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Team (Record): Comment

1. Dallas (20-8-4): Deep enough to weather losing Modano.

2. Colorado (16-7-8): Balanced scoring in 5-1-1 streak.

3. Pittsburgh (16-10-5): Penguins on an 8-1-1 run.

4. Detroit (18-7-5): Solid defense in 5-1-1 surge.

5. St. Louis (19-9-3): Blues back on track with four in a row.

6. New Jersey (19-9-0): Back-to-back wins end slide.

7. Montreal (17-10-4): Back to playing good defense.

8. Washington (15-11-4): Ranford stuck at one win.

9. Philadelphia (15-9-6): Too much talent to wallow in 0-1-3 slump.

10. Ottawa (13-13-4): Three wins in a row.

11. Boston (13-12-5): Dafoe carries on without Carey.

12. Kings (12-12-5): Pivotal time after losing three straight.

13. Carolina (12-14-5): They can score but can’t keep ‘em out.

14. Phoenix (13-14-3): Scored only 10 goals in 1-5-1 stretch.

15. N.Y. Islanders (12-13-4): Undone by inconsistent de fense.

16. Mighty Ducks (11-14-6): They need offensive help.

17. Chicago (10-14-5): Improved defensively, so-so up front.

18. Buffalo (9-13-6): Two shutouts for Hasek, one for offense.

19. Edmonton (9-15-7): Goals in three straight for Lindgren.

20. N.Y. Rangers (9-12-11): Campbell feels heat in 1-4-4 streak.

21. Vancouver (9-17-4): Keenan honeymoon ends with 0-3-1 slide.

22. San Jose (10-18-2): Outscored, 18-9, in losing four of five.

23. Florida (9-15-5): Scoring woes leave Panthers with one win in five.

24. Toronto (10-14-4): Ten goals in last two games.

25. Calgary (6-18-7): Only three wins in last 18.

26. Tampa Bay (5-19-4): At least the weather is good.

When--Friday. Time--7:30 p.m. TV--Fox Sports West 2.

Storyline--Ron Wilson, who wasn’t retained by the Ducks after coaching them to the second round of the playoffs last season, returns to the scene of his alleged crimes. He supposedly played Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne too much, which Pierre Page hasn’t done only because Kariya is unsigned. And if the young talent Wilson couldn’t develop was so good, why did the Ducks let defenseman Darren Van Impe go on waivers? The Capitals have slowed since a 7-1-0 start but have solid hold of an Eastern Conference playoff spot. The Ducks, 3-9-2 in the last month, need another finisher to ease the burden carried by Selanne. Their need for a bruising defenseman is equally urgent.