TOP TO BOTTOM / NHL

Team (record) Comment

1. St. Louis (21-4-4) Eight-game winning streak just ended.

2. Colorado (21-6-5) All the Avalanche back on the ice.

3. Detroit (19-11-3-2) Beats Colorado, ties St. Louis.

4. Ottawa (19-8-4) Defense-first scheme bores, wins.

5. San Jose (20-6-4) Keeps playing goalie Nabokov.

6. Toronto (17-8-4-3) Wait until all Maple Leafs are healthy.

7. New Jersey (15-11-5) Arnott: 11 games, 15 points.

8. Dallas (17-9-4-1) Hull could become a distraction.

9. Kings (15-10-7) 3-1-1 in last five, but lousy in loss.

10. Vancouver (17-9-4-2) D. Sedin learns to play with boo-boo.

11. Buffalo (17-10-2-1) Dumont a great throw-in in Gilmour deal.

12. Phoenix (14-8-8-1) Watch out for salary jettisoning.

13. Philadelphia (14-12-6) Broad Street Ballet Co.

14. Edmonton (16-15-4) Coming back to the pack.

15. Pittsburgh (14-13-4-1) Would be nice if Mario played goal.

16. Washington (13-12-6-1) Finally, Southeast team over .500.

17. Ducks (13-15-4-3) Schedule trouble on the horizon.

18. N.Y. Rangers (16-17-1) Fun to watch if you’re not in net.

19. Boston (11-15-3-3) Keenan’s not the answer.

20. Carolina (12-13-4-1) Irbe always gives ‘Canes a chance.

21. Atlanta (11-13-6-1) Audette on salary surge.

22. Nashville (11-15-6-1) 71 goals in 33 games aren’t enough.

23. Tampa Bay (10-16-3-2) Ties Colorado, beats Kings on road.

24. Chicago (11-18-2-2) Looking for a goalie.

25. N.Y. Islanders (9-16-4-2) 11.1% on power play won’t do it.

26. Calgary (10-14-6-4) Wins when V. Bure sits.

27. Minnesota (9-17-5-2) Rude host to Stars.

28. Columbus (10-20-2-2) No Tugnutt, no chance.

29. Montreal (9-21-4) Sale is delayed.

30. Florida (6-15-6-5) P. Bure 18 of 68 goals.

GAME OF THE WEEK

DALLAS AT NEW JERSEY

* When--Wednesday. Time--5 PST. TV--ESPN.

* Story line--The last time these teams met, the Devils were holding up the Stanley Cup at game’s end. Since then, both have had their trials, with New Jersey having had the most difficulty because of problems signing its top players. All are in the fold now, and a goalie matchup between the Stars’ Ed Belfour and New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur makes this one worth watching.