@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
OTTAWA SENATORS 0 @ BOSTON BRUINS 6
Goaltending match-up: Brian Elliott (22/27, .815 SV%) & Mike Brodeur (11/12, .917 SV%) vs. Tim Thomas (31/31)
Combos: Milan Michalek - Mike Fisher - Daniel Alfredsson/ Nick Foligno - Peter Regin - Jim O'Brien/ Jarkko Ruutu- Chris Kelly - Chris Neil/ Zack Smith - Jesse Winchester - Ryan Shannon/ Chris Campoli - Sergei Gonchar/ Chris Phillips - Erik Karlsson/ Filip Kuba - Matt Carkner
Scratches: Lee, Leclaire
Top PP times: Gonchar (4:37), Karlsson (4:37), Alfredsson (4:37), Fisher (3:57), Michalek (3:57)
Trending:
Combos: Nathan Horton - Marc Savard - Michael Ryder/ Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Mark Recchi/ Blake Wheeler - David Krejci - Tyler Seguin/ Daniel Paille - Gregory Campbell - Shawn Thornton/ Zdeno Chara - Steve Kampfer/ Dennis Seidenberg - Johnny Boychuk/ Andrew Ference - Adam McQuaid
Scratches: Lucic, Bartkowski
Top PP times: Boychuk (4:36), Marchand (2:57), Thornton (2:57), Campbell (2:57), Ference (2:57)
Trending: The last three weeks have seen Patrice Bergeron (3G, +4, no PP, 4 SOG) piling up the points, which is a trend his owners hope will continue going forward. This was his first career hat trick. Blake Wheeler (1G, +3, 0:06 PP, 2 SOG) has points in three in a row after three without one. Tyler Seguin (1G, 1A, +2, 2 PIM, 0:51 PP, 3 SOG) had three points in five GP this month coming in. Dennis Seidenberg (1A, +1, 0:55 PP, 2 SOG) had six points in seven games from the back end before this one got underway. David Krejci (2A, +2, 1:59 PP, 1 SOG) had shot blanks for all five games this month until this evening.
CALGARY FLAMES 5 @ CAROLINA HURRICANES 6 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Miikka Kiprusoff (4/8, .500 SV%) & Henrik Karlsson (21/22, .955 SV%) vs. Cam Ward (27/35, .844 SV%)
Combos: Alex Tanguay - Olli Jokinen - Jarome Iginla/ Rene Bourque - Brendan Morrison - David Moss/ Curtis Glencross - Matt Stajan - Niklas Hagman/ Ales Kotalik - Mikael Backlund - Tim Jackman/ Adam Pardy - Anton Babchuk/ Robyn Regehr - Jay Bouwmeester/ Mark Giordano - Cory Sarich
Scratches: Kostopoulos, Conroy, Mikkelson
Top PP times: Iginla (2:27), Jokinen (2:27), Giordano (2:19), Tanguay (2:09), Kotalik (2:04)
Trending: That’s B2B multi-pointers for Jarome Iginla (1G, 1A, -1, 4 SOG), who opened 2011 with three straight games sans a point. Alex Tanguay (1A, 1 SOG) had been blanked in his past three, as did Olli Jokinen (2A, 4 SOG). He had 52 points in 53 GP vs. CAR coming in. Jay Bouwmeester (1G, +1, 1:31 PP, 2 SOG) has chipped in points in three of five now. Niklas Hagman (1G, 1A, +1, 1:23 PP, 4 SOG) with points in B2B games after eight without one. Curtis Glencross (1G, +2, no PP, 2 SOG) was coming off that three-pointer @DET, but had a long string of nothing before that. Rene Bourque (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 1:41 PP, 2 SOG) hadn’t scored since Dec. 16 and had no points in six games before this outing.
Combos: Erik Cole - Eric Staal - Zach Boychuk/ Jeff Skinner - Tuomo Ruutu - Chad LaRose/ Pat Dwyer - Brandon Sutter - Zac Dalpe/ Sergei Samsonov - Jussi Jokinen - Troy Bodie/ Tim Gleason - Joe Corvo/ Ian White - Jay Harrison/ Jamie McBain - Joni Pitkanen
Scratches: Carter
Top PP times: Staal (5:43), Jokinen (4:47), Ruutu (4:27), Cole (4:12), Skinner (4:11), Corvo (4:11)
Trending: Tuomu Ruutu (1G, -1, 4 SOG) has goals in three of six and had 13 points in 8 GP coming in too. Jussi Jokinen (2G, 1A, +3, 5 SOG) was back in the line-up here and made it count, while Jeff Skinner (1A, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) has his first three-game point streak since late November. He had six points in five games overall coming in and he scored the only goal of the shootout. Brandon Sutter (1A, +2, 0:51 PP, no SOG) snapped a 10-game pointless streak. Erik Cole (1G, -1, 2 SOG) has now scored in each of his past three outings.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS 4 @ NEW YORK ISLANDERS 3 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Roberto Luongo (38/41, .927 SV%) vs. Kevin Poulin (48/51, .941 SV%)
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/ Alexander Edler - Christian Ehrhoff/ Keith Ballard - Andrew Alberts
Scratches: Rome, Volpatti
Top PP times: Hamhuis (2:19), Bieksa (2:19), Tambellini (2:19), Samuelsson (2:19), Malhotra (1:51)
Trending: Going into a game against the Isles, as decent as they’ve looked since mid-December, wasn’t it all but a lock that we’d see something along the lines of Alexandre Burrows (1G, +1, 0:28 PP, 6 SOG) from Daniel Sedin (1A, +1, 1:41 PP, 4 SOG) and Henrik Sedin (1A, +2, 1:41 PP, 2 SOG) in the box score? Ryan Kesler (1G, 1:41 PP, 8 SOG) came into tonight needing a multi-pointer to hit point-per-game status and he stretched his point streak to five games. His longest this season is eight from last month. He and Mason Raymond scored on their shootout chances. Mikael Samuelsson (1A, +2, 2 SOG) ended a seven-game pointless streak here. Kevin Bieksa (1G, +2, 2 PIM, 5 SOG) has been rolling offensively on D lately, with nine points over his past eight outings.
Combos: Matt Moulson - John Tavares - P.A. Parenteau/ Michael Grabner - Rob Schremp - Blake Comeau/ Rhett Rakhshani - Josh Bailey - Jeremy Colliton/ Matt Martin - Zenon Konopka - Jesse Joensuu/ Travis Hamonic - Andrew MacDonald/ Jack Hillen - Milan Jurcina/ Radek Martinek - Dylan Reese
Scratches: Gervais, Gillies, DiPietro
Top PP times: Schremp (1:55), Tavares (1:49), MacDonald (1:39), Moulson (1:26), Parenteau (1:13)
Trending: John Tavares (1G, -2, 5 SOG) has been really productive over the last month and he carried that over here. Andrew MacDonald (1A, -1, no SOG) has chipped in points consistently during that same stretch on D. Blake Comeau (1G, 1A, +2, 1:04 PP, 4 SOG) had 14 points in 17 GP before this result. Rob Schremp (2A, +1, no SOG) had one point in six affairs headed into this evening and he scored a beauty in the shootout.
MONTREAL CANADIENS 2 @ NEW YORK RANGERS 1
Goaltending match-up: Alex Auld (25/26, .962 SV%) vs. Henrik Lundqvist (36/38, .947 SV%)
Combos: Lars Eller - Tomas Plekanec - Andrei Kostitsyn/ Max Pacioretty - Scott Gomez - Brian Gionta/ Tom Pyatt - Jeff Halpern - Travis Moen/ Benoit Pouliot - David Desharnais - Mathieu Darche/ Roman Hamrlik - James Wisniewski/ Hal Gill - P.K. Subban/ Jaroslav Spacek - Yannick Weber
Scratches: Cammalleri, Picard
Top PP times: Subban (1:34), Wisniewski (1:29), Desharnais (1:16), Plekanec (1:11), Darche (1:11)
Trending: Tomas Plekanec (1A, +1, 6 SOG) came into this affair with nine points in 18 GP dating back to the start of December. Benoit Pouliot (1G, +1, 0:08 PP, 6 SOG) has goals in two of three after eight without one. James Wisniewski (1A, +1, 4 SOG) already had six points in five tilts with the Habs.
Combos: Wojtek Wolski - 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 - Michael Sauer/ Matt Gilroy - Ryan McDonagh
Scratches: Frolov, Newbury
Top PP times: Gaborik (1:20), Dubinsky (1:20), Stepan (1:16), Gilroy (1:14), Fedotenko (1:10)
Trending: Wojtek Wolski (19:39 TOI, 0:45 PP, 1 SOG) made his debut on L1 and also on PP1 at the start of the game, although the way the PPs broke down tonight it's a bit deceiving. Overall, he definitely left a decent impression for a first game with no practice time at all. He and Marian Gaborik & Artem Anisimov made some plays out there and nearly had the GTG too. Brandon Dubinsky (1G, 3 SOG) opened the scoring here and had nine points in eight tilts before tonight. Henrik Lundqvist with assists in three straight games, if you need him.
PHOENIX COYOTES 4 @ COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 3
Goaltending match-up: Ilya Bryzgalov (37/40, .925 SV%) vs. Mathieu Garon (24/28, .857 SV%)
Combos: Shane Doan - Eric Belanger - Scottie Upshall/ Ray Whitney - Martin Hanzal - Radim Vrbata/ Taylor Pyatt - Vernon Fiddler - Lee Stempniak/ Paul Bissonnette - Kyle Turris - Lauri Korpikoski/ Ed Jovanovski - Adrian Aucoin/ Keith Yandle - Derek Morris/ - Sami Lepisto - Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Scratches: Schlemko, Rozsival
Top PP times: Yandle (5:41), Doan (5:41), Whitney (5:35), Hanzal (5:15), Vrbata (5:15)
Trending: Shane Doan (1A, +2, 6 SOG) had a couple of points the last time he played this team and he’s been playing some really helpful hockey for his fantasy owners for a big stretch now. Keith Yandle (A, +3, no SOG) is having quite a season for himself, but had been blanked in three straight coming in. Lauri Korpikoski (1A, 1:12 PP, 1 SOG) has points in two straight and four of eight now. Scottie Upshall (1A, +2, 1:31 PP, 4 SOG) had eight points in seven prior games and Martin Hanzal (2A, +2, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) has points in three of six in January. Ray Whitney (1A, +1, 2 SOG) ended a four-game pointless spell here.
Combos: Rick Nash - Derick Brassard - Jakub Voracek/ Kristian Huselius - Antoine Vermette - R.J. Umberger/ Chris Clark - Samuel Pahlsson - Derek Dorsett/ Matt Calvert - Kyle Wilson - Jared Boll / Kris Russell - Grant Clitsome/ Marc Methot - Jan Hejda/ Rostislav Klesla - Fedor Tyutin
Scratches: Stralman, Murray, MacKenzie, Mason
Top PP times: Nash (5:16), Russell (5:11), Tyutin (5:03), Umberger (4:56), Brassard (3:39)
Trending: This was Rick Nash’s (1A, 4 SOG) 28th career start vs. PHO and he’s a point-per-game player in that stretch. He had eight points in seven games coming in. Fedor Tyutin (2A, -1, 2 SOG) had chipped in 8 points in 18 GP coming in. Kristian Huselius had no points and was -6 in four starts this month.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS 5 @ BUFFALO SABRES 2
Goaltending match-up: Sergei Bobrovsky (38/40, .950 SV%) vs. Ryan Miller (28/32, .875 SV%)
Combos: James van Riemsdyk - Mike Richards - Andreas Nodl/ Scott Hartnell - Danny Briere - Ville Leino/ Darroll Powe - Jeff Carter - Claude Giroux/ Dan Carcillo - Blair Betts - Jody Shelley/ Kimmo Timonen - Braydon Coburn/ Matt Carle - Andrej Meszaros/ Oskars Bartulis - Sean O'Donnell
Scratches: Zherdev
Top PP times: Briere, Timonen, Giroux, Richards, Hartnell (1:13)
Trending: Scott Hartnell (2G, 1A, +1, 5 PIM, 2 SOG) had four goals in five games headed in here, while Kimmo Timonen (2A, +1, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) has helpers in three straight after five without a point. Danny Briere (1G, 3A, +2, 5 SOG) carried 15 points in 16 GP to this start. Mike Richards (1G, +1, 3 SOG) scored to add his 38th point of the season. Ville Leino (1G, +2, 0:58 PP, 2 SOG) added his 30th overall and fourth of the month.
Combos: Thomas Vanek - Tim Connolly - Jason Pominville/ Tyler Ennis - Jochen Hecht - Drew Stafford/ Rob Niedermayer - Cody McCormick/ - Nathan Gerbe - Paul Gaustad - Mike Grier/ Andrej Sekera - Tyler Myers/ Jordan Leopold - Steve Montador/ Mike Weber - Shaone Morrisonn/ Craig Rivet
Scratches: Butler, Kaleta, Adam
Top PP times: Myers (2:51), Leopold (2:50), Vanek (2:48), Stafford (2:48), Connolly (2:48)
Trending: Tyler Myers (1A, -2, 3 SOG) had added 8 points in 12 GP coming in.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS 3 @ FLORIDA PANTHERS 4
Goaltending match-up: Michal Neuvirth (37/41, .902 SV%) vs. Tomas Vokoun (30/33, .909 SV%)
Combos: Alex Ovechkin - Nicklas Backstrom - Mike Knuble/ Jason Chimera - Mathieu Perreault - Eric Fehr/ Brooks Laich - Marcus Johansson - Brian Willsie/ Matt Hendricks - Dave Steckel - Jay Beagle/ Scott Hannan - Mike Green/ Karl Alzner - John Carlson/ John Erskine - Jeff Schultz
Scratches: Poti, Semin, Sloan
Top PP times: Ovechkin (9:14), Green (8:05), Backstrom (6:47), Knuble (6:07), Laich (5:49)
Trending: Mike Knuble (1G, +2, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) had 10 points in 17 GP before this outing, while Alex Ovechkin (1A, +1, 6 SOG) had 41 points in 34 GP vs. FLA coming into this one. Brooks Laich (1A, +1, 1 SOG) had been blanked in his past four. Nicklas Backstrom (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 4 SOG) had 24 points in 22 GP vs. FLA before adding more here and Mike Green (1A, +2, 2 PIM, 4 SOG) has seven points over his past seven games. Marcus Johansson (2G, +2, 0:45 PP, 3 SOG) hadn’t scored since November and isn’t much of a single-season option, but is one to watch in deeper keeper leagues.
Combos: Evgeny Dadonov - 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: Higgins
Top PP times: Weiss (6:47), Booth (5:47), Stillman (5:25), Wideman (5:22), Santorelli (4:40)
Trending: David Booth (1G, 3 SOG) had a couple of points in the front end of this home-and-home and has points in six of eight. Stephen Weiss (3A, -2, 4 SOG) had tallied 16 points in 18 GP before putting up more here. Bryan McCabe (1A, 2:54 PP, 4 SOG) had gone seven games sans points, but Mike Santorelli (1G, 5 SOG) has points in seven of his past eight now. Dennis Wideman (1G, 1A, -1, 6 SOG) collected the OT GWG and now has points in five of seven from the back end.
MINNESOTA WILD 1 @ NASHVILLE PREDATORS 5
Goaltending match-up: Jose Theodore (21/25, .840 SV%) & Anton Khudobin (4/5, .800 SV%) vs. Pekka Rinne (25/26, .962 SV%)
Combos: Andrew Brunette - Mikko Koivu - Antti Miettinen/ Pierre-Marc Bouchard - Kyle Brodziak - Martin Havlat/ Patrick O'Sullivan - Matt Cullen - Cal Clutterbuck/ Eric Nystrom - John Madden - Chuck Kobasew/ Nick Schultz - Brent Burns/ Clayton Stoner - Greg Zanon/ Cam Barker - Marco Scandella
Scratches: Staubitz, Backstrom
Top PP times: Burns (4:26), Brunette (4:00), Koivu (3:32), Miettinen (3:32), Cullen (3:28)
Trending: Mikko Koivu (1G, -1, 2 SOG) netted MIN's only goal tonight and he has seven points in five January starts. John Madden (1A, +1, no PP, 1 SOG) has added points in four of eight now.
Combos: Colin Wilson - David Legwand - Marek Svatos/ Sergei Kostitsyn - Marcel Goc - Patric Hornqvist/ Jerred Smithson - Nick Spaling - Joel Ward/ J.P. Dumont - Chris Mueller - Andreas Thuresson/ Shea Weber - Ryan Suter/ Kevin Klein - Francis Bouillon/ Cody Franson - Shane O'Brien
Scratches: Belak, Sulzer
Top PP times: Weber (2:42), Hornqvist (2:42), Wilson (2:31), Kostitsyn (2:31), Suter (2:31)
Trending: Joel Ward (1G, 1A, +3, 0:04 PP, 5 SOG) has come up with points in four of his past seven, while Marek Svatos (1A, 1:14 PP, no SOG) has points in two of three after nadda in his first three with the Preds. Marcel Goc (1G, 1A, +2, 1:02 PP, 2 SOG) has points in three of four and is up to 19 on the season. Shea Weber (1A, +2, 3 SOG) pushed his point streak to six games with 10 points in that span. Nothing for Sergei Kostitsyn? There must be some sort of mistake. Can someone go through the game tape again?
EDMONTON OILERS 2 @ DALLAS STARS 3
Goaltending match-up: Nikolai Khabibulin (17/20, .850 SV%) vs. Kari Lehtonen (39/41, .951 SV%)
Combos: Dustin Penner - Taylor Hall - Ales Hemsky/ Linus Omark - Sam Gagner - Magnus Paajarvi/ Liam Reddox - Andrew Cogliano - Ryan Jones/ Jean-Francois Jacques - Colin Fraser - Steve MacIntyre/ Ladislav Smid - Jeff Petry/ Theo Peckham - Tom Gilbert/ Kurtis Foster - Taylor Chorney
Scratches: Strudwick, Stortini, Brule
Top PP times: Gilbert (5:05), Hemsky (3:59), Hall (3:26), Paajarvi (3:06), Petry (3:06)
Trending: Not much in the way of fantasy news in this Oil summary, but Taylor Hall was 8-13, 38% on the face-offs in the pivot slot tonight. I didn't get to see as much of this game as I would have liked because it was such a busy night, but @GenePrincipe tweeted this after the game: "Taylor Hall tonight.21:32 mins.5 shots..8-13 on faceoffs.Renney said he looked good in the middle.a little work needed down low at both ends" and also "he was 8-13 but numbers don't tell the full story..impressive showing for first NHL game at centre"
Combos: James Neal - Brad Richards - Loui Eriksson/ Brenden Morrow - Mike Ribeiro - Jamie Benn/ Steve Ott - Adam Burish - Jamie Langenbrunner/ Krys Barch - Tom Wandell - Brian Sutherby/ Nicklas Grossman - Stephane Robidas/ Jeff Woywitka - Trevor Daley/ Mark Fistric - Philip Larsen
Scratches: Niskanen, Skrastins
Top PP times: Richards (3:24), Ribeiro (2:43), Morrow (2:25), Larsen (2:17), Eriksson (2:16)
Trending: Brad Richards (1A, 5 SOG) notched his 50th point of the season already and James Neal (1G, 1:44 PP, 4 SOG) has found the back of the net in three of five now. Loui Eriksson's (1A, 3 SOG) point streak has reached eight games and that includes 10 points. Jamie Benn (1G, +2, 1:17 PP, 3 SOG) has been chipping in steadily for the past few weeks and Mike Ribeiro (1A, +1, 1 SOG) has a point in each of his past seven. Steve Ott's 1A, +1, 2 PIM, 1:35 PP, 1 SOG) game logs are filled with a healthy blend of points and PIM again, while Brenden Morrow (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) has nine points in his past seven. Philip Larsen (1A, +2, no SOG) cashed in with his first point on the third game of this call-up.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 4 @ SAN JOSE SHARKS 2
Goaltending match-up: James Reimer (40/42, .952 SV%) vs. Antti Niemi (22/25, .880 SV%)
Combos: Joey Crabb - Tyler Bozak - Phil Kessel/ Clarke MacArthur - Mikhail Grabovski - Nikolai Kulemin/ Colby Armstrong - Darryl Boyce - Kris Versteeg/ Fredrik Sjostrom - Tim Brent - Colton Orr/ Francois Beauchemin - Dion Phaneuf/ Tomas Kaberle - Luke Schenn/ Carl Gunnarsson - Mike Komisarek
Scratches: Lebda
Top PP times: Versteeg (2:40), Kaberle (2:34), Grabovski (1:57), Kulein (1:57), MacArthur (1:56)
Trending: Phil Kessel (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 1:24 PP, 6 SOG) has goals in four straight and showed great patience on his early third period goal. He already had seven points in five games before this outing. He was stoned on a breakaway late in the period. Tyler Bozak (1A, +1, 1:24 PP, no SOG) had six points in seven games before tonight, while Joey Crabb (1A, +1, 0:40 PP, no SOG) had three in five coming in. Clarke MacArthur (2G, +1, 3 SOG) added to the 34 points he had coming in and he also secured an ENG, while Nikolai Kulemin (2A, +1, 4 SOG) had seven points in his five starts this month headed into this tilt. Tomas Kaberle (1A, 1 SOG) had six January helpers before this tilt. Dion Phaneuf (1A, 2 PIM, 1:39 PP, 3 SOG) put the brakes on a six-game pointless skid here. Colby Armstrong (1A, -1, 1:04 PP, no SOG) had six points in five games headed into this evening.
Combos: Patrick Marleau - Joe Thornton - Devin Setoguchi/ Ryane Clowe - Logan Couture - Dany Heatley/ Benn Ferriero - Torrey Mitchell - Jamal Mayers/ Scott Nichol - Jamie McGinn/ Marc-Edouard Vlasic - Dan Boyle/ Douglas Murray- Jason Demers/ Kent Huskins - Niclas Wallin/ Justin Braun
Scratches: Pavelski, Joslin
Top PP times: Thornton (4:20), Marleau (4:19), Demers (3:56), Heatley (3:48), Boyle (3:39)
Trending: Patrick Marleau (2G, 6 SOG) had 2G, 0A in 8 GP coming in here, while Joe Thornton (2A, 2 SOG) had ended a five-game pointless streak. Jason Demers (1A, 2 SO)G has a point in three of seven from the blueline. Logan Couture (10:39 TOI) left this game after either leg-on-leg or knee-on-knee contact with Colton Orr on a play that looked pretty ugly, whether it was intentional or not on Orr's part.
