Top to Bottom: NHL

Team (Record): Comment

1. Ottawa (37-18-8): Tugnutt-Rhodes duo impressive.

2. Dallas (40-12-10): Nieuwendyk leads offense.

3. New Jersey (36-21-8): Defense back on track.

4. Colorado (33-24-8): Capitalizing on depth.

5. Mighty Ducks (30-25-9): Can they compete with big boys?

6. Buffalo (29-22-13): Surviving without injured Hasek.

7. Carolina (29-23-13): Francis signing looks better.

8. Toronto (36-24-5): First to score 200 goals.

9. Detroit (32-27-6): Stuck in 1-4-2 skid.

10. Philadelphia (30-19-16): No end to 0-5-3 slide.

11. Pittsburgh (32-22-9): Injuries weaken defense.

12. N.Y. Rangers (28-28-8): 5-0-1 without Gretzky.

13. Edmonton (25-29-10): Need Weight to get fit.

14. Boston (28-26-10): Hearing Rangers’ footsteps.

15. Phoenix (31-23-10): Time to unwrap hands from throats.

16. Calgary (24-30-10): Sutter’s boys won’t quit.

17. San Jose (23-28-14): Kids still erratic.

18. St. Louis (26-27-10): Goaltending, offense unsettled.

19. Washington (27-32-5): Can’t overcome bad start.

20. Montreal (25-31-9): Recchi trade possible.

21. Florida (23-24-17): Collapse vs. Colorado a nightmare.

22. Nashville (22-36-6): One scorer from being playoff team.

23. Kings (24-36-5): They own Red Wings (2-1 this season).

24. Tampa Bay (15-44-5): 3-1 week best since October.

25. Chicago (18-37-9): Showing life under Molleken.

26. N.Y. Islanders (19-38-9): Latest slump hits 0-4-1.

27. Vancouver (19-35-10): Crawford’s headaches grow.