Top to Bottom / CAPSULES AND RANKINGS

Team (Record): 1. Colorado (39-16-8)

Comment: Can’t bet against the champs, who are cruising until playoff time.

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Team (Record): 2. New Jersey (32-18-12)

Comment: Devils win three in a row with Doug Gilmour, have lost 1 in 17.

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Team (Record): 3. Philadelphia (37-17-10)

Comment: Trent Klatt gets hat as Flyers’ streak stretches to 4-0-1.

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Team (Record): 4. Dallas (38-23-4)

Comment: Stars shut out Blackhawks, rout Avalanche, but fall at Calgary.

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Team (Record): 5. Buffalo (33-20-10)

Comment: Sabres are 8-1-5, thoughoutshot 11 times. They’re tenacious.

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Team (Record): 6. Detroit (31-19-13)

Comment: Scotty Bowman’s boys round into playoff shape with 5-0-3 streak.

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Team (Record): 7. Florida (29-20-15)

Comment: Panthers shut out in Adam Oates and Gilmour deals.

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Team (Record): 8. Edmonton (29-29-7)

Comment: Jason Arnott isn’t carrying his weight as Oilers hit 0-4-1 skid.

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Team (Record): 9. Calgary (27-31-7)

Comment: Flames win three of four, Dwayne Roloson steadier in net.

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Team (Record): 10. St. Louis (28-29-8)

Comment: Blues’ offense stalls in 0-3-2 slide. Power play is one for 20.

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Team (Record): 11. Chicago (26-30-9)

Comment: Jeff Hackett can hack it. Black hawks give up 7 goals in last 5.

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Team (Record): 12. Pittsburgh (31-26-5)

Comment: Firing Johnston won’t cure scoring woes or end 1-8 slump.

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Team (Record): 13. N.Y. Rangers (28-27-9)

Comment: Outscored, 25-10, in 0-6-2 slump and beaten to for Rick Tocchet.

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Team (Record): 14. Mighty Ducks (26-30-8)

Comment: Looking better defensively in 3-0-2 run. Power play awakens.

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Team (Record): 15. Tampa Bay (25-30-7)

Comment: Dino Ciccarelli (six goals), Chris Gratton (five) lead 6-1-1 surge.

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Team (Record): 16. Kings (24-33-8)

Comment: Stephane Fiset and defense solid in five-game winning streak.

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Team (Record): 17. Phoenix (28-32-4)

Comment: Coyotes struggle at both ends of the ice, goaltending is spotty.

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Team (Record): 18. Montreal (24-30-11)

Comment: Mark Recchi (30 goals) picks up offense, but defense is shaky.

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Team (Record): 19. Vancouver (28-33-2)

Comment: Pavel Bure, Alexander Mogilny are invisible in losing four of five.

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Team (Record): 20. Hartford (24-30-9)

Comment: Fading, have scored more than two goals only once in last 11.

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Team (Record): 21. Ottawa (21-29-13)

Comment: Miss goalie Damian Rhodes (leg) in losing three of four.

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Team (Record): 22. Washington (24-32-7)

Comment: Goal-hungry Capitals pray Oates shows up, Tocchet heals fast.

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Team (Record): 23. N.Y. Islanders (21-32-10)

Comment: Ziggy Palffy kisses Travis Green, team kisses off season.

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Team (Record): 24. San Jose (22-34-7)

Comment: Sharks falling out of playoff race during 1-2-1 Eastern trip.

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Team (Record): 25. Toronto (24-37-2)

Comment: Kirk Muller might be next out the door in youth movement.

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Team (Record): 26. Boston (21-33-9)

Comment: Bruins concede season and 29-year playoff streak with trade.

GAME OF THE WEEK

COLORADO at MONTREAL

* When--Wednesday. Time--4:40 p.m. PST.

* Storyline--This will be goalie Patrick Roy’s first visit to Montreal since he feuded with Coach Mario Tremblay and was traded by the Canadiens to the Avalanche 15 months ago. Roy had the last laugh, winning the Stanley Cup last season while the Canadiens were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The Avalanche has the best record in the Western Conference, but the Canadiens are one of the league’s worst teams defensively and are battling to stay in the top eight in the East.