Top 10

CAPSULES AND RANKING

Team (Record): 1. Dallas (5-0-0)

Comment: Free agent Pat Verbeek and goalie Andy Moog have helped the Stars set a franchise record for winning streak at the start of a season.

*

Team (Record): 2. Florida (3-0-1)

Comment: Who needs rats when John Vanbiesbrouck has a 0.98 goals-against average and its penalty killing is 14 for 15?

*

Team (Record): 3. Montreal (2-0-2)

Comment: Canadiens were expected to have trouble scoring, but they scored 17 goals in their last three games and are averaging five a game.

*

Team (Record): 4. Phoenix (3-2-0)

Comment: The weather is better than it was in Winnipeg, and now they have Jeremy Roenick.

*

Team (Record): 5. Colorado (2-2-1)

Comment: The Avalanche has two victories and a tie in the last three games and outscored foes, 14-6.

*

Team (Record): 6. St. Louis (3-2-0)

Comment: Center Jim Campbell, one of the Blues’ lesser-known free agents, leads them with four goals.

*

Team (Record): 7. Detroit (2-2-0)

Comment: Red Wings have yielded only three goals in last three but power play is 0 for 11.

*

Team (Record): 8. Tampa Bay (2-1-0)

Comment: A hat trick against Toronto for Chris Gratton, whom Lightning has showcased as trade bait.

*

Team (Record): 9. Calgary (3-3-0)

Comment: A one-goal victory at Detroit and a shutout at Philadelphia were potential character builders.

*

Team (Record): 10. Edmonton (4-2-0)

Comment: Jason Arnott and the other kids are showing some poise.

GAME OF THE WEEK

PITTSBURGH at NEW YORK

* When--Wednesday.

* Time--4:30 p.m.

* TV--ESPN.

* Storyline--Matchups between Pittsburgh’s Mario Lemieux and new New Yorker Wayne Gretzky are rare because both have been injured in recent years. They’re both fine and playing well, but their teams are off to slow starts. The Penguins eliminated the Rangers in the second round of the playoffs last spring, with Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr doing most of the damage.