Twitter: @Nichols_NHLPool/ Email: chris.nichols@sportsnet.rogers.com
The twitter feed has timely NHL & fantasy info with a few funnies along the way. Inane babble is generally kept to a minimum and known starting goalies will be posted leading up to the first games of the night, where possible.
Live NHL recaps run every game night, seven evenings a week. The start time is generally around 7pm et, depending on the schedule. Log on for fresh line combos, defensive pairings, power play times, analysis, statistical trends and more from each and every game. Refresh the recap page while the games are on to see new info as it gets added.
Hockey Hearsay runs each weekday, providing you with a mix of stories, quotes and more from around the hockey world. You can also submit your fantasy hockey question for a Hockey Hearsay blog via email. One per person, please and include your first name and hometown to represent!
NHL Free Agents: Western Conference
NHL Free Agents: Eastern Conference
ATLANTA THRASHERS 1 @ BUFFALO SABRES 4
Goaltending match-up: Ondrej Pavelec (35/39, .897 SV%) vs. Ryan Miller (40/41, .976 SV%)
Combos: Andrew Ladd - Bryan Little - Blake Wheeler/ Evander Kane - Nik Antropov - Anthony Stewart/ Patrick Rissmiller - Chris Thorburn - Niclas Bergfors/ Eric Boulton - Tim Stapleton - Spencer Machacek/ Tobias Enstrom - Dustin Byfuglien/ Mark Stuart - Johnny Oduya/ Ron Hainsey - Zach Bogosian
Scratches: Sopel, Cormier
Top PP times: Byfuglien (4:39), Enstrom (4:25), Little (3:25), Ladd (3:01), Antropov (3:01)
Trending: Andrew Ladd (1G, 4 SOG) has scored in four straight and had five goals in five games coming into tonight. Dustin Byfuglien (-3, 2 PIM, 5 SOG) had two points the last time he met this team and had 11-11-22 in 30 road games headed in too.
Combos: Tyler Ennis - Jochen Hecht - Thomas Vanek/Jason Pominville - Tim Connolly - Drew Stafford/ Nathan Gerbe - Paul Gaustad - Patrick Kaleta/ Rob Niedermayer - Cody McCormick - Mike Grier/ Chris Butler - Tyler Myers/ Jordan Leopold - Steve Montador/ Shaone Morrisonn - Mike Weber
Scratches: Sekera, Rivet
Top PP times: Myers (3:14), Ennis (3:14), Gerbe (3:14), Butler (3:14), 5 with 2:46
Trending: Tyler Myers (1G, 1A, +3, 3 SOG) had drawn blanks in his past four outings and had 2G, 2A on the month coming in. Jason Pominville (1G, +2, 2 PIM, 2:46 PP, 4 SOG) had five points in six affairs coming in. Tyler Ennis (1G, +1, 5 SOG) had a three and two-point effort as his offensive output this month coming in.
FLORIDA PANTHERS 1 @ OTTAWA SENATORS 5
Goaltending match-up: Scott Clemmensen (29/34, .853 SV%) vs. Craig Anderson (23/24, .958 SV%)
Combos: Radek Dvorak - Stephen Weiss - Chris Higgins/ David Booth - Mike Santorelli - Steve Bernier/ Cory Stillman - Marty Reasoner - Jack Skille/ Darcy Hordichuk - Scott Timmins - Rostislav Olesz/ Keaton Ellerby - Bryan McCabe/ Jason Garrison - Mike Weaver/ Dennis Wideman - Bryan Allen
Scratches:
Top PP times: Wideman (6:43), Weiss (6:03), Stillman (5:47), Santorelli (5:31), McCabe (5:09)
Trending: Chris Higgins (1G, +1, 2:56 PP, 4 SOG) had four points in February coming into tonight.
Combos: Milan Michalek - Jason Spezza - Bobby Butler/ Ryan Shannon - Nick Foligno - Alex Kovalev/ Erik Condra - Zack Smith - Chris Neil/ Colin Greening - Jim O'Brien - Francis Lessard/ Filip Kuba - Andre Benoit/ Chris Phillips - Brian Lee/ Chris Campoli - Matt Carkner
Scratches: Regin, Karlsson, Leclaire
Top PP times: Spezza (8:17), Michalek (7:56), Kuba (7:36), Shannon (7:04), Butler (6:39)
Trending: Bobby Butler (2G, +2, 7 SOG) has found the back of the net in four of five now and this was his third multi-pointer in that time. Jason Spezza (1G, 2A, +1, 5 SOG) came into tonight with six points in six games and his late third period goal, with the game already well in hand for Ottawa, was a gorgeous shot. Nick Foligno (1A, +2, 2:40 PP, no SOG) had four points in nine outings headed in here. Chris Neil left this game injured. Check his status if he’s on your roster. Milan Michalek (1G, 6 SOG) had two points the last time he met the Panthers and had four points in four games before tonight.
SAN JOSE SHARKS 3 @ PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 2 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Antti Niemi (24/26, .923 SV%) vs. Marc-Andre Fleury (35/38, .921 SV%)
Combos: Logan Couture - Joe Thornton - Devin Setoguchi/ Ryane Clowe - Patrick Marleau - Dany Heatley/ Torrey Mitchell - Joe Pavelski - Kyle Wellwood/ Jamal Mayers - John McCarthy - Ben Eager/ Douglas Murray - Dan Boyle/ Marc-Edouard Vlasic - Jason Demers/ Niclas Wallin - Ian White
Scratches: Nichol, Huskins, Braun
Top PP times: Boyle (5:52), Thornton (5:39), Pavelski (5:34), Marleau (5:09), Heatley (5:09)
Trending: Patrick Marleau (2G, 7 SOG) has scored in four of eight now and showed great hustle to create a turnover in the third period, which led to his goal. He also potted the OT GWG after PIT had come back to send the game to OT. Logan Couture (1G, 1A, +1, 2:21 PP, 3 SOG) has points in four straight and had B2B two-pointers coming in here. Devin Setoguchi (1A, 2 PIM, 1:51 PP, 4 SOG) began the evening with 5G in 2 GP and had 11 points in 11 GP coming in. Jason Demers (1A, +1, 1:38 PP, no SOG) has helpers in two of three, but had many zeroes before that. Dany Heatley (1A, 1 SOG) had just five points on the month before tonight, but needed only two points to reach 50 for the season.
Combos: James Neal - Jordan Staal - Pascal Dupuis/ Matt Cooke - Craig Adams - Tyler Kennedy/ Mike Rupp - Max Talbot - Chris Conner/ Brett Sterling - Joe Vitale - Tim Wallace/ Brooks Orpik - Kris Letang/ Paul Martin - Deryk Engelland/ Matt Niskanen - Ben Lovejoy
Scratches: Martin, Godard
Top PP times: Letang (4:00), Staal (2:31), Neal (2:12), Kennedy (2:12), Sterling (2:12)
Trending: This was James Neal’s (+1, 20:48 TOI, 2 SOG) first game with the Pens. Tyler Kennedy (2G, +1, 4 SOG) had 5-2-7 in 11 GP coming in, while Matt Cooke (2A, +2, 1:48 PP, 4 SOG) has points in two of three since returning to the line-up. Jordan Staal (1A, +1, 1 SOG) had picked up six points in six games headed into this tilt.
PHOENIX COYOTES 3 @ TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 8
Goaltending match-up: Jason LaBarbera (31/39, .795 SV%) vs. Dwayne Roloson (25/28, .893 SV%)
Combos: Lauri Korpikoski - Eric Belanger - Shane Doan/ Taylor Pyatt - Martin Hanzal - Radim Vrbata/ Mikkel Boedker - Vernon Fiddler - Lee Stempniak/ - Andrew Ebbett - Kyle Turris/ Keith Yandle - Derek Morris/ Sami Lepisto - Michal Rozsival/ Oliver Ekman-Larsson - Nolan Yonkman/ Michal Rozsival
Scratches: Upshall, Bissonnette, Whitney
Top PP times: Yandle (3:02), Doan (2:38), Vrbata (2:29), Korpikoski (2:27), Hanzal (2:27)
Trending: Martin Hanzal (1G, +1, 1 SOG) has scored in three of five now and he broke the shutout tonight. Radim Vbata (1A, 2 SOG) had collected eight points in his past seven affairs before tonight.
Combos: Martin St. Louis - Steven Stamkos - Steve Downie/ Simon Gagne - Vincent Lecavalier - Teddy Purcell/ Sean Bergenheim - Dominic Moore - Adam Hall/ Nate Thompson - Johan Harju/ Victor Hedman - Mattias Ohlund/ Randy Jones - Pavel Kubina/ Eric Brewer - Brett Clark/ Marc-Andre Bergeron
Scratches: Smaby, Tyrell
Top PP times: Stamkos (4:01), St. Louis (4:01), Lecavalier (4:01), MAB (3:08), Clark (2:39)
Trending: Vincent Lecavalier (1G, 4A, +3, 2 SOG) had 14 points in 21 GP coming in here since the start of January. Martin St. Louis (2G, 1A, -1, 5 SOG) pushed his point streak to seven games, but he’s such a constant in the line-up it really doesn’t matter what’s written here. The man produces. Always. Teddy Purcell (3G, +2, 1:46 PP, 6 SOG) had 11 points in 10 GP before tonight. Marc-Andre Bergeron (1A, 2 PIM, 3 SOG) had 2-3-5 in 6 GP with TB coming in here, so he’s off to a great start since returning to NHL action this season. Steven Stamkos (1G, 1A, -2, 4 SOG) had not scored in five games coming in, but still began the evening only 11 goals shy of last year’s 51.
EDMONTON OILERS 5 @ COLORADO AVALANCHE 1
Goaltending match-up: Devan Dubnyk (38/39, .974 SV%) vs. Brian Elliott (26/31, .839 SV%)
Combos: Dustin Penner - Shawn Horcoff - Ales Hemsky/ Taylor Hall - Andrew Cogliano - Jordan Eberle/ Magnus Paajarvi - Sam Gagner - Ryan Jones/ Steve McIntyre - Colin Fraser - Liam Reddox/ Ladislav Smid - Tom Gilbert/ Jim Vandermeer - Kurtis Foster/ Jason Strudwick - Theo Peckham
Scratches: Jacques, Omark, Chorney
Top PP times: Paajarvi (2:52), Penner (2:24), Hemsky (2:17), Horcoff (2:17), Foster (2:13)
Trending: Taylor Hall (1G, 1A, +2, 1:52 PP, 5 SOG) just had that hat trick two games ago and scored again tonight. He had four points in three games before this game. Jordan Eberle (1G, 1A, +2, 2 PIM, 1:45 PP, 5 SOG) had 4-4-8 in 10 GP coming in, while Magnus Paajarvi (1A, +1, 1 SOG) has points in two of three after six without one. Dustin Penner (1G, 4 SOG) had one point in five games before this outing. Ales Hemsky (1A, 5 SOG) had racked up 11 points in nine affairs coming in. Sam Gagner (1G, +1, 0:51 PP, 2 SOG) has points in four of five now after four without one. Kurtis Foster (1G, +1, 1 SOG) has goals in two straight with points in each of his past three now.
Combos: Ryan Stoa - Paul Stastny - David Jones/ Kevin Porter - Matt Duchene - Milan Hejduk/ Cody McLeod - Jay McClement - Brandon Yip/ David Koci - Ryan O'Reilly - Philippe Dupuis - Cody McLeod/ John-Michael Liles - Ryan O'Byrne/ Ryan Wilson - Erik Johnson/ Matt Hunwick - Jonas Holos
Scratches: Winnik, Gaunce
Top PP times: Porter (4:22), Johnson (4:20), Duchene (4:14), Hejduk (4:14), Liles (3:51)
Trending: Milan Hejduk (1G, 4 SOG) has goals in B2B games now after a dry spell. Matt Duchene (1A, 3 SOG) only had two points coming in here, while John-Michael Liles (1A, -1, 3 SOG) had three helpers in three games headed in after eight without one.
LOS ANGELES KINGS 3 @ ANAHEIM DUCKS 2
Goaltending match-up: Jonathan Quick (25/27, .926 SV%) vs. Curtis McElhinney (15/18, .833 SV%)
Combos: Marco Sturm - Anze Kopitar - Wayne Simmonds/ Ryan Smyth - Jarret Stoll - Dustin Brown/ Brad Richardson- Michal Handzus - Justin Williams/ Kyle Clifford - Trevor Lewis - Kevin Westgarth/ Willie Mitchell - Drew Doughty/ Jack Johnson - Rob Scuderi/ Davis Drewiske - Matt Greene
Scratches: Harrold, Ponikarovsky, Martinez
Top PP times: N/A
Trending: Anze Kopitar (1G, +2, 3 SOG) had 11-19-30 in 28 GP vs. ANH coming in here and was four points below the point-per-game mark on the season. Marco Sturm (16:51 TOI, 1 SOG) played his first game since Jan. 18. Ryan Smyth (1G, +2, 1 SOG) hadn't scored this month and had just three helpers. Jack Johnson (1A, +1, 1 SOG) has points in three of four after four without one. Jarret Stoll (1A, no SOG) only had two February points coming in. Justin Williams (2A, +1, 4 SOG) began the evening with seven points in his past seven tilts.
Combos: Jarkko Ruutu - Bobby Ryan - Corey Perry/ Jason Blake - Brandon McMillan - Teemu Selanne/ Todd Marchant - Maxim Lapierre - Dan Sexton/ George Parros - Kyle Chipchura - Sheldon Brookbank/ Toni Lydman - Lubomir Visnovsky/ Luca Sbisa - Francois Beauchemin/ Cam Fowler - Andreas Lilja
Scratches: Koivu, Getzlaf, Sutton
Top PP times: Ryan (1:28), Perry (1:28), Fowler (1:22), Selanne (1:22), Visnovsky (1:01)
Trending: Corey Perry (1G, -1, 3 SOG) had 30 points in 27 home games coming in, but only 23 in 33 GP vs. LOS. Bobby Ryan (1A, -1, 2 SOG) came into this one needing two points to hit 50 for the season. Teemu Selanne's (1G, 3 SOG) career stats vs. LOS coming in: 47-59-106 in only 88 GP.
