Chris Nichols

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

Scheduling note: Thursday will be your last chance for fantasy hockey Q&A for a bit with the two-week Olympic break coming up. The weekday blogs will continue during that time, but sans Q&A. Stay tuned for a special series on building a keeper league in that period too.

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Blog: Today's Q&A

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New Jersey Devils 2 @ Philadelphia Flyers 3
Goaltending match-up: Martin Brodeur (34/37, .919 SV%) vs. Michael Leighton (28/30, .933 SV%)
Net notes: Brodeur was 44-25-6-2 vs. PHI coming in with 2.47/ .905 splits and nine shutouts. Leighton was 0-2-1-0 vs. NJD with 3.27/ .890 splits.

Zach Parise Travis Zajac Jamie Langenbrunner
Ilya Kovalchuk Dainius Zubrus Patrik Elias
Jay Pandolfo Rob Niedermayer Brian Rolston
Andrew Peters Dean McAmmond Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond

Bryce Salvador Andy Greene
Colin White Mike Mottau
Anssi Salmela Mark Fraser

Simon Gagne Mike Richards Daniel Carcillo
Scott Hartnell Jeff Carter Danny Briere
James van Riemsdyk Claude Giroux Arron Asham
Darroll Powe Blair Betts Ian Laperriere

Matt Carle Chris Pronger
Kimmo Timonen Lukas Krajicek
Braydon Coburn Oskars Bartulis

Key notes: Zach Parise (1G, -1, 2 PIM, 23:16 TOI, 7:56 PP, 0:26 PK, 3 SOG) had 31 points in 32 GP vs. PHI coming into tonight's start and he snapped a three-game pointless skid here. This was the second game back for Patrik Elias (1A, even, 2 PIM, 19:30 TOI, 6:50 PP, 0:25 PK, 5 SOG) and he has points in each of them.

Travis Zajac (1A, even, 25:21 TOI, 6:24 PP, 4:00 PK, no SOG, 15-8 FO for 65%) had 46 points before tonight, including 17 in his past 18 coming in. Andy Greene (1A, -1, 2 PIM, 26:20 TOI, 5:52 PP, 2:15 PK, 1 SOG) had just one point in 2010 headed into tonight.

Anssi Salmela (1G, +1, 6:51 TOI, 2:25 PP, 1:06 PK, 2 SOG) scored a SHG and was simultaneously hit by Jeff Carter, leaving Salmela sprawled on the ice to the point where he had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher. An update later in the game indicated he was up, moving around and seemingly doing ok though.

Top PP times (NJD): Kovalchuk (11:35), Parise (7:56), Elias (6:50), Zajac (6:24) and Greene (5:52)
Top PP times (PHI): Timonen (5:44), Richards (5:31), Pronger (4:25), Gagne (4:24) and Briere (3:54)

Jeff Carter (1G, even, 17:29 TOI, 3:06 PP, 2:30 PK, 3 SOG, 8-2 FO for 80%) had just 13 points in 31 GP vs. NJD coming in here and he snapped a brief three-game pointless skid. Scott Hartnell (1A, +1, 15:55 TOI, 3:22 PP, 0:18 PK, 2 SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) reached the 30-point plateau on the season. He had just two points in 10 GP before tonight. Chris Pronger (2A, +2, 2 PIM, 26:28 TOI, 4:25 PP, 6:16 PK, 3 SOG) needed a two-pointer tonight to hit 40 points for the 10th time in his career.

Mike Richards (1G, -1, 23:10 TOI, 5:31 PP, 5:10 PK, 4 SOG, 6-6 FO for 50%) has goals in two of four after having one in 10. James van Riemsdyk (1G, even, 9:02 TOI, 1:58 PP, no PK, 2 SOG) had gone seven games without a goal before scoring here. He had one helper in that time too. Claude Giroux (1A, +1, 14:29 TOI, 3:52 PP, 1:11 PK, 4 SOG, 2-8 FO for 20%) had three points in five games before tonight with six points in 17 GP coming in.

Kimmo Timonen (1A, -1, 2 PIM, 23:20 TOI, 5:44 PP, 6:02 PK, 3 SOG) stopped a five-game pointless slide. Simon Gagne (1A, even, 18:53 TOI, 4:24 PP, 3:08 PK, 2 SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) had four points in four starts before tonight after five games without a point.

San Jose Sharks 3 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 2
Goaltending match-up: Evgeni Nabokov (32/34, .941 SV%) vs. Jean-Sebastien Giguere (23/26, .885 SV%)
Net notes: Nabby was 2-0-1-0 vs. TOR coming in with 2.27/ .915 splits. JSG was 15-15-2 vs. SJ with 2.81/ .907 splits and five shutouts.

Patrick Marleau Joe Thornton Dany Heatley
Joe Pavelski Torrey Mitchell Devin Setoguchi
Ryane Clowe Scott Nichol Jed Ortmeyer
Jody Shelley Dwight Helminen Brad Staubitz

Niclas Wallin Dan Boyle
Douglas Murray Rob Blake
Kent Huskins Jay Leach

Alexei Ponikarovsky Tyler Bozak Phil Kessel
Viktor Stalberg Nazem Kadri  Lee Stempniak
John Mitchell Rickard Wallin Nikolai Kulemin
Andre Deveaux Wayne Primeau Colton Orr

Dion Phaneuf Francois Beauchemin
Luke Schenn Tomas Kaberle
Carl Gunnarsson Garnet Exelby

Key notes: Dany Heatley (1A, +1, 22:51 TOI, 2:16 PP, 1:16 PK, 3 SOG) recorded three points in his last game and he extended his point streak to seven affairs this evening. Joe Thornton (1A, +1, 19:32 TOI, 2:16 PP, 1:04 PK, 1 SOG, 12-6 FO for 67%) only had 27 points in 35 GP vs. TOR, which seems a bit low for him, but his current point streak is at five contests and he continues to produce nightly for his poolies.

This was Dan Boyle's (1G, +1, 20:22 TOI, 2:07 PP, no PK, 2 SOG) second game in the line-up and first scoring summary appearance. Joe Pavelski (1G, +1, 19:48 TOI, 2:31 PP, 1:33 PK, 2 SOG, 7-9 FO for 44%) had gone three games without a point, but he ended January with 13 points in his last seven games. Devin Setoguchi (2A, +2, 16:10 TOI, 1:53 PP, no PK, 2 SOG) had eight points in 10 GP coming in here.

Ryane Clowe (1G, +2, 2 PIM, 18:44 TOI, 1:44 PP, 0:19 PK, 4 SOG, 0-2 FO for 0%) has goals in two of three after five without one. He had 11 points in 17 GP headed into this one dating back to the start of January. Rob Blake (1A, even, 22:14 TOI, 1:26 PP, 2:07 PK, 6 SOG) began the evening with seven points in his last nine affairs.

Top PP times (SJ): Pavelski (2:31), Heatley (2:16), Thornton (2:16), Marleau (2:07) and Boyle (2:07)
Top PP times (TOR): Kaberle (2:56), Kessel (2:44), Bozak (2:39), Phaneuf (2:38) and Ponikarovsky (2:35)

Phil Kessel (1G, 1A, -1, 19:58 TOI, 2:44 PP, no PK, 6 SOG, 1-0 FO for 100%) had 22 points in 23 home games before tonight and his current point streak is at four games. He had 17 points in 14 outings coming into tonight. Dion Phaneuf (1A, -1, 26:03 TOI, 2:38 PP, 2:22 PK, 4 SOG) has helpers in each of his past two games after being blanked in his first two games with the Leafs. Tomas Kaberle (1A, even, 20:53 TOI, 2:56 PP, no PK, 2 SOG) has a modest three-game point streak, which is his sixth such streak of at least that many in '09-10.

Tyler Bozak (1G, even, 18:11 TOI, 2:39 PP, no PK, 5 SOG, 17-6 FO for 74%) has points in all four February games with goals back-to-back. Nazem Kadri (-1, 17:26 TOI, 1:39 PP, no PK, no SOG, 2-11 FO for 15%), the seventh overall pick in last summer's draft, made his NHL debut on an emergency call-up basis.

St. Louis Blues 2 @ Colorado Avalanche 5
Goaltending match-up: Chris Mason (10/15, .667 SV%) & Ty Conklin (18/18) vs. Craig Anderson (32/34, .941 SV%)
Net notes: Mason was 6-4-0 vs. COL coming in with 1.81/ .941 splits and three shutouts. Anderson was 2-1-0 vs. STL with 3.22/ .898 splits.

Andy McDonald T.J. Oshie David Backes
Alex Steen Patrik Berglund David Perron
Paul Kariya Jay McClement B.J. Crombeen
D.J. King Keith Tkachuk Brad Boyes

Barret Jackman Roman Polak
Eric Brewer Erik Johnson
Darryl Sydor Carlo Colaiacovo

Cody McLeod Paul Stastny Marek Svatos
Wojtek Wolski Matt Duchene Brandon Yip
Darcy Tucker T.J. Galiardi Chris Stewart
David Koci Justin Mercier Chris Durno

Ryan Wilson Adam Foote
Kyle Cumiskey Scott Hannan
Brett Clark Kyle Quincey

Key notes: T. J. Oshie (1A, even, 4 PIM, 15:54 TOI, 2:29 PP, 2:09 PK, 2 SOG, 5-5 FO for 50%) has points in five straight and 13 in 18 overall before tonight. David Backes (1A, even, 17:17 TOI, 2:31 PP, 3:53 PK, 1 SOG, 0-3 FO for 0%) began the evening with 12 points and 25 PIM in 15 GP coming in.

Erik Johnson (1G, +2, 24:05 TOI, 3:14 PP, 3:54 PK, 3 SOG) has points in four of his past 11 outings. Alex Steen (1A, -1, 2 PIM, 16:56 TOI, 2:47 PP, 2:30 PK, 5 SOG) has points in all four February games and had 12 points in 18 affairs before tonight.

Top PP times (STL): Tkachuk (3:19), Johnson (3:14), Boyes (3:07), Perron (2:53) and Steen (2:47)
Top PP times (COL): Wolski (6:10), Stastny (5:54), Yip (5:36), Duchene (5:30) and Stewart (5:22)

Brandon Yip (2G, even, 20:22 TOI, 5:36 PP, no PK, 5 SOG) had three goals in three games before tonight and 12 points in 15 GP overall coming in. Paul Stastny (1G, 1A, even, 24:05 TOI, 5:54 PP, 2:48 PK, 7 SOG, 11-10 FO for 52%) hit the 50-point plateau for the season here and he had just one point in six games before tonight. Chris Stewart (1G, 2A, +3, 5 PIM, 14:25 TOI, 5:22 PP, 0:05 PK, 5 SOG) also had just one point in six tries before this evening.

T.J. Galiardi (1G, +2, 20:10 TOI, 4:00 PP, 1:55 PK, 1 SOG, 10-9 FO for 53%) had that four-assist night vs. CBJ a few games back and came into tonight with eight points in his past 10 outings. This was the fourth start for Marek Svatos (1A, even, 14:04 TOI, 4:32 PP, no PK, 1 SOG) since getting back in the line-up and first time in the scoring summary. Wojtek Wolski (1A, even, 20:49 TOI, 6:10 PP, 2:09 PK, 3 SOG) has points back-to-back after having one in seven.

Ryan Wilson (1A, +2, 17:10 TOI, 0:35 PP, 0:59 PK, 1 SOG) has chipped in points in three straight on D after seven without one. Kyle Quincey (1A, even, 2 PIM, 22:28 TOI, 5:06 PP, 1:10 PK, 2 SOG) has points in three of five, which is his most productive stretch in over a month. Kyle Cumiskey (1A, even, 20:02 TOI, 5:20 PP, 2:50 PK, 1 SOG) has points in three of four in February.

Edmonton Oilers 1 @ Phoenix Coyotes 6
Goaltending match-up: Jeff Deslauriers (27/33, .818 SV%) vs. Ilya Bryzgalov (33/34, .971 SV%)
Net notes: Deslauriers was 1-0-1 vs. PHO coming in with 2.47/ .924 splits and one shutout. Bryzgalov was 3-5-0 vs. EDM with 3.96/ .868 splits.

Dustin Penner Ryan Potulny Robert Nilsson
Patrick O'Sullivan Marc Pouliot Gilbert Brule
Ethan Moreau Shawn Horcoff Fernando Pisani
Jean-Francois Jacques Andrew Cogliano Mike Comrie

Denis Grebeshkov Tom Gilbert
Jason Strudwick Steve Staios
Ladislav Smid Lubomir Visnovsky

Matthew Lombardi Robert Lang Shane Doan
Petr Prucha Martin Hanzal Radim Vrbata
Taylor Pyatt Joel Perrault Peter Mueller
Paul Bissonnette Vernon Fiddler Daniel Winnik

Ed Jovanovski Zbynek Michalek
Jim Vandermeer Adrian Aucoin
Keith Yandle Sami Lepisto

Key notes: Dustin Penner (1G, +1, 4 PIM, 16:20 TOI, 3:21 PP, no PK, 3 SOG, 2-1 FO for 67%) broke the shutout bid here, despite having only one goal in 12 tries before tonight. Robert Nilsson (1A, even, 15:01 TOI, 3:21 PP, no PK, 6 SOG) has points in three of six.

Top PP times (EDM): Grebeshkov (4:01), Potulny (3:39), O'Sullivan (3:35), Horcoff (3:31) and Gilbert (3:28)
Top PP times (PHO): Yandle (3:54), Aucoin (3:37), Lang (3:12), Vrbata (3:09) and Lombardi (2:50)

Shane Doan (2A, +3, 11:12 TOI, 1:57 PP, no PK, 5 SOG) had a couple of goals the last time he met the Oil and he stopped a brief three-game pointless slide here after finishing January with 15 points in his last eight affairs. Matthew Lombardi (2G, 3A, +5, 19:30 TOI, 2:50 PP, 0:24 PK, 2 SOG, 6-4 FO for 60%) had gone five games without a point and he had a pair of three-pointers as his season high before this effort. Robert Lang (1G, 2A, +5, 2 PIM, 18:08 TOI, 3:12 PP, no PK, 3 SOG, 3-8 FO for 27%) had one point in six games before tonight.

Ed Jovanovski (1G, +2, 19:39 TOI, 2:06 PP, 3:26 PK, 3 SOG) had gone six games without a point. Martin Hanzal (1A, even, 19:58 TOI, 2:00 PP, 3:22 PK, no SOG, 7-9 FO for 44%) had one point in eight tries coming in. Radim Vrbata (1G, +1, 17:26 TOI, 3:09 PP, 0:16 PK, 3 SOG) has goals in three of five after his third period tally and he has points in 11 of 15.

Los Angeles Kings 2 @ Anaheim Ducks 4
Goaltending match-up: Jonathan Quick (29/33, .879 SV%) vs. Jonas Hiller (35/37, .946 SV%)
Net notes: Quick was 5-0-0 vs. ANH coming in with 2.60/ .902 peripherals and one shutout. Hiller was 4-5-0 vs. LOS with 2.53/ .909 splits and one shutout.

Ryan Smyth Anze Kopitar Dustin Brown
Brad Richardson Jarret Stoll Wayne Simmonds
Alexander Frolov Michal Handzus Scott Parse
Raitis Ivanans Oscar Moller Brandon Segal

Rob Scuderi Drew Doughty
Jack Johnson Davis Drewiske
Matt Greene Sean O'Donnell

Matt Beleskey Ryan Getzlaf Corey Perry
Bobby Ryan Saku Koivu Teemu Selanne
Jason Blake Todd Marchant Troy Bodie
Ryan Carter Kyle Chipchura George Parros

Scott Niedermayer James Wisniewski
Steve Eminger Ryan Whitney
Sheldon Brookbank Brett Festerling

Key notes: Anze Kopitar (1G, +1, 24:25 TOI, 6:03 PP, 1:54 PK, 8 SOG, 8-10 FO for 44%) had 61 points overall coming in, including 22 in his past 17 outings. Drew Doughty's (1A, +1, 28:40 TOI, 8:00 PP, 1:59 PK, 4 SOG) outstanding sophomore campaign rolls on and although he had just one point in five games coming in, his season total was still at 42 points. Ryan Smyth (1A, +1, 21:36 TOI, 5:02 PP, no PK, 4 SOG) had 21 points in 23 road games before tonight. His current point streak is at five games too.

Alexander Frolov (1A, +2, 18:57 TOI, 4:07 PP, 0:30 PK, 2 SOG) had a pair of two-pointers on his recent resume coming into this clash of California teams.

Top PP times (LOS): Doughty (8:00), Kopitar (6:03), Smyth (5:02), Johnson (4:26) and Frolov (4:07)
Top PP times (ANH): Selanne (4:33), Perry (4:20), Wisniewski (4:13), Niedermayer (4:02) and Getzlaf (3:34)

Teemu Selanne (1G, 1A, -1, 18:57 TOI, 4:33 PP, no PK, 6 SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) has points in three of four since getting back into the line-up. Corey Perry (1G, 2A, +2, 2 PIM, 18:17 TOI, 4:20 PP, no PK, 5 SOG) has a four-game point streak going now and he has points in 13 of his past 17 outings. Saku Koivu (1G, 1A, +1, 22:45 TOI, 3:12 PP, 3:16 PK, 2 SOG, 11-11 FO for 50%) has points back-to-back after six with zilch.

Ryan Getzlaf (1G, +1, 11:22 TOI, 3:34 PP, no PK, 3 SOG, 5-3 FO for 63%) had 28 points in 30 GP vs. LOS coming in here and his current point streak is at five games, which included three straight two-pointers as this one began. Ryan Whitney (2A, even, 2 PIM, 24:04 TOI, 2:02 PP, 2:27 PK, 3 SOG) has points in four of five after a long string of zeroes. Scott Niedermayer's (1A, even, 25:14 TOI, 4:02 PP, 4:41 PK, 1 SOG) +/- has been a source of much consternation for his poolies, but it's worth noting that headed into tonight he was even at home and -17 on the road. Bit of a difference.