THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

*--* Rk. Team (Rec.) Comment 1 OTTAWA (27-12-7-3) Martin gets contract extension after Senators go 14-2-4 since Dec. 18. 2 COLORADO (28-11-8-2) Forsberg (groin) in and out of lineup, but depth carries Avalanche. 3 TORONTO (27-12-8-3) McCabe, Nieuwendyk, Renberg step up. 4 SAN JOSE (23-12-11-4) Nabokov-Toskala goaltending tandem is Sharks’ backbone. 5 VANCOUVER (27-14-7-2) If Bertuzzi (three goals in last two games) awakens, Canucks will roll. 6 PHILADELPHIA (25-11-10-5) Amonte’s knee sprain latest mishap during 5-1 surge. 7 NEW JERSEY (25-12-10-1) Niedermayer leads while Stevens heals from concussion. 8 DETROIT (28-15-7-2) Hull silent on ice -- one goal in 23 games -- and off. 9 TAMPA BAY (23-16-6-3) Grahame’s solid play makes Khabibulin trade bait. 10 NASHVILLE (24-18-6-2) Vokoun keeps pesky Predators going in 6-2-2 push. 11 MONTREAL (24-18-6-2) Offense slows, but Theodore gives Habs chance to win. 12 BOSTON (22-14-10-4) Rookie Bergeron (14 goals) improves as season progresses. 13 PHOENIX (18-15-13-2) Boucher and Bierk making Burke expendable. 14 N.Y. ISLANDERS (24-20-4-1) Grit keeps them in East playoff race. 15 DALLAS (23-20-9-0) Might be ready to take off after recent 4-1-1 surge. 16 ST. LOUIS (25-16-6-1) Pronger keeping injury-depleted defense together. 17 CALGARY (24-17-4-3) Defense sags in 2-4-1 slide. Turek inconsistent. 18 KINGS (19-15-11-5) Bruised and battered but feisty and still in West chase. 19 ATLANTA (21-23-5-2) Heatley practicing with regulars but still weeks away. 20 MINNESOTA (17-20-15-0) Land of 10,000 lakes and very few Wild goals. 21 N.Y. RANGERS (19-20-7-4) Jagr’s second game (goal, two assists) better than his first. 22 FLORIDA (17-21-10-3) Audette revives power play. Panthers must make up ground fast. 23 BUFFALO (20-25-5-1) Biron could push Noronen onto trade block. 24 EDMONTON (19-22-8-1) Torres (16 goals) progressing nicely. 25 DUCKS (15-22-8-5) One step up, two steps back. Consistency is missing. 26 COLUMBUS (14-25-7-3) Nash (30 goals) should shine on All-Star stage. 27 CAROLINA (16-23-9-2) Rumors say O’Neill could be traded. 28 CHICAGO (12-26-7-5) Anderson finally gets a win, if that’s consolation. 29 WASHINGTON (14-29-5-2) Let the fire sale begin. Bondra rumored to be Ottawa-bound. 30 PITTSBURGH (11-31-5-3) Fleury gives up 11 goals in two starts since world juniors.

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