NHL TOP TO BOTTOM

Team (Record) Comment

1. Toronto (39-23-7-3) Perreault, Thomas fuel 9-1 surge.

2. Washington (36-22-11-1) (Chris) Simon says make 6-1-1 push.

3. St. Louis (43-17-9-0) Only back spasms can stop Pronger.

4. Detroit (41-20-8-1) Defense tight in 5-0-2 streak.

5. Ottawa (34-23-11-2) McEachern, Hossa lead offense.

6. Colorado (33-27-10-1) Roy nearing Sawchuk win record.

7. Philadelphia (37-21-11-2) Boucher looks like rookie he is.

8. Kings (34-27-8-3) Emerson, Buchberger will help.

9. New Jersey (40-22-8-5) Out of sync in 2-3-1 stretch.

10. Dallas (38-25-7-4) Belfour latest soap opera episode.

11. Phoenix (35-27-7-1) One day left to deal Khabibulin.

12. Montreal (30-32-7-3) Back in East picture on 12-4 run.

13. Carolina (30-30-9-0) Hanging with playoff pack.

14. Florida (36-28-5-5) Oddly flat in 4-9-1 slide.

15. San Jose (29-32-9-7) 4-3-1 on nine-game homestand.

16. Vancouver (23-33-14-8) No margin for error.

17. Ducks (28-30-11-2) Forget it if Hebert’s not sharp.

18. Pittsburgh (28-33-8-6) Wobbly without Jagr (thigh injury).

19. Buffalo (28-32-10-2) Gratton, Gilmour good additions.

20. N.Y. Rangers (28-33-10-3) Fleury falling on his wallet.

21. Edmonton (26-29-15-8) Must end 1-4 slide.

22. Calgary (28-34-8-5) Hopes fade in 0-4-1 slide.

23. Boston (21-31-17-5) Thornton era begins for Bruins.

24. Chicago (26-36-7-2) Wins now don’t mean much.

25. N.Y. Islanders (20-41-8-1) Scatchard, Jokinen impressive.

26. Nashville (24-39-6-6) Won’t trade Ronning--and shouldn’t.

27. Tampa Bay (15-45-7-7) Second-best NHL team in Florida.

28. Atlanta (12-50-6-4) The end is almost here.

Game of the Week

Mighty Ducks at Colorado

When--Today. Time--5 p.m. TV--ESPN.

* Story line--Another edition of ESPN’s “NHL Rules!” format, in which strategy and rules are explained in detail. The Ducks’ 1-2 punch of Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne may be matched in skill only by Colorado’s Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg, but both teams have struggled for a playoff foothold. The Ducks still lack depth, and their power play has been blanked in five of the last nine games. The Avalanche has recovered from a series of injuries to win five in a row. And check out No. 77. Ray Bourque, acquired from Boston last week, looks strange with a Bigfoot paw-print on his shoulder.