NHL TOP TO BOTTOM

Team (Record): Comment

1. St. Louis (13-6-2-0): Turek solid in 4-0-2 run.

2. Phoenix (12-6-3-0): Tkachuk wakes up in 5-1 push.

3. Philadelphia (11-8-3-1): Tampa loss ends solid stretch.

4. San Jose (13-9-3-1): Vernon starts three in a row--2-0-1.

5. New Jersey (10-6-3-1): Gomez (5-16--21) top rookie scorer.

6. Florida (11-7-2-2): Kidd’s the man after Burke traded.

7. Toronto (12-7-3-1): Must end defensive lapses.

8. Kings (12-6-4-0): Power play 0 for 3 games.

9. Detroit (12-6-3-1): Yzerman one goal from 600.

10. Boston (10-7-5-0): Roll reaches 10-2-2.

11. Carolina (9-8-4-0): Not missing Primeau much.

12. Vancouver (10-7-4-1): Snow returns, faces flurries.

13. Ottawa (12-8-1-1): Offense stalls in 1-4 slide.

14. Washington (7-8-4-1): Penalty killing perfect 12 games in row.

15. Buffalo (9-10-2-0): Biron getting tough baptism.

16. Mighty Ducks (10-10-2-1): Can’t win three in a row.

17. Edmonton (6-8-6-3): Selivanov leads NHL with 17 goals.

18. Pittsburgh (5-10-3-3): Jagr hurts thigh, Penguins wince.

19. Colorado (9-9-3-1): Forsberg really missed.

20. Nashville (7-11-1-2): Valicevic, Ronning pace offense.

21. Dallas (8-10-3-1): First time under .500 since Oct. 8, 1997

22. Montreal (7-14-1-1): 2-0 on California swing.

23. Calgary (6-12-2-0): Housley (17 points) enjoys rebirth.

24. Tampa Bay (8-11-1-1): Better, but still long way to go.

25. N.Y. Islanders (5-9-3-0): Ex-King Green scores two in last five.

26. N.Y. Rangers (6-12-3-1): Muckler, Smith on shaky ground.

27. Chicago (4-12-4-1): Amonte (11 goals) deserves better team.

28. Atlanta (5-12-2-1): Offense begins to stir.

GAME OF THE WEEK

ST. LOUIS at DETROIT

When--Wednesday. Time--4:30 PST. TV--ESPN2.

* Story line--Although post-concussion syndrome caused left wing Geoff Courtnall to retire last week and center Pierre Turgeon left Saturday’s game because of back spasms, the Blues don’t plan any trades. They may not need help, with a 4-0-2 streak and 6-1-2 surge. The all-Slovak line of Michal Handzus centering for Pavol Demitra and Lubos Bartecko is skillful and fun to watch. Detroit center Sergei Fedorov didn’t practice Monday and is day-to-day after being stunned following a hit that sent him headfirst to the ice Saturday at Edmonton. The Red Wings’ 4-0-1 streak ended with losses at Calgary and Edmonton last weekend, but they still lead the Central Division. Backup Ken Wregget started three of the last six games, but Chris Osgood shares the NHL lead in victories with 10 and ranks in the top five in goals-against at 1.92.