I don't have any type of complicated formula to rank NHL teams, so where is good place to find an objective ranking system? For me, simple goal differential per game works. 1. San Jose Sharks: 1.44 The Sharks got out to a 4-0 lead over Ron Wilson's Maple Leafs after the first period on Tuesday night. With a 21-3-1 record, Todd McLellan's club has tied the record for the best 25-game start. 2. Boston Bruins: 1.21 The Bruins are allowing just 2.08 goals per game, which is easily first in the NHL. Tim Thomas has been outstanding with a 1.88 goals against average while Manny Fernandez is 7-1-1 despite a more human 2.32 GAA. 3. Vancouver Canucks: 0.56 The Canucks have lost three in a row, and the return of Roberto Luongo cannot come quickly enough. 4. Chicago Blackhawks: 0.55 The Blackhawks finished their circus road trip with an 0-2-1 mark over the final three and have elected to move Martin Havlat down to the third line as a result. 5. Pittsburgh Penguins: 0.48 I love Kovalev, Koivu, and Tanguay, but I still don't see how Sidney Crosby could trail the trio of Candiens at the forward position. Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are one/two in points this season. 6. Minnesota Wild: 0.48 The Wild have scored five, six, and four goals in their last three games. Mikko Koivu leads the team in points with 27. 7. Detroit Red Wings: 0.46 Marian Hossa has 13 goals in Detroit's 16 wins and just one goal in their eight losses. 8. Philadelphia Flyers: 0.33 Martin Biron has been very ordinary in the crease this season, with a 2.95 goals against average and 90.1% save percentage. 9. Montreal Canadiens: 0.29 Saku Koivu leads the team in points (21); Alex Tanguay leads in goals (8); and Andrei Markov leads in assists (14). 10. New Jersey Devils: 0.14 Scott Clemmensen (2.55 GAA) and Kevin Weekes (2.55 GAA) are unquestionably not Martin Brodeur. 11. Anaheim Ducks: 0.08 Jonas Hiller has been almost a goal per game better than Jean-Sebastien Giguere. 12. New York Rangers: 0.07 The Rangers are in first place in the Atlantic despite a worse goal differential than the Penguins, Flyers, and Devils. 13. Washington Capitals: 0.04 Brent Johnson has been superior to Jose Theodore with a better GAA and save percentage. 14. Ottawa Senators -0.09 The Senators have scored just 2.27 goals per game this season, which is second lowest in the NHL. 15. Columbus Blue Jackets: -0.13 The Blue Jackets are 6-2-1 with Steve Mason in the crease and just 5-8-2 with the combination of Pascal Leclaire and Fredrik Norrena. 16. Calgary Flames: -0.16 Jarome Iginla is +12 in wins and -11 in losses. 17. Los Angeles Kings: -0.17 Until Monday's loss to the Leafs, the Kings had been 7-0 when they had a lead after two periods. 18. Phoenix Coyotes: -0.21 Even though he's playrd in just seven games, Mikael Tellqvist has been the better goalie with a GAA that is .72 better than Ilya Bryzgalov's. 19. St. Louis Blues: -0.23 The Blues have seven players with double-digit points. 20. Buffalo Sabres: -0.25 The Sabres have been far better with Ryan Miller in goal (2.53) than Patrick Lalime (3.27). 21. Florida Panthers: -0.25 After overtime losses at home to New Jersey and the Rangers, they defeated the Rangers and Capitals on the road. 22. Nashville Predators: -0.29 Pekka Rinne had the first shutout of his career on Monday, and he has been better than Dan Ellis so far this season. 23. Toronto Maple Leafs: -0.36 The Leafs are already 12 points behind the Bruins but trail Buffalo by just one for third place. 24. Edmonton Oilers: -0.39 The Oilers have lost six of their last eight. 25. Carolina Hurricanes: -0.40 Peter Laviolette led the Hurricanes to a Stanley Cup, but it was certainly time for a change. 26. Colorado Avalanche: -0.46 The Avalanche have climbed their way back to .500, and they'll have to try to stay above water without Joe Sakic. 27. New York Islanders: -0.67 The Islanders have had to miss Rick DiPietro, but he had a 3.91 GAA before he was shelved. Joey MacDonald has a 2.89 GAA and is 10-9-2. 28. Tampa Bay Lightning: -0.67 The results under Rick Tocchet haven't been any different than they were for Barry Melrose. 29. Atlanta Thrashers: -0.71 The Thrashers are giving up 3.59 goals per game, which is worst in the NHL. 30. Dallas Stars: -0.71 The Stars have the worst save percentage in the entire NHL.