@Nichols_NHLPool on Twitter for timely NHL & poolie info, along with occasionally snarky comments.
Live blogging nightly: line combos, defensive pairings, analysis, statistical trends and more from every game on the NHL docket. Refresh the 'Live NHL Recap' page while the games are on to get new info as it is added.
Send in a brief fantasy hockey question, including all relevant league info, and it may be included in a future Hockey Hearsay blog during the week. One per person, please. Send it via Twitter for a possible response in the blog, or send via email (include your first name and hometown to represent!) if you'd prefer. chris.nichols@sportsnet.rogers.com
NEED A SECOND OPINION ON YOUR FANTASY ROSTER?
Each and every weekday you'll see a Hockey Hearsay blog, which brings you a wide variety of news and notes from around the NHL. That daily dose helps keep you on top of goings on around the league whether you're a poolie looking for the latest info, or just a hockey fan keeping tabs on what's happening.
If you're a poolie though, issues will crop up all the time and you may want a second opinion on something related to your roster. Not sure which FA to add? Whether or not to accept a trade or make an offer to someone in the first place? Running into injury problems, but you're not sure who to cut if you're out of IR spots already?
Send in your relatively brief question (while still including the pertinent league and team info) to chris.nichols@sportsnet.rogers.com and then check back in coming Hockey Hearsay blogs for an answer. If you need a sounding board for your strategy, this is the place for you.
CAROLINA HURRICANES 1 @ NEW YORK RANGERS 2 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Cam Ward (33/35, .943 SV%) vs. Henrik Lundqvist (31/32, .969 SV%)
Combos: Erik Cole - Eric Staal - Zach Boychuk/ Jeff Skinner - Tuomo Ruutu - Chad LaRose/ Pat Dwyer - Brandon Sutter - Zac Dalpe/ Sergei Samsonov - Ryan Carter - Troy Bodie/ Tim Gleason - Joe Corvo/ Ian White - Jay Harrison/ Jamie McBain - Brett Carson
Scratches: Tlusty, Pitkanen, Jokinen
Top PP times: Corvo (3:30), McBain (3:23), Staal (2:56), Skinner (2:38), Cole (2:13)
Trending: Eric Staal (1G, 2 PIM, 4 SOG) had contributed 10 points in 10 games before scoring here. Joe Corvo (1A, 4 SOG) already had three points in three games headed in here. Tim Gleason (1A, -1, 1:05 PP, 1 SOG) has points in four of seven from the back end.
Combos: Alexander Frolov - Artem Anisimov - Marian Gaborik/ Brandon Dubinsky - Derek Stepan - Mats Zuccarello/ Ruslan Fedotenko - Brian Boyle - Brandon Prust/ Sean Avery - Chris Drury - Dale Weise/ Marc Staal - Dan Girardi/ Steve Eminger - Michal Rozsival/ Matt Gilroy - Michael Sauer
Scratches: McDonagh
Top PP times: Staal (3:30), Girardi (3:23), Dubinsky (3:05), Stepan (3:05), Gaborik (2:45)
Trending: Mats Zuccarello (1G, 1A, +2, 1:24 PP, 3 SOG) has points in two of his six NHL outings and his first goal was the OT GWG. Not too shabby. Matt Gilroy (1G, +1, 1:11 PP, 3 SOG) broke a scoreless tie midway through the third period. He had three points in his last four starts coming in. Brandon Dubinsky (2A, +2, 4 SOG) made his first January contribution in three tries and had a really strong, difference-making game.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 1 @ PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 8
Goaltending match-up: Dwayne Roloson (18/23, .783 SV%) & Dan Ellis (15/18, .833 SV%) vs. Marc-Andre Fleury (31/32, .969 SV%)
Combos: Ryan Malone - Steven Stamkos - Martin St. Louis/ Simon Gagne - Vincent Lecavalier - Sean Bergenheim/ Dana Tyrell - Nate Thompson - Adam Hall/ Teddy Purcell - Dominic Moore - Steve Downie/ Matt Smaby - Pavel Kubina/ Mattias Ohlund - Mike Lundin/ Brett Clark - Victor Hedman
Scratches: Jones, Ritola
Top PP times: Stamkos (2:07), Purcell (2:07), Malone (2:07), St. Louis (2:03), Clark (2:03)
Trending: Adam Hall (1G, +1, no PP, 3 SOG) and Nate Thompson (1A, +1, no PP, 2 SOG) combined to break the shutout bid early in the third period.
Combos: Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - Pascal Dupuis/ Tyler Kennedy - Jordan Staal - Evgeni Malkin/ Chris Conner - Mark Letestu - Matt Cooke/ Michael Rupp - Max Talbot - Craig Adams/ Paul Martin - Zbynek Michalek/ Brooks Orpik - Kris Letang/ Alex Goligoski - Ben Lovejoy
Scratches: Engelland, Godard, Asham
Top PP times: Crosby (3:39), Malkin (3:38), Letang (3:38), Kunitz (3:38), Goligoski (3:38)
Trending: Evgeni Malkin (1G, +2, 2 SOG) scored only seven seconds into this one and that pretty much set the tone for the evening. He had 11 points in nine games coming in, but still entered this evening two points below the point-per-game mark. Sidney Crosby (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) had been blanked in two straight after his 25-game point streak ended. Since the start of December, Chris Kunitz (3G, +1, 5 SOG) has been a point-per-game player and then some. This was his second career hat trick and first with the Pens. Kris Letang’s (3A, +3, 3 SOG) three-game pointless slide in early December was his longest of the entire season to date. Alex Goligoski (1G, 3A, +3, 3 SOG) had been fairly dry over the past two weeks. Pascal Dupuis (1A, +1, 1:24 PP, 3 SOG) had five points last month. Matt Cooke (1A, +2, 0:36 PP, 3 SOG) has points in seven of 12, while Tyler Kennedy (1G, 1A, +2, 0:36 PP, 5 SOG) began the evening with six in his past 14.
ATLANTA THRASHERS 3 @ FLORIDA PANTHERS 2
Goaltending match-up: Ondrej Pavelec (33/35, .943 SV%) vs. Tomas Vokoun (12/15, .800 SV%) & Scott Clemmensen (16/16)
Combos: Andrew Ladd - Bryan Little - Niclas Bergfors/ Fredrik Modin - Rich Peverley - Anthony Stewart/ Evander Kane - Patrice Cormier - Chris Thorburn/ Eric Boulton - Alex Burmistrov - Nik Antropov/ Dustin Byfuglien - Tobias Enstrom/ Zach Bogosian - Johnny Oduya/ Ron Hainsey - Brent Sopel
Scratches: Slater, Meyer
Top PP times: Byfuglien (8:13), Enstrom (8:10), Ladd (7:24), Peverley (7:17), Antropov (6:25)
Trending: Tobias Enstrom (1A, -2, 1 SOG) has been piling up the points so far and had 12 in nine coming in. Niclas Bergfors (1G, +2, 2 PIM, 3:23 PP, 1 SOG) has been averaging two points every three games or so when he’s been in the line-up. Nik Antropov (1A, -1, 2 SOG) had seven points in 12 GP headed in here. Andrew Ladd (2A, +2, 1 SOG) has points in each of his two January games after a slow finish to December that saw few points in his final three weeks. Rich Peverley (2G, +1, 8 SOG) has goals in B2B games after seven without a point. Zach Bogosian (1A, +1, 3:44 PP, 3 SOG) has picked up points in three of five from the back end.
Combos: Chris Higgins - Stephen Weiss - Michael Frolik/ David Booth - Mike Santorelli - Rostislav Olesz/ Cory Stillman - Marty Reasoner - Radek Dvorak/ Darcy Hordichuk - Shawn Matthias - Steve Bernier/ Bryan Allen - Dennis Wideman/ Dmitry Kulikov - Bryan McCabe/ Mike Weaver - Jason Garrison
Scratches: Dadonov
Top PP times: Kulikov (1:43), Higgins (1:39), McCabe (1:36), Booth (1:33), Santorelli (1:33)
Trending: Stephen Weiss (1G, +2, 1:15 PP, 2 SOG) had collected 14 points in 15 GP before tonight. Michael Frolik (1A, +2, 1:15 PP, 4 SOG) entered tonight with 12 points in his past 13 outings. Chris Higgins (1G, 1A, +2, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) has been good since returning to the line-up and had eight points in nine games coming in.
DALLAS STARS 4 @ CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS 2
Goaltending match-up: Kari Lehtonen (35/37, .946 SV%) vs. Corey Crawford (18/21, .857 SV%)
Combos: James Neal - Brad Richards - Loui Eriksson/ Brenden Morrow - Mike Ribeiro - Jamie Benn/ Steve Ott - Tom Wandell - Adam Burish/ Krys Barch - Brian Sutherby - Brandon Segal / Nicklas Grossman - Stephane Robidas/ Karlis Skrastins- Matt Niskanen/ Jeff Woywitka - Trevor Daley
Scratches: Petersen, Fistric
Top PP times: Richards (3:09), Ribeiro (3:09), Eriksson (3:09), Morrow (3:09), Niskanen (1:19)
Trending: Brenden Morrow (1G, 1A, -2, 2 SOG) has points in four straight and has been playing really well offensively. He had seven goals in 10 GP coming in. Brad Richards (2A, 2 SOG) had a couple of points the last time he faced the Hawks and had 21 points in 16 career GP vs. CHI. Loui Eriksson (2A< +1, 1 SOG) has points in five straight, 10 of 11 and had 17 in 14 before tonight. Mike Ribeiro (2G, -2, 2 SOG) has points in four straight and had nine in 11 before this outing. Trevor Daley (1A, 1:00 PP, 1 SOG) has picked up points from the back end in three of four. Steve Ott (1G, +1, no PP, 5 SOG) collected the ENG and remains at 99 PIM for the season.
Combos: Troy Brouwer - Jonathan Toews - Marian Hossa/ Bryan Bickell - Patrick Sharp - Tomas Kopecky/ Fernando Pisani - Dave Bolland - Patrick Kane/ Viktor Stalberg - Ryan Johnson - John Scott/ Duncan Keith - Brent Seabrook/ Niklas Hjalmarsson - Brian Campbell/ Jassen Cullimore - Jordan Hendry
Scratches: Skille, Boynton, Dowell
Top PP times: Sharp (6:11), Kane (6:08), Hossa (5:13), Seabrook (5:13), Toews (4:46)
Trending: Patrick Kane (1A, 5 SOG) has points in three of his past four now and this was his fifth game back. Bryan Bickell (1A, +1, 1:01 PP, 1 SOG) had 12 points in 14 GP with 37 hits before tonight, while Tomas Kopecky (1G, 2 PIM, 3:20 PP, 6 SOG) had nine points in 14 GP headed in here.
CALGARY FLAMES 1 @ VANCOUVER CANUCKS 3
Goaltending match-up: Miikka Kiprusoff (18/21, .857 SV%) vs. Roberto Luongo (43/44, .977 SV%)
Combos: Alex Tanguay - Olli Jokinen - Jarome Iginla/ Curtis Glencross - Brendan Morrison - Rene Bourque/ Matt Stajan - Mikael Backlund - Ales Kotalik/ Tom Kostopoulos - David Moss - Tim Jackman/ Robyn Regehr - Jay Bouwmeester/ Mark Giordano - Cory Sarich/ Adam Pardy - Anton Babchuk
Scratches: Hagman, Conroy, Mikkelson
Top PP times: Iginla (3:51), Bouwmeester (3:35), Bourque (3:13), Tanguay (2:52), Jokinen (2:50)
Trending: Tim Jackman (1G, 2 PIM, no PP, 3 SOG) has been hot lately and he scored at 19:49 of the third period to break Luongo's shutout.
Combos: Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Alexandre Burrows/ Mason Raymond - Ryan Kesler - Jeff Tambellini/ Raffi Torres - Manny Malhotra - Mikael Samuelsson/ Tanner Glass - Alexandre Bolduc - Jannik Hansen/ Dan Hamhuis - Kevin Bieksa - Roberto Luongo/ Alexander Edler - Christian Ehrhoff/ Keith Ballard - Andrew Alberts
Scratches: Rome, Volpatti
Top PP times: Edler (2:33), Ehrhoff (2:24), D. Sedin (2:06), Kesler (2:06), H. Sedin (2:06)
Trending: Ryan Kesler (1G, +1, 4 SOG) has just been as strong a play for poolies as one could ask this season and even with the lack of chirping, he’s still chipping in a really good PIM rate too. Alexandre Burrows (2A, +1, 1:53 PP, no SOG) reached the 20-point mark on the season in the first period and his points continue to flow. There really aren’t many guys around the league who are as productive with a lack of a regularly prominent PP role, but playing with the Sedins will do that. Daniel Sedin (1G, +1, 4 SOG) reached the 50-point plateau with his second period marker. Mason Raymond (1A, +1, no PP, 1 SOG) had a four-pointer @CGY at the start of December and has a point in each of his three games back. Kevin Bieksa’s (1G, 1A, +1, 1:35 PP, 1 SOG) offensive surge continued here and he already had five points in five games headed in here.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS 4 @ ANAHEIM DUCKS 1
Goaltending match-up: Pekka Rinne (40/41, .976 SV%) vs. Jonas Hiller (20/22, .909 SV%)
Combos: Colin Wilson - David Legwand - Marek Svatos/ Sergei Kostitsyn - Marcel Goc - Patric Hornqvist/ Jerred Smithson - Nick Spaling - Joel Ward/ J.P. Dumont - Chris Mueller - Wade Belak/ Shea Weber - Ryan Suter/ Kevin Klein - Francis Bouillon/ Cody Franson - Shane O'Brien
Scratches: Sulzer, Klasen
Top PP times: Weber (2:29), Svatos (2:08), Dumont (2:08), Suter (2:04), Hornqvist (1:52), Wilson (1:52), Kostitsyn (1:52)
Trending: Patric Hornqvist (1G, 1A, +2, 4 SOG) had goals in B2B games coming in and he also had 23 SOG in his past three before tonight. When the calendar turned to December, Sergei Kostitsyn (1G, 1A, +2, 1 SOG) flipped the switch. Three points in 19 GP before then; 14 in 15 after it before adding more here. Ryan Suter (1A, +4, 1 SOG) had nine points in 11 GP before this one got underway. Shea Weber (1G, +3, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) added one of two ENG and has six points in his past three games alone.
Combos: Matt Beleskey - Bobby Ryan - Corey Perry/ Brandon McMillan - Saku Koivu - Teemu Selanne/ Dan Sexton - Maxim Lapierre - Joffrey Lupul/ Kyle Chipchura - Todd Marchant - George Parros/ Toni Lydman - Lubomir Visnovsky/ Luca Sbisa - Andy Sutton/ Andreas Lilja - Cam Fowler
Scratches: Brookbank, Mara, Blake
Top PP times: Visnovsky (4:44), Fowler (4:37), Ryan (4:34), Perry (4:20), Selanne (4:14)
Trending: Saku Koivu (1G, -1, 2:05 PP, 1 SOG) scored a pair of goals against the Preds in his last tilt against them and has points in three of four overall. Teemu Selanne (1A, -1, 6 SOG) had five different two-pointers accounting for all of his offence dating back to the start of December coming in here.
