THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

*--* Rk. Team (Rec.) Comment 1 DETROIT (43-18-11-2) One point from fifth straight 100-point season, and six of seven. 2 BOSTON (37-17-14-7) Late acquisition Nylander fits well, boosts offense. 3 MONTREAL (40-26-7-3) Feuding Habs ride 11-1-1-1 run. “Fight on” could be new motto. 4 SAN JOSE (37-19-12-6) Cheechoo (25 goals) emerging as star. Great moves, puck control. 5 DALLAS (39-24-13-0) Modano reviving, but Arnott has become Stars’ No. 1 center. 6 TORONTO (41-23-9-3) Leetch averaging 26-plus minutes. Stabilizes defense, power play. 7 CALGARY (38-28-7-3) Will make playoffs after seven straight misses. Iginla rises to occasion. 8 PHILADELPHIA (38-18-14-6) Malakhov (broken jaw) latest injury on defense. 9 TAMPA BAY (42-20-8-5) Coach questions goaltending, team loses four of five. 10 NEW JERSEY (38-23-12-2) Brodeur needs a third try for his 400th career victory. 11 OTTAWA (39-21-9-6) Senators have scored two goals or fewer in six straight. 12 EDMONTON (33-27-12-4) Oilers climb into West race with late but strong surge. 13 COLORADO (38-20-12-5) Selanne rejoins lineup but can’t score. Avalanche shaky in 0-3 skid. 14 N.Y. ISLANDERS (34-27-10-4) Four wins in last five. Two against Lightning, possible playoff foe. 15 VANCOUVER (37-23-10-5) Only one win in eight games since Bertuzzi-Moore incident. 16 NASHVILLE (34-27-11-3) Inexperience under pressure shows in 1-3-3-1 slide. 17 ST. LOUIS (34-28-11-2) Offense is sputtering, Osgood still commits a gaffe a game. 18 KINGS (28-24-16-7) A shame if goaltending undermines their hard work and scrappiness. 19 BUFFALO (33-32-6-4) Spunky, but not quite enough to catch Islanders for last East spot. 20 MINNESOTA (25-28-20-2) Still playing hard, despite vanishing playoff chances. 21 PITTSBURGH (20-45-7-4) Kudos for not giving in, despite budget woes, bare-bones lineup. 22 CAROLINA (25-30-13-6) Good to see Irbe resurrecting career after exile to minors. 23 MIGHTY DUCKS (27-31-10-8) Fedorov’s numbers will look great, but team’s final record won’t. 24 FLORIDA (27-31-14-3) Luongo (.933) ranks among save percentage leaders. 25 ATLANTA (30-34-7-4) Kovalchuk’s chase for goal-scoring title only high point. He’s got 39. 26 CHICAGO (20-38-10-6) Arnason takes team goal-scoring lead at 21 after scoring four in last three. 27 N.Y. RANGERS (25-36-7-8) Playoff drought hits seven seasons. Money can’t buy happiness. 28 WASHINGTON (22-42-8-2) Playing out the string. One win in last seven, two in last 11. 29 COLUMBUS (20-42-8-4) If Penguins stay hot, Blue Jackets’ draft lottery chances will improve. 30 PHOENIX (21-31-18-6) Finally win one for Bowness after 0-8-4-3 streak.

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