NHL TOP TO BOTTOM

Team (Record) Comment

1. St. Louis (46-17-9-0) Turek shines (1.93, six shutouts).

2. Washington (39-23-11-1) Capital times in 9-2-1 run.

3. Dallas (40-25-8-4) Looks like a champ in 4-0-1 streak.

4. Colorado (34-29-11-1) That Bourque guy can play.

5. New Jersey (41-24-8-5) Mogilny starting to fit in.

6. Detroit (43-22-8-2) Lidstrom a Norris candidate.

7. Philadelphia (38-22-12-2) Rookie Gagne impressive (18 goals).

8. Toronto (40-25-7-3) Distracted by Berard injury.

9. Kings (34-29-9-4) Gut-check time in 0-2-1 stall.

10. Ottawa (35-25-11-2) Defense slips in 1-3 slide.

11. Florida (37-30-5-5) Bure hot but goalies lag.

12. Mighty Ducks (30-31-12-2) Late playoff push promising.

13. Pittsburgh (30-34-8-6) Deadline deals, Jagr’s return help.

14. Montreal (31-34-8-3) Persevering despite injuries.

15. Vancouver (26-33-14-8) Messier wants to stay next season.

16. San Jose (30-34-9-7) Playoff berth slipping away.

17. Edmonton (27-30-16-8) Loss to Calgary complicates life.

18. Carolina (30-32-10-0) 1-3-1 slump badly timed.

19. Buffalo (30-34-10-3) Can Hasek can save them?

20. Chicago (28-36-8-2) Where was this offense before?

21. Phoenix (35-29-7-2) 3-9-1 collapse gets ugly.

22. N.Y. Rangers (29-34-11-3) Richter 0-4 in last four starts.

23. Nashville (26-40-7-7) No pressure, but lots of pluck.

24. Boston (22-33-17-6) Playing out sorry string.

25. Calgary (29-36-8-5) Beating Edmonton may be last gasp.

26. Tampa Bay (17-46-8-7) Upset of New Jersey a bright spot.

27. N.Y. Islanders (21-43-8-1) Kids are playing better.

28. Atlanta (13-51-6-4) Only 12 games before tee time.

GAME OF THE WEEK

COLORADO AT PHOENIX

When--Thursday. Time--7 p.m. TV--ESPN2.

* Story line--One of the NHL’s hottest teams faces one of the coldest in a game that will affect the West playoff race. The Avalanche is on a 6-2-1 tear, aided by the acquisition of defenseman Ray Bourque from Boston. The five-time Norris trophy winner has five goals, seven points and a plus-seven plus/minus rating in seven games. Center Joe Sakic has a 10-game point scoring streak with 12 goals and 19 points in that span. The Coyotes have lost three in a row and six of their last eight. Left wing Keith Tkachuk is out because of an ankle injury, but that doesn’t explain the sloppy defense and a power play that is three for 48 over the last 13 games.