NHL TOP TO BOTTOM

Team (Record) Comment

1. Colorado (25-8-5-0) In Roy we trust.

2. St. Louis (26-5-4-0) 12-1-1 in last 14.

3. Detroit (22-13-3-3) Even with shaky goaltending.

4. New Jersey (20-11-6-0) Tough (7-2-1) on the road too.

5. Toronto (20-12-4-3) Cujo in a shooting gallery.

6. San Jose (23-9-5-0) But has Nabokov started to slip?

7. Pittsburgh (17-14-6-1) One-line team, but what a line!

8. Vancouver (20-11-4-4) Big win over San Jose.

9. Phoenix (16-10-10-1) Burke keeps them in there.

10. Ottawa (19-12-6-0) Senators on their way down.

11. Buffalo (20-13-3-1) Hasek struggles with high shots.

12. Kings (17-14-7-1) Huge victories in St. Louis, Dallas.

13. Dallas (21-11-4-1) Injuries hamper scoring.

14. Edmonton (18-16-6-1) Asking a lot of rookie Comrie.

15. Washington (18-13-7-1) More like Mike than other team.

16. Philadelphia (17-14-7-0) Honeymoon over for Barber.

17. Atlanta (15-16-6-1) Enjoy while it lasts.

18. N.Y. Rangers (16-21-1-1) Forget Blake, get a goalie.

19. Calgary (13-15-7-4) Valeri Bure heating up a bit.

20. Mighty Ducks (13-19-5-4) This assumes better health.

21. Nashville (14-18-7-1) Beat Colorado recently.

22. Carolina (14-16-4-2) Tough at home, bad on road.

23. Boston (14-16-5-4) Guerin finds home, little help.

24. Chicago (14-19-3-2) Khabibulin would really help.

25. Minnesota (12-17-7-2) 4-0-2 in last six.

26. Tampa Bay (12-18-5-2) Youngsters need to grow up.

27. Columbus (12-22-4-2) OK, a tie with New Jersey.

28. N.Y. Islanders (11-20-4-2) Playing to (lack of) talent.

29. Montreal (10-23-4-2) New coach not much help.

30. Florida (7-19-7-5) See Montreal (above).

GAME OF THE WEEK

WASHINGTON at PITTSBURGH

* When--Wednesday. * Time--4:30 PST. * TV--ESPN2.

* Story line--Let’s see, BCS championship game or Mario II, Chapter III. Washington has played well lately and plays hard-nosed defense. How will Ron Wilson have the Capitals play Mario Lemieux, whose schedule so far has been spread out enough to favor legs trying to forget they are 35 and have been idle for 3 1/2 years.