It’s time for another set of rankings as we close in on the final four weeks of the NHL regular season. The playoff race is so tight between some teams that it essentially feels like the playoffs have already started. I guess this is what the NHL wanted to accomplish with league wide parity. The way I see it, there are about four teams who have a realistic shot at the President’s Trophy right now. If I were to pick one team to win it, I’d go with the Detroit Red Wings. Year after year the Red Wings just consistently win and I’ve gained quite a bit of respect for this organization as of late. Their consistency is definitely something I’m jealous of.

1. New Jersey Devils (1) – Congrats to Martin Brodeur on tying Patrick Roy for most career wins for a goaltender. As he sits only three behind Terry Sawchuk for most career shutouts, I think it is safe to say we’re witnessing the greatest goaltender in NHL history. As of right now, the Devils are my favorite in the Eastern Conference and it’s mainly because of number 30.

2. Detroit Red Wings (2) – Detroit is going strong and officially clinched a playoff berth this past weekend. The only thing left to be decided during the final 12 games for Detroit is whether or not they will be the one or two seed come playoff time.

3. San Jose Sharks (5) – San Jose joined Detroit as the only two teams that have officially clinched a playoff berth this season. With two games in hand on the Wings, they are actually in much better shape in terms of taking the top spot out West and the President’s Trophy. It’s just a matter of them actually closing in on the deal, which I’m not so sure of right now.

4. Boston Bruins (3) – Boston drops another spot this week after going 4-5-1 in their last 10 and dropping a game to Pittsburgh yesterday. I feel completely safe in saying that if Boston didn’t start out so hot this season, they would be fighting for their playoff lives right now. They remind me of the President Trophy winning Buffalo Sabres of a few years back, who got off to a hot start and coasted into the playoffs. Needless to say, it didn’t turn out too well for Buffalo that year.

5. Vancouver Canucks (10) – I’m finally bumping Vancouver into the top five. I have been slowly bringing them up and they deserve the bump, just like Pittsburgh. They have currently won two in a row and are 7-2-1 in their last 10 and they are closing in on a solid month of winning hockey.

6. Pittsburgh Penguins (11) – It would be hard to argue the fact that Pittsburgh is one of the hottest teams in the league right now. Even through this latest winning streak when they lost a few games, they lost in the shootout and still gained a point in the standings. Those types of games are huge, when you can lose and still manage a point. Right now every point counts and those will definitely come into play once the season winds down.

7. Washington Capitals (6) – The Caps were struggling quite a bit but have won three straight games and appear to be back on track. They did their best to blow the game Saturday night (much like Buffalo) but they pulled it out and got the two points (unlike Buffalo).

8. Calgary Flames (4) - Calgary drops a little bit this week, but they are still a very good team. The trade deadline additions appear to be working out nicely for the Flames and lucky for them, they will have Olli Jokinen for at least another full season instead of renting him until this season finishes up.

9. Philadelphia Flyers (7) – The Flyers, in my opinion, are in the best shape out of the non-division leading Eastern Conference playoff teams. Out of teams 4-10, they have the most games remaining (14) and the most points (84). It would take a monumental New York Mets style collapse to see the Flyers miss the post-season this year.

10. Montreal Canadiens (9) – Montreal seems to be playing better hockey since canning their coach and letting GM Bob Gainey roam the bench. They still have several key games left but I don’t see them letting it slip away now.

11. Chicago Blackhawks (8) – Chicago is slipping up a bit and now the sure thing playoff berth isn’t such a sure thing. They are 3-6-1 and their last 10 games and have currently lost two in a row. Only 10 points separates them from 9th place in the West and 15 games remaining, that is plenty of time to let it slip away if they don’t start winning.

12. New York Rangers (13) – The Rangers got a big win yesterday against Philadelphia after dropping the first of a home and home on Saturday. They are 5-3-2 in their last 10, so I’m thinking they will have to turn it up just a little bit more if they want to ensure a post-season appearance. I’ll be looking forward to this Saturday’s game, with a little revenge on my mind.

13. Columbus Blue Jackets (NR) – Columbus makes their grand re-appearance in the rankings in which they probably shouldn’t have dropped off. I’m looking into my crystal ball and I do see a playoff appearance for Columbus and maybe even a first round upset. One thing is for sure, they definitely have their franchise goaltender in young Steve Mason. Somehow this rookie goes into today with a 28-17-3 record and NINE shutouts. Incredible.

14. Nashville Predators (15) – Nashville continues to play good hockey going 7-2-1 in their last 10 and winning their last game. If the playoffs were to start today, Nashville wouldn’t qualify but I feel that once the season winds down Nashville will be in. With the combination of them playing well and teams like Edmonton dropping more games, something will have to give.

15. Florida Panthers (12) – The Panthers have picked the wrong (or right depending on how you look at it) time to start dropping games. The Panthers haven’t picked up two points in the last three games, one of which included a loss to Buffalo who is right behind them in the standings. They are 4-4-2 in their last 10 games and if that trend keeps up, they will be golfing in mid-April.