TOP TO BOTTOM / NHL

Team (Record)Comment

1. Colorado (41-26-10) Fleury makes them tough to beat.

2. Detroit (41-30-6) 6-0 since deadline-day deals.

3. Ottawa (43-21-12) Yashin (43 goals) proves his mettle.

4. New Jersey (42-22-11) Defense tight in 4-0-3 streak.

5. Dallas (47-17-12) Injuries strike in 5-5 stretch.

6. Toronto (42-28-7) Out of defensive doldrums.

7. Phoenix (38-26-12) Reichel, Roenick lead 4-1 surge.

8. Boston (35-28-13) Dafoe takes shutout lead (10).

9. Philadelphia (34-25-18) Miss Lindros, LeClair, Desjardins.

10. Mighty Ducks (34-30-12) Tough trip not over yet.

11. St. Louis (33-31-12) MacInnis becomes Norris favorite.

12. Buffalo (34-26-15) Hasek’s great, offense isn’t.

13. Pittsburgh (36-27-14) Injuries explain 0-5-2 slide.

14. San Jose (29-30-17) Damphousse (seven goals) steps up.

15. Carolina (31-29-16) Thankful for three-division setup.

16. Edmonton (28-37-11) Outscored, 17-7, in 0-3 streak.

17. Calgary (28-36-12) Scored five goals in 0-4-1 skid.

18. Chicago (25-41-12) Potential shows in 4-1-2 push.

19. Nashville (27-42-7) Credit for being competitive.

20. Kings (28-43-5) Some playoff run: 2-7.

21. N.Y. Rangers (32-35-10) Overpaid, underachieving.

22. Montreal (30-36-10) Glory days officially over.

23. Washington (31-39-6) 1998 East champs now also-rans.

24. Florida (27-31-18) Buried without Bure.

25. Tampa Bay (18-51-7) End, mercifully, is near.

26. N.Y. Islanders (21-45-10) Once-proud team sinks lower.

27. Vancouver (22-45-11) Mathematically done.

GAME OF THE WEEK

OTTAWA SENATORS AT TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

When--Wednesday. Time--4:30. TV--None.

Story line--The first in a home-and-home series between two of the East’s top teams. The Senators are trying to hold off New Jersey for the best point total in the East, and they have the speed, depth and goaltending to prevail. They have a 3-0-3 streak after tying Tampa Bay on Monday. The Maple Leafs will return to the playoffs after two successive misses and are two victories from tying the club record of 44 set in 1992-93. They have scored a league-leading 249 goals and have outscored their opponents, 27-13, during a 4-0-2 streak.

THE NUMBERS GAME

Mighty Duck right wing Teemu Selanne leads the NHL goal-scoring with 45 and appears to be only player who can score 50 this season. Here are the totals for the top goal scorers since 1969-70, the last time no one scored 50.

*--*

Season Player, Team Goals 1969-70 Phil Esposito, Boston 43 1970-71* Phil Esposito, Boston 76 1971-72* Phil Esposito, Boston 66 1972-73* Phil Esposito, Boston 55 1973-74* Phil Esposito, Boston 68 1974-75 Phil Esposito, Boston 61 1975-76 Reggie Leach, Philadelphia 61 1976-77 Steve Shutt, Montreal 60 1977-78* Guy Lafleur, Montreal 60 1978-79 Mike Bossy, N.Y. Islanders 69 1979-80 Charlie Simmer, Kings; Danny Gare, 56 Buffalo; Blaine Stoughton, Hartford 1980-81 Mike Bossy, N.Y. Islanders 68 1981-82* Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton 92 1982-83* Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton 71 1983-84* Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton 87 1984-85* Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton 73 1985-86 Jari Kurri, Edmonton 68 1986-87* Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton 62 1987-88* Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh 70 1988-89* Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh 85 1989-90 Brett Hull, St. Louis 72 1990-91 Brett Hull, St. Louis 86 1991-92 Brett Hull, St. Louis 70 1992-93 Teemu Selanne, Winnipeg; 76 Alexander Mogilny, Buffalo 1993-94 Pavel Bure, Vancouver 60 1994-95-x Peter Bondra, Washington 34 1995-96* Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh 69 1996-97 Keith Tkachuk, Phoenix 52 1997-98 Teemu Selanne, Mighty Ducks; 52 Peter Bondra, Washington

*--*

*--Also won scoring title.

x--lockout shortened season to 48 games.