NHL TOP TO BOTTOM

Team (Record) Comment

1. Detroit (25-10-4-1) Team of the ‘90s--and ‘00s.

2. Philadelphia (22-11-6-1) LeClair scores eight in 5-1-2 run.

3. St. Louis (23-11-5-0) Turgeon, Turek hot.

4. New Jersey (22-12-5-2) Young forwards contributing.

5. Ottawa (19-13-6-2) Alexei who?

6. Toronto (24-12-4-2) 7-1 after split with Buffalo.

7. Dallas (20-15-5-1) Hull fuels 11-4-2 surge.

8. Colorado (18-16-5-1) Forsberg scraping off rust.

9. Pittsburgh (17-17-3-5) Hrdina, Straka score like Jagr.

10. Florida (21-13-3-3) Bure: 12 goals in last 10 games.

11. Calgary (17-17-5-1) Brathwaite superb in 5-1-1 push.

12. San Jose (20-19-4-3) Shields is the man in net.

13. Phoenix (21-13-4-0) Might consider goaltending move.

14. Kings (17-15-6-2) Team defense slides.

15. Edmonton (13-17-10-5) Weight, Guerin stepping up.

16. Nashville (14-20-5-2) No cream puffs in 5-0-3 streak.

17. Buffalo (16-18-5-1) Afinogenov making waves.

18. Ducks (18-17-4-1) Team play an ideal, not reality.

19. Carolina (15-16-7-0) No Primeau-Tkachuk trade.

20. Washington (13-16-7-1) Defense tightens, offense lags.

21. N.Y. Rangers (12-19-7-3) Losing ground in 0-4-3 skid.

22. Boston (13-16-10-2) Fading fast in 1-6-2 slide.

23. Chicago (11-22-6-2) No sparks anywhere.

24. Montreal (12-21-5-1) Fifteen one-goal losses.

25. N.Y. Islanders (9-22-5-0) Luongo-Weekes combo won’t work.

26. Tampa Bay (10-21-5-3) Outscored, 36-18, in 0-7 streak.

27. Vancouver (12-18-7-3) Nothing goes right in 1-9-1 slide.

28. Atlanta (8-25-4-3) Good news: season almost half over.

*

GAME OF THE WEEK

PITTSBURGH at PHILADELPHIA

When--Saturday. Time--5 p.m. PST.

TV--ESPN2.

* Story line--Led by NHL scoring leader Jaromir Jagr, the Penguins are 9-3 and playing an up-tempo game under new Coach Herb Brooks. Jagr (32 goals, 68 points) loves Brooks’ emphasis on offense, but will Pittsburgh’s defense hold up? Goalies Jean-Sebastien Aubin and Peter Skudra have alternated in place of the injured Tom Barrasso. The Flyers are known for physicality and the offensive exploits of Eric Lindros and John LeClair, but their defense has been superb lately. Free agent Ulf Samuelsson brought stability and Eric Desjardins is bringing offense with 10 goals and 31 points.