TIMES’ RANKINGS

Team (Record): Comment

1. Phoenix (11-2-2): Defense the backbone of 9-0-2 streak.

2. Dallas (11-3-3): Come-from-ahead tie vs. Blues a clinker.

3. Buffalo (8-4-4): Hasek impressive in 6-1-3 run.

4. Philadelphia (9-6-4): Jones keeping Flyers up nicely.

5. New Jersey (11-6-1): Amazing what a little freedom does.

6. Pittsburgh (9-5-4): Straka scores three in last two.

7. Detroit (10-8-0): Maracle subs for injured Osgood.

8. Edmonton (10-8-1): Goals keep gushing for Oilers.

9. Toronto (11-8-2): Leafs haven’t fallen yet.

10. Ottawa (9-6-3): Yashin stirs, scores three in three games.

11. St. Louis (7-5-5): Comeback kids get big tie with Stars.

12. Boston (7-7-5): Khristich scores seven in 3-1-3 surge.

13. Mighty Ducks (8-7-4): Singing praises of Aalto, McInnis.

14. Vancouver (9-10-1): Keenan: 500 wins, 500 quashed mutinies.

15. Colorado (8-9-2): Roy reels off personal 4-0-1 streak.

16. Carolina (8-10-3): Scoring vanishes in three straight defeats.

17. N.Y. Islanders (9-11-0): Still leading Bure sweepstakes.

18. Florida (6-7-5): Inconsistent offense a problem.

19. N.Y. Rangers (5-8-6): Kovalev shines as trade talks swirl.

20. Washington (6-9-3): Injuries, offensive woes continue.

21. Nashville (7-10-1): Peltonen, Ronning lead offense.

22. Calgary (7-11-2): Iginla bright spot in 1-5 slide.

23. Montreal (7-10-2): Heat’s on as Habs lose five of six.

24. Kings (6-12-3): Chicago rout a blip or building block?

25. San Jose (4-9-5): Offense still sputtering.

26. Tampa Bay (6-11-2): Outscored, 32-7, in losing last five.

27. Chicago (5-12-3): Trade doesn’t change losing ways.

GAME OF THE WEEK

NEW JERSEY AT PHOENIX

When--Thursday. Time--6 p.m. PST. TV--ESPN2.

* Story line--A matchup of division leaders and two of the NHL’s hottest teams. The Devils are 8-2-1 since they were 3-4 on Oct. 28 and they’re benefiting from the (relatively) looser style of Robbie Ftorek, who replaced Jacques Lemaire as coach this season. Ftorek allows the defensemen to be more involved offensively and that plays to the strength of Scott Niedermayer, who has two goals and eight points in eight games since resolving a contract dispute and returning to the lineup. The Coyotes have won five consecutive games and are 9-0-2 since Oct. 25. They’ve won their last two games in overtime. Jeremy Roenick leads them in scoring with five goals and 19 points, slightly ahead of Keith Tkachuk (10 goals, 17 points). They show no signs of the emotional fragility that has doomed them in previous seasons and instead keep finding ways to win.