Chris Nichols

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

Live blogs are rolled out every game day, all season. Refresh this page to get:
Starting goalie info, when possible
Line combos
Defensive pairings
Top power play times
Stats, streaks and rants

Video: Salary cap bargains
Blog: PK Perry

NHL box scores
NHL highlights

Florida Panthers 6 @ Buffalo Sabres 2
Goaltending match-up: Tomas Vokoun (26/28, .929 SV%) vs. Ryan Miller (18/23, .783 SV%)
Net notes: Vokoun was 4-6-1-1 vs. BUF coming in with 2.30/ .923 splits. Miller had a 7-4-0 mark vs. FLA coming in with 2.08/ .935 splits and one shutout.

Michael Frolik Stephen Weiss Nathan Horton
Cory Stillman Steven Reinprecht Radek Dvorak
Rostislav Olesz Dominic Moore Gregory Campbell
Kenndal McArdle Kamil Kreps Victor Oreskovich

Keith Ballard Jordan Leopold
Dennis Seidenberg Bryan McCabe
Bryan Allen Dmitry Kulikov

Thomas Vanek Tim Connolly Drew Stafford
Clarke MacArthur Derek Roy Jason Pominville
Jochen Hecht Tim Kennedy Patrick Kaleta
Matt Ellis Paul Gaustad Adam Mair

Craig Rivet Chris Butler
Henrik Tallinder Tyler Myers
Andrej Sekera Steve Montador

Key notes: Cory Stillman (1G, +1, 13:27 TOI, 2:14 PP, no PK, 1 SOG) continues to have the hot hand, scoring six times in his past eight games with three different two-point efforts in that span coming in here. Steven Reinprecht (1A, +1, 13:42 TOI, 2:20 PP, no PK, 1 SOG, 6-2 FO for 75%) was three points below the point-per-game mark before this one began.

Stephen Weiss (1G, +1, 16:08 TOI, 1:50 PP, 1:48 PK, 2 SOG, 9-3 FO for 75%) had three points in four games coming into tonight, but aside from an early-season three-game point streak he hasn't otherwise recorded points in back-to-back games this year. Nathan Horton (1A, +1, 15:50 TOI, 2:11 PP, 1:10 PK, 1 SOG, 1-1 FO for 50%) has points in three straight and had all of his 13 points on the season in his past 14 GP. Michael Frolik (2G, +1, 14:15 TOI, 2:02 PP, no PK, 4 SOG) has found the back of the net in three of five now, but that's it for points in 12.

Keith Ballard (3A, +2, 25:08 TOI, 2:06 PP, 3:58 PK, 1 SOG) has points in four of nine from the back end. Bryan McCabe (1A, +1, 18:33 TOI, 2:37 PP, 1:04 PK, 2 SOG) has points in six of eight. Rostislav Olesz (1G, 1A, +2, 2 PIM, 15:57 TOI, 1:59 PP, 1:47 PK, 3 SOG) has points in two of three now after five without one.

Top PP times (FLA): McCabe (2:37), Reinprecht (2:20), Stillman (2:14), Horton (2:11) and Kulikov (2:10)
Top PP times (BUF): Butler (5:37), Connolly (5:31), Pominville (5:11), Gaustad (4:53) and Stafford (4:22)

Thomas Vanek (2A, -2, 18:48 TOI, 3:52 PP, no PK, 3 SOG) is riding a four-game point streak and he had 12 goals in 17 GP vs. FLA coming in here. Tim Connolly (1A, -2, 22:13 TOI, 5:31 PP, 1:57 PK, 1 SOG, 3-8 FO for 27%) has been cruising along fairly well for the past month and he generally tends to be a pretty reliable depth centre for poolies when he's actually in the line-up. Drew Stafford (1G, -2, 18:16 TOI, 4:22 PP, no PK, 3 SOG) had just two points in five November starts before the puck dropped tonight.

Clarke MacArthur (1G, -1, 12:11 TOI, 2:05 PP, no PK, 2 SOG, 2-1 FO for 67%) has points in four of five after four without one, while Craig Rivet (1A, -2, 2 PIM, 15:50 TOI, 1:59 PP, 1:00 PK, 1 SOG) is up to eight points on the season and six of them have come since October 24th.

Dallas Stars 3 @ Detroit Red Wings 1
Goaltending match-up: Alex Auld (31/32, .969 SV%) vs. Jimmy Howard (29/32, .906 SV%)
Net notes: Auld was 1-2-0 vs. DET coming in with 4.07/ .882 splits. Howard was 0-1-0 vs. DAL with 1.02/ .968 splits.

James Neal Brad Richards Loui Eriksson
Steve Ott Mike Ribeiro Jere Lehtinen
Brenden Morrow Mike Modano Jamie Benn
Toby Petersen Tom Wandell Krys Barch

Trevor Daley Mark Fistric
Nicklas Grossman Stephane Robidas
Matt Niskanen Karlis Skrastins

Todd Bertuzzi Pavel Datsyuk Tomas Holmstrom
Danny Cleary Henrik Zetterberg Ville Leino
Kris Draper Darren Helm Patrick Eaves
Brad May Justin Abdelkader Drew Miller

Nicklas Lidstrom Brian Rafalski
Niklas Kronwall Brad Stuart
Jonathan Ericsson Brett Lebda

Key notes: Brad Richards (2A, even, 16:30 TOI, 5:25 PP, 0:15 PK, 3 SOG, 6-4 FO for 60%) stopped his second two-game pointless skid of the season here, but otherwise has points in every single game. This was his seventh multi-pointer of the season, but first of the month. Mike Ribeiro (1G, even, 2 PIM, 17:29 TOI, 3:01 PP, 2:12 PK, 3 SOG, 7-9 FO for 44%) has points in four of his past five now, while James Neal (2A, even, 2 PIM, 15:31 TOI, 3:33 PP, 0:15 PK, no SOG) extended his point streak to 10 games. He had 13 points in that span before tonight's contribution.

Matt Niskanen (1G, +1, 19:42 TOI, 3:59 PP, no PK, 3 SOG) has points back-to-back after five without one. Loui Eriksson (1G, even, 17:45 TOI, 3:33 PP, 3:25 PK, 4 SOG) had 63 points in a full season last year and he had 17 points in 19 GP headed in here. His current point streak is at six games. Mike Modano (1A, even, 15:37 TOI, 3:33 PP, 0:57 PK, 4 SOG, 8-9 FO for 47%) has points in three straight.

Top PP times (DAL): Richards (5:25), Niskanen (3:59), Robidas (3:36), Modano (3:33) & Neal (3:33) and Eriksson (3:33)
Top PP times (DET): Lidstrom (5:14), Rafalski (4:56), Holmstrom (4:54), Zetterberg (4:11) and Kronwall (4:00)

Henrik Zetterberg (1G, +1, 19:56 TOI, 4:11 PP, 2:59 PK, 4 SOG, 4-9 FO for 31%) had 23 points in 21 GP vs. DAL before adding more tonight and he had nine points in three games overall coming into this affair. Ville Leino (1A, +1, 13:40 TOI, 2:50 PP, no PK, 3 SOG) has points in two of four after seven without one.

Phoenix Coyotes 3 @ Minnesota Wild 2
Goaltending match-up: Ilya Bryzgalov (24/26, .923 SV%) vs. Niklas Backstrom (29/32, .906 SV%)
Net notes: Bryzgalov was only 1-7-0 vs. MIN coming in with 3.42/ .891 splits. Backstrom was 9-1-0 vs. PHO before tonight with 1.50/ .949 splits and three shutouts.

Scottie Upshall Robert Lang Shane Doan
Petr Prucha Martin Hanzal Radim Vrbata
Paul Bissonnette Vernon Fiddler Daniel Winnik
Lauri Korpikoski Kevin Porter Peter Mueller

Sami Lepisto Adrian Aucoin
Jim Vandermeer Shaun Heshka
Keith Yandle David Schlemko

Andrew Brunette Mikko Koivu Antti Miettinen
Owen Nolan Eric Belanger Martin Havlat
Robbie Earl Kyle Brodziak Cal Clutterbuck
Derek Boogaard James Sheppard Danny Irmen

Kim Johnsson Nick Schultz
Marek Zidlicky Greg Zanon
Shane Hnidy Brent Burns

Key notes: Radim Vrbata (1G, 1A, even, 18:58 TOI, 1:51 PP, 1:29 PK, 7 SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) has come up with points in three of his past four now, which is his most productive period since he recorded four points in the first two games of the season. Scottie Upshall (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 16:26 TOI, 1:41 PP, no PK, 4 SOG) has a point-per-game average in eight career starts vs. MIN and he has points in five of his past seven overall.

Martin Hanzal (1A, +1, 20:22 TOI, 1:51 PP, 1:45 PK, 2 SOG, 7-5 FO for 58%) had four points in seven games coming in, while David Schlemko (1A, even, 2 PIM, 17:08 TOI, 1:37 PP, no PK, 1 SOG) has points in three of six from the blueline. Keith Yandle (1A, +1, 24:41 TOI, 2:04 PP, 2:54 PK, 2 SOG) had three points in four games before tonight, but nothing in five before that stretch.

Top PP times (PHO): Yandle (2:04), Hanzal (1:51), Vrbata (1:51), Doan (1:50) and Mueller (1;42)
Top PP times (MIN): Havlat (4:23), Miettinen (4:09), Johnsson (4:06), Koivu (3:50) and Brunette (3:44)

Andrew Brunette (1G, 1A, +2, 20:16 TOI, 3:44 PP, no PK, 4 SOG) has points in four of five and he had a nine game goalless stretch headed into tonight, so that was surely a nice monkey to get off his back. Mikko Koivu (2A, +2, 22:20 TOI, 3:50 PP, 1:40 PK, 1 SOG, 10-10 FO for 50%) was two points below the point-per-game mark before tonight and he's on pace to pass last year's career high of 67 points. Antti Miettinen (1G, 1A, +2, 21:52 TOI, 4:09 PP, 1:15 PK, 5 SOG, 1-0 FO for 100%) now has back-to-back points for only the second time this season.

Colorado Avalanche 4 @ Edmonton Oilers 6
Goaltending match-up: Peter Budaj (27/32, .844 SV%) vs. Jeff Deslauriers (14/18, .778 SV%)
Net notes: Budaj was 12-4-2 vs. EDM with 2.72/ .888 splits coming in here. Deslauriers had never faced the Avs.

Wojtek Wolski Paul Stastny David Jones
Darcy Tucker Matt Duchene Milan Hejduk
Cody McLeod Ryan O'Reilly Chris Stewart
David Koci Chris Durno Marek Svatos

Tom Preissing Kyle Cumiskey
Kyle Quincey Scott Hannan
Chris Clark Ryan Wilson

Dustin Penner Shawn Horcoff Ales Hemsky
Liam Reddox Patrick O'Sullivan Gilbert Brule
Jason Strudwick Sam Gagner Andrew Cogliano
Ethan Moreau Ryan Potulny Zack Stortini

Steve Staios Sheldon Souray
Lubomir Visnovsky Ladislav Smid
Tom Gilbert Dean Arsene

Key notes: Milan Hejduk (2G, +2, 15:35 TOI, 1:59 PP, 0:56 PK, 2 SOG) had a couple of points the last time he squared off against the Oil too. He has goals back-to-back and he came into tonight with 15 points in 19 GP. Matt Duchene (2A, +2, 17:28 TOI, 3:00 PP, 0:17 PK, 1 SOG, 10-5 FO for 67%), who has been his linemate for the past few games, stopped a seven-game pointless skid here and this was his second multi-pointer overall. Wojtek Wolski (1A, even, 20:57 TOI, 2:43 PP, 2:21 PK, no SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) has points in five of six.

Chris Durno (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 7:56 TOI, no PP, no PK, 1 SOG, 4-1 FO for 80%) got his first NHL point tonight in his seventh career start. This was Tom Preissing's (1A, -1, 10:39 TOI, 1:29 PP, 0:07 PK, no SOG) second game of the season and first time in the scoring summary. David Jones (1G, even, 17:40 TOI, 0:06 PP, 4:36 PK, 2 SOG) scored the last time these teams met more than a week ago, but then had no points in three games since then until tonight's contribution.

Top PP times (COL): Quincey (3:30), Stastny (3:17), Duchene (3:00), Wolski (2:43) and Clark (2:22)
Top PP times (EDM): Visnovsky (6:43), Souray (6:20), Hemsky (6:11), Potulny (5:09) and Horcoff (5:04)

Ales Hemsky (1G, 1A, +1, 22:38 TOI, 6:11 PP, 0:07 PK, 4 SOG) has a five-game point streak on display for Hemsky Nation and he added the ENG too, while Shawn Horcoff (1G, +1, 22:23 TOI, 5:04 PP, 2:21 PK, 3 SOG, 5-10 FO for 33%) has points in all three of his starts since getting back in the line-up. Lubomir Visnovsky (2A, +3, 22:01 TOI, 6:43 PP, 0:39 PK, 2 SOG) had chipped in five points in six games before this one began.

Gilbert Brule (1G, 1A, +1, 16:24 TOI, no PP, no PK, 2 SOG, 1-1 FO for 50%) snapped a three-game pointless skid and he had 10 points on the season before tonight. Sam Gagner (1G, 1A, -1, 13:30 TOI, 4:02 PP, 0:09 PK, 2 SOG, 3-5 FO for 38%) had one point in 10 GP coming in here. Patrick O'Sullivan (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 23:51 TOI, 5:09 PP, 1:13 PK, 5 SOG, 5-6 FO for 45%) has goals in two of his past four with points in five of seven.

Philadelphia Flyers 3 @ Los Angeles Kings 2
Goaltending match-up: Brian Boucher (37/39, .949 SV%) vs. Jon Quick (17/20, .850 SV%)
Net notes: Boucher was 5-6-1-0 vs. LOS coming in with 2.76/ .895 splits and two shutouts. Quick was 1-0-0 vs. PHI with 0.92/ .969 splits.

Scott Hartnell Mike Richards Mika Pyorala
James van Riemsdyk Jeff Carter Danny Briere
Daniel Carcillo Blair Betts Ian Laperriere
Darroll Powe Claude Giroux David Laliberte

Matt Carle Chris Pronger
Braydon Coburn Kimmo Timonen
Ryan Parent Oskars Bartulis

Alexander Frolov Anze Kopitar Justin Williams
Scott Parse Jarret Stoll Dustin Brown
Teddy Purcell Michal Handzus Wayne Simmonds
Raitis Ivanans Brad Richardson Peter Harrold

Randy Jones Drew Doughty
Sean O'Donnell Jack Johnson
Davis Drewiske Matt Greene

Key notes: Mike Richards (1G, +2, 21:13 TOI, 0:49 PP, 1:37 PK, 1 SOG, 10-7 FO for 59%) had a point-per-game average vs. LOS in four games before tonight, although he had never scored a goal in those games. He actually had six goals in his first five games of this season, but then just that two-goal effort vs. TB as his only other markers before tonight. He's still averaging a point-per-game on the season though.

Scott Hartnell (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 15:59 TOI, 0:49 PP, no PK, 2 SOG) had 13 points on the year before tonight, but didn't have a single trip to the sin bin in six November games as this one began. James van Riemsdyk (1G, +1, 14:01 TOI, 1:45 PP, no PK, 2 SOG) has now scored in three straight and added to the 16 points he already had in his rookie season. He had the GWG in three of four coming in here too, so when the Kings got their second goal and the Flyers hung on to win he got yet another winner.

Claude Giroux (1A, even, 12:01 TOI, 0:49 PP, no PK, 1 SOG, 2-4 FO for 33%) had six points in six games this month headed in here, while Braydon Coburn (2A, +2, 22:45 TOI, 1:28 PP, 1:04 PK, 3 SOG) had five points in eight starts from the back end before tonight. Matt Carle (1A, +1, 20:17 TOI, 1:06 PP, no PK, no SOG) had all 12 of his points on the season last month, so he broke the oh-for-November pointless streak. Mika Pyorala (1G, +1, 15:41 TOI, no PP, no PK, 2 SOG) got his first NHL goal here.

Top PP times (PHI): Carter (1:45), Timonen (1:45), JVR (1:45), Briere (1:39) and Coburn (1:28)
Top PP times (LOS): Doughty (3:23), Kopitar (3:23), Brown (3:23), Stoll (3:23) and Handzus (2:00)

Drew Doughty (1G, -2, 23:15 TOI, 3:23 PP, 0:34 PK, 1 SOG) had eight points in eight home games coming in here and he's just been a steady source of points in his sophomore year. Justin Williams (1A, even, 2 PIM, 20:00 TOI, 1:23 PP, no PK, 8 SOG) stopped a brief three-game pointless slide. Dustin Brown (1A, even, 2 PIM, 18:51 TOI, 3:23 PP, 0:51 PK, 3 SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) had gone three games without a point, but had 17 on the year before adding more. Jarret Stoll (1G, 1A, even, 18:40 TOI, 3:23 PP, 1:00 PK, 3 SOG, 12-5 FO for 71%) had 11 points in 14 GP last month and five in eight in November headed into this affair.

Have you got a brief fantasy hockey question? Drop a line to chris.nichols@sportsnet.rogers.com within 24 hours or so of any Q&A (to keep your league info relevant) and your email may be included in the blog, which will begin live at 3pm et/ 12pm pt on Mondays and Thursdays. One per person, please. Don't forget to include your first name and hometown to represent!