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Twitter: @Nichols_NHLPool/ Email: chris.nichols@sportsnet.rogers.com

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NHL Free Agents: Western Conference

NHL Free Agents: Eastern Conference

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 1 @ CAROLINA HURRICANES 4

Goaltending match-up: Marc-Andre Fleury (8/11, .727 SV%) & Brent Johnson (9/10, .900 SV%) vs. Cam Ward (33/34, .971 SV%)

Combos: James Neal - Jordan Staal - Alex Kovalev/ Matt Cooke - Max Talbot - Tyler Kennedy/ Mike Rupp - Dustin Jeffrey Pascal Dupuis/ Chris Conner - Joe Vitale - Craig Adams/ Zbynek Michalek - Kris Letang/ Matt Niskanen - Ben Lovejoy/ Brian Strait - Deryk Engelland

Scratches: Martin, Sterling, Godard

Top PP times: Letang (4:48), Kovalev (4:13), Kennedy (3:25), Staal (3:03), Neal (3:00)

Trending: Alex Kovalev (4 PIM, no SOG) played his first game with the Pens since the Ottawa trade and began with Jordan Staal (3 SOG) and James Neal (2 SOG) on L1. Pascal Dupuis (1G, no PP, 2 SOG) had 4A on the month coming in.

Combos: Cory Stillman - Eric Staal - Erik Cole/ Jeff Skinner - Tuomo Ruutu - Chad LaRose/ Jiri Tlusty - Brandon Sutter - Jussi Jokinen/ Sergei Samsonov - Pat Dwyer - Troy Bodie/ Tim Gleason - Joe Corvo/ Joni Pitkanen - Jamie McBain/ Jay Harrison - Derek Joslin

Scratches: Carson, Samson

Top PP times: Corvo (4:21), Pitkanen (3:47), Jokinen (3:44), Staal (3:37), Stillman (3:09)

Trending: Cory Stillman (+2, 17:49 TOI, no SOG) made his debut for the Canes and jumped right back with his old linemates Eric Staal (1A, +2, 3 SOG) and Erik Cole (1G, 1A, +2, 1:05 PP, 2 SOG). Staal left this one injured though. Joni Pitkanen (1A, 2 SOG) had been blanked in his past three, but still had six points in seven games headed in. Joe Corvo (1G, 5 SOG) had 18 points over 25 GP before tonight. Jamie McBain (1A, -1, 2 PIM, 0:43 PP, 1 SOG) has helpers in four of five now.

NEW YORK RANGERS 6 @ WASHINGTON CAPITALS 0

Goaltending match-up: Henrik Lundqvist (35/35) vs. Michal Neuvirth (22/28, .786 SV%)

Combos: Brandon Dubinsky - Artem Anisimov - Ryan Callahan/ Wojtek Wolski - Derek Stepan - Mats Zuccarello/ Vinny Prospal - Erik Christensen - Ruslan Fedotenko/ Sean Avery - Brian Boyle - Brandon Prust/ Ryan McDonagh - Dan Girardi/ Matt Gilroy - Mike Sauer/ Michael Del Zotto - Steve Eminger

Scratches: Gaborik, Staal, Newbury

Top PP times: Zuccarello (3:30), Anisimov (2:48), Dubinsky (2:48), Prospal (2:31), Christensen (2:20)

Trending: Good game for Erik Christensen (2G, 2A, +3, 4 SOG), who had no points in February headed in. Ryan Callahan (1A, 2 PIM, 2:11 PP, 3 SOG) had a couple of goals the last time these teams met and had six points in five games before tonight. Vinny Prospal (1G, 1A, +2, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) had 2-2-4 in his 9 GP coming in. Brian Boyle (1G, 1A, +3, 0:54 PP, 3 SOG) reached the 30-point plateau tonight, but only had two points on the month coming in. Derek Stepan (1G, 1A, +1, 1:40 PP, 3 SOG) has points in five of eight now, while Mats Zuccarello (1A, +1, 1:17 PP, no SOG) had four points in February before tonight.

Combos: Alex Ovechkin - Nicklas Backstrom - Mike Knuble/ Brooks Laich - Marcus Johansson - Alexander Semin/ Jason Chimera - Mathieu Perrault - Boyd Gordon/ Matt Hendricks - David Steckel - Matt Bradley/ Mike Green - John Erskine/ Jeff Schultz - Scott Hannan/ John Carlson - Karl Alzner

Scratches: King, Sloan

Top PP times: Ovechkin (7:54), Carlson (7:53), Backstrom (5:34), Laich (5:14), Semin (5:14)

Trending:

PHOENIX COYOTES 3 @ COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 5

Goaltending match-up: Ilya Bryzgalov (29/34, .853 SV%) vs. Steve Mason (25/28, .893 SV%)

Combos: Lauri Korpikoski - Eric Belanger - Shane Doan/ Mikkel Boedker - Martin Hanzal - Radim Vrbata/ Taylor Pyatt - Vernon Fiddler - Lee Stempniak/Paul Bissonnette - Andrew Ebbett / Keith Yandle - Derek Morris/ Sami Lepisto - Michal Rozsival/ David Schlemko - Nolan Yonkman/ Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Scratches: Upshall, MacLean, Turris

Top PP times: Yandle (4:41), Vrbata (4:30), Doan (4:20), Boedker (3:34), Hanzal (2:56)

Trending: Radim Vrbata (1G, +1, 4 SOG) scored in his prior game against the Jackets and had nine points in eight outings coming in. Mikkel Boedker (2A, +2, 3 SOG) has points in each of his past three outings. Lee Stempniak (1A, +1, 7 PIM, 1:56 PP, 2 SOG) only had one point this month coming in.

Combos: Rick Nash - Antoine Vermette - Jakub Voracek/ Matt Calvert - Derek McKenzie - R.J. Umberger; Derek Dorsett - Samuel Pahlsson - Chris Clark/ Ethan Moreau - Andrew Murray - Jared Boll/ Kris Russell - Grant Clitsome/ Anton Stralman - Jan Hejda/ Marc Methot - Fedor Tyutin

Scratches: Klesla

Top PP times: Clitsome (7:02), Vermette (6:43), Nash (6:24), Voracek (6:24), Umberger (4:49)

Trending: Matt Calvert (3G, 1A, +2, 2 PIM, 3:33 PP, 7 SOG) has found the back of the net in four of his past five outings. Jakub Voracek (1G, -1, 5 SOG) began the evening with seven points in seven games and was 11 points shy of last year’s mark of 50. Rick Nash (1A, -1, no SOG) had an even 14-14-28 in 28 GP vs. PHO coming in. R.J. Umberger (1G, 2A, +2, 2 PIM, 5 SOG) had 2-8-10 in 10 February GP coming in. Grant Clitsome (1A, +1, 1 SOG) has a four-game point streak rolling, but has been a steady source of points from the back end since being called up in mid-January.

OTTAWA SENATORS 2 @ BUFFALO SABRES 4

Goaltending match-up: Craig Anderson (35/38, .921 SV%) vs. Ryan Miller (29/31, .935 SV%)

Combos: Milan Michalek - Jason Spezza - Bobby Butler/ Ryan Shannon - Nick Foligno - Marek Svatos/ Colin Greening - Zack Smith - Erik Condra/ Roman Wick - Corey Locke - Francis Lessard/ Filip Kuba - Erik Karlsson/ Chris Phillips - Brian Lee/ Chris Campoli - Matt Carkner

Scratches: Regin, Neil, Leclaire

Top PP times: Spezza (6:12), Kuba (5:48), Butler (5:02), Karlsson (5:01), Michalek (4:50)

Trending: Jason Spezza (1G, 1A, -1, 4 SOG) had racked up 19-33-52 in 41 GP vs. BUF coming in here. Milan Michalek (1G, 1A, -1, 2 PIM, 4 SOG) had five points in five games before today, while Erik Condra (1A, 0:09 PP, 2 SOG) has points in two of his five starts with the Sens.

Combos: Tyler Ennis - Jochen Hecht - Thomas Vanek/ Drew Stafford - Tim Connolly - Jason Pominville/ Nathan Gerbe - Paul Gaustad - Patrick Kaleta/ Rob Niedermayer - Cody McCormick - Mike Grier/ Chris Butler - Tyler Myers/ Jordan Leopold - Steve Montador/ Mike Weber - Shaonr Morrisonn

Scratches: Sekera

Top PP times: Vanek (2:34), Connolly (2:16), Ennis (2:03), Pominville (2:03), Myers (1:57), Butler (1:57)

Trending: Jordan Leopold (1A, +3, 2 PIM, 1 SOG) ended a five-game pointless skid here, but had four points in four games before that. Drew Stafford (1A, +1, 1:55 PP, 4 SOG) had been shutout in his past three games, but was quite hot before that. Tyler Ennis (1A, +1, 2 SOG) has points in B2B games after four without one. Jochen Hecht (1G, +2, 1:44 PP, 3 SOG) has points in five of eight now.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS 1 @ TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 2

Goaltending match-up: Johan Hedberg (28/30, .933 SV%) vs. Dwayne Roloson (19/20, .950 SV%)

Combos: Ilya Kovalchuk - Travis Zajac - Nick Palmieri/ Brian Rolston - Patrik Elias - Dainius Zubrus/ Jacob Josefson - Jason Arnott - Mattias Tedenby/ Vladimir Zharkov - Rod Pelley - David Clarkson/ Colin White - Anton Volchenkov/ Henrik Tallinder - Mark Fayne/ Anssi Salmela - Andy Greene

Scratches: Fraser, Mair

Top PP times: Kovalchuk (1:30), Zubrus (1:19), Rolston (1:19), Arnott (1:19), Elias (1:19)

Trending: Ilya Kovalchuk (1A, +1, 2 SOG) has points in all 12 February games now and Travis Zajac (1A, +1, 0:11 PP, 3 SOG) had eight points in nine games before tonight. Mark Fayne (1G, +1, 0:11 PP, 1 SOG) has come up with points in five of seven from the back end.

Combos: Martin St. Louis - Steven Stamkos - Steve Downie/ Simon Gagne - Vincent Lecavalier - Teddy Purcell/ Sean Bergenheim - Dominic Moore - Adam Hall/ Nate Thompson - Dana Tyrell/ Victor Hedman - Brett Clark / Randy Jones - Eric Brewer/ Pavel Kubina - Matt Smaby/ Marc-Andre Bergeron

Scratches: Ohlund, Harju, McElhinney

Top PP times: St. Louis (3:16), Stamkos (3:16), Lecavalier (3:10), MAB (3:00), Clark (2:48)

Trending: Martin St. Louis (1G, 1 SOG) came into tonight having tallied a respectable 35 points in 40 GP vs. NJD over his career. Steve Downie’s (1A, no PP, 1 SOG) February totals coming in were 4-0-0 with 23 PIM in 9 GP. Simon Gagne (1G, +1, 0:11 PP, 2 SOG) hadn’t scored this month, but he’s been chipping in points fairly regularly over the last five weeks or so overall.

FLORIDA PANTHERS 2 @ ATLANTA THRASHERS 1 (SO)

Goaltending match-up: Tomas Vokoun (45/46, .978 SV%) vs. Ondrej Pavelec (6/7, .857 SV%, left this game injured) & Chris Mason (25/25)

Combos: Chris Higgins - Stephen Weiss - Michal Repik/ David Booth - Marty Reasoner - Radek Dvorakr/ Rostislav Olesz - Mike Santorelli - Steve Bernier/ Darcy Hordichuk - Scott Timmins - Bill Thomas/ Bryan McCabe - Joe Callahan/ Alexander Sulzer - Bryan Allen/ Mike Weaver - Jason Garrison

Scratches: Wideman, Skille, Carter

Top PP times: Garrison (5:46), Weiss (5:28), McCabe (5:09), Booth (4:15), Santorelli (4:15)

Trending: Marty Reasoner (1G, 2:02 PP, 3 SOG) had five points in seven games headed in here. Shootout: Santorelli, Bernier

Combos: Andrew Ladd - Bryan Little - Blake Wheeler/ Evander Kane - Nik Antropov - Anthony Stewart/ Fredrik Modin - Chris Thorburn - Niclas Bergfors/ Eric Boulton - Tim Stapleton - Spencer Machacek/ Zach Bogosian - Ron Hainsey/ Mark Stuart - Johnny Oduya/ Dustin Byfuglien - Tobias Enstrom

Scratches: Cormier

Top PP times: Enstrom (4:47), Byfuglien (4:30), Wheeler (3:19), Ladd (2:55), Little (2:55)

Trending: Blake Wheeler (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 7 SOG) has points in two of three since joining the Thrashers. Bryan Little (1A, +1, 2 SOG) has points in B2B games after four without one. Shootout: Wheeler

SAN JOSE SHARKS 4 @ CALGARY FLAMES 3 (SO)

Goaltending match-up: Antti Niemi (21/24, .875 SV%) vs. Miikka Kiprusoff (30/33, .909 SV%)

Combos: Logan Couture - Joe Thornton - Devin Setoguchi/ Ryane Clowe - Patrick Marleau - Dany Heatley/ Torrey Mitchell - Joe Pavelski - Ben Eager/ John McCarthy - Kyle Wellwood - Jamal Mayers/ Douglas Murray - Justin Braun/ Marc-Edouard Vlasic - Jason Demers/ Niclas Wallin - Ian White

Scratches: Nichol, Boyle, Huskins

Top PP times: Marleau (2:18), Thornton (2:18), Pavelski (2:16), Demers (2:16), Clowe (2:15)

Trending: Devin Setoguchi (1G, 1:42 PP, 4 SOG) had scored five times in three games headed in and had 15 points in 14 GP before tonight. Logan Couture (1A, +1, 1:42 PP, 1 SOG) had a three-point night the last time he faced the Flames and he had seven points in four games coming in here. Joe Pavelski (1A, 6 SOG) had a three-pointer in his last game against the Flames and had 12 points in 12 February games before tonight. Ryane Clowe (1G, 9 PIM, 1 SOG) has scored in four of five now. Patrick Marleau (1A, 3 SOG) had 6-4-10 in 12 GP coming in here. Shootout: Clowe

Combos: Alex Tanguay - Brendan Morrison - Jarome Iginla/ Tim Jackman - Matt Stajan - Rene Bourque/ Curtis Glencross - Olli Jokinen - David Moss/ Niklas Hagman - Mikael Backlund - Tom Kostopoulos/ Robyn Regehr - Jay Bouwmeester/ Mark Giordano - Cory Sarich/ Steve Staios - Anton Babchuk

Scratches: Mikkelson

Top PP times: Iginla (4:07), Giordano (3:40), Tanguay (3:36), Glencross (3:24), Babchuk (2:38)

Trending: Anton Babchuk (1G, +1, 1 SOG) has goals in four of eight and had seven points in seven games before tonight too. Alex Tanguay (1A, no SOG) continues to produce for his poolies and Olli Jokinen (1A, +1, 2:23 PP, 3 SOG) added to the 13 points this month he already had. Brendan Morrison (1A, 2:10 PP, 1 SOG) had 1-11-12 in 11 GP before tonight.

ST. LOUIS BLUES 5 @ EDMONTON OILERS 0

Goaltending match-up: Ben Bishop (39/39, first career shutout in fifth career start) vs. Devan Dubnyk (17/22, .773 SV%)

Combos: Andy McDonald - David Backes - Brad Boyes/ T.J. Oshie - Patrik Berglund - Chris Stewart/ Alex Steen - Vladimir Sobotka - B.J. Crombeen/ Brad Winchester - Matt D'Agostini - Cam Janssen/ Kevin Shattenkirk - Alex Pietrangelo/ Barret Jackman - Roman Polak/ Carlo Colaiacovo - Tyson Strachan

Scratches: McRae, Nikitin

Top PP times: Colaiacovo (4:54), McDonald (4:46), Stewart (4:17), Shattenkirk (4:02), Berglund (4:00)

Trending: Chris Stewart (2G, +1, 3 SOG) had 4-1-5 in 4 GP coming in here since joining the Blues and he was shifted to a different line tonight. Patrik Berglund (1G, 1A, +1, 4 SOG) has been money for poolies since mid-January. Alex Steen (1A, 3:50 PP, 3 SOG) had five points in six games before tonight. Brad Boyes (1A, +1, 3:45 PP, 1 SOG) has been going strong for a few months now and he put himself back in the top six forwards tonight after being bumped out initially after Stewart's arrival.

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: Omark, MacIntyre, Khabibulin

Top PP times: Foster (3:11), Paajarvi (3:01), Hall (2:49), Penner (2:43), Gagner (2:25)

Trending: Check Shawn Horcoff's injury status if he's on your roster.

MINNESOTA WILD 3 @ ANAHEIM DUCKS 2 (OT)

Goaltending match-up: Jose Theodore (46/48, .958 SV%) vs. Dan Ellis (28/31, .903 SV%)

Combos: Andrew Brunette - John Madden - Antti Miettinen/ Pierre-Marc Bouchard - John Madden - Martin Havlat/ Cal Clutterbuck - Eric Nystrom- Brad Staubitz/ Jed Ortmeyer - Warren Peters - Chuck Kobasew/ Greg Zanon - Clayton Stoner/ Nick Schultz - Brent Burns/ Marek Zidlicky - Jared Spurgeon

Scratches: Brodziak, Barker, Almond

Top PP times: Burns (3:13), Havlat (2:53), Brunette (2:40), Miettinen (2:36), Spurgeon (2:21)

Trending: Pierre-Marc Bouchard (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 2:04 PP, 2 SOG) netted his second GWG of the month in OT and has goals in two of three now. Antti Miettinen (3A, +3, no SOG) had just four points on the month coming in and Andrew Brunette (1A, +2, 1 SOG) had six. John Madden (1G, +2, no PP, 4 SOG) has a point in three of five now. Brent Burns (1A, -1, 2 PIM, 2 SOG) is up to 38 points already and has seven in his past 10 GP.

Combos: Bobby Ryan - Ryan Getzlaf - Corey Perry/ Jason Blake - Brandon McMillan - Teemu Selanne/ Jarkko Ruutu - Todd Marchant - Dan Sexton/ George Parros - Kyle Chipchura - Maxim Lapierre/ Toni Lydman - Lubomir Visnovsky/ Luca Sbisa - Francois Beauchemin/ Cam Fowler - Andreas Lilja

Scratches: Koivu, Brookbank, Sutton

Top PP times: Fowler (6:08), Visnovsky (6:08), Getzlaf (4:25), Perry (4:22), Selanne (4:19)

Trending: Bobby Ryan (1G, -2, 2:25 PP, 4 SOG) came into this one with 6-4-10 in 9 GP headed in here. Ryan Getzlaf (1A, 3 SOG) was back in the line-up after missing time for the birth of a new child. Jason Blake (2A, +2, 2:25 PP, 5 SOG) had four points in seven games before tonight. Teemu Selanne (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 4 SOG) had 5-6-11 in 9 GP coming in.

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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