TOP TO BOTTOM / NHL

Team (Record) Comment

1. Dallas (50-17-12): Next foe: Presidents’ Trophy jinx.

2. Colorado (42-26-10): Revving up with 8-0-1 streak.

3. Detroit (42-30-7): Third year in a row as No. 3 seed.

4. New Jersey (44-24-11): Peaking in 6-2-3 surge.

5. Ottawa (44-23-13): Fighting to hold off Devils.

6. Toronto (44-29-7): Tied club record for wins.

7. Boston (37-29-13): Good balance in 8-2-3 push.

8. Buffalo (36-26-16): Hasek yields seven in last five.

9. Philadelphia (36-25-18): Won’t get far without Lindros.

10. Pittsburgh (37-28-14): Barrasso’s return a lift.

11. Mighty Ducks (35-32-12): They have Coyotes’ number.

12. St. Louis (34-32-13): Fighting for fifth in West.

13. Phoenix (38-29-12): Another playoff failure looms.

14. San Jose (37-38-17): Shields gets nod over Vernon.

15. Carolina (33-30-16): First playoff berth since 1992.

16. Edmonton (31-37-12): Winning battle with Flames.

17. Chicago (27-41-12): Some actual hope for next season.

18. Nashville (28-44-7): Wrapping up good debut season.

19. Montreal (31-38-10): Big changes in store.

20. N.Y. Rangers (33-27-10): Mixed signals on Gretzky’s return.

21. Calgary (28-39-12): Post-Fleury fire flickers out.

22. Kings (30-44-5): Wait till last season.

23. Washington (31-43-6): Dismal end to dismal season.

24. Florida (28-34-18): Should give refunds after 1-7-1 skid.

25. Vancouver (23-46-12): Burke’s job tougher than he thought.

26. N.Y. Islanders (23-47-10): Worse than Amityville horror.

27. Tampa Bay (19-53-7): Focusing on draft lottery.

GAME OF THE WEEK

ST. LOUIS BLUES AT MIGHTY DUCKS

When--Wednesday. Time--7:30 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports West 2.

* Story line--Fifth place in the West is on the line, and there’s ample incentive to finish higher. The No. 5-seeded team plays No. 4--the beatable Coyotes--but the No. 6 seeded-team will face the reborn, two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Red Wings, the No. 3-seeded team. St. Louis goalie Grant Fuhr, recently returned from knee surgery, has been as sharp as ever at 36 and with 843 games behind him. He hopes to break Terry Sawchuk’s record of 971 games and don’t count him out. The Ducks want to play Phoenix because they believe they have a psychological edge after their seven-game playoff victory two years ago. They’re right.

THE NUMBERS GAME

As the first-place team in the Southeast Division, the Carolina Hurricanes made the playoffs and will be the No. 3 seed in the East, even though their point total ranks eighth in the conference. They ended a six-year streak of missing the playoffs. Here are the longest ongoing non-playoff streaks.

Team: Non-playoff streak

N.Y. Islanders: Five

Calgary: Three*

Tampa Bay: Three

Vancouver: Three

Chicago: Two

Florida: Two

N.Y. Rangers: Two

*--Not yet eliminated this season but not in playoff position.