Chris Nichols

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

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Montreal Canadiens 3 @ Washington Capitals 2
Goaltending match-up: Carey Price (32/34, .941 SV%) vs. Michal Neuvirth (19/22, .864 SV%)
Net notes: Price was 0-0-2 vs. WAS coming in with 3.82/ .875 splits. Neuvirth was making his first start of '09-10 here and fourth in his career.

Michael Cammalleri Scott Gomez Travis Moen
Max Pacioretty Tomas Plekanec Andrei Kostitsyn
Guillaume Latendresse Maxim Lapierre Ryan White
Tom Pyatt Glen Metropolit Georges Laraque

Roman Hamrlik Jaroslav Spacek
Paul Mara Josh Gorges
Marc-Andre Bergeron Ryan O'Byrne

Alex Ovechkin Nicklas Backstrom Tomas Fleischmann
Brooks Laich Brendan Morrison Chris Clark
Dave Steckel Mathieu Perreault Eric Fehr
Tyler Sloan Jay Beagle Matt Bradley

Jeff Schultz Mike Green
Tom Poti John Carlson
Brian Pothier John Erskine

Key notes: Michael Cammalleri (1G, 1A, even, 20:43 TOI, 1:54 PP, no PK, 2 SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) had 12 points in his first 11 GP and then four in his next 10 coming in here. Tomas Plekanec (1G, 1A, even, 20:36 TOI, 1:26 PP, 2:59 PK, 5 SOG, 16-15 FO for 52%) had five helpers in three outings before tonight with 19 points on the season. Andrei Kostitsyn (1A, even, 17:26 TOI, 0:56 PP, no PK, 3 SOG) has points back-to-back now for the first time this year.

Roman Hamrlik (1A, even, 22:35 TOI, 0:44 PP, 1:29 PK, no SOG) had all six of his points on the season in October before making his first scoring summary appearance of the month tonight. Paul Mara (1A, -1, 22:52 TOI, 1:38 PP, 4:08 PK, 2 SOG) has helpers back-to-back after 11 without any.

Top PP times (MON): Cammalleri (1:54), Mara (1:38), Metropolit (1:26), Plekanec (1:26) and Bergeron (0:58)
Top PP times (WAS): Green (5:48), Ovechkin (5:07), Backstrom (5:07), Morrison (4:52) and Fleischmann (4:20)

Mike Green (2A, even, 26:21 TOI, 5:48 PP, 1:35 PK, 5 SOG) had 11 points in 10 home games before this tilt began and he has been virtually unstoppable over the past month. Nicklas Backstrom (1A, even, 21:48 TOI, 5:07 PP, no PK, no SOG, 8-13 FO for 38%) had been blanked for three coming in here but had 22 points overall. Brendan Morrison (1G, even, 2 PIM, 19:48 TOI, 4:52 PP, 0:22 PK, 2 SOG, 5-5 FO for 50%) has points in six of his past seven and he had gone five games without a goal.

2008 first rounder John Carlson (even, 17:24 TOI, 0:04 PP, no PK, 1 SOG) made his NHL debut. Eric Fehr (1G, +1, 14:23 TOI, 0:45 PP, no PK, 1 SOG) had never recorded a point in four prior games vs. MON. He has points in four of six this month though. Mathieu Perreault (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 13:33 TOI, no PP, no PK, 2 SOG, 5-4 FO for 56%), who was a sixth round pick in 2006, had five points in his first seven NHL games headed into tonight.

Boston Bruins 2 @ Buffalo Sabres 1 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Tuukka Rask (25/26, .962 SV%) vs. Ryan Miller (24/26, .923 SV%)
Net notes: Rask was 1-0-0 vs. BUF coming in with 2.00/ .933 splits. Miller was 14-5-4 vs. BOS coming in with 2.68/ .907 splits.

Marco Sturm Patrice Bergeron Mark Recchi
Blake Wheeler David Krejci Michael Ryder
Milan Lucic Steve Begin Byron Bitz
Daniel Paille Vladimir Sobotka Shawn Thornton

Zdeno Chara Derek Morris
Andrew Ference Dennis Wideman
Mark Stuart Matt Hunwick

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

Chris Butler Craig Rivet
Henrik Tallinder Tyler Myers
Toni Lydman Steve Montador

Key notes: Milan Lucic (1G, +1, 13:40 TOI, no PP, no PK, 1 SOG) recorded his first goal of the season tonight. This was his eighth start overall and second since coming back from injury. Patrice Bergeron (1G, +1, 18:20 TOI, 4:30 PP, 1:03 PK, 2 SOG, 9-9 FO for 50%) showed some sweet hands to redirect a Zdeno Chara (1A, +1, 22:40 TOI, 4:47 PP, 1:37 PK, 1 SOG) point shot in for the OT GWG, which was his first winner of the season and 16th of his career. He has six points in his past eight starts. Chara has 12 points on the season with six in his past eight as well. Marco Sturm (1A, +1, 16:12 TOI, 3:30 PP, 1:03 PK, 2 SOG) has points in four of his past seven starts.

Top PP times (BOS): Chara (4:47), Recchi (4:30), Bergeron (4:30), Morris (4:22) and Wheeler (4:17)
Top PP times (BUF): Rivet (1:49), Connolly (1:32), Pominville (1:32), Myers (1:25), Roy (1:25) and MacArthur (1:25)

Jason Pominville (1A, -1, 21:25 TOI, 1:32 PP, 3:44 PK, 1 SOG, 0-1 FO 0%) stopped a four-game pointless skid here, while Chris Butler (1A, -1, 18:12 TOI, 1:08 PP, 3:17 PK, 2 SOG) had gone nine games without a point despite logging some decent PP minutes. Paul Gaustad (1G, even, 16:13 TOI, 1:12 PP, 1:59 PK, 3 SOG, 9-10 FO for 47%) has a PPG in two of three and he also had PIM in four of five coming in.

Florida Panthers 2 @ Detroit Red Wings 1 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Scott Clemmensen (39/40, .975 SV%) vs. Chris Osgood (18/20, .900 SV%)
Net notes: Clemmensen was 0-1-0 vs. DET with 5.00/ .886 splits coming in. Osgood returned from the flu tonight and had a 13-1-5-1 mark vs. FLA before this evening with 2.20/ .911 splits and two shutouts.

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

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

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

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

Key notes: Bryan McCabe (1G, +2, 24:04 TOI, 3:33 PP, 0:59 PK, 3 SOG) got the OT GWG and that was his first winner of the season and 24th of his career. He has 11 points on the year with points in four straight. Stephen Weiss (1G, 1A, +2, 2 PIM, 16:32 TOI, 2:22 PP, 1:29 PK, 3 SOG, 10-2 FO for 83%) had four points in five games headed in here, while Nathan Horton (2A, +2, 17:58 TOI, 2:46 PP, 0:47 PK, 1 SOG) has points in four in a row. He had 11 points in 10 GP coming in here. Michael Frolik (1A, +1, 17:04 TOI, 2:46 PP, 0:09 PK, 3 SOG) had four points in five affairs before tonight and he also had six points in 10 road GP before this one began.

Top PP times (FLA): McCabe (3:33), Horton (2:46), Frolik (2:46), Ballard (2:43) and Weiss (2:22)
Top PP times (DET): Rafalski (4:53), Zetterberg (4:00), Holmstrom (3:58), Datsyuk (3:56) and Lidstrom (3:41)

Pavel Datsyuk (1G, even, 19:03 TOI, 3:56 PP, 1:04 PK, 5 SOG, 11-7 FO for 61%) had four points in his first seven games and then 12 in his next 10 before this evening. Henrik Zetterberg (1A, -2, 17:44 TOI, 4:00 PP, 1:14 PK, 5 SOG, 2-6 FO for 25%) has a five-game point streak going now but has been consistent all season. This was the first time in '09-10 in which he had recorded a point on a Friday. 'Cause I know you're interested in stuff like that. Brian Rafalski (1A, -2, 24:01 TOI, 4:53 PP, 0:58 PK, 1 SOG) had 23 points in 28 GP vs. FLA coming in and he had four points in five games before tonight too, after having gone seven outings with a single point.

New York Islanders 2 @ Minnesota Wild 3
Goaltending match-up: Martin Biron (26/29, .897 SV%) vs. Niklas Backstrom (27/29, .931 SV%)
Net notes: Biron was 3-2-0 vs. MIN coming in with 2.02/ .924 splits. Backstrom was 3-0-0 vs. NYI with 1.97/ .924 splits.

Matt Moulson John Tavares Richard Park
Sean Bergenheim Frans Nielsen Kyle Okposo
Jon Sim Josh Bailey Trent Hunter
Blake Comeau Nate Thompson Tim Jackman

Mark Streit Bruno Gervais
Andrew MacDonald Freddy Meyer
Andy Sutton Jack Hillen

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

Kim Johnsson Nick Schultz
Greg Zanon Marek Zidlicky
Shane Hnidy John Scott

Key notes: Trent Hunter's (1A, +1, 14:17 TOI, 7:05 PP, no PK, 2 SOG) point streak has been stretched to five games, which includes every game back from injury so far. Josh Bailey (1G, +2, 12:12 TOI, 5:00 PP, no PK, 2 SOG, 2-6 FO for 25%) has points in three of his past five, while Mark Streit (1A, even, 4 PIM, 24:28 TOI, 7:25 PP, no PK, 4 SOG) has points in five of six.

Bruno Gervais (1A, -1, 2 PIM, 16:28 TOI, 0:01 PP, 1:04 PK, no SOG) has chipped in helpers in three of five. Jon Sim (1G, 1A, +2, 2 PIM, 3:08 PP, no PK, 2 SOG) has points in two of three but had just three points on the season before this bottom line.

Top PP times (NYI): Okposo (8:59), Tavares (7:56), Streit (7:31), Nielsen (7:27) and Hunter (7:11)
Top PP times (MIN): Brunette (6:04), Miettinen (6:04), Koivu (6:01), Johnsson (5:46) and Zidlicky (5:42)

Mikko Koivu (1G, even, 22:03 TOI, 6:01 PP, 3:10 PK, 4 SOG, 12-9 FO for 57%) had 12 points in 14 October games and had eight in seven this month before tonight. Andrew Brunette (1A, even, 19:53 TOI, 6:04 PP, 0:06 PK, 1 SOG) had five points in five affairs coming in here. Marek Zidlicky (1A, even, 25:49 TOI, 5:42 PP, 6:14 PK, 4 SOG) stopped a four-game pointless slide here.

Owen Nolan (2G, +1, 17:29 TOI, 0:46 PP, 3:07 PK, 3 SOG, 2-2 FO for 50%) has goals in three of six with points in four of six. Eric Belanger (2A, +2, 18:01 TOI, 0:49 PP, 3:56 PK, 4 SOG, 6-6 FO for 50%) had all 12 of his points on the season in October before tonight.

Philadelphia Flyers 3 @ San Jose Sharks 6
Goaltending match-up: Ray Emery (23/29, .793 SV%) vs. Evgeni Nabokov (26/29, .897 SV%)
Net notes: Emery had never faced the Sharks before. Nabby was 5-0-2-0 vs. PHI coming in with 2.49/ .900 splits and one shutout.

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

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

Patrick Marleau Joe Thornton Dany Heatley
Ryane Clowe Joe Pavelski Manny Malhotra
Jamie McGinn Scott Nichol Jed Ortmeyer
Frazer McLaren Logan Couture Benn Ferriero

Douglas Murray Dan Boyle
Derek Joslin Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Kent Huskins Jason Demers

Key notes: Danny Briere (1G, -1, 5 PIM, 14:48 TOI, 2:38 PP, no PK, 2 SOG) has been averaging a point-per-game since getting healthy and he also has PIM in three of four, which is always his hidden fantasy asset. Claude Giroux (2G, 1A, +1, 2 PIM, 16:22 TOI, 3:22 PP, 1:30 PK, 3 SOG, 5-3 FO for 63%) had come up with seven points in seven November games headed into this roadie, while Matt Carle (1A, +1, 22:32 TOI, 2:37 PP, no PK, 2 SOG) has helpers back-to-back after a six-game pointless skid.

James van Riemsdyk (1A, -1, 14:43 TOI, 2:21 PP, no PK, 4 SOG) had 17 points in 15 GP this season before adding more tonight. Mike Richards (1A, +1, 20:48 TOI, 3:25 PP, 2:18 PK, 1 SOG, 9-10 FO for 47%) has a four-game point streak going, while Chris Pronger (1A, even, 2 PIM, 24:11 TOI, 2:21 PP, 4:48 PK, 2 SOG) added to the eight November points he already had in the bank before this one began.

Top PP times (PHI): Timonen (3:57), Hartnell (3:32), Richards (3:25), Giroux (3:22) and Coburn (3:05)
Top PP times (SJ): Boyle (6:17), Huskins (4:01), Marleau (3:54), Heatley (3:54) and Thornton (3:50)

Dany Heatley (3G, +2, 21:40 TOI, 3:54 PP, 1:46 PK, 5 SOG, 1-0 FO for 100%) had a goal the last time he faced the Flyers and he also had 27 points in 25 career GP vs. PHI coming in. He has goals in four of five with points in eight of 10 this month. This was his 51st multi-goal game of his career and he struck for his seventh career SHG and first since '06-7, when he had three of them. It was also his ninth career hat trick and second of the season. Joe Thornton (4A, +2, 2 PIM, 20:59 TOI, 3:50 PP, 1:20 PK, 2 SOG, 13-6 FO for 68%) has back-to-back multi-pointers and this was his seventh game with at least two points in '09-10. He picked up his 600th NHL assist tonight.

Patrick Marleau (1G, +2, 22:13 TOI, 3:54 PP, 1:53 PK, 4 SOG, 4-2 FO for 67%) was on the top line tonight and he has found the back of the net in three straight now. Dan Boyle (1A, even, 2 PIM, 28:39 TOI, 6:17 PP, 2:57 PK, no SOG) had 13 points in 14 GP last month and seven in nine for November coming into this start. Ryan Clowe (1G, 1A, even, 2 PIM, 16:42 TOI, 3:16 PP, no PK, 3 sOG) has been piling up points and PIM this month, so ride him while it lasts in those standard formats.

Jason Demers (1A, -1, 13:07 TOI, 2:41 PP, no PK, 1 SOG) has points in two of three now after six without one. Manny Malhotra (1G, 1A, even, 16:04 TOI, 3:16 PP, 1:11 PK, 2 SOG, 4-2 FO for 67%) had three points in six outings before this evening.

Colorado Avalanche 2 @ Vancouver Canucks 5
Goaltending match-up: Craig Anderson (23/28, .821 SV%) vs. Roberto Luongo (22/24, .917 SV%)
Net notes: Anderson was 1-6-1 vs. VAN coming in with 3.23/ .887 splits and one shutout. Luongo was 8-15-3 vs. COL with 2.93/ .900 splits and two shutouts.

Wojtek Wolski Paul Stastny David Jones
Darcy Tucker Matt Duchene Milan Hejduk
Cody McLeod Ryan O'Reilly Marek Svatos
David Koci T.J. Galiardi Chris Stewart

Kyle Quincey Scott Hannan
John-Michael Liles Kyle Cumiskey
Brett Clark Ryan Wilson

Mason Raymond Henrik Sedin Ryan Kesler
Alex Burrows Kyle Wellwood Mikael Samuelsson
Matt Pettinger Rick Rypien Steve Bernier
Jannik Hansen Ryan Johnson Tanner Glass

Willie Mitchell Kevin Bieksa
Alexander Edler Sami Salo
Mathieu Schneider Christian Ehrhoff

Key notes: Matt Duchene (1G, -2, 17:00 TOI, 3:27 PP, no PK, 2 SOG, 5-3 FO for 63%) has points back-to-back and that was his first goal of the month. Wojtek Wolski (2A, -1, 21:17 TOI, 3:27 PP, 1:42 PK, 3 SOG) has points in six of his past seven, while John-Michael Liles (2A, even, 16:42 TOI, 3:27 PP, 0:36 PK, no SOG) was back in the line-up and also stopped a four-game pointless skid with his third multi-pointer of the season. David Jones (1G, even, 20:04 TOI, 3:07 PP, 0:55 PK, 4 SOG, 0-2 FO for 0%) has goals in his past two games now with markers in five of eight as well.

Top PP times (COL): Liles (3:27), Duchene (3:27), Wolski (3:27), Stastny (3:27) and Jones (3:07)
Top PP times (VAN): Schneider (2:38), Ehrhoff (2:37), Wellwood (1:56), Bernier (1:44) and three with 1:27

Henrik Sedin (1G, +1, 19:27 TOI, 1:27 PP, 0:11 PK, 2 SOG, 3-6 FO for 33%) was coming off his hat trick @COL and he has points in six of seven. Alex Burrows (1A, +1, 16:37 TOI, no PP, 2:31 PK, 4 SOG) had four points and 14 PIM in seven November starts headed into this one. Christian Ehrhoff (2G, 1A, +2, 19:37 TOI, 2:37 PP, 1:58 PK, 3 SOG) had just one helper in seven November outings coming in here and he had never scored a goal vs. VAN in 22 tries before tonight.

Mikael Samuelsson (1G, 1A, +2, 2 PIM, 15:46 TOI, 0:53 PP, no PK, 4 SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) was scorching hot in October, but had just three points this month before tonight's bottom line. Kyle Wellwood (1A, even, 13:13 TOI, 1:56 PP, no PK, 1 SOG, 12-4 FO for 75%) had gone nine games without a point and he had just one other point this season. Alexander Edler (1A, +1, 21:28 TOI, 1:26 PP, 2:21 PK, 1 SOG) had 10 points overall before this one began and he had four November points coming in.

Mason Raymond (1A, +2, 20:20 TOI, 1:27 PP, 1:26 PK, 1 SOG) had three points in that last game these teams played. Steve Bernier (1G, even, 15:47 TOI, 1:44 PP, no PK, 1 SOG) had a pair of goals in his last game and he had three points in four games coming in. Mathieu Schnieder (1A, +2, 16:09 TOI, 2:38 PP, 0:48 PK, 1 SOG) has points in each of his past two outings.

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!