NHL TOP TO BOTTOM

1. Colorado (21-5-4-0) It would be a runaway if not for Blues.

2. St. Louis (20-4-3-0) Winner of seven in a row.

3. Detroit (17-11-1-2) Watch Wings with Yzerman back.

4. Vancouver (16-9-4-2) Can’t tell Sedin twins apart.

5. Ottawa (17-8-4-0) Upholding the honor of East.

6. Toronto (16-7-4-2) Giving Senators a run for it.

7. San Jose (16-6-4-0) Rookie goalie Nabokov 14-4-3.

8. Kings (15-9-6-0) Need to be more consistent.

9. Dallas (15-8-4-1) Can’t score, but they win.

10. Edmonton (15-12-4-0) Still wondering how Oilers do it.

11. Buffalo (15-9-2-1) Would Peca help or hurt at this point?

12. Phoenix (13-8-8-0) Sinking like a stone in Pacific.

13. Pittsburgh (14-11-3-1) Is Mario really the answer?

14. New Jersey (14-10-5-0) Devils really should be better.

15. Nashville (11-13-5-1) Better than what follows.

16. N.Y. Rangers (15-15-0-0) Fleury, Leetch leading the way.

17. Philadelphia (13-12-4-0) Ramsay out, Barber in as coach.

18. Boston (10-14-3-3) Addition of Guerin paying off.

19. Ducks (10-15-4-3) Paltry 4-12-3-1 record in last 20.

20. Washington (10-11-6-1) Anybody want to win Southeast?

21. Atlanta (10-12-6-1) Thrashers 5-4-4 on road.

22. Carolina (11-12-3-1) Mediocrity reigns.

23. Chicago (10-16-2-2) Pitiful 3-9-0 at United Center.

24. Calgary (8-13-6-4) Averaging only 2.19 goals.

25. Tampa Bay (9-14-3-2) Lightning going nowhere.

26. N.Y. Islanders (8-14-4-2) Is it salary-dumping time yet?

27. Minnesota (8-16-4-2) Fans come in out of the cold.

28. Columbus (9-18-2-1) 2-0-1 after eight-game losing streak.

29. Montreal (9-18-3-0) Lifeless, hopeless.

30. Florida (5-13-5-5) No offense, despite Bure.

GAME OF THE WEEK

DETROIT at COLORADO

When--Friday. Time--5 p.m. TV--ESPN.

* Story line--The Red Wing-Avalanche rivalry is one of the few NHL matchups worth staying home for on a Friday night. This game should be a good measuring stick for each team. Challenges have been infrequent for the Avalanche, which leads the NHL with 21 victories and 46 points. Colorado has won seven of eight and its only weakness could be a lack of interest after it clinches a playoff spot sometime, oh, next week. If not for the St. Louis Blues, the Red Wings would be leading the Central Division with a respectable 17-10-1-2 record for 37 points. Center Steve Yzerman is back after a knee injury sidelined him for about two months. Sergei Fedorov is playing as if he cares about the game again.