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Team (Record):Comment

1. Ottawa (32-16-8): Meek inherit the earth.

2. Dallas (35-10-9): Bobby’s boy Brett stays hot.

3. Detroit (31-23-5): Offense hot in 6-0-1 streak.

4. Toronto (32-21-4): Opens new arena with win.

5. Buffalo (27-19-11): Some life in 3-1-3 push.

6. Colorado (29-21-7): Injured Roy gutsy against Stars.

7. Philadelphia (30-14-3): Play big, win big.

8. Carolina (27-22-10): Primeau, O’Neill get hot.

9. New Jersey (32-20-7): Have grit, need speed.

10. Pittsburgh (31-18-7): Lost three of past four.

11. Phoenix (29-18-10): Outscored, 24-6, in 0-5 streak.

12. Florida (21-21-15): Bure’s return imminent.

13. Mighty Ducks (24-25-9): Defense could be tighter.

14. St. Louis (23-23-10): Too good to be this bad.

15. Calgary (21-28-9): Fleury shines in 6-1-5 surge.

16. Washington (24-28-5): Is 8-2-1 push too late?

17. San Jose (20-25-13): Survived trip intact.

18. Edmonton (22-27-8): Spinning wheels in 2-6 slump.

19. Kings (21-32-5): Offense, grit still missing.

20. N.Y. Rangers (23-28-7): Goalie switches galore.

21. Nashville (20-31-6): Close, but no cigar.

22. Montreal (23-28-8): Creeping back into East picture.

23. Boston (23-24-9): Offense goes stale.

24. N.Y. Islanders (18-33-7): Potvin sits, Salo thrives.

25. Vancouver (18-32-7): Crawford can’t help much.

26. Chicago (16-35-8): Graham had no chance.

27. Tampa Bay (12-41-5): Wanna buy a used team?

GAME OF THE WEEK

VANCOUVER CANUCKS AT COLORADO AVALANCHE

When--Tonight. Time--6 p.m. TV--none.

* Story line--This will be Vancouver Coach Marc Crawford’s first game against his former team since his bitter exit last summer. Crawford, who replaced Mike Keenan, is 3-8-1. It’s not his fault. He has a horrible team that lacks speed, scoring and consistent goaltending, and captain Mark Messier remains idled by a knee injury. The Avalanche is in an 0-2-3 lull, but defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh was injured for part of that stretch. He’s back and energizing the offense. Patrick Roy, who finished Sunday’s 1-1 tie with Dallas despite a muscle spasm, is playing like a clutch player again, as are Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg.