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: Caps' goalies; Mule sighting

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Boston Bruins 3 @ Buffalo Sabres 2 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Tuukka Rask (43/45, .956 SV%) vs. Ryan Miller (32/34, .941 SV%)
Net notes: Rask was 2-1-0 vs. BUF with 1.68/ .937 splits coming in. Miller was 15-5-5 vs. BOS with 2.58/ .910 splits.

Daniel Paille Marc Savard Miroslav Satan
Blake Wheeler David Krejci Michael Ryder
Marco Sturm Patrice Bergeron Mark Recchi
Milan Lucic Steve Begin Shawn Thornton

Zdeno Chara Dennis Wideman
Matt Hunwick Derek Morris
Andrew Ference Adam McQuaid

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

Tyler Myers Henrik Tallinder
Toni Lydman Andrej Sekera
Chris Butler Craig Rivet

Key notes: Daniel Paille (2G, +2, 19:23 TOI, no PP, 2:10 PK, 5 SOG) had gone seven games without a point before this multi-goal effort. Marc Savard (1A, +2, 21:14 TOI, 2:59 PP, 0:33 PK, 3 SOG, 9-8 FO for 53%) has points in six of his past seven outings now, while Zdeno Chara (1A, +1, 29:05 TOI, 1:20 PP, 2:53 PK, 2 SOG) has his first three-game point streak of the entire season.

Miroslav Satan (1A, +2, 16:24 TOI, no PP, no PK, no SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) had gone eight tries without a point. Derek Morris (1A, +2, 21:46 TOI, 1:07 PP, 1:22 PK, no SOG) has a point in three of his past eight from the back end.

Marco Sturm scored in the shootout and then David Krejci got the winner.

Top PP times (BOS): Savard (2:59), Recchi (2:58), Wideman (2:37), Krejci (2:37) and Bergeron (1:23)
Top PP times (BUF):  Myers (4:03), Roy (3:41), Connolly (3:41), Vanek (3:41) and Pominville (3:41)

Tyler Myers (1G, even, 28:17 TOI, 4:03 PP, 1:17 PK, 2 SOG) had gone 10 games without a goal and had four pointless games overall before tonight. Check his injury status if he's on your roster because he appeared to get dinged up near the end of regulation. Tim Connolly (1A, even, 21:55 TOI, 3:41 PP, 2:03 PK, 5 SOG, 11-12 FO for 48%) began the night just three points shy of his career high of 55 points.

Derek Roy (1G, -1, 21:24 TOI, 3:41 PP, 0:59 PK, 4 SOG, 4-7 FO for 36%) reached the 40-point plateau and stopped a mini-slide of three games without a point. Jason Pominville (1A, even, 22:51 TOI, 3:41 PP, 1:17 PK, 7 SOG) had accumulated 12 points in 11 GP coming in. He scored in the shootout.

Florida Panthers 1 @ Carolina Hurricanes 4
Goaltending match-up: Tomas Vokoun (26/29, .897 SV%) vs. Manny Legace (19/20, .950 SV%)
Net notes: Vokoun was 11-7-1-4 vs. CAR coming in with 2.70/ .918 splits and two shutouts. Legace was 2-1-3-0 vs. FLA with 1.54/ .951 splits.

David Booth Stephen Weiss Cory Stillman
Rostislav Olesz Steven Reinprecht Radek Dvorak
Gregory Campbell Shawn Matthias Michael Frolik
Kamil Kreps Dominic Moore Victor Oreskovich

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

Ray Whitney Eric Staal Jussi Jokinen
Sergei Samsonov Matt Cullen Tom Kostopoulos
Pat Dwyer Brandon Sutter Tuomo Ruutu
Stephane Yelle Rod Brind'Amour Steven Goertzen

Tim Gleason Joe Corvo
Aaron Ward Joni Pitkanen
Brett Carson Andrew Alberts

Key notes: Cory Stillman (1G, even, 16:22 TOI, 2:13 PP, 0:08 PK, 3 SOG) hadn't recorded a point in three games, but has them in four of eight now. Stephen Weiss (1A, +1, 18:02 TOI, 3:05 PP, 0:29 PK, 2 SOG, 14-5 FO for 74%) is fighting an injury and had eight points in 15 GP before tonight. Bryan McCabe (1A, +1, 21:40 TOI, 3:08 PP, 3:04 PK, 1 SOG) had gone 12 games without a point.

Top PP times (FLA): Kulikov (3:18), McCabe (3:08), Booth (3:08), Weiss (3:05) and Stillman (2:13)
Top PP times (CAR): Pitkanen (4:24), Staal (4:07), Jokinen (3:30), Corvo (3:28) and Ruutu (3:12)

Jussi Jokinen (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 18:41 TOI, 3:30 PP, no PK, 3 SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) continues to have the hot hand and his point streak is at seven games with goals in six of seven. He's been on fire for about a month now. Eric Staal (1A, +1, 20:32 TOI, 4:07 PP, no PK, 6 SOG, 5-15 FO for 25%) came into tonight with 20 points in his past 16 GP. Matt Cullen (1G, 2A, +1, 16:32 TOI, 2:43 PP, 2:26 PK, 2 SOG, 7-2 FO for 78%) had 37 points coming into tonight and that included 15 points in 18 GP coming in.

Joni Pitkanen (1G, 1A, +2, 28:39 TOI, 4:24 PP, 1:45 PK, 3 SOG) came into tonight with 15 points in 18 GP from the back end. Ray Whitney (1A, +2, 18:42 TOI, 3:05 PP, no PK, 2 SOG) had 17 points in that same span. Tuomo Ruutu (1G, +1, 14:06 TOI, 3:12 PP, no PK, 2 SOG) had missed 15 games with an upper-body injury and he got the ENG here.

Nashville Predators 3 @ New York Islanders 4 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Pekka Rinne (29/32, .906 SV%) vs. Martin Biron (24/27, .889 SV%)
Net notes: Rinne was 1-0-0 vs. NYI coming in with a shutout in that game. Biron was 3-2-1-0 vs. NAS with 2.13/ .923 splits and one shutout.

Steve Sullivan Jason Arnott Patric Hornqvist
Jerred Smithson David Legwand Joel Ward
J.P. Dumont Cal O'Reilly Martin Erat
Ryan Jones Colin Wilson Jordin Tootoo

Shea Weber Ryan Suter
Dan Hamhuis Kevin Klein
Francis Bouillon Alexander Sulzer

Matt Moulson John Tavares Blake Comeau
Sean Bergenheim Frans Nielsen Kyle Okposo
Jesse Joenssu Rob Schremp Trent Hunter
Matt Martin Richard Park Jon Sim

Mark Streit Bruno Gervais
Andy Sutton Andrew MacDonald
Freddy Meyer Dustin Kohn

Key notes: Steve Sullivan (1G, even, 22:02 TOI, 5:08 PP, 2:31 PK, 4 SOG) has goals in two of three and he came into this tilt with 11 points in his past 16 outings. Jason Arnott (1A, even, 21:26 TOI, 4:52 PP, 0:02 PK, 2 SOG, 6-13 FO for 32%) had that four-pointer vs. COL two games ago and he had 10 points in 12 GP coming in. Martin Erat (1A, -1, 2 PIM, 20:29 TOI, 5:05 PP, 1:43 PK, 2 SOG, 2-1 FO for 67%) had 17 points in 26 road games before tonight and he had six points in his past games overall coming in here. He converted his shootout chance.

Joel Ward (1G, +1, 18:40 TOI, no PP, 3:26 PK, 2 SOG, 1-1 FO for 50%) had goals in three of four coming in here and Dan Hamhuis (1A, +2, 2 PIM, 21:15 TOI, no PP, 4:25 PK, 4 SOG) has points in three of six.

Top PP times (NAS): Weber (5:53), Hornqvist (5:12), Sullivan (5:08), Erat (5:05) and Arnott (4:52)
Top PP times (NYI): Streit (6:30), MacDonald (5:20), Martin (5:11), Nielsen (5:11), Okposo (4:30) and Moulson (4:30)

Mark Streit (1G, 1A, -1, 21:45 TOI, 6:30 PP, 1:04 PK, 3 SOG) scored with 12 seconds left in the third period to force OT. He had just one point in nine games coming in. Rob Schremp (2A, +1, 17:25 TOI, 3:43 PP, no PK, no SOG, 4-7 FO for 36%) had one point in five coming in here, but had 11 in 16 overall dating back to the start of last month. Matt Martin (2A, even, 2 PIM, 14:41 TOI, 5:11 PP, no PK, 2 SOG), who's a fifth rounder from 2008, made his NHL debut here with a multi-point effort.

Frans Nielsen scored in the shootout, as did John Tavares for the winner.

Calgary Flames 2 @ Ottawa Senators 3
Goaltending match-up: Miikka Kiprusoff (28/31, .903 SV%) vs. Brian Elliott (27/29, .931 SV%)
Net notes: Kipper was 5-0-0 vs. OTT coming in with 2.48/ .904 splits and one shutout. Elliott only had a relief appearance vs. CGY before tonight.

Niklas Hagman Matt Stajan Jarome Iginla
Christopher Higgins Daymond Langkow Ales Kotalik
Dustin Boyd Mikael Backlund Jamie Lundmark
Curtis Glencross Eric Nystrom Jamal Myers

Jay Bouwmeester Cory Sarich
Robyn Regehr Ian White
Mark Giordano Adam Pardy

Milan Michalek Jason Spezza Daniel Alfredsson
Peter Regin Mike Fisher Alex Kovalev
Jarkko Ruutu Chris Kelly Chris Neil
Ryan Shannon Jesse Winchester Jonathan Cheechoo

Chris Phillips Anton Volchenkov
Filip Kuba Alexandre Picard
Chris Campoli Matt Carkner

Key notes: Jarome Iginla (2A, +2, 2 PIM, 19:37 TOI, 1:54 PP, 0:59 PK, 5 SOG, 2-2 FO for 50%) had one helper in four February contests headed in here. Matt Stajan (1G, 1A, +1, 20:10 TOI, 1:35 PP, 1:58 PK, 3 SOG, 13-13 FO for 50%) had one point in four games with the Flames coming in, as did Niklas Hagman (1G, 1A, +2, 18:44 TOI, 1:35 PP, 1:17 PK, 3 SOG).

Top PP times (CGY): Iginla (1:54), Bouwmeester (1:35), Hagman (1:35), Stajan (1:35) and Kotalik (1:35)
Top PP times (OTT): Spezza (3:07), Kovalev (3:07), Alfredsson (2:45), Kuba (2:34) and Michalek (1:28)

Jason Spezza (1G, 1A, -1, 16:45 TOI, 3:07 PP, 0:05 PK, 2 SOG, 4-13 FO for 24%) had an eight-game goal streak stopped in his last start and that included all six games since returning from injury. Alex Kovalev (1G, even, 19:05 TOI, 3:07 PP, no PK, 1 SOG) has markers in three of seven with 19 points in 19 GP since the start of 2010. Filip Kuba (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 22:10 TOI, 2:34 PP, no PK, 3 SOG) added his 23rd point of the season and first of February. He has nine points over his past 15 GP.

Vancouver Canucks 1 @ Tampa Bay Lightning 3
Goaltending match-up: Roberto Luongo (16/19, .842 SV%) vs. Antero Niittymaki (39/40, .975 SV%)
Net notes: Luongo was 13-11-2-0 vs. TB coming in with 2.42/ .925 splits and three shutouts. Niitty only had a brief relief appearance vs. VAN before tonight.

Daniel Sedin Henrik Sedin Alex Burrows
Mason Raymond Ryan Kesler Mikael Samuelsson
Tanner Glass Kyle Wellwood Steve Bernier
Darcy Hordichuk Rick Rypien Jannik Hansen

Alexander Edler Sami Salo
Brad Lukowich Aaron Rome
Shane O'Brien Christian Ehrhoff

Martin St. Louis Steven Stamkos Steve Downie
Alex Tanguay Vincent Lecavalier Stephane Veilleux
Ryan Malone Nate Thompson Jeff Halpern
Todd Fedoruk Zenon Konopka Kurtis Foster

Mattias Ohlund Mike Lundin
Victor Hedman Matt Smaby
Andrej Meszaros Matt Walker

Key notes: Ryan Kesler (1G, -2, 20:56 TOI, 3:17 PP, 5:04 PK, 5 SOG, 10-11 FO for 48%) has goals in two of four and he began this affair with 50 points on the season and 16 in his past 16. Christian Ehrhoff (1A, -2, 26:48 TOI, 3:12 PP, 4:24 PK, 3 SOG) needed two points tonight to reach 30 on the year. His career high is 42; set last season.

Top PP times (VAN): Edler (4:21), Salo (4:18), D. Sedin (4:13), H. Sedin (4:13) and Samuelsson (4:13)
Top PP times (TB): Foster (6:26), Stamkos (6:24), St. Louis (5:25), Downie (5:05) and Lecavalier (4:13)

Steven Stamkos (1G, 1A, +2, 21:29 TOI, 6:24 PP, 1:14 PK, 2 SOG, 1-4 FO for 20%) had a goal in his only other game vs. VAN and he had 35 points in 28 home games coming in here. His current point streak is at 10 games, which beats his prior '09-10 high of eight contests. Martin St. Louis (2G, 1A, +2, 20:49 TOI, 5:25 PP, 1:14 PK, 3 SOG, 0-2 FO for 0%) has points in each of his past seven and 21 of his past 24 too. He got his first SHG of the season here and 28thof his career.

Ryan Malone (1A, even, 2 PIM, 20:10 TOI, 4:48 PP, 2:13 PK, 2 SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) had gone six games without a point. Steve Downie (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 17:51 TOI, 5:05 PP, no PK, 3 SOG) added his 31st point and continues to be a strong source of points and PIM for his standard league poolies.

Detroit Red Wings 3 @ St. Louis Blues 4 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Jimmy Howard (42/45, .933 SV%) vs. Chris Mason (39/42, .929 SV%)
Net notes: Howard was 1-2-0 vs. STL coming in with 2.96/ .903 splits. Mason was 6-6-3 vs. DET with 3.20/ .907 splits.

Pavel Datsyuk Henrik Zetterberg Todd Bertuzzi
Johan Franzen Valtteri Filppula Danny Cleary
Brad May Drew Miller Jason Williams
Kris Draper Darren Helm Kirk Maltby

Nicklas Lidstrom Brian Rafalski
Brett Lebda Brad Stuart
Jonathan Ericsson Derek Meech

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

Barret Jackman Roman Polak
Erik Johnson Eric Brewer
Carlo Colaiacovo Mike Weaver

Key notes: Johan Franzen (1A, even, 17:28 TOI, 3:07 PP, 0:13 PK, 4 SOG) was activated for tonight's game after missing most of this season with a torn ACL. He was interviewed during the intermission and said he felt better than expected. Pavel Datsyuk (1G, even, 23:33 TOI, 4:24 PP, 0:11 PK, 6 SOG, 4-5 FO for 44%) had 56 points in 47 GP vs. STL coming in and his current point streak is at four games. He had 12 points in 11 GP coming in. Henrik Zetterberg (1A, even, 21:58 TOI, 4:24 PP, 0:12 PK, 2 SOG, 9-11 FO for 45%) had eight points in seven starts before tonight's effort.

Valtteri Filppula (1G, even, 20:04 TOI, 3:07 PP, 1:01 PK, 4 SOG, 11-11 FO for 50%) has goals in two straight and he had 14 points in 18 GP coming in here. Todd Bertuzzi (1A, even, 2 PIM, 17:42 TOI, 4:06 PP, no PK, 4 SOG) has a point in six of his past 10, while Brian Rafalski (1A, even, 28:29 TOI, 4:36 PP, 3:21 PK, 3 SOG) has points in four straight for the first time this season.

Jason Williams scored in the shootout.

Top PP times (DET): Rafalski (4:36), Lidstrom (4:32), Datsyuk (4:24), Zetterberg (4:24) and Bertuzzi (4:06)
Top PP times (STL): Oshie (5:18), McDonald (5:01), Tkachuk (4:54), Steen (4:39) and Johnson (4:33)

Paul Kariya (1G, 1A, +1, 20:05 TOI, 1:41 PP, 0:49 PK, 6 SOG) has points in three of his past five games and he had 17 SOG in five games before tonight. Andy McDonald (1G, -1, 18:12 TOI, 5:01 PP, 0:28 PK, 4 SOG, 1-2 FO for 33%) had gone four games without a point, but he finished January with points in seven straight. Erik Johnson (1A, -1, 20:39 TOI, 4:33 PP, 0:08 PK, 4 SOG) has back-to-back points for the first time since late November.

David Backes (2A, +1, 21:15 TOI, 4:16 PP, 3:06 PK, 3 SOG, 10-11 FO for 48%) came into this start with 13 points and 25 PIM in 16 GP. David Perron (1G, +1, 6 PIM, 12:36 TOI, 2:58 PP, no PK, 2 SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) had two points in six games coming into this affair. 10 in 19 dating back to the start of last month.

T.J. Oshie scored in the shootout, as did Brad Boyes.

Dallas Stars 3 @ Chicago Blackhawks 4 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Marty Turco (37/40, .925 SV%) vs. Antti Niemi (24/27, .889 SV%)
Net notes: Turco was 15-5-1-0 vs. CHI coming in with 2.18/ .916 splits and three shutouts. Niemi just had a relief appearance vs. DAL before tonight.

James Neal Brad Richards Loui Eriksson
Brenden Morrow Jamie Benn Jere Lehtinen
Francis Wathier Mike Ribeiro Fabian Brunnstrom
Toby Petersen Mike Modano Krys Barch

Nicklas Grossman Stephane Robidas
Karlis Skrastins Matt Niskanen
Trevor Daley Jeff Woywitka

Patrick Sharp Jonathan Toews Patrick Kane
Tomas Kopecky Dave Bolland Marian Hossa
Troy Brouwer John Madden Dustin Byfuglien
Andrew Ladd Colin Fraser Kris Versteeg

Duncan Keith Brent Seabrook
Niklas Hjalmarsson Brian Campbell
Brent Sopel Cam Barker

Key notes: The Stars have acquired goaltender Kari Lehtonen from Atlanta tonight. More in tomorrow's blog.

Mike Ribeiro (1G, even, 17:09 TOI, 2:37 PP, 0:55 PK, 1 SOG, 6-7 FO for 46%) played his first game since January 6th throat injury. James Neal (1G, 2A, -1, 18:08 TOI, 2:51 PP, 0:16 PK, 1 SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) has points in eight of his past 14 outings.

Brad Richards (2A, -1, 22:54 TOI, 5:54 PP, 0:07 PK, 9 SOG, 4-6 FO for 40%) has points in four straight. His longest stretch this season is eight games. Loui Eriksson (1G, -1, 23:07 TOI, 3:10 PP, 1:59 PK, 3 SOG) began the night 10 points back of last year's total of 63.

Top PP times (DAL): Richards (5:54), Robidas (5:39), Morrow (4:12), Modano (3:18) and Eriksson (3:10)
Top PP times (CHI): Campbell (2:34), Byfuglien (2:26), Toews (2:20), Kane (2:10) and Hossa (2:05)

Patrick Kane (2G, +2, 22:18 TOI, 2:10 PP, no PK, 4 SOG) came into tonight 10 points shy of matching his career best of 72. This was his first multi-goal game since December 29th and his third of the season. Patrick Sharp (2A, +2, 21:38 TOI, 1:55 PP, 1:44 PK, 4 SOG, 1-2 FO for 33%) had just three points in 17 GP vs. DAL coming in and he had 16 points in 18 GP overall headed in here. This was the fourth game back for Dave Bolland (1A, even, 17:34 TOI, no PP, 0:54 PK, 3 SOG, 7-6 FO for 54%) and first time in the scoring summary.

Marian Hossa (1A, +1, 21:59 TOI, 2:05 PP, 2:28 PK, 4 SOG) had 18 points in 17 GP coming into this one, while Troy Brouwer (1G, even, 15:41 TOI, 1:50 PP, 1:11 PK, 3 SOG) had one point in four outings before this evening. Brent Seabrook (1A, even, 2 PIM, 23:46 TOI, 0:37 PP, 3:06 PK, 1 SOG) had gone eight games without a point and had one in 14 before tonight.

Kris Versteeg scored the only goal of the shootout.