NHL TOP TO BOTTOM

Team (record) Comment

1. Colorado (26-8-7-1) Rolling despite loss to Detroit.

2. St. Louis (27-7-4-1) Only three home losses so far.

3. Detroit (24-13-3-4) Yzerman awesome against Colorado.

4. San Jose (24-10-6-0) How are Sharks doing it?

5. Ottawa (22-12-6-0) Too many weapons for rest of East.

6. New Jersey (21-11-8-0) Finally starting to make a move.

7. Vancouver (22-12-4-4) Minor concerns with Potvin.

8. Toronto (20-13-6-3) Won’t catch Ottawa at this rate.

9. Dallas (23-12-4-1) Belfour suspended by GM Gainey.

10. Buffalo (21-13-5-1) Can afford to let Peca sit out.

11. Edmonton (20-17-6-1) Waiting for an Oiler stumble.

12. Washington (19-15-8-1) Finally matching expectations.

13. Philadelphia (19-14-9-0) No movement on Lindros front.

14. Phoenix (18-10-10-1) Four games in five nights this week.

15. Pittsburgh (19-15-6-1) Lemieux leads 3-1 surge.

16. Kings (18-16-7-1) Going nowhere without better goaltending.

17. Calgary (14-16-8-4) Flames on an 8-3-2 roll.

18. Nashville (15-20-7-1) Strong effort in win at St. Louis.

19. Carolina (16-16-5-2) Maurice next coach to be fired?

20. Atlanta (15-17-8-1) Audette’s 51 points leading the way.

21. Boston (14-17-6-4) Best of the bottom 10.

22. Ducks (14-19-6-4) Doing a slow fade without Kariya.

23. Chicago (16-20-3-2) Amonte only reason to watch them.

24. Minnesota (13-18-8-2) One loss in the last nine.

25. N.Y. Rangers (16-23-2-1) Repeat after me, “1994.”

26. Columbus (13-24-4-2) Struggling as expected.

27. Tampa Bay (12-21-5-2) Coaching change won’t help.

28. Montreal (12-24-4-2) Impressive in win over Pittsburgh.

29. Florida (8-20-7-6) How long before Bure wants out?

30. N.Y. Islanders (11-24-4-2) Same story on Lawn Guyland.

Game of the Week

ST. LOUIS at KINGS

When--Saturday. Time--6:30 p.m.

TV--Fox Sports Net, ESPN2.

* Story line--The Blues have played a league-low 16 road games in their first 39 games. At some point, they’re going to have to leave the safety and comfort of the Savvis Center and face a bit of reality. St. Louis continues to confound observers by matching strides with Colorado and Detroit, despite lacking the depth, skill and experience of either Western Conference rival. The Kings must play more consistent hockey and get better goaltending if they are to rally for a playoff spot. Beating St. Louis for a second consecutive time would be a positive step for the Kings, who are ninth in the conference standings, three points behind Phoenix. Solving the King goaltending woes won’t be easy. Perhaps trading defenseman Rob Blake for an all-star-caliber goalie would do it.