NHL WESTERN CONFERENCE.(brief notes on National Hockey League teams and tournaments)(Brief Article)

WHO'S HOT

Those Red Wings are keeping everyone guessing these days. Proof that they've settled in the middle of pack came when they lost consecutive games to the Wild and Blackhawks. But a shining light--both before and after the return of Igor Larionov--was Sergei Fedorov, who had three goals and an assist among Detroit's five goals. And he almost got more ice time than Steve Yzerman.

WHO'S NOT

Martin Lapointe was having a contract year with the Red Wings. A consistent 16-goal man in three of his previous four seasons, Lapointe was lighting it up like his last name was Lafleur, on pace for a 38-goal season. But now Motor City Martin is playing more like a Pinto than a Ferrari, going without a goal in his last 15 games. Heck, Craig Ramsay had job security the last time Lapointe scored.

CHALKDUST

The Canucks haven't been one of the highest-scoring teams because they like to backcheck. But the tendency by all three forwards to get in deep chasing personal stats has cost the club, which has lost four of six since December 20. Forwards were taking their time getting back on transition, leaving too much space between themselves and the defensemen, giving the opposition loads of room to move the puck and take ...