TOP TO BOTTOM HHL

Team (Record) Comment

1. Dallas (2-0-0-0) Modano, Sydor key injuries.

2. Toronto (2-0-0-0) Beating Habs always boosts morale.

3. Kings (2-0-0-0) Rookie coach Murray has fast start.

4. San Jose (2-0-0-0) Rookie Stuart impressive.

5. Ottawa (1-0-0-0) Sub Lalime shuts out Flyers.

6. Detroit (1-0-0-0) Osgood better than Hasek in opener.

7. Phoenix (1-0-0-0) Rookie coach Francis wins debut.

8. Carolina (1-0-0-0) One down, 8 to go on trip.

9. New Jersey (1-0-0-0) Holik (2 goals) has fast start.

10. Florida (1-0-0-0) Bure’s knee looks fine.

11. Vancouver (1-0-0-0) Old Man Messier sets up 2 goals.

12. Tampa Bay (1-0-0-0) Hoping bad old days are over.

13. Edmonton (0-0-1-0) Classy retirement fete for Gretzky.

14. N.Y. Rangers (0-1-1-0) Payroll nears $60 million.

15. Washington (0-1-0-0) Almost as feisty as GM McPhee.

16. Pittsburgh (0-1-0-0) Defense needs shoring up.

17. St. Louis (0-2-0-0) Quenneville 0-3 in openers.

18. Montreal (0-1-0-0) Another long season looms.

19. Boston (0-2-0-0) Must sign Dafoe quickly.

20. N.Y. Islanders (0-1-0-0) Low budget, low hopes.

21. Mighty Ducks (0-1-0-0) Tough early schedule.

22. Buffalo (0-1-0-0) May soon re-sign Satan.

23. Philadelphia (0-1-0-0) Lifeless start a bad omen.

24. Calgary (0-1-0-0) Budget keeps Iginla out of lineup.

25. Nashville (0-1-0-0) Offense has no twang.

26. Chicago (0-1-0-0) Wirtz ready to rumble; are they?

27. Colorado (0-0-0-0) Last team out of the gate, today.

28. Atlanta (0-1-0-0) NHL flame burns again in Atlanta.

GAME OF THE WEEK

DETROIT RED WINGS AT DALLAS STARS

When--Today. Time--4:30 p.m. PDT. TV--ESPN2.

* Story line--Last season’s Stanley Cup champions host the champions of the previous two seasons. Defensemen set up both of Detroit’s goals in its season-opening 2-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, and look for Coach Scotty Bowman to carefully dole out playing time to keep Chris Chelios and Larry Murphy fresh and productive. They’re without holdout Darren McCarty but have enough toughness elsewhere. The Stars are furious over losing center Mike Modano (concussion) and defenseman Darryl Sydor (broken eye socket) in their 2-0 victory over the Mighty Ducks on Saturday. Not many teams could sustain those kind of losses, but the Stars have formidable depth. Juha Lind and Pavel Patera add speed up front, remedying one of the Stars’ few weaknesses.