointment thus far, but no blame is due netminder Pascal Leclaire (.912 SV% entering last night’s game). And with Sergei Fedorov back in the Jackets’ lineup, look for Columbus to surge into playoff contention.
.3–5–1 7 19 26 12.9% 82.0%
24 BOSTON BRUINS (27) – The Bruins put together a strong performance against the Senators on Saturday and are finally getting on track. Perhaps most importantly, Zdeno Chara (minus-five rating) is starting to look comfortable on the Bruins’ blue line.
3–5–1 7 19 32 12.0% 74.0%
25 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (14) – Tuomo Ruutu has looked good in his first two games back in the Hawks’ lineup, and more help is on the way: Martin Havlat (high ankle sprain) and Nikolai Khabibulin (broken finger) are both expected back soon.
4–8–0 8 34 45 16.1% 81.6%
26 ST. LOUIS BLUES (20) – Scoring at a point-per-game clip, Keith Tkachuk is the Blues’ most dangerous offensive weapon. Historically, he scores on 15.5% of his shots; this season, that number is currently 2.9%, but is certain to rise dramatically.
3–4–3 9 26 35 12.1% 84.4%
27 CALGARY FLAMES (25) – As usual, the Flames’ problem isn’t keeping the puck out of their net; it’s scoring goals. New addition Alex Tanguay has been a huge disappointment (five points in 10 games); Jarome Iginla remains Calgary’s only consistently dangerous scoring threat.
3–6–1 7 25 29 8.1% 84.4%
28 LOS ANGELES KINGS (26) – Predictably, Slovenian rookie Anze Kopitar has cooled off following a red-hot start. Surprisingly, Brent Sopel (nine points in 12 games) has emerged as the Kings’ top offensive defenseman and boasts a teamleading plus-three rating.
4–8–2 10 29 37 9.5% 86.9%
29 PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (30) – It’s hard to find bright spots in Philadelphia right now. Only Randy Robitaille and Stefan Ruzicka have positive ratings among the roster regulars. Expect a big shake-up when and if Colin Campbell takes the reins.
3–7–1 7 22 42 4.3% 87.3%
30 PHOENIX COYOTES (29) – There are numerous reasons for the Coyotes’ struggles this season, from their inconsistent scoring to their shoddy defensive play. With Curtis Joseph (.873 SV%) failing to bail them out as he did last year (.902 SV%), Gretzky’s team is in serious trouble. 3–9–0 6 28 53 9.2% 77.5%