Top to Bottom : CAPSULES AND RANKINGS

Team (Record): 1. Dallas (46-23-6)

Comment: Stars’ 8-0-2 streak, 12-1-2 run bode well for playoff success.

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Team (Record): 2. New Jersey (41-21-13)

Comment: Winning three of four keeps Devils in hunt for No. 1 in East.

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Team (Record): 3. Philadelphia (43-22-11)

Comment: Loss at St. Louis ended 4-0-1 streak. Flyers can be caught.

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Team (Record): 4. Colorado (46-21-9)

Comment: Robbed against Detroit, but Toronto loss was sloppy.

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Team (Record): 5. Detroit (36-24-15)

Comment: Works overtime in last three, winning two. Defense erratic.

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Team (Record): 6. Buffalo (38-26-11)

Comment: Without Dominik Hasek, Sabres lost five of six, four by a goal.

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Team (Record): 7. Florida (33-26-18)

Comment: Panthers only 1-3-2 in last six. Offense isn’t producing.

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Team (Record): 8. Pittsburgh (36-33-7)

Comment: Jaromir Jagr is back to boost offense, inspire Mario Lemieux.

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Team (Record): 9. Ducks (33-33-11)

Comment: Gutsy overtime win at Detroit. They’re 10-3-5 since Feb. 20.

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Team (Record): 10. Edmonton (35-35-7)

Comment: Oilers have lost two of three and can’t get much past .500.

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Team (Record): 11. Phoenix (35-35-6)

Comment: Mike Gartner stalled at 695 goals; team has two in last two.

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Team (Record): 12. N.Y. Rangers (35-32-9)

Comment: Outplayed at New Jersey and Hartford. They’ve lost four of six.

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Team (Record): 13. St. Louis (33-34-9)

Comment: Big win over Flyers, but Blues have eight goals in last four.

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Team (Record): 14. Chicago (31-33-12)

Comment: Blackhawks averaged four goals a game in winning three of four.

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Team (Record): 15. Washington (30-38-8)

Comment: Ranford can’t finish against Flyers, team’s second loss in a row.

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Team (Record): 16. Hartford (29-36-10)

Comment: You gotta root for the Whalers to make it before they leave town.

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Team (Record): 17. N.Y. Islanders (28-36-11)

Comment: Reichel-Smolinski-Palffy line has 21 points in two games.

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Team (Record): 18. Calgary (32-36-8)

Comment: Couldn’t put Canucks away and stay on playoff bubble.

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Team (Record): 19 Montreal (28-34-14)

Comment: Weak goaltending, league-worst penalty killing will sink Canadiens.

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Team (Record): 20. Ottawa (26-34-15)

Comment: Senators stay alive with 4-1-2 push. Could go down to the wire.

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Team (Record): 21. Vancouver (32-40-5)

Comment: Canucks’ 3-1-1 surge is too little too late for playoff berth.

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Team (Record): 22. Tampa Bay (29-38-8)

Comment: Hanging in, but barely. Return of goalie Daren Puppa will help.

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Team (Record): 23. Toronto (28-41-7)

Comment: At least Maple Leafs are trying--go 2-0-1 on Western trip.

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Team (Record): 24. Kings (26-41-10)

Comment: No playoffs for fourth straight year. Lottery, here they come.

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Team (Record): 25. San Jose (25-43-7)

Comment: Sellout streak ends, Sharks lose eight of 10 and are eliminated.

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Team (Record): 26. Boston (24-43-9)

Comment: Bruins can’t even play out string respectably, lose six in a row.

GAME OF THE WEEK

CHICAGO AT MIGHTY DUCKS

* When--Tonight. Time--7:30. TV--Fox Sports West 2.

* Storyline--A crucial game for both teams’ playoff chances. This opens a three-game trip for the Blackhawks, who haven’t missed the playoffs since 1968-69 but have only a two-point hold on eighth in the West. The Ducks showed signs they’re more than a three-man team when players besides Teemu Selanne, Paul Kariya and Guy Hebert contributed while Selanne was idled because of a pulled muscle in his side, but they haven’t proved it conclusively.