NHL TOP TO BOTTOM

1. Colorado (6-0-2-0) Patrick in pokey could distract.

2. Dallas (6-2-1-0) Eddie the Eagle is flying.

3. St. Louis (5-2-1-0) Slovak line back together.

4. Phoenix (6-1-1-0) Been there, done that.

5. Ottawa (4-0-3-0) Meltdown vs. Atlanta unforgivable.

6. Pittsburgh (4-2-1-0) Time to hit the road--finally.

7. Edmonton (5-2-2-0) Are Oilers for real?

8. New Jersey (3-2-1-0) Winless on the road.

9. Mighty Ducks (4-2-1-2) 3-1-1 Eastern trip really helped.

10. Vancouver (5-2-0-1) Henrik to Daniel or vice versa.

11. Montreal (4-3-1-0) Linden: three-goal, five-assist week.

12. San Jose (4-2-0-0) Goalie Nabokov rewards patience.

13. Nashville (4-2-1-0) Dunham finally stumbles.

14. Detroit (5-3-0-1) No Yzerman, Chelios, Duchesne.

15. Toronto (4-3-0-0) Two goals a game not enough.

16. Carolina (2-2-2-0) Gelinas: Five-game point streak.

17. N.Y. Rangers (3-3-0-0) Yankee, Giant fans.

18. Kings (4-4-2-0) Special teams not special.

19. Boston (3-4-1-0) Western trip disastrous.

20. Tampa Bay (2-4-1-0) Weekes likes to play Rangers.

21. Calgary (3-5-0-0) Can’t win at home.

22. Buffalo (2-3-1-1) Missing Peca’s leadership.

23. Chicago (2-5-0-1) Tallas winning goalie job.

24. Washington (1-3-3-1) Boston-Columbus-Philadelphia week.

25. N.Y. Islanders (1-3-2-0) Met, Jet fans.

26. Philadelphia (1-5-2-0) Can’t kill a penalty.

27. Columbus (1-6-0-1) Home fans thirsty for win.

28. Minnesota (1-5-2-0) Just keep it close.

29. Atlanta (0-3-3-0) Will Florida win first?

30. Florida (0-2-2-2) Even Bure doesn’t score.

Game of the Week

Phoenix at Dallas

Friday, 5:30 PDT, no local television

* Story line--The best teams in the Pacific Division square off in a game that figures to be decided by the goalies. And in Ed Belfour, particularly playing in Reunion Arena, the edge goes to Dallas, which began the week with a 4-0-1 record on home ice. Phoenix has started well, but struggles on the road.