Chris Nichols

­Chris Nichols is Sportsnet.ca's fantasy hockey writer.

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

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The Calgary Herald writes that after an early-season bald patch — two measly helpers in 10 appearances sandwiched around his three-game suspension — Flames centreman Olli Jokinen has produced.

Would you believe 41 points since Dec. 9, a stretch of 48 games? This is now his eighth straight season with at least 50 points too.

“I’ve been playing pretty good hockey — probably my best hockey in many years,” Jokinen, 32, says. “It’s been quite fun lately, being on a good roll here. That was one of the reasons I came here (as a free agent), because I knew what the coaching staff was expecting me to bring out there. I knew they had confidence in me.”

“But at the end of the day, it’s about the team getting into the playoffs. That’s the main goal. That’s one reason we’ve been winning — because everyone has been playing better. And a lot of times, I think a lot of players get overlooked. They don’t get the credit they should get.”

Players such as, perhaps, you?

“I don’t read the papers, so I don’t know whose tires you guys are pumping or who’s playing well or who’s not,” Jokinen says. “All that matters is if we win the games . . . and what kind of feedback you get from your teammates.”

The Flames are demanding two-way toil from Jokinen.

With centres Brendan Morrison, David Moss, Daymond Langkow out of commission, that need has never been greater. Jokinen states that he’s embraced the challenge.

“Maybe my mindset has changed a little bit over the last two years,” he says. “Maybe before it was, ‘OK, I’ve got to get to 30 goals. I’ve got to get a point per game.’ Now I really don’t care if I score or get points. All that matters is the team getting points. I think that’s a different mindset — try to do whatever it takes and don’t get frustrated if you don’t score for a couple games.

“Obviously, we all like to score, but there are a lot of other things to do if you don’t score. That’s what I’ve learned to do, especially this year more than ever.”

At some point in the conversation, The Herald notes that Jokinen abruptly changes course, insisting that he’s long known both ends of the rink. That defensive structure has always been part of his game. That, as a player, he’s misunderstood.

“Everyone was saying it was all about offence, offence, offence,” he says of his reputation. “But if you look at my numbers, the first (two) years after the lockout, I was a plus-player, almost plus-20, and I averaged over 20 minutes a night.

“Play power play. Play penalty kill. Play against the other team’s first line. I’ve been doing that the last eight years of my career. So what I’ve done here this year is nothing new. It’s not like it’s a totally new position for me to play against other teams’ top players.

“That’s what I’ve been doing for 700 games in this league.”

“That particular injury is mind-boggling. I don’t get it,” Oilers coach Tom Renney marveled to The Edmonton Journal about how in the last 10 days alone, Shawn Horcoff, Jordan Eberle, J.F. Jacques and Colin Fraser have all hobbled out of a rink in a boot cast. All had been struck by pucks. “I think we’re maybe sixth, seventh or eighth in terms of blocked shots and maybe that’s got something to do with it ... but we’re not going to tell guys to get out of the way.

“It’s just unique, no doubt about that.”

Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford doesn't hedge any in assessing the play of goaltender Cam Ward this season according to The Raleigh News & Observer.

"He has singlehandedly won us games and singlehandedly kept us in many games," Rutherford said. "He's our MVP for the year."

That comes from a former NHL goalie, from a man who has an appreciation of the position and its demands. And the fact the Hurricanes (34-29-10) go into tonight's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning three points out of playoff position is a testament to Ward's savvy and effectiveness, Rutherford said.

"He's been playing really well for us, and thank goodness for that," Rutherford said. "The way we've played as a team at times here of late, he's given us the chance to stay in the race."

Ward, 27, is approaching milestone numbers. He's on track to easily top his personal high of 69 games played in the 2007-08 season. He's also 78 saves away from 2,000, a number just eight NHL goalies have achieved since the 1997-98 season.

Ward likely won't top the NHL record of 2,303 saves set by Roberto Luongo in 2003-04 with the Florida Panthers. But he already has smashed Sean Burke's franchise record of 1,844 saves in the 1995-96 season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, and leads the NHL in shots faced and saves.

The News & Observer points out that basketball players are forever talking about being in the "zone," where all the jumpers fall and everything seemingly comes effortlessly. The same is true for goaltenders, Ward said Thursday, when they're moving well and seeing the shots well.

"I think I'm at my best when I'm not thinking about anything, just going out there and playing," he said. "I'm just trying to give my team a chance to be in every single game that we play.

"This is a fun time of the year. It's a stressful time, and some people might take it the other way. But I look at it as a great challenge, and I like to rise to the occasion with the pressure situations such as we're in right now."

Coach Paul Maurice noted Ward seems to be better the more shots he sees -- the Canes are 8-1-1 this season when Ward stops 40 or more, including a critical 1-0 road win last week over the Buffalo Sabres.

"Based on his record, we may shoot the first 20 at him [tonight] just to get him on the clock," Maurice said, joking. "But he's efficient in the net. He has played well and seen a lot of rubber and kept his confidence up."

According to The Buffalo News, center Jochen Hecht is getting close to returning to the Buffalo Sabres' lineup. Hecht probably won't play tonight when the Florida Panthers come to HSBC Arena but could be in the lineup for Saturday's game against New Jersey.

Hecht's return begs a question: Who comes out when he goes in?

The Sabres' corps of forwards is as strong as it's been at any point all season. Coach Lindy Ruff normally doesn't like to upset a winning lineup and Buffalo is 2-0-1 in its last three games. Going back deeper into the schedule, the Sabres are 5-2-1 during Hecht's two absences this month with an upper-body injury.

"You've got four lines that are producing," Ruff said after practice Thursday morning in the Northtown Center at Amherst. "On different nights you're getting plays that make a difference in the game."

"The top six or seven on this team has potential to score 20 goals a year," said Hecht, who has 12 goals and 28 points in 65 games. "I'm not surprised how it's been going. It's just a matter of time of everybody getting the confidence."

The News speculates that at first glance, recent emergency callup Mark Mancari would seem to the most vulnerable. But Ruff discounted that prospect Thursday because of the way Mancari has meshed with Paul Gaustad and the red-hot Nathan Gerbe.

"You can argue recently that maybe they've been our best line," Ruff said. "We're not going to mess with that obviously. When that time comes, we'll make a decision. We may just try to utilize all of them. It just won't be one guy that has to sit."

Ruff, in fact, said the Sabres would discuss changing Mancari's status from an emergency recall to a regular recall. This is Mancari's second trip to the NHL this season, and he had no points in his first four games after joining the team March 6 in Minnesota. In five games since, Mancari has a goal, four assists and a plus-4 rating.

Hecht, meanwhile, went through his first full hard practice and reported no issues.

"Everything went fine. Contact was no problem," Hecht said. "It's looking good. [Tonight] might be cutting it a little bit close because I had not skated for two weeks but Saturday is definitely an option."

The Chicago Tribune says that in one less-than-stupefying training camp, Viktor Stalberg went from key trade component and Blackhawks roster lock to, for a moment, a tenuous spot on the bubble. No surprise that the winger's confidence then remained at a low simmer for a good stretch.

So when he joined the top line for a spell early this season, Stalberg hadn't built up the psychological armor to withstand demands Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane occasionally heaped on him. Now, partnered with that pair again in a critical stretch, Stalberg finds selective ignorance to be bliss.

"Earlier in the year, I didn't know both of the guys as well as I do now, and I think that's a big factor," Stalberg said. "I feel more comfortable, maybe not as nervous when I'm out there.

"If they would tell me something at the beginning of the year, I probably would get down on myself. Now, I know that's how they are. And I found ways to not really care if they get down on me too much on a shift or two."

He laughed as he said this after the Hawks' 4-0 victory on Wednesday, in which the top trio accounted for five points overall. Stalberg's aggressiveness was particularly noteworthy, as he drew a penalty on the first shift, charging hard at the Panthers' net.

Stalberg may not compensate wholly for Patrick Sharp while the team's leading goal-scorer is shelved with a leg injury. But nights like Wednesday will more than adequately plug the gap.

"(Stalberg) really backs those other guys up," Hawks general manager Stan Bowman said. "When he gets the puck, he likes to take it and go with it and go to the net with it. That can open up some space for the other guys.

"He's playing with more confidence now, he's contributing. We need guys to step up and this is a good opportunity for him to do that."

Stalberg conceded to The Tribune he was "kind of behind the 8-ball a bit starting the season" and even endured an eight-game point-free streak in February.

He has four goals in his last 13 games, committing himself to what he calls "straight-ahead plays," the supplement his linemates require.

"Sharpie obviously brings his scoring and great abilities, but I have to bring something else," Stalberg said. "I have to bring what I can: play a pretty simple game, go hard to the net and try to create some more space for them with my speed."

That crew also was a collective plus-6 on Wednesday, leading coach Joel Quenneville to measure Stalberg's increased confidence simply: He's just playing better, everywhere.

"Things that kind of complement being a better player and complement our team game are things he's added as he's gone along here," Quenneville said. "He gained confidence off of that. Obviously you gain confidence playing with Toews and Kane as well."

The Denver Post reports that the Avalanche today expects to sign the player it hopes is its goalie of the future — Calvin Pickard.

Colorado reached agreement in principle with Pickard, 18, on a three-year entry-level contract — the third prospect from the junior ranks it has signed to contracts in the last two weeks. Joey Hishon and Stefan Elliott are the others. The contract is expected to be signed today.

Pickard, selected in the second round (49th overall) in the 2010 NHL draft, has a 27-33-8 record this season for Seattle of the Western Hockey League, with a 3.36 goals- against average and .916 save percentage. Pickard's brother, Chet, was drafted as a goalie by the Nashville Predators.

Despite agreeing to a pro contract, Pickard has one more year of junior eligibility left and chances are more likely than not he'll spend next season in the junior ranks.

The Dallas Morning News noted yesterday afternoon that Adam Burish, who has missed five games with a leg injury, said he skated Thursday for the first time since leaving the game against Minnesota after playing 7:41.

"I skated for about 10-15 minutes today," Burish said. "I felt better today than when I was playing, so that was good. Hopefully I am getting closer. I am going to go on the trip and the goal will be to play sometime early on the trip."

Burish still is not ready for an extended skate nor is he ready for practice, so this was just the first step. Still, he can help the team by bringing his positive attitude and locker room chemistry along. The team plays just once in a span of five days, so maybe he will be able to move closer to a return once things get moving next Tuesday in Phoenix.

"I want to try to skate there and be around the guys," he said. "I want to be on the schedule, I want to stay around the guys, I want to stay in the loop and I want to be supportive when I can."

Burish has been in the training room with defenseman Nicklas Grossman (knee) and said Grossman is excited about pushing his recovery forward.

"We're in a battle trying to see who can come back quickest,'' Burish said. "I think today he would tell you that he feels better than he thought he would.''

Stars coach Marc Crawford told The News he doesn't expect anyone to return to the lineup for Saturday's game at Nashville , but said he liked the work that Brad Lukowich and Mark Fistic did filling in for injured defensemen Grossman and Karlis Skrastins.

"The injuries we have are significant and we just have to bide our time, keep moving forward and look at what we've got,'' Crawford said. "I liked Lukowich. He's giving us some energy. He was a very confident player last night. If you had a young guy in here, I'm not sure he would have the confidence or the fortitude in the environment we're right now.

"I thought Mark Fistrc came in and played real for us. Mark's a big, powerful guy. He's giving us what we need right now,' Crawford said. "Other guys just have to step up, and they are. I thought Woywitka was real good last night. He was the guy who probably gobbled up the most minutes that were missing from the injured guys."

An hour before he took to the United Center ice for the first time as a visitor, The Miami Herald writes that Jack Skille methodically pushed away on a stationary bike, his head down low.

Skille had the hood of his sweatshirt pulled high. Skille wanted to focus on the task at hand and not play meet-and-greet in the busy hallway. Skille was a popular figure with the Chicago Blackhawks before being traded to the Panthers for Michael Frolik last month, and understandably, folks wanted to stop by and say hello.

One Chicago staffer noticed the seriousness on Skille’s face and simply gave him a soft tap on the shoulder as he walked by.

Skille’s name was the only one the Chicago fans cheered when the Panthers starting lineup was announced on Wednesday.

“To be honest, this was really awkward, being on the other side of things,’’ Skille said after Florida’s 4-0 loss to his former teammates. “There are a lot of good fans out there, saw some signs with my name on it and that was nice. It was nerve-wracking at the start, but I kind of got the hang of it as the game went on. I know how these fans are; they either love you or hate you. And they’re very competitive. I was wondering how I would be received, and they showed a lot of class. I commend them for that.’’

With the Blackhawks, Skille was a grinder, the life of the locker room. In Florida, Skille sees opportunity to be something more and he’s taking that role seriously. Skille can still crack wise with the best of them, but he sure isn’t doing it as frequently.

The Herald points out that Panthers general manager Dale Tallon selected Skille in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2005 draft, so he obviously knows what kind of player he was getting when he traded the talented — yet slumping — Frolik to the Blackhawks. Tallon wants the Panthers to be bigger and meaner and stronger, and Skille — despite the smiles and the friendly banter — definitely brings some toughness.

While Skille had to be disappointed to leave the friendly confines of Chicago, the opportunity presented with the Panthers is something he craved. The Panthers wanted Skille — and he’s ready to prove they were right.

“We’re in a rebuilding process, and we’re learning the game better as a group,’’ he said. “They believe in me here, and hopefully they continue to believe in me. I have to cash in here soon but I’m not trying to put too much pressure on myself. In the role I’m playing, I have to step up. I can’t let anyone else do it.’’

Skille missed a month with a high ankle sprain sustained Feb. 23 in Ottawa, returning to the lineup Tuesday against the Rangers.

The Tribune harkens back that on the night of Feb.12, Marc-Andre Bergeron's goal in overtime gave the Lightning a 4-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. It was the Bolts' 34th win of the season, giving them 73 points.

They had a solid hold on first place in the Southeast Division. They were second in the Eastern Conference.

It was all happening so fast. The Bolts had come from nowhere to contender, basically overnight. Philadelphia was well within reach for the No. 1 spot in the conference.

In those heady days, it was easy to forget general manager Steve Yzerman's quiet warning from weeks before that the Bolts weren't a finished product. He was just being honest about the team he had assembled the past offseason.

He is still being honest.

"Obviously, our goal is to go as far as we can in the playoffs," he said.

"But the first goal is to make the playoffs, which we haven't done yet."

With that in mind, The Tribune says, the Bolts and Carolina tangle again tonight at the Forum.

The Bolts have lost three consecutive games, including a 5-2 stinker Tuesday against the Islanders. They have picked up just 16 points in the past 51/2 weeks and have slipped to fifth in the conference. Any realistic hope of winning the division is gone.

But if you could transport back to training camp and someone presented this scenario with nine games to play in the regular season, do you think the Bolts would have taken that without hesitation?

"Yeah, at that point for sure," Yzerman said. "We have to take it that we're in a good position now, but also we have to understand that the expectations have changed. We've played good hockey. Last September, there was a little bit of uncertainty."

Coach Guy Boucher was asked if the Lightning's rapid start raised expectations to unrealistic levels and he quickly answered, "Absolutely."

"I think it's all good because it brought people back. It made people see who we are, what we're all about, and what we're becoming, but at the same, it created expectations that were extremely high. That's good because those are the expectations we have for ourselves," he said.

"But the reality is, with the number of injuries we've had this year to key guys, it was bound to eventually catch up to us. It has, lately."

The Tribune believes it's worth remembering what Yzerman said way back when. It's all about building, he said. He wasn't about to start swapping draft picks for short-term solutions that would come at the expense of long-term growth. Although he did ship a third-round selection to St. Louis for defenseman Eric Brewer, he has basically stuck to that philosophy.

"We're not giving up on our season, but the long-term goal hasn't changed," Yzerman said.

The Bolts have a solid core in place, so the future looks good no matter what happens in the next few weeks. For the time being though, there is a gap between where they are and where they want to be.

"We know we need to build," Boucher said. "We know we need to build the (minor league) teams and get help in the draft. These things take time."

@WasinTocharoen: "who 2 start for 2nite ? Have Vokoun Miller Ward Fleury, thinking Miller then Ward or Fleury, but need professional opinion. fyi, I'm in need for Wins, GAA, sv%, my opponents has 4-0 with 1.50gaa, while I'm 2-0 with 1.50 gaa, I'm ahead in sv%"

Chris: In general, my philosophy has been, is and will be to ride your studs. It works.

When you're dealing with H2H playoffs - and especially when you have some good options in net - you sometimes have to dig a little deeper. You know the drill though... any team can win big on any given night.

Chances are the Pittsburgh/ Jersey game will be low scoring. Could go either way for the win, but it's your best bet to come away with a low GAA. Hopefully Jersey gets enough SOG that MAF will have a healthy SV% too. For that reason, I'd be leaning strongly toward using MAF in one of your two slots. He's also confirmed as a starter tonight.

If you're locked into using Miller as your other guy, great. I'd give MAF the edge over Ward just based on what SHOULD happen.

Let me just add some more info that you may or may not have considered and that may sway you though.

Buffalo and Florida have had some wild ones and the Panthers have actually done really well against the Sabres this year. Miller's peripherals against them this year (4.18/ .846) are brutal, which is food for thought. The Sabres are playing better in many regards lately, but...

Carolina and TB have also scored some goals and the games in TB have resulted in a 9-4 Lightning goal spread over two games this season so far.

For the second slot it's a toss-up for me, honestly. I like Miller at home against a relatively weak team, but Florida has played the Sabres so well.

Ward's March splits are awesome (5-3-1 and 2.00/ .938) and Carolina is hungry on this playoff push. Combine that with TB's lack of offence this month (three or fewer goals in eight of 11) and maybe I'd give Ward a 51/49 split. It's not a particularly strong feeling though.