*--*Team (Record) Comment 1. Dallas (19-5-6) Soaring...

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Team (Record) Comment 1. Dallas (19-5-6) Soaring in 6-0-3 streak. 2. New Jersey 18-8-4) Goals galore--a new wrinkle. 3. Phoenix (18-5-4) First slump (1-2-1) is first test. 4. Buffalo (17-6-5) Balanced scoring in 8-1-1 surge. 5. Philadelphia (14-9-8) Solid goaltending in 2-0-3 streak. 6. Toronto (19-11-2) Healy steps in for skittish Cat. 7. Pittsburgh (13-9-7) Bad night at the Gardens. 8. Detroit (17-12-1) Losses to Dallas, Boston a worry. 9. Boston (15-9-6) Samsonov, Allison, Khristich romp. 10. Ducks (12-12-7) Second-liners key in 4-1-2 stretch. 11. Carolina (15-13-5) ‘Canes able to lead Southeast. 12. St. Louis (11-10-7) First back-to-back wins for Fuhr. 13. Florida (11-11-6) Pluggers coming alive. 14. Ottawa (14-12-3) Yashin shines despite 1-4 slide. 15. Edmonton (14-15-3) Offense vanishes in 1-6-2 slump. 16. Colorado (14-14-3) Scored nine in 1-3-1 skid. 17. Nashville (11-16-3) Small team, big hearts. 18. San Jose (8-15-7) Defense solid in 3-1 surge. 19. Calgary (12-16-3) Fleury (17 goals) stays hot. 20. N.Y. Rangers (11-13-7) Back to earth, lose four of five. 21. N.Y. Islanders (12-19-1) Palffy’s return welcomed. 22. Vancouver (11-15-4) Santa won’t bring Bure trade. 23. Kings (9-20-3) Murray, Robitaille only offense. 24. Washington (9-17-3) Shut out four times in 3-10 skid. 25. Montreal (8-17-7) Scored only 18 in 0-5-5 slump. 26. Chicago (9-19-4) Awful defense ends brief revival. 27. Tampa Bay (8-21-3) Been down so long, looks like up.

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GAME OF THE WEEK

BUFFALO AT NEW JERSEY

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

* Story line--Buffalo goalie Dominik Hasek is vying for a third consecutive Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player. He ranks second in goals-against average, 1.72; first in wins, 17; first in save percentage among goalies who have played more than one game, .943, and shares the shutout lead with five. Despite having lost--Donald Audette--their top goal scorer last season--to a contract dispute and a trade, the Sabres are averaging 2.96 goals a game, up from 2.57 last season. They’re 8-1-1 since Nov. 29. The Devils are also scoring, averaging three goals a game, compared to 2.74 last season. Coach Robbie Ftorek has given his team more offensive freedom, and the Devils have been thriving. They’re 6-1-3 since Nov. 28. Center Bobby Holik has blossomed into an offensive threat and leader.

THE NUMBERS GAME

Boston defenseman Ray Bourque last week passed Gordie Howe on the NHL all-time assist list to rank third, with 1,052. The all-time assist leaders:

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Player Assists *Wayne Gretzky 1,939 *Paul Coffey 1,091 *Ray Bourque 1,053 Gordie Howe 1,049 Marcel Dionne 1,040 *Mark Messier 1,037 *Ron Francis 1,014 Stan Mikita 926 Bryan Trottier 901 Dale Hawerchuk 891

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