Top to Bottom : CAPSULES AND RANKINGS

Team (Record): 1. Colorado (30-12-8)

Comment: Peter Forsberg is back, but Patrick Roy is still out because of a sprained thumb.

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Team (Record): 2. Philadelphia (27-14-7)

Comment: Flyers supposedly wanted Ed Belfour. Why? Ron Hextall has 2.27 goals-against average.

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Team (Record): 3. Pittsburgh (27-17-5)

Comment: So Patrick Lalime is human. Ah, but Mario Lemieux was superhuman at Montreal.

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Team (Record): 4. N.Y. Rangers (25-20-7)

Comment: Big guns are hot. Defenseman Brian Leetch making Norris Trophy bid.

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Team (Record): 5. Dallas (28-17-4)

Comment: Mike Modano has goals in four consecutive games and defense remains solid.

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Team (Record): 6. Florida (24-14-10)

Comment: Four in a row at home look sweet after 17 of 23 on road.

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Team (Record): 7. Detroit (22-16-9)

Comment: Looking better after taking three of four points in two against Flyers.

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Team (Record): 8. New Jersey (24-17-5)

Comment: Devils haven’t given up more than three goals in last seven games.

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Team (Record): 9. Buffalo (25-19-5)

Comment: Everyone saw in the All-Star game that Hasek may be league MVP.

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Team (Record): 10. Edmonton (23-22-5)

Comment: Oilers’ 4-1-1 surge puts them in top four in Western Conference.

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Team (Record): 11. St. Louis (23-23-4)

Comment: Mike who? Nice guy Joel Quenneville is now 5-3.

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Team (Record): 12. Hartford (20-21-7)

Comment: Whalers win three of four to end an 0-8-1 swoon.

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Team (Record): 13. Phoenix (21-23-4)

Comment: Cliff Ronning helps Coyotes awaken. Now’s the time to make a run.

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Team (Record): 14. Vancouver (23-23-2)

Comment: When Canucks are good, they’re very good, but when they’re bad, they’re horrid.

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Team (Record): 15. Washington (20-24-5)

Comment: Will Capitals ever get it all together? Six goals in the last three games.

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Team (Record): 16. Mighty Ducks (19-23-6)

Comment: They’re in the top eight in the West but still a defenseman away.

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Team (Record): 17. Tampa Bay (18-23-6)

Comment: Crispy’s critters keep battling. Injured goalie Daren Puppa is skating again.

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Team (Record): 18. Chicago (18-26-8)

Comment: Blackhawks have lost five of their last six. Will trading Ed Belfour boost morale?

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Team (Record): 19. Kings (17-26-6)

Comment: They’re 4-0-1 before break, 0-3-1 after it. Some consistency would be welcomed.

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Team (Record): 20. Calgary (17-25-6)

Comment: Flames can’t get out of their own way. Trade rumors make Theo Fleury nervous.

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Team (Record): 21. N.Y. Islanders (16-23-9)

Comment: Derek King had five goals as Islanders won three in a row.

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Team (Record): 22. Boston (18-24-6)

Comment: Bruins’ 29-year playoff streak is in serious trouble.

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Team (Record): 23. Montreal (18-24-8)

Comment: Outscored, 19-4, in losing to Buffalo, St. Louis and Pittsburgh. Sacre bleu!

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Team (Record): 24. San Jose (17-25-5)

Comment: Belfour will add stability, and Jeff Friesen and Viktor Kozlov are starting to produce.

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Team (Record): 25. Ottawa (15-22-9)

Comment: Senators not out of it yet, which proves too many teams make playoffs.

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Team (Record): 26. Toronto (19-31-0)

Comment: If this were soccer, Maple Leafs would be ropped to second division.

GAME OF THE WEEK

PHOENIX at PITTSBURGH

* When--Saturday. Time--4:30 p.m. TV--None.

* Storyline--The Coyotes are the NHL’s most puzzling team because their talent seems superior to their sub-.500 record. Keith Tkachuk (30 goals) has six goals in his last seven games and Jeremy Roenick is stirring, but Nikolai Khabibulin’s goaltending is inconsistent. Rookie Penguin goalie Patrick Lalime finally lost last week, twice, but bounced back Sunday to win at Montreal. Mario Lemieux, with 34 goals and 84 points, is making his final season memorable.