Top to Bottom NHL

Team (Record) Comment

1. Dallas (30-9-8): Just give ‘em the Cup already.

2. Colorado (25-19-4): Winners of eight in a row.

3. Philadelphia (27-10-11): Maybe not Philly frauds.

4. Pittsburgh (23-15-7): Jagr 29 points since Christmas.

5. Carolina (23-18-8): Bad division, good team.

6. New Jersey (27-15-6): Quiet challenger to Flyers.

7. Toronto (28-17-3): Berard looking better already.

8. Ottawa (27-15-6): What’s not to like?

9. Buffalo (24-14-8): Sabres as solid as they come.

10. Florida (18-17-12): Bure energizing South Florida.

11. St. Louis (18-18-9): Good team even without Hull.

12. Detroit (24-21-4): Shanahan about to be traded?

13. Phoenix (25-12-9): Fast start officially history.

14. Edmonton (19-21-7): Just barely staying afloat.

15. Boston (20-19-8): Bruins in 0-4-1 slump.

16. N.Y. Rangers (19-23-7): Fleury could help.

17. Montreal (18-24-8): No playoffs for these Hab-nots.

18. Nashville (18-27-4): Approaching respectability.

19. Mighty Ducks (17-22-9): On a 1-6-1 slide.

20. Calgary (16-27-6): Two words: low budget.

21. Chicago (14-27-8): Trading Chelios isn’t the answer.

22. Vancouver (16-26-6): When is Messier traded?

23. San Jose (16-20-12): No promising news here.

24. Kings (17-28-4): Bad trip, man, bad trip.

25. Washington (17-26-4): Playoffs a lost cause.

26. N.Y. Islanders (15-30-4): Can Milbury fire the GM?

27. Tampa Bay (11-33-4): Got Daigle. Big whoop.

GAME OF THE WEEK

COLORADO AVALANCHE AT DETROIT RED WINGS

When--Friday. Time--4:30 PST.

TV--ESPN.

* Story line--The Avalanche, winner of eight in a row at the start of a four-game trip that begins tonight against the Boston Bruins, faces off against the not-so-hot Red Wings, quickly becoming yesterday’s news. A Colorado victory tonight would give the Avalanche the longest winning streak in the NHL this season. Rumors abound that Detroit winger Brendan Shanahan will soon be traded. Shanahan has one goal in 16 games, which hasn’t helped his stock with Coach Scotty Bowman.