RANKINGS

HELENE ELLIOTT’S NHL RANKINGS AND COMMENTS:

Rk. Team (Rec.)Comment

1 NEW JERSEY

(12-4-6-0)Second to Flyers in Atlantic, despite 10-1-4 surge.

2 PHILADELPHIA

(14-3-5-1)Streak ends at 10-0-2.

3 DETROIT

(14-9-2-0)Free agent Thomas helps keep 8-2-1 run alive.

4 TORONTO

(12-6-5-2)Four road victories in five-game win streak.

5 VANCOUVER

(14-6-3-2) Two high-scoring lines ease pressure on Cloutier, defense.

6 ATLANTA

(12-10-3-1)Kovalchuk (18 goals) on pace for 57. Kozlov (eight) chips in.

7 COLORADO

(14-7-2-1)Tanguay (31 points) vying for scoring title.

8 SAN JOSE

(8-6-8-2)Toskala, special teams rev up in 5-0-2 streak.

9 KINGS

(12-9-1-1)They win with grit, not mirrors. Straka a big pickup.

10 DALLAS

(11-11-3-0) Still inconsistent, though beating Devils was impressive.

11 NASHVILLE

(12-10-1-0)Predators on an 8-2 run with an anonymous but solid team.

12 ST. LOUIS

(13-6-1-1)Tkachuk, Weight are warriors; Demitra provides finesse.

13 TAMPA BAY

(11-4-4-1) Shut out twice in 0-2-2 slide -- and with an easy schedule.

14 BOSTON

(11-4-4-4) Offense has stalled in 0-2-1-1 slump.

15 MIGHTY DUCKS

(8-7-4-5) Giguere playing well, but this OT stuff is annoying.

16 N.Y. RANGERS

(9-8-5-2)Lindros playing well but defense still spotty.

17 BUFFALO

(11-11-2-1)Not capitalizing on speed, skill every game.

18 OTTAWA

(10-8-2-3)Muckler warns of shakeup, but Senators hardly stir.

19 CALGARY

(9-8-1-3)Kiprusoff might solve goaltending woes.

20 PHOENIX

(7-9-6-1)Nagy (13 goals) averaging more than a point a game.

21 EDMONTON

(10-11-3-0)Gave up 18 goals in 0-3-1 skid.

22 MONTREAL

(10-11-2-1)Defenseman Souray’s eight goals a pleasant surprise.

23 MINNESOTA

(8-12-4-0)Scored six goals in 0-4-1 slump.

24 FLORIDA

(9-13-4-0)Hasn’t asked Robinson to coach and probably won’t.

25 WASHINGTON

(7-15-1-1)Lang (14 goals, 31 points) surprise scoring leader.

26 CAROLINA

(7-10-7-0)Rookie Staal (13 points) is a keeper.

27 COLUMBUS

(7-12-3-1)Nash, avoiding sophomore jinx, scores 15 goals.

28 N.Y. ISLANDERS

(9-11-2-0)Outscored, 18-4, in losing five straight. Ugly.

29 PITTSBURGH

(6-12-4-1)Three wins in last 12 and finances getting tighter.

30 CHICAGO

(6-12-4-3)Injuries leave kids carrying load in 0-7-1-3 freefall.

*

GAME OF THE WEEK

DETROIT AT ST. LOUIS, THURSDAY, 4:30 PST, ESPN

Geographic rivals, their meeting has an extra edge because they’re jockeying for the Central Division lead. The Red Wings won their previous matchup, 2-1, Saturday at St. Louis, to extend their recent surge to 8-2-1. Detroit’s Dominik Hasek, out since Nov. 15 because of a groin pull, is expected to return this week, but Manny Legace is 4-1 in his absence. The Blues’ team goals-against average is a tidy 2.20, thanks to Chris Osgood’s solid play.