THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

Lonnie White’s NHL rankings and comments:

1DETROIT

(20-3-1-1)Highest-scoring team in the league with 88 goals.

2N.Y. ISLANDERS

(15-5-2-1) Bounced back after minislump to regain top spot in East.

3CALGARY

(13-4-4-2) Major test on the road tonight against Red Wings.

4 EDMONTON

(14-7-3-1) Salo may have to win some games himself with Smyth out.

5 TORONTO

(13-6-2-3) Lumme’s addition makes team even more dangerous.

6 N.Y. RANGERS

(14-9-1-1) Losing at home to the Mighty Ducks is never a good thing.

7 CHICAGO

(12-7-6-0) Coming off an impressive comeback to tie Detroit.

8 CAROLINA

(11-9-4-2) O’Neill’s skills commanding more respect.

9 PHILADELPHIA

(10-7-5-0) Strong play has disappeared after solid start.

10 BOSTON

(11-7-3-2) Samsonov keeps proving he’s not too small to score in NHL.

11 OTTAWA

(12-7-3-0) Losing to Atlanta no way to end unbeaten streak.

12MONTREAL

(11-8-2-1)Good news: Koivu hoping to return for the playoffs.

13 SAN JOSE

(9-7-4-3) Definitely not playing as if still in first place in Pacific.

14 PHOENIX

(9-8-3-3) Burke has to stay sound for team to have a chance.

15 ST. LOUIS

(10-8-3-1) Pronger steps up with MacInnis still sidelined by injury.

16 NEW JERSEY

(9-8-2-2) Robinson breaks up ‘A line’ and losing skid ends.

17 DALLAS

(8-7-6-3) Nieuwendyk keeps getting the job done for Hitchcock.

18 COLORADO

(11-12-1-0) Role players not getting the job done like last season.

19 PITTSBURGH

(9-9-3-2) Chemistry improves, and so does play on the ice.

20 VANCOUVER

(11-13-2-0) Naslund and Linden playing well together.

21 MINNESOTA

(9-9-4-2) Gaborik keeps scoring and team needs his offense.

22 BUFFALO

(10-13-1-1) Not playing smart; too many errors at the blue line.

23 WASHINGTON

(9-12-2-0) Up and down team needs consistent Kolzig.

24 KINGS

(7-11-3-2) Storr playing well in goal; even more impressive playing puck.

25 TAMPA BAY

(9-11-1-1) Khabibulin has eight victories with a bad team.

26 NASHVILLE

(9-11-3-0) Watch out! Grimson scores first goal as Predator.

27 FLORIDA

(6-12-2-3) Pavel Bure out for at least two more games with concussion.

28 MIGHTY DUCKS

(7-14-3-0) Victory over Rangers ends dismal trip on a high note.

29 COLUMBUS

(6-12-5-1) Team celebrates like Stanley Cup champions after recent win.

30 ATLANTA

(5-13-2-2) Management makes statement in sending Buzek home