THE TIMES’ RANKINGS: Top to Bottom

CAPSULES AND RANKINGS

Team (Record) Comment

1. Colorado (35-14-8): Wins four of five. Injured Joe Sakic a week away.

2. Philadelphia (33-16-8): Without Eric Lindros, Flyers sweep home-and-home from Penguins.

3. Buffalo (30-19-9): Sabres haven’t allowed more than two goals in 5-0-4 streak.

4. Dallas (33-21-4): Stars enjoy living on the edge. Last three wins were in overtime.

5. Detroit (27-19-10): Brendan Shanahan gets eight goals in four games.

6. Florida (28-17-13): Panthers struggle without five injured regulars.

7. New Jersey (29-17-9): Devils may care more for Coach Jacques Lemaire in 6-0-4 run.

8. Edmonton (28-24-6): They aren’t the dynasty Oilers but these kids are all right.

9. Pittsburgh (30-22-5): Penguins outscored, 22-9, in losing four in a row.

10. N.Y. Rangers (28-24-7): Wayne Gretzky has no goals in 19 games. Defense wobbly.

11. St. Louis (27-26-6): Honeymoon with new coach over? Blues are 2-2-1 in last five.

12. Phoenix (26-28-4): Are Coyotes getting it together? They’ve won three of four.

13. Chicago (23-27-8): Blackhawks’ 6-1 surge is best of the season. Defense is solid.

14. Calgary (24-28-6): Flames stop fighting with coach and win five in a row.

15. Vancouver (26-28-2): Despite losing five of seven, Canucks stay in playoff race.

16. Montreal (21-28-11): Canadien goalies have faced 35 shots a game.

17. Washington (23-28-6): Capitals yield too many goals for popgun offense to match.

18. Ottawa (19-26-12): Senators split home-and-home with Whalers,sustain playoff hopes.

19. N.Y. Islanders (19-28-10): Upsets of Pittsburgh and Florida keep them in the hunt.

20. Hartford (22-28-7): Whalers’ offense sputters in 2-7 slump. They’re fading fast.

21. Ducks (22-29-6): A Mickey Mouse team. They need a defensive defenseman.

22. Tampa Bay (20-29-6): Dino Ciccarelli, with 22 goals, spares them total humiliation.

23. Kings (19-31-8): Fading toward draft lottery. Only team without a 20-goal scorer.

24. San Jose (20-31-6): Sharks give up 20 goals in losing last three. Slump at 0-4-1.

25. Boston (20-30-7): Bruins’ fire sale starts any minute. They’ve earned 0-5-1 streak.

26. Toronto (21-35-2): Maple Leafs, 0-2-1 on six-game trip, could be done before trip is.

GAME OF THE WEEK

NEW JERSEY at FLORIDA

When--Thursday. Time--4:30 p.m. TV--None.

Storyline--Defense wins games, as these teams prove, but it doesn’t have to be boring. New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur has been sharp during the Devils’ 6-0-4 streak, giving up eight goals in his last six games. His 2.05 goals-against average is the NHL’s best. Winger Dave Andreychuk is three goals from 500 for his career. Knee injuries have hobbled several key players--including sniper Ray Sheppard--but the Panthers don’t give up easily. Goalie John Vanbiesbrouck’s 2.20 goals-against is second to Brodeur’s.