THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

HELENE ELLIOTT’S NHL RANKINGS AND COMMENTS:

*--* Rk. Team (Rec.) Comment 1 PHILADELPHIA (17-3-6-1) Roenick yaps about switched lines, but team continues 13-1-3 roll. 2 TORONTO (15-6-5-2) Outscored opponents, 32-14, in winning eight straight. 3 NEW JERSEY (14-5-6-0) Last 10 goals scored by 10 players. 4 COLORADO (16-7-3-1) Hejduk (15 goals), Sakic, Selanne hitting stride. 5 DETROIT (16-10-3-0) Hot Hull is third in all-time goal scoring. 6 ST. LOUIS ( 15-6-2-1) Osgood more than good enough in 4-1-2 surge. 7 VANCOUVER (14-7-4-2) Offense zooms along, but defense sometimes slips. 8 KINGS (14-10-1-2) Straka fits right in, Kings get points in five of six. 9 SAN JOSE (9-7-9-2) Sharks regain bite, go 6-1-3. 10 CALGARY (13-8-1-3) Donovan (nine goals in last six) leads 7-0-1-2 push. 11 NASHVILLE (14-11-1-0) Vokoun, mobile defense fuel 10-3 surge. 12 MONTREAL (12-12-3-1) Ribeiro scratched by Julien but scores in next game. 13 PHOENIX (9-10-7-1) Burke, revived Boucher give Coyotes a chance. 14 OTTAWA (12-9-3-3) Alfredsson (12 goals) discussing contract extension. 15 TAMPA BAY (13-6-4-1) Offense has cooled, but goaltending solid. 16 ATLANTA (14-11-3-1) Hartley doing a masterful coaching job. 17 BOSTON (12-5-6-4) Stumbling, with one win in last seven. 18 N.Y. RANGERS (10-10-5-2) So many superstars, so few victories. 19 BUFFALO (12-13-2-1) Briere, Dumont need help carrying offensive load. 20 DALLAS (11-14-3-0) Don’t wish on falling Stars, 4-10-2 since Nov. 2. 21 EDMONTON (11-12-3-0) Conklin solid in goal, but the Oilers can’t score. 22 MINNESOTA (9-13-5-0) Scored one goal in six straight. Explains 2-6-3 slide. 23 FLORIDA (9-14-4-1) Defense spotty in 0-3-1 slump. 24 DUCKS (9-10-4-5) It’s Gerber, baby, ending skid with shutout of Dallas. 25 COLUMBUS ( 8-14-3-1) Nash (18 goals) will be a force. Team won’t be. 26 N.Y. ISLANDERS (10-13-2-0) Fans say it loud and clear: Milbury must go! 27 CAROLINA (7-11-8-1) Weekes solid, but team scores 15 goals in last 11. 28 PITTSBURGH (6-15-4-1) Fleury can rebuild confidence at world junior tournament. 29 WASHINGTON (8-18-1-1) Heavy-handed Cassidy losing players’ respect. 30 CHICAGO ( 6-14-5-3) Skid hits 0-9-2-3. Will they win again this season?.

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