Top to Bottom : Final Season Rankings

Team (Record): Comment

1. Colorado (49-24-9): Dallas pushed the Avalanche at the end, but it’s still the champion.

2. New Jersey (45-23-14): Devils won East title with top goaltending and defense.

3. Dallas (48-26-8): Stars almost caught Colorado. Their 36-point turnaround was stunning.

4. Detroit (38-26-18): Scotty Bowman plays with lineup and with his players’ heads.

5. Philadelphia (45-24-13): Can Hextall hold up and can Lindros hold his temper?

6. Florida (35-28-19): Panthers topped Devils, Penguins to keep home-ice edge.

7. Buffalo (40-30-12): Not a great finish, but they had No. 2 seed long clinched.

8. Ducks (36-33-13): Finished strong, going 19-11-8 after All-Star break (.605).

9. N.Y. Rangers (38-34-10): Good in back-to-back wins over Flyers but still not sharp.

10. Pittsburgh (38-36-8): Last go-round for Lemieux, but Jagr (groin) is hurt again.

11. Phoenix (38-37-7): Streaky but much better defensively as season wore on.

12. Edmonton (36-37-9): Oilers slid at the end but grew up and grew respectable.

13. St. Louis (36-35-11): After Keenan was fired, the rest was gravy.

14. Ottawa (31-36-15): Losers no more, the Senators join the big boys in the playoffs.

15. Chicago (34-35-13): Blackhawks squeak into playoffs after mediocre first half.

16. Montreal (31-36-15): Defense got better but still shaky. So is penalty killing.

17. Hartford (32-39-11): Whalers fade at end. Where should the mail be forwarded?

18. Vancouver (35-40-7): Rookie Coach Renney tried to be players’ friend but failed.

19. Tampa Bay (32-40-10): Bad first half, bad attitudes and weak offense undid them.

20. N.Y. Islanders (29-41-12): Things are looking up, and ugly fisherman logo is gone.

21. Washington (33-40-9): Same old story: lots of injuries, not enough goals.

22. Calgary (32-41-9): Glaring lack of leadership as playoff drive went off track.

23. Toronto (30-44-8): Horrid season comes to merciful end.

24. Kings (28-43-11): Off-season moves must boost offense and power play.

25. San Jose (27-47-8): Sharks were toothless in the second half and never got rolling.

26. Boston (26-47-9): Bruins’ consolation prize is 30% chance of winning draft lottery.

GAME OF THE WEEK

PITTSBURGH at PHILADELPHIA

* When--Thursday. Time--4:30 p.m. TV--ESPN.

* Storyline--Mario Lemieux begins his last run at the Stanley Cup before retiring. He ranks 15th in playoff scoring with 149 points in 84 games over six seasons. He had 11 goals and 27 points in 18 games last spring as the Penguins lost to Florida in the Eastern Conference finals. Many questions surround the Penguins (Jaromir Jagr’s groin pull, inconsistent goaltending), but the Flyers have holes too. Ron Hextall struggled in net and Eric Lindros must prove he can keep his poise when harassed.