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ATLANTA THRASHERS 3 @ PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 6
Goaltending match-up: Ondrej Pavelec (30/36, .833 SV%) vs. Marc-Andre Fleury (31/34, .912 SV%)
Combos: Andrew Ladd - Rich Peverley - Anthony Stewart/ Evander Kane - Alex Burmistrov - Bryan Little/ Ben Eager - Patrice Cormier - Fredrik Modin/ Eric Boulton - Jim Slater - Chris Thorburn/ Dustin Byfuglien - Tobias Enstrom/ Zach Bogosian - Johnny Oduya/ Ron Hainsey - Brent Sopel
Scratches: Bergfors, Meyer, Antropov
Top PP times: Byfuglien (10:34), Enstrom (10:01), Peverley (8:33), Ladd (8:07), Little (8:04)
Trending: Dustin Byfuglien (1G, 5 SOG) has scored in three of four and the man is just a steady stream of points, PIM, hits, SOG and more for his poolies. Tobias Enstrom (1A, 2 PIM, 6 SOG) had six points in five affairs before tonight, while Bryan Little (2A, -1, 4 SOG) continues to be a solid play in December. He had 11 points in 13 GP coming in. Patrice Cormier (-1, 12:14 TOI, 0:59 PP, 1 SOG), who would have made the team out of training camp had he not been hurt, made his NHL debut tonight. The second rounder from the 2008 draft had 2-3-5 with 14 PIM in 11 AHL GP and over time he should become a good source for both points and PIM in standard leagues. Evander Kane (1G, +1, 3:49 PP, 2 SOG) had six points in six games prior to the puck drop this evening.
Combos: Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - Pascal Dupuis/ Matt Cooke - Evgeni Malkin - Max Talbot/ Chris Conner - Mark Letestu - Tyler Kennedy/ Michael Rupp - Craig Adams - Arron Asham/ Paul Martin - Zbynek Michalek/ Brooks Orpik - Kris Letang/ Alex Goligoski - Ben Lovejoy
Scratches: Engelland, Godard, Johnson
Top PP times: Letang (4:03), Crosby (3:47), Kunitz (3:37), Malkin (3:28), Martin (2:35)
Trending: 25 games and counting for Sidney Crosby (2G, 2A, +3, 4 SOG), who is, quite simply, amazing. Kris Letang’s (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) offensive evolution, meanwhile, continues to evolve at a spectacular rate this season and Alex Goligoski (1A, +2, 2 PIM, 1:49 PP, 1 SOG) put the brakes on a five-game pointless skid here. Matt Cooke (1G, 1A, +1, 6 PIM, no PP, 3 SOG) quietly has points in six of his past nine affairs. Chris Kunitz (1G, +2, 2 SOG) had put together a strong month of December and had 2-9-11 in 9 GP coming in. Mark Letestu (1G, +1, 0:43 PP, 1 SOG) has a point in three of his past five.
CAROLINA HURRICANES 4 @ TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 3
Goaltending match-up: Cam Ward (34/37, .919 SV%) vs. Jonas Gustavsson (23/27, .852 SV%)
Combos: Sergei Samsonov - Eric Staal - Erik Cole/ Jeff Skinner - Jussi Jokinen - Tuomo Ruutu/ Pat Dwyer - Brandon Sutter - Chad LaRose/ Zach Boychuk - Ryan Carter - Troy Bodie/ Joni Pitkanen - Joe Corvo/ Tim Gleason - Jamie McBain/ Ian White - Jay Harrison
Scratches: Tlusty
Top PP times: Staal (4:40), Pitkanen (3:48), White (3:26), Skinner (3:09), Ruutu (3:09)
Trending: Eric Staal (2G, +1, 6 PIM, 3 SOG) had six points in six games before tonight and his last goals came via hat trick vs. ANH Dec. 18. Jeff Skinner (1G, +1, 4 SOG) has picked up points in five of his past seven tilts, while Jussi Jokinen (1A, +1, no PP, no SOG) had a pair of two pointers in four starts coming in. He was hurt in this one and may miss the next game, although it's apparently nothing too serious. Tuomo Ruutu (1A, +1, 3 SOG) had 12 points in 10 GP vs. TOR coming in here. Sergei Samsonov (1A, +1, 1:31 PP, no SOG) had just one point in five affairs headed into this one. This was the fifth start of the season for 2008 first rounder Zach Boychuk (1A, 2 PIM, 1:18 PP, 2 SOG), who had no points before tonight. He had 32 points in 28 GP in the AHL.
Combos: Joey Crabb - Tyler Bozak - Phil Kessel/ Clarke MacArthur - Mikhail Grabovski - Nikolai Kulemin/ Kris Versteeg - John Mitchell - Colby Armstrong/ Colton Orr - Nazem Kadri - Fredrik Sjostrom/ Francois Beauchemin - Dion Phaneuf/ Tomas Kaberle - Luke Schenn/ Carl Gunnarsson - Mike Komisarek
Scratches: Brent, Kadri
Top PP times: Versteeg (7:13), Kaberle (7:09), Kessel (6:44), Bozak (6:02), MacArthur (5:14)
Trending: Phil Kessel’s (2G, -1, 7 SOG) effort tonight is the reason why you don’t want to give up on him despite a sputtering season to date. Goal scorers can get hot so quickly and it’s tough to find them via the waiver wire, so it’ll generally be best to stick with guys like him through thick and thin. Ditto for Ilya Kovalchuk owners, of which I am one thanks to a blockbuster trade earlier this season. Mikhail Grabovski (1G, 4 PIM, 5:01 PP, 2 SOG) has goals in eight of his past 10 starts. Tomas Kaberle (2A, -2, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) began the night with nine points in 11 affairs, while Tyler Bozak (1A, 4 SOG) and Dion Phaneuf (1A, 5:10 PP, 4 SOG) ended four-game pointless spells.
MONTREAL CANADIENS 0 @ WASHINGTON CAPITALS 3
Goaltending match-up: Carey Price (27/29, .931 SV%) vs. Semyon Varlamov (25/25)
Combos: Michael Cammalleri - Tomas Plekanec - Andrei Kostitsyn/ Max Pacioretty - Scott Gomez - Brian Gionta/ Maxim Lapierre - Jeff Halpern - Travis Moen/ Mathieu Darche - Lars Eller - Benoit Pouliot/ P.K. Subban - Jaroslav Spacek/ Yannick Weber - Roman Hamrlik/ Alexandre Picard - Hal Gill
Scratches: Wisniewski, Gorges, Pyatt
Top PP times: Weber (5:26), Hamrlik (5:23), Gomez (4:19), Pacioretty (4:19), Gionta (4:16)
Trending:
Combos: Alex Ovechkin - Nicklas Backstrom - Mike Knuble/ Brooks Laich - Keith Aucoin - Alexander Semin/ Jason Chimera - Jay Beagle - Eric Fehr/ Matt Hendricks - Dave Steckel - Andrew Gordon/ Scott Hannan - Mike Green/ Karl Alzner - John Carlson/ Jeff Schultz - John Erskine
Scratches:Perreault, Sloan, Johansson
Top PP times: Green (11:49), Ovechkin (11:14), Backstrom (8:34), Semin (8:13), Laich (6:37)
Trending: Mike Green (1G, +2, 6 SOG) has a modest three-game point streak rolling along and after 15 career starts he’s still a point-per-game player against the Habs. Nicklas Backstrom (1A, +2, 1 SOG) has been quiet for weeks. Eric Fehr (1A, +2, 2 PIM, 4:36 PP, 6 SOG) has points in two of three, but has been largely unpredictable for poolies this year. Alex Ovechkin (1G, +1, 5 SOG) added the ENG and has markers in B2B games for the first time since early December and only the fourth time this season.
BOSTON BRUINS 4 @ TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 3
Goaltending match-up: Tim Thomas (31/34, .912 SV%) vs. Dan Ellis (25/29, .862 SV%)
Combos: Milan Lucic - Marc Savard - Nathan Horton/ Mark Recchi - Patrice Bergeron - Tyler Seguin/ Blake Wheeler - David Krejci - Michael Ryder/ Daniel Paille - Gregory Campbell - Shawn Thornton/ Zdeno Chara - Johnny Boychuk/ Dennis Seidenberg - Steven Kampfer/ Andrew Ference - Adam McQuaid
Scratches: Paille, Stuart
Top PP times: Ryder (3:25), Krejci (3:20), Bergeron (3:20), Recchi (3:04), Seidenberg (2:52)
Trending: Michael Ryder (1G, 3 SOG) had a solid 4-5-9 in 12 December GP coming in, including +3 and 30 SOG. Mark Recchi (1G, 1A, -1, 3 SOG) had a couple of points the last time these teams met earlier in the month, but hadn’t done much between then and now. Marc Savard (1A, 2:39 PP, 2 SOG) has struggled offensively since returning, but give the guy some more rope and know that he should come around. He picked up his 700th NHL point. Nathan Horton (1A, 2:18 PP, no SOG) had gone six games without a point. Patrice Bergeron (1A, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) had tallied three different two-pointers in five tries before tonight and Dennis Seidenberg (2A, +1, 2 SOG) added to the four points he had this month.
Combos: Ryan Malone - Steven Stamkos - Martin St. Louis/ Simon Gagne - Vincent Lecavalier - Sean Bergenheim/ Dana Tyrell - Nate Thompson - Adam Hall/ Mattias Ritola - Dominic Moore - Teddy Purcell/ Matt Smaby - Pavel Kubina/ Mattias Ohlund - Mike Lundin/ Brett Clark - Victor Hedman
Scratches: Jones
Top PP times: St. Louis (3:42), Stamkos (3:37), Clark (3:18), Purcell (2:39), Malone (2:36)
Trending: Steven Stamkos (1G, 1A, 4 PIM, 2 SOG) continues his quest for greatness and had scored seven times in the eight contests prior to this evening. Martin St. Louis (1G, +1, 4 SOG). Undrafted. 5-9. 177 pounds. He’ll never amount to anything at this level. Ryan Malone (1A, +2, 8 SOG) has been on quiet a run for awhile now for his standard league poolies and Brett Clark (1A, -1, 1 SOG) had four points in the four outings coming in here. Vincent Lecavalier (1G, 1:49 PP, 3 SOG) had three goals in two games before scoring again tonight. He has points in five of six too. Sean Bergenheim (1A, 6 PIM, 2:06 PP, no SOG) has points in four of seven, while Pavel Kubina (2A, +1, 1:24 PP, 1 SOG) has them in five of 10.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS 1 @ ST. LOUIS BLUES 3
Goaltending match-up: Marty Turco (40/43, .930 SV%) vs. Ty Conklin (25/26, .962 SV%)
Combos: Troy Brouwer- Jonathan Toews - Patrick Sharp/ John Scott - Tomas Kopecky - Marian Hossa/ Bryan Bickell - Dave Bolland - Patrick Kane/ Jake Dowell - Viktor Stalberg - Jack Skille/ Duncan Keith - Brent Seabrook/ Niklas Hjalmarsson - Brian Campbell/ Jassen Cullimore - Nick Boynton
Scratches: Hendry, Pisani, Johnson
Top PP times: Sharp (2:23), Seabrook (2:13), Hossa (2:09), Keith (2:01), Kane (1:51), Kopecky (1:51)
Trending: The Hawks had Patrick Kane (-2, no SOG) back in the line-up, but lost Jonathan Toews (5:51 TOI) early on. Clearly not good news for poolies or the team. Stay tuned. Jake Dowell (1G, +1, 0:19 PP, 1 SOG) hadn’t scored in more than a month, but has points in five of eight.
Combos: Vladimir Sobotka - David Backes - Matt D'Agostini/ Alex Steen - Patrik Berglund - B.J. Crombeen/ Brad Winchester - Jay McClement - Brad Boyes/ Chris Porter - Adam Cracknell - Cam Janssen/ Barret Jackman - Alex Pietrangelo/ Eric Brewer - Roman Polak/ Erik Johnson - Carlo Colaiacovo
Scratches: Strachan
Top PP times: Steen (5:53), Backes (5:06), Pietrangelo (5:04), Colaiacovo (4:59), Berglund (4:56)
Trending: Vladimir Sobotka (1G, +1, 3:03 PP, 4 SOG) had picked up seven points in six affairs before tonight. Brad Boyes (1G, +2, 2:43 PP, 2 SOG) had a goal the last time he faced the Hawks and has points in three of four. Erik Johnson (1A, +1, 3:09 PP, 4 SOG) has points in two of three, but has still been struggling offensively overall this season. Such is the frustration with young defencemen, even with ones as talented as this guy.
DALLAS STARS 4 @ NASHVILLE PREDATORS 2
Goaltending match-up: Andrew Raycroft (44/46, .957 SV%) vs. Pekka Rinne (21/25, .840 SV%)
Combos: Brian Sutherby - Brad Richards - Loui Eriksson/ Brenden Morrow - Mike Ribeiro - Jamie Benn/ James Neal - Steve Ott - Adam Burish/ Krys Barch - Aaron Gagnon - Toby Petersen/ Mark Fistric - Stephane Robidas/ Karlis Skrastins- Matt Niskanen/ Jeff Woywitka - Trevor Daley
Scratches: Grossman, Wandell, Segal
Top PP times: Richards (3:38), Robidas (3:11), Morrow (2:46), Ribeiro (2:37), Benn (2:21)
Trending: Brad Richards (1A, +2, 3 SOG) came into tonight with 22 points in 18 GP vs. NAS and on pace for a 91-point campaign. Loui Eriksson (1G, 1A, +2, 2:03 PP, 3 SOG) has points in six of seven and had nine points in that span coming in here. Steve Ott’s (1G, +2, 7 PIM, 2:05 PP, 1 SOG) December included seven points and 36 PIM before this evening. Jamie Benn (1A, 3 SOG) had four points in four games before this outing.
Combos: J.P. Dumont - Cal O'Reilly - Patric Hornqvist/ Sergei Kostitsyn - Marcel Goc - Linus Klasen/ Chris Mueller - Nick Spaling - Wade Belak/ Colin Wilson - Jerred Smithson - Joel Ward/ Shea Weber - Ryan Suter/ Kevin Klein - Francis Bouillon/ Cody Franson - Shane O'Brien
Scratches: Sulzer
Top PP times: Suter (6:22), Weber (5:34), Hornqvist (4:59), Wilson (4:53), Kostitsyn (4:53)
Trending: 2008 first rounder Colin Wilson (2G, -1, 4 SOG) had collected six points in 12 GP this month coming in. Sergei Kostitsyn (1A, -1, 3 SOG) had one point in four games before tonight, but has generally been sizzling-hot this month.
BUFFALO SABRES 4 @ EDMONTON OILERS 2
Goaltending match-up: Ryan Miller (29/31, .935 SV%) vs. Nikolai Khabibulin (17/20, .850 SV%)
Combos: Nathan Gerbe - Cody McCormick - Thomas Vanek/ Drew Stafford - Jochen Hecht - Jason Pominville/ Patrick Kaleta - Luke Adam - Rob Niedermayer/ Tyler Ennis - Paul Gaustad - Mike Grier/ Craig Rivet - Shaone Morrisonn/ Jordan Leopold - Steve Montador/ Andrej Sekera - Mike Weber
Scratches: Roy, Butler, Myers
Top PP times: Vanek (1:38), Leopold (1:18), 6 with 1:00
Trending: Jason Pominville (1A, +1, 1:00 PP, 2 SOG) had chipped in nine points in 11 GP this month already and Jochen Hecht (1G, 1A, +1, 0:22 PP, 1 SOG) has points in five of six. Mike Weber (2G, 1A, +4, no PP, 2 SOG) only had one point on the season before tonight, but his third point of the evening came via a gutsy ENG attempt that worked.
Combos: Taylor Hall - Sam Gagner - Jordan Eberle/ Dustin Penner - Andrew Cogliano - Ales Hemsky/ Linus Omark - Ryan O'Marra - Magnus Paajarvi/ Jean-Francois Jacques - Colin Fraser - Ryan Jones/ Ryan Whitney - Jeff Petry/ Theo Peckham - Tom Gilbert/ Ladislav Smid - Kurtis Foster
Scratches: MacIntyre, Strudwick, Stortini
Top PP times: Foster (7:26), Gilbert (4:55), Eberle (4:26), Hall (4:08), Gagner (3:53)
Trending: All is right with the world when Ales Hemsky (1A, -1, 2 PIM, 3:52 PP, 2 SOG) is back in the Oilers line-up. Hemsky Nation had 18 points in 21 GP before going down with the groin injury and had been playing quite well on the whole. The bad news? Ryan Whitney (3:48 TOI), who has been Mr. Consistent for the Oil offensively this season, left with an ankle injury. Kurtis Foster and Tom Gilbert's fantasy value should rise as a result, depending on how long Whitney will be out. Dustin Penner (1G, 3:29 PP, 4 SOG) has been fairly steady on the whole production-wise. Not great, but fairly good across the board. Jeff Petry (1A, -3, 3:05 PP, 2 SOG) has 21 points in 32 GP from the back end in the AHL and in his first NHL game he picked up his first point.
ANAHEIM DUCKS 3 @ PHOENIX COYOTES 1
Goaltending match-up: Jonas Hiller (31/32, .969 SV%) vs. Ilya Bryzgalov (21/24, .875 SV%)
Combos: Matt Beleskey - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry/ Jason Blake - Saku Koivu - Teemu Selanne/ Brandon McMillan - Bobby Ryan - Joffrey Lupul/ Todd Marchant - Kyle Chipchura - George Parros/ Toni Lydman - Lubomir Visnovsky/ Luca Sbisa - Andy Sutton/ Andreas Lilja - Cam Fowler
Scratches: Mara, Brookbank, Bonino
Top PP times: Koivu (4:00), Visnovsky (3:48), Selanne (2:43), Sbisa (2:30), Fowler (2:28)
Trending: Joffrey Lupul (1G, +1, 2:01 PP, 2 SOG) hadn’t produced for four games before tonight. Corey Perry (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 2:25 PP, 3 SOG) had added 22 points in 21 road games before this evening, while Saku Koivu (1A, +1, no SOG) has points in three of six. He still had just two points in eight games coming in though.
Combos: Mikkel Boedker - Eric Belanger - Shane Doan/ Ray Whitney - Martin Hanzal - Lee Stempniak/ Scottie Upshall - Kyle Turris - Paul Bissonnette/ Wojtek Wolski - Vernon Fiddler - Lauri Korpikoski/ Ed Jovanovski - Adrian Aucoin/ Keith Yandle - Derek Morris/ - Sami Lepisto - Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Scratches: Schlemko, Vrbata, Yonkman
Top PP times: Yandle (7:21), Whitney (7:05), Doan (7:05), Hanzal (6:30), Stempniak (4:35)
Trending: Shane Doan (1G, -1, 2 PIM, 6 SOG) had tallied 10 points in 11 GP before this evening and Ray Whitney (1A, -1, 3 SOG) added to the 35 points in 36 GP he had vs. ANH coming into this tilt. Keith Yandle (1A, 2 SOG) had 1-9-10 in 11 GP from the back end before this clash.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS 2 @ VANCOUVER CANUCKS 6
Goaltending match-up: Brian Boucher (24/28, .857 SV%) & Sergei Brobovsky (18/20, .900 SV%) vs. Roberto Luongo (35/37, .946 SV%)
Combos: Andreas Nodl - Mike Richards - Claude Giroux/ Scott Hartnell - Danny Briere - Ville Leino/ James van Riemsdyk - Jeff Carter - Nikolay Zherdev/ Dan Carcillo - Blair Betts - Darroll Powe/ Kimmo Timonen - Braydon Coburn/ Matt Carle - Andrej Meszaros/ Oskars Bartulis - Sean O'Donnell
Scratches: Carcillo, Leighton
Top PP times: Carter (4:07), Richards (3:23), Giroux (3:23), Briere (3:23), Zherdev (3:22)
Trending: Danny Briere (1G, 1A, 4 SOG) hadn't scored in five games coming in, but has still been a strong play on the whole this season and things have really come together for him. Ville Leino (1A, no PP, 3 SOG) had one point in five games before tonight. Jeff Carter (1G, -3, 6 SOG) had 148 SOG in his 35 GP coming into this one, while Claude Giroux (1A, -2, 3 SOG) has points in seven of nine now.
Combos: Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Alexandre Burrows/ Jeff Tambellini - Ryan Kesler - Jannik Hansen/ Raffi Torres - Manny Malhotra - Mikael Samuelsson/ Tanner Glass - Alexandre Bolduc - Aaron Volpatti/ Alexander Edler - Christian Ehrhoff/ Dan Hamhuis - Kevin Bieksa/ Keith Ballard - Andrew Alberts
Scratches: Parent, Raymond, Rome
Top PP times: Ehrhoff (4:06), Edler (4:01), Kesler (3:30), D. Sedin (3:15), H. Sedin (2:59)
Trending: Christian Ehrhoff (2A, +2, 3 SOG) began the night projected for 41 points on the season and he has points in six of nine overall. Daniel Sedin (1G, 1A, +2, 6 SOG) had 43 points in 34 GP coming in here, but only 16 had come in 17 home games. Tremendous road record there with 27 in 17. Henrik Sedin (3A, +2, 1 SOG) came into tonight with 10 points in his prior nine starts vs. PHI. Ryan Kesler's (2G, 1A, +2, 7 SOG) point streak has stretched to eight affairs and this was his third multi-goal game of the month. Alexandre Burrows (1A, +1, no PP, 1 SOG) had two points in his first nine games and then has been producing quite well ever since. Jannik Hansen (1G, +3, 2 PIM, 0:11 PP, 1 SOG) had three points in five games before scoring in the third period. Jeff Tambellini (1G, +2, 1:06 PP, 9 SOG) has goals in four of five with points in six straight after cleaning up a great Kesler effort that rang off the iron.
