NHL TOP TO BOTTOM

Team (record) Comment

1. Detroit (22-9-3-1) Still best after loss to Ducks.

2. Philadelphia (19-10-5-1) LeClair scores three in last two.

3. Toronto (20-11-4-2) Defense firm in 8-2-1 push.

4. St. Louis (20-9-3-0) Top team goals-against: 2.10.

5. Florida (19-11-2-2) Hot Bure fuels 8-3 surge.

6. Dallas (17-13-4-1) Gritty Muller scores in debut.

7. Mighty Ducks (17-13-4-1) Defense shines in 5-1-2 run.

8. New Jersey (18-11-3-2) Consistency still not there.

9. Ottawa (16-12-5-1) Juneau starting to awaken.

10. Phoenix (19-11-3-0) Big win over Sharks, but 1-4.

11. Pittsburgh (12-16-3-4) Brooks spurs 4-2 rebound.

12. Kings (16-11-6-1) Defense crumbles in 1-4 slide.

13. San Jose (17-16-4-2) Nolan’s fine, defense isn’t.

14. Colorado (16-15-4-1) Forsberg struggling since return.

15. Boston (13-12-8-0) Offense erratic in 2-5-3 slump.

16. Buffalo (13-15-5-1) Last season a distant memory.

17. Carolina (12-13-7-0) Francis hitting stride.

18. N.Y. Rangers (12-15-4-2) Fleury becoming offensive force.

19. Edmonton (10-15-9-5) Goals still scarce.

20. Washington (12-14-5-1) Kolzig fighting the puck.

21. Tampa Bay (10-15-5-2) Scrappy and respectable.

22. Chicago (9-20-4-2) Thibault a rock in goal.

23. Calgary (13-16-5-1) Brathwaite impressive.

24. Montreal (12-20-2-1) Impressive win over Pittsburgh.

25. Nashville (9-20-4-2) Sophomore jinx hits hard.

26. Vancouver (11-15-7-2) Potvin trade should help.

27. N.Y. Islanders (7-18-5-0) Better luck next millennium.

28. Atlanta (7-22-2-2) Better luck millennium after that.

GAME OF THE WEEK

PHOENIX COYOTES at MIGHTY DUCKS

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

TV--Fox Sports Net 2.

* Story line--An emotional rivalry is rekindled. Coyote winger Keith Tkachuk has three goals in his last two games, including one Sunday in a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks that ended a four-game losing streak. Travis Green, acquired from the Ducks in the Oleg Tverdovsky trade, has 12 goals and is one short of matching last season’s total. Tverdovsky, meanwhile, leads the Duck defensemen with a plus-12 plus-minus rating. The Ducks are playing their best hockey this season and are 11-5-3 against Western Conference rivals.