NHL TOP TO BOTTOM

Team (Record): Comment

1. Phoenix (15-6-3-0): Coyotes appear to be for real.

2. St. Louis (15-7-2-0): Solid overall in 6-1-2 push.

3. Philadelphia (13-8-4-1): Desjardins leads 5-1-2 surge.

4. Detroit (14-7-3-1): Shanahan scores in 3 in a row.

5. Kings (14-7-4-1): Second line is first-rate.

6. Florida (13-8-2-2): Defenseman Spacek shines.

7. San Jose (14-11-3-2): Damphousse, kids keep battling.

8. New Jersey (11-8-3-2): Should score more goals.

9. Boston (11-8-6-0): Andreychuk (15 goals) a weapon.

10. Toronto (14-9-3-2): Finish month stronger.

11. Carolina (10-8-6-0): Kapanen (12 goals) lights power play.

12. Ducks (12-11-2-1): Where’s the power play?

13. Washington (9-10-4-1): Dahlen fuels 4-2-2 recovery.

14. Vancouver (10-8-6-1): Goals becoming scarce.

15. Ottawa (13-9-2-1): Offense, goaltending falter.

16. Colorado (10-11-3-1): Forsberg’s return welcome.

17. Buffalo (11-11-2-0): Old formula produces 4-1 run.

18. Dallas (10-11-3-1): Big guns can’t be silent long.

19. Montreal (9-14-1-1): GM Houle’s job safe, for now.

20. Calgary (8-13-2-0): Overtime is Flames’ best time.

21. Pittsburgh (7-11-3-3): Barrasso returns, but defense lags.

22. N.Y. Islanders (6-11-3-0): Luongo impressive in debut.

23. N.Y. Rangers (7-13-3-1): Ship lists minus Leetch.

24. Tampa Bay (8-13-2-2): Better, but long way to go.

25. Edmonton (6-11-6-3): Guerin, Weight disappointing.

26. Nashville (7-14-1-2): Can’t score in 1-6 slump.

27. Chicago (5-14-4-2): May have to trade for goalie.

28. Atlanta (5-15-2-1): The South shall rise--someday.

GAME OF THE WEEK

MIGHTY DUCKS at PHOENIX

* When--Saturday. Time--6 PST. TV--Channel 9.

* Story line--Their meetings are emotional, dating to the seven-game playoff series won by the Ducks in 1997-98. The Coyotes haven’t given up a goal to the Ducks this season: Phoenix recorded a 4-0 home victory Oct. 5 and a 3-0 decision at Anaheim on Oct. 31. However, winning goalie Mikhail Shtalenkov was traded to the Florida Panthers for Sean Burke, who injured his thumb last Friday and is sidelined for at least a month. The Coyotes rode a six-game winning streak to the top of the Western Conference and outscored opponents, 23-9, in that span. The Ducks have been disappointing, despite consecutive victories at Dallas and Nashville. They have yet to win three games in a row and their power play--the NHL’s best last season at 22%--ranks near the bottom at 11.3%. Still, Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne make them a threat at any time.