Top 10 : CAPSULES AND RANKINGS

Team (Record): 1. Florida (17-4-7)

Comment: The beat goes on, after a pause for a shutout loss at New Jersey. The Panthers still haven’t lost to a Western Conference team.

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Team (Record): 2. Colorado (17-8-4)

Comment: Losses to St. Louis and the Kings were Colorado’s first on consecutive nights since Games 1-2, but the Avalanche is too good to slump for long.

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Team (Record): 3. Detroit (15-9-4)

Comment: Center Sergei Fedorov has three goals in his last three games after scoring five in first 25.

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Team (Record): 4. Hartford (13-7-6)

Comment: Led by Geoff Sanderson--nine goals, 13 points in his last seven games--the Whalers have a 3-0-2 streak.

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Team (Record): 5. Phila. (15-12-2)

Comment: The Flyers are on the move, with a 3-0-1 streak. Mikael Renberg ended a 12-game drought with two goals against Dallas.

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Team (Record): 6. Rangers (13-13-5)

Comment: Improving with 6-0-1 run. Brian Noonan is helping the power play and Wayne Gretzky has four goals in his last five games.

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Team (Record): 7. Pitt. (11-13-3)

Comment: Jaromir Jagr and Mario Lemieux ignited a 5-0-2 streak. But will goaltending hold up?

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Team (Record): 8. Dallas (16-10-2)

Comment: The Stars’ 1-1 tie against Florida Sunday kept them tied with Detroit for the Central Division lead. But they’re sagging offensively.

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Team (Record): 9. Phoenix (10-14-4)

Comment: Four victories in five games? Much closer to what was expected of the Coyotes.

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Team (Record): 10. St. Louis (15-14-0)

Comment: Consecutive one-goal victories at Colorado and Edmonton were impressive after three losses in a row and the Brett Hull flap.

GAME OF THE WEEK

FLORIDA at HARTFORD

* When--Wednesday. Time--4 p.m. TV--None.

* Storyline--Live long enough and you see everything, including the Whalers in a matchup of the Eastern Conference’s division leaders. The Panthers, who have the NHL’s fewest losses, are on a 50-victory pace. Their team goals-against average of 1.88 is second only to Detroit’s 1.87 but they can score too. They average three goals a game, more than supposed powerhouses Philadelphia and Detroit. The Whalers’ success is remarkable, considering their uncertain future in Hartford, trade demands by Brendan Shanahan and Paul Coffey and goalie Sean Burke’s thumb injury.