NHL TOP TO BOTTOM

1. Colorado (32-8-8-1) Plan the Stanley Cup parade now.

2. St. Louis (31-10-4-1) Blues will miss injured Pronger.

3. Detroit (27-15-4-4) Have Blues in their sights.

4. Ottawa (26-13-6-1) Dealt Prospal, Yashin next?

5. New Jersey (25-12-9-0) Waiting in the weeds.

6. Dallas (28-15-4-1) See above.

7. San Jose (26-13-8-0) Damphousse injury serious blow.

8. Vancouver (24-17-4-4) Potvin’s days with team numbered.

9. Phoenix (22-13-11-1) Briere scores in six games in row.

10. Toronto (22-15-7-4) Fading in Northeast Division.

11. Buffalo (24-16-5-1) Primed to overtake Leafs.

12. Philadelphia (23-15-9-1) Doing it without Lindros, LeClair.

13. Kings (22-18-7-1) Winning three of last four a good sign.

14. Edmonton (23-20-7-1) Reality setting in for Oilers.

15. Pittsburgh (22-18-6-2) Lemieux has 11 goals in 12 games.

16. Washington (20-18-8-1) Merely an average team.

17. Carolina (20-18-6-2) On a 7-2-2 roll.

18. Nashville (19-22-7-2) Solid victory over Blues.

19. Boston (18-19-6-5) Addition of Guerin was paying off.

20. Chicago (20-21-4-2) Suddenly in playoff mix.

21. Calgary (16-18-9-4) Terrific victory over Red Wings.

22. Minnesota (16-22-8-2) Best of two expansion clubs.

23. N.Y. Rangers (20-24-3-1) Salary dump set to begin?

24. Ducks (15-25-6-4) Dead team skating.

25. Atlanta (15-22-9-1) Fading fast during dog days.

26. Columbus (15-26-4-3) Hoping to escape last in West.

27. Montreal (15-25-5-3) About to be sold at last?

28. Tampa Bay (13-27-5-2) Hopeless.

29. Florida (10-25-8-6) Bure only reason to watch.

30. N.Y. Islanders (12-28-5-2) Wait until next year.

Game of the Week

NEW JERSEY at DALLAS

Wednesday, 5 PST, ESPN2

* Story line--This one is a natural. The Devils, the Stanley Cup champions, face the Stars, the vanquished foe, in their only Dallas appearance this season. New Jersey is quietly towing along the field in the Atlantic Division. Dallas has moved into the lead in the Pacific. Will they muster a rematch in the finals come June? There could be worse matchups. Plus, it’s always a treat to watch New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur and Dallas’ Ed Belfour work in goal. New Jersey’s Scott Stevens and Dallas’ Derian Hatcher are two of the league’s most-feared defensemen. Both are capable of muzzling (and mugging) standouts on offense. Neither team has a player among the league’s top 10 scorers, although Dallas’ Brett Hull has a team-leading 50 points. Both teams rely on the team game, featuring depth and experience at key positions.