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PHILADELPHIA FLYERS 5 @ BOSTON BRUINS 7

Goaltending match-up: Brian Boucher (30/37, .811 SV%) vs. Tim Thomas (30/35, .857 SV%)

Combos: Nikolay Zherdev - Mike Richards - Andreas Nodl/ Scott Hartnell - Danny Briere - Ville Leino/ James van Riemsdyk - Jeff Carter - Claude Giroux/ Darroll Powe - Blair Betts - Jody Shelley/ Kimmo Timonen - Braydon Coburn/ Matt Carle - Andrej Meszaros/ Matt Walker - Sean O'Donnell

Scratches: Bartulis, Carcillo

Top PP times: Briere, Timonen, Giroux, Richards, Hartnell (1:13)

Trending: Scott Hartnell (1G, -1, 2 PIM, 5 SOG) had six goals in six games before opening the scoring here, while Ville Leino (2A, -1, 0:47 PP, 1 SOG) had 11 points in 17 GP dating back to the start of December coming in. Danny Briere (1G, 1A, -3, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) has points in five straight and had 36 in 39 vs. BOS before tonight. Nikolay Zherdev (1G, 1A, +1, no PP, 4 SOG) played his first game of January and scored. James van Riemsdyk (1A, -1, 0:47 PP, 2 SOG) had four points in six clashes headed in here and Kimmo Timonen (1A, +2, 2 SOG) has points in four straight. Jeff Carter (1G, -1, 0:47 PP, 4 SOG) hadn’t scored in his past four and had one helper in that time. Mike Richards (1A, +1, 4 PIM, 2 SOG) had 38 points on the season headed into this match-up against the Bruins.

Combos: Michael Ryder - Marc Savard - Nathan Horton/ 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

Top PP times: Savard (5:08), Seidenberg (4:33), Recchi (4:28), Krejci (4:28), Ryder (4:24)

Trending: Patrice Bergeron (1G, 1A, +1, 4:19 PP, 4 SOG) was just coming off that hat trick and had five goals in three games. He has points in each of his past five now. Zdeno Chara (1G, 1A, +2, 4:23 PP, 5 SOG) has goals in two of three with points in four in a row. He had five points in six games coming in. Marc Savard (1A, +1, 1 SOG) had been blanked in four in a row and David Krejci (1A, -1, 2 SOG) has points in B2B starts after five without one. Steve Kampfer (1G, 1A, +1, 4:06 PP, 2 SOG) has points in three of seven from the back end. Michael Ryder (1G, +1, 2 SOG) has points in two of three after five without one. Nathan Horton (1A, +1, 4:05 PP, 3 SOG) has been hit or miss for awhile now, but he should have at least one more extended hot streak in him this season. Brad Marchand (1G, +2, no PP, 2 SOG) has scored in three straight with points in his last four now. Blake Wheeler (2A, +1, 0:19 PP, no SOG) also has points in each of his past four.

CAROLINA HURRICANES 2 @ BUFFALO SABRES 3

Goaltending match-up: Cam Ward (32/35, .914 SV%) vs. Ryan Miller (27/29, .931 SV%)

Combos: Jussi Jokinen - Eric Staal - Erik Cole/ Jeff Skinner - Tuomo Ruutu - Chad LaRose/ Zach Boychuk - Brandon Sutter - Pat Dwyer/ Zac Dalpe - Ryan Carter - Troy Bodie/ Tim Gleason - Joe Corvo/ Ian White - Jay Harrison/ Jamie McBain - Joni Pitkanen

Scratches: Samsonov

Top PP times: Staal (2:28), Ruutu (2:28), Skinner (2:28), Pitkanen (2:16), Corvo (2:14)

Trending: Tuomo Ruutu (1G, 2 SOG) has a goal in three straight and his past few weeks have been dynamite, especially in leagues counting hits. Eric Staal (1A, +1, 3 SOG) has points in all seven January outings and had either four or five shots in every game in that stretch coming in too. Joe Corvo (1A, +1, 2 SOG) had chipped in five points in six affairs coming in.

Combos: Thomas Vanek - Tim Connolly - Jason Pominville/ Tyler Ennis - Jochen Hecht - Drew Stafford/ Rob Niedermayer - Luke Adam - Mike Grier/ Nathan Gerbe - Paul Gaustad - Cody McCormick/ Andrej Sekera - Tyler Myers/ Jordan Leopold - Steve Montador/ Mike Weber - Shaone Morrisonn/ Craig Rivet

Scratches: Butler, Kaleta, Rivet

Top PP times: Leopold (2:13), Connolly (2:13), Vanek (2;13), Myers (2:07), Stafford (1:58)

Trending: Thomas Vanek (2A, +1, no SOG) was able to go tonight and he already had six points in five games coming in. Nathan Gerbe (1G, +1, no PP, 2 SOG) has points in each of his two games back in the line-up. Jordan Leopold (1A, 4 SOG) had collected three points in his prior three games, but had nothing in the four before that. Drew Stafford (1G, -1, 3 SOG) has been unusually consistent this season by his standards, but good for him. Tim Connolly (1A, 4 SOG) had three points in five games this month coming in.

OTTAWA SENATORS 6 @ NEW YORK ISLANDERS 4

Goaltending match-up: Robin Lehner (20/24, .833 SV%) vs. Kevin Poulin (17/19, .895 SV%) & Nathan Lawson (15/19, .789 SV%)

Combos: Milan Michalek - Mike Fisher - Daniel Alfredsson/ Nick Foligno - Corey Locke - Ryan Shannon/ Jarkko Ruutu- Chris Kelly - Chris Neil/ Zack Smith - Jesse Winchester - Peter Regin/ Brian Lee - Sergei Gonchar/ Chris Phillips - Erik Karlsson/ Filip Kuba - Matt Carkner

Scratches: Campoli, Leclaire

Top PP times: Gonchar (3:52), Karlsson (3:32), Alfredsson (3:30), Fisher (3:16), Michalek (2:16)

Trending: Daniel Alfredsson (1G, 2 SOG) has potted goals in three of his past six affairs and has points in four of six. Mike Fisher (1A, 1 SOG) had been shut out in his first four January starts. Milan Michalek (1G, 1A, +2, 2 SOG) scored his second SHG of the season and has goals in two of four, but his fantasy value is below ground these days. Corey Locke (1A, 1:05 PP, 2 SOG) collected his first NHL point here in his fifth overall start and first of the season.

Combos: Matt Moulson - John Tavares - P.A. Parenteau/ Blake Comeau - Rob Schremp - Josh Bailey/ Michael Grabner - Jeremy Colliton - Jesse Joensuu/ Matt Martin - Zenon Konopka - Trevor Gillies/ Andrew MacDonald - Travis Hamonic/ Jack Hillen - Milan Jurcina/ Radek Martinek - Bruno Gervais

Scratches: Reese, Gervais

Top PP times: Schremp (2:21), Parenteau (2:14), Tavares (2:09), Moulson (2:05), Hillen (1:51)

Trending: We’re just shy of the one-month mark for this hot streak John Tavares (1A, +1, 1 SOG) has been on and his poolies have been reaping serious rewards, including a +/- that has been good over the period of time. Blake Comeau (1G, -2, 2 PIM, 1:25 PP, 2 SOG) has found the back of the net in four of five now. Andrew MacDonald (1A, -1, 1:34 PP, 2 SOG) has been chipping in steadily for weeks now on D. Trevor Gillies (1G, 0:21 PP, 1 SOG) and Zenon Konopka (1A, 0:21 PP, no SOG) are in fantasy line-ups for their PIM additions, but tonight they helped out with some offence. That was the first career goal for Gillies and it was the sort of crash and bang effort you’d expect on it. P.A. Parenteau (1G, +2, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) had nadda in four coming in. Matt Moulson (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 4 SOG) had three in five headed in here. Michael Grabner (1A, -1, no PP, 3 SOG) is hit or miss with the points, but he’s fun to follow on Twitter since he’s pretty active. Just sayin’.

VANCOUVER CANUCKS 0 @ NEW YORK RANGERS 1

Goaltending match-up: Cory Schneider (34/35, .971 SV%) vs. Henrik Lundqvist (31/31)

Combos: Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Alexandre Burrows/ Mason Raymond - Ryan Kesler - Jannik Hansen/ Raffi Torres - Manny Malhotra - Mikael Samuelsson/ Tanner Glass - Jeff Tambellini - Aaron Volpatti/ Dan Hamhuis - Kevin Bieksa/ Alexander Edler - Christian Ehrhoff/ Keith Ballard - Aaron Rome

Scratches: Alberts, Bolduc

Top PP times: Edler (4:08), Sedins (4:00), Kesler (4:00), Ehrhoff (2:56)

Trending:

Combos: Wojtek Wolski - Derek Stepan - Marian Gaborik/ Brandon Dubinsky - Artem Anisimov - Mats Zuccarello/ Ruslan Fedotenko - Brian Boyle - Brandon Prust/ Sean Avery - Chris Drury - Dale Weise/ Marc Staal - Dan Girardi/ Steve Eminger - Mike Sauer/ Matt Gilroy - Ryan McDonagh

Scratches: Newbury

Top PP times: Staal (3:30), Dubinsky (3:06), Gaborik (3:06), Wolski (3:06), Gilroy (3:04),

Trending: This was Wojtek Wolski’s (1G, 2 SOG) second game with the Rangers and first time in the box score. He ended an eight-game pointless skid in the process. Marian Gaborik’s (1A, 6 SOG) production has been downright average at best, but maybe Wolski can help jump-start things. Gaborik had a breakaway in the third period, but couldn’t score. Brandon Dubinsky (1A, 6 SOG) had five points in four games coming in, but has been pretty steady on the whole.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS 2 @ FLORIDA PANTHERS 3

Goaltending match-up: Pekka Rinne (31/34, .912 SV%) vs. Scott Clemmensen (27/29, .931 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: Thuresson, Sulzer

Top PP times: Weber (3:37), Wilson (3:20), Hornqvist (3:18), Kostitsyn (2:59), Suter (2:57)

Trending: Marek Svatos (1A, +2, 1:53 PP, 4 SOG) has points in three of his past four games now, while Colin Wilson (1G, +2, 1 SOG) had seven points in seven games before tonight. David Legwand (1G, 1A, +2, 4 SOG) had five points in six games headed in here. Ryan Suter (1A, +2, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) added his 20th point of the season and partner Shea Weber (1A, +1, 1 SOG) recorded No. 26.

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: Kulikov (3:25), Wideman (3:16), Stillman (3:13), Weiss (3:06), Booth (3:03)

Trending: David Booth (1G, +1, 5 SOG) scored the go-ahead-goal and has markers in four of seven this month, including two GWG. Mike Santorelli (1A, +2, 2:56 PP, 4 SOG) has picked up points in eight of his past nine. Radek Dvorak (1G, 2 PIM, no PP, 1 SOG) has a point in four of six. Cory Stillman (1A, +1, 3 SOG) had four in five coming in, while Marty Reasoner (1A, +1, no PP, no SOG) had three goals in three outings before this start. Rostislav Olesz (1G, 1A, +2, 1:19 PP, 1 SOG) has three points in four games.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 1 @ PHOENIX COYOTES 5

Goaltending match-up: James Reimer (16/20, .800 SV%) vs. Ilya Bryzgalov (28/29, .966 SV%)

Combos: Joey Crabb - Tyler Bozak - Phil Kessel/ Clarke MacArthur - Mikhail Grabovski - Nikolai Kulemin/ Colby Armstrong - Darryl Boyce - Mike Brown/ Brent Lebda - Tim Brent - Colton Orr/ Francois Beauchemin - Dion Phaneuf/ Tomas Kaberle - Luke Schenn/ Carl Gunnarsson - Mike Komisarek

Scratches: Sjostrom, Versteeg, Gustavsson

Top PP times: Phaneuf (5:32), Kaberle (5:11), MacArthur (4:19), Kessel (4:15), Grabovski (4:12)

Trending: Colby Armstrong (1G, -1, no PP, 2 SOG) has a five-game point streak going with seven points in that span, while Dion Phaneuf (1A, -1, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) has points in B2B games for the first time this season. I know the Leafs need more O up front, but come on. Really? At least he has a lot of PIM lately.

Combos: Ray Whitney - Eric Belanger - Shane Doan/ Scottie Upshall - Martin Hanzal - Radim Vrbata/ Taylor Pyatt - Vernon Fiddler - Lee Stempniak/ Mikkel Boedker - Kyle Turris - Lauri Korpikoski/ Ed Jovanovski - Adrian Aucoin/ Keith Yandle - Derek Morris/ - Sami Lepisto - Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Scratches: Schlemko, Bissonnette, Rozsival

Top PP times: Yandle (3:00), Doan (2:33), Whitney (2:18), Hanzal (1:41), Turris (1:40)

Trending: Shane Doan (1G, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) hadn't scored in his past four, but has generally been money for his poolies for awhile now. Ray Whitney's (2A, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) multi-pointer pushed him to the 30-point mark on the season and Keith Yandle's (1G, 2A, +2, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) fantastic results continue to pour in. Oliver Ekman-Larsson (1A, -1, 1:07 PP, 1 SOG) has points in two of four, but remains a far stronger keeper option than in single season leagues. Lauri Korpikoski (1G, 1A, +2, 0:46 PP, 2 SOG) has points in each of his past three games. Kyle Turris (1A, +1, 2 SOG) had three January points in five starts coming in. Scottie Upshall (1A, 0:41 PP, 3 SOG) now has 10 points over his past nine starts.

ST. LOUIS BLUES 3 @ LOS ANGELES KINGS 1

Goaltending match-up: Jaroslav Halak (24/25, .960 SV%) vs. Jonathan Quick (18/21, .857 SV%)

Combos: Vladimir Sobotka - David Backes - Matt D'Agostini/ Brad Winchester - Jay McClement - Brad Boyes/ Alex Steen - Patrik Berglund - B.J. Crombeen/ Chris Porter - Dave Scatchard - Ryan Reaves/ Roman Polak - Eric Brewer/ Tyson Strachan - Erik Johnson/ Barret Jackman - Alex Pietrangelo

Scratches: Colaiacovo, Janssen

Top PP times: Johnson (1:13), Steen (1:01), Berglund (1:01), Pietrangelo (1:01), Backes (1:01)

Trending: For the last six weeks, Alex Steen (1G, +2, 3 SOG) has been ridiculously hot. Erik Johnson has points in five of 10, while Brad Boyes (1A, +1, 0:50 PP, 2 SOG) has a nifty five-game point streak rolling along. Ryan Reaves (1G, +1, no PP, 1 SOG) has goals in B2B games on this call-up. Alex Pietrangelo (1A, +3, no SOG) has points in two straight after four without one and Patrik Berglund (1A, +1, no SOG) ended a five-game pointless drought.

Combos: Ryan Smyth - Anze Kopitar - Justin Williams/ Kyle Clifford- Michal Handzus - Dustin Brown/ Marco Sturm - Jarret Stoll - Wayne Simmonds/ Brad Richardson - Trevor Lewis - Kevin Westgarth/ Rob Scuderi - Drew Doughty/ Willie Mitchell - Jack Johnson/ Alec Martinez - Matt Greene

Scratches: Harrold, Ponikarovsky, Drewiske

Top PP times: Stoll (3:11), Doughty (2:12), Kopitar (2:12), Brown (2:12), Smyth (2:12)

Trending: Jack Johnson (1A, -1, 1:48 PP, 1 SOG) came into tonight only five points shy of matching last year's 36 points, which was a solid year on its own.

EDMONTON OILERS 5 @ SAN JOSE SHARKS 2

Goaltending match-up: Devan Dubnyk (41/43, .953 SV%) vs. Antero Niittymaki (24/28, .857 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 (5:28), Foster (4:51), Hemsky (3:48), Penner (3:37), Hall (3:11)

Trending: Can you imagine how good Taylor Hall (2G, 1A, +3, 5 SOG) is going to be in a few years? He has points in two of three after having one in six and he added the ENG at the last second. Ales Hemsky (4A, +4, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) chipped in three points in four tilts before this evening, while Dustin Penner (1G, +2, 5 SOG) had 12 points in 18 GP headed in here. Andrew Cogliano (1G, +1, 2 PIM, no PP, 1 SOG) had gone five games without a goal. Linus Omark (1G, +1, 6 PIM, 2:54 PP, 3 SOG) had 1G, 5A in 12 GP coming in, while Magnus Paajarvi (1A, +2, 2:28 PP, 2 SOG) ended a nine-game pointless skid.

Combos: Patrick Marleau - Joe Thornton - Devin Setoguchi/ Ryane Clowe - Joe Pavelski - Dany Heatley/ Benn Ferriero - Scott Nichol - Jamie McGinn/ Brandon Mashinter - Andrew Desjardins - Jamal Mayers/ Douglas Murray - Dan Boyle/ Marc-Edouard Vlasic- Jason Demers/ Kent Huskins - Niclas Wallin

Scratches: Couture

Top PP times: Boyle (7:30), Thornton (7:21), Marleau (7:21), Heatley (6:27), Pavelski (4:38)

Trending: We have seen far too little of Joe Thornton (1G, 1A, -2, 3 SOG), Dany Heatley (2A, -2, 3 SOG) and Patrick Marleau (1A, -2, 4 SOG) in the scoring summaries lately. Period. Ryane Clowe (1G, -3, 7 PIM, 2:06 PP, 3 SOG), on the other hand, always seems to be doing something helpful for his standard league owners. Joe Pavelski (-3, 19:13 TOI, 4:38 PP, 7 SOG) returned to action.

About

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Chris Nichols

Remember that guy in the back of the class who had the newspaper stats sheets tucked away in his binder? That was me. You don’t even want to know how little I would have accomplished in school if I had today’s technology then.

I grew up loving all things...

 

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