NHL TOP TO BOTTOM

Team (Record) Comment

1. Colorado (40-12-9-2) Blake makes team Cup favorite.

2. St. Louis (39-15-7-2) Pronger out with broken left arm.

3. Detroit (38-16-6-4) One final kick at the can for Bowman?

4. Ottawa (36-16-8-2) Senators have won seven of eight.

5. San Jose (34-18-10-0) Hook, hold, clutch, grab and win.

6. Philadelphia (33-18-10-2) Who needs Lindros?

7. Washington (32-19-10-1) Capitals on a 10-0-2 roll.

8. Dallas (35-21-5-2) Hasn’t quite measured up to San Jose.

9. New Jersey (30-17-12-3) Progress slowed by injuries.

10. Pittsburgh (32-21-7-2) Penguins 7-2-1 in last 10.

11. Buffalo (33-23-5-1) Anybody here miss unsigned Peca?

12. Phoenix (29-19-12-2) Shrewd move, re-signing Burke.

13. Vancouver (32-21-5-5) How are Canucks doing it?

14. Toronto (28-22-10-4) No Blake, no Lindros, no Cup.

15. Edmonton (29-24-9-2) Salo among NHL’s best goalies.

16. Kings (27-26-8-1) The playoff battle starts now.

17. Carolina (27-24-7-3) Better than the rest.

18. Boston (25-24-6-7) Going nowhere without healthy Dafoe.

19. Nashville (26-28-8-2) Deserves credit for hanging tough.

20. Chicago (26-29-5-3) Big victory Sunday over Toronto.

21. Calgary (22-25-11-4) Have given it a run, but could fade.

22. N.Y. Rangers (25-32-4-1) Any moves by trade deadline?

23. Minnesota (22-29-8-3) 12 wins for expansion record.

24. Columbus (19-31-7-6) Impressive in win over Ducks.

25. Florida (17-31-8-8) Lost four after winning four.

26. Montreal (20-34-5-4) Weinrich to Boston a bad deal.

27. Atlanta (18-33-9-2) Thrashers might lose Audette.

28. Ducks (18-33-8-5) Anyone for a mercy rule in Anaheim?

29. N.Y. Islanders (17-37-5-3) Weren’t they going to improve?

30. Tampa Bay (16-38-6-3) 0-9-1-1 in last 11 on road.

Game of the Week

PITTSBURGH at WASHINGTON

When--Saturday. Time--4 PST. TV--ESPN2.

* Story line--The Penguins knocked the Capitals out of the first round of the playoffs last season and Washington Coach Ron Wilson said a few weeks ago that his team struggles against Pittsburgh. Such honesty is refreshing. It also should enliven this game, which suddenly becomes all the more important, with both teams surging toward the top of the Eastern Conference standings. The Capitals don’t quite have the firepower to match Pittsburgh’s Jaromir Jagr, Alexei Kovalev and Mario Lemieux. Washington goalie Olaf Kolzig helped the Capitals to a five-game winning streak and a league-best 12-game unbeaten streak as this week began. Winger Peter Bondra has regained his form after a couple of subpar seasons. Bondra had 36 goals and 63 points in 62 games going into this week.