Chris Nichols

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

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Blog: 24
Video: Just a little patience

Minnesota Wild 2 @ Columbus Blue Jackets 4
Goaltending match-up: Josh Harding (29/32, .906 SV%) vs. Mathieu Garon (18/20, .900 SV%)
Net notes: Harding was 1-1-0 vs. CBJ coming in with 3.52/ .883 splits. Garon was 5-3-1 vs. MIN with 2.73/ .908 splits.

Andrew Brunette Mikko Koivu Antti Miettinen
Guillaume Latendresse James Sheppard Martin Havlat
Owen Nolan Andrew Ebbett Chuck Kobasew
Casey Wellman Kyle Brodziak Cal Clutterbuck

Marek Zidlicky Cam Barker
John Scott Nick Schultz
Jaime Sifers Justin Falk

Kristian Huselius Antoine Vermette Rick Nash
R.J. Umberger Derick Brassard Jakub Voracek
Andrew Murray Samuel Pahlsson Chris Clark
Derek Dorsett Mike Blunden Jared Boll

Anton Stralman Fedor Tyutin
Nathan Paetsch Kris Russell
Marc Methot Mike Commodore

Key notes: Mikko Koivu (1G, -2, 18:58 TOI, 1:57 PP, 2:48 PK, 3 SOG, 8-11 FO for 42%) began this game just four points shy of last year's 67-point career best. His first period goal also tied his best-ever single-season total of 20 goals, which he has now done three times. Antti Miettinen (1A, -2, 17:10 TOI, 1:57 PP, 2:49 PK, 1 SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) had just eight points in 19 GP vs. CBJ coming in and he has points in four of his past five overall after having just one in seven prior to that period.

Cam Barker (1A, even, 24:33 TOI, 1:40 PP, 4:38 PK, 1 SOG) had four points in 10 starts with his new team before tonight. This was Casey Wellman's (1A, +1, 10:09 TOI, no PP, 0:15 PK, 2 SOG) first NHL game.

Top PP times (MIN): Havlat (4:21), Zidlicky (3:31), Latendresse (2:55), Ebbett (2:49) and Nolan (2:49)
Top PP times (CBJ): Tyutin (5:55), Huselius (5:27), Stralman (5:21), Umberger (5:18) and Nash (4:54)

Rick Nash (2G, +2, 22:50 TOI, 4:54 PP, 2:17 PK, 7 SOG) made his return to action after missing time with various ailments. He had been blanked in his prior three starts after the Olympics. Kristian Huselius (1G, 1A, +2, 19:24 TOI, 5:27 PP, no PK, 1 SOG) had 56 points in his first season with the Jackets last year and he came into tonight with 53. He had six points in his past two games alone before tonight. R.J. Umberger (1A, +1, 19:40 TOI, 5:18 PP, 2:29 PK, 6 SOG, 8-0 FO for 100%) has a point in five of his past seven.

Jakub Voracek (1A, even, 15:48 TOI, 3:28 PP, no PK, 3 SOG) had 13 points in 11 GP before tonight's addition. Kris Russell (1G, +1, 22:34 TOI, 3:18 PP, 2:18 PK, 3 SOG) has points in four of eight from the back end. Antoine Vermette (1A, +2, 20:30 TOI, 3:45 PP, 2:17 PK, 1 SOG, 12-3 FO for 80%) has 14 points over his past 14 GP.

San Jose Sharks 3 @ Calgary Flames 4
Goaltending match-up: Evgeni Nabokov (20/24, .833 SV%) vs. Miikka Kiprusoff (25/28, .893 SV%)
Net notes: Nabby was 12-11-2-2 vs. CGY coming in with 2.43/ .906 splits and two shutouts. Kipper was 11-8-1 vs. SJ with 2.93/ .905 splits and one shutout.

Patrick Marleau Joe Thornton Dany Heatley
Ryane Clowe Joe Pavelski Devin Setoguchi
Logan Couture Manny Malhotra Torrey Mitchell
Jamie McGinn Scott Nichol Brad Staubitz

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

Rene Bourque Matt Stajan Jarome Iginla
Niklas Hagman Daymond Langkow Ales Kotalik
Mikael Backlund Eric Nystrom Jamal Mayers
Nigel Dawes Craig Conroy David Moss

Robyn Regehr Ian White
Jay Bouwmeester Steve Staios
Mark Giordano Cory Sarich

Key notes: Dany Heatley (1G, 1A, +1, 19:58 TOI, 3:18 PP, 0:34 PK, 3 SOG) had been shooting blanks for four straight before finding the back of the net tonight. Joe Thornton (1A, +1, 17:34 TOI, 3:00 PP, 0:32 PK, no SOG, 10-6 FO for 63%) began the night with 81 points, which was five points below last year's mark of 86.

Patrick Marleau (1A, +1, 19:45 TOI, 3:00 PP, 2:21 PK, 2 SOG, 1-2 FO for 33%) came into this one with nine points in eight games since the break. Dan Boyle (1G, -2, 28:05 TOI, 3:56 PP, 2:31 PK, 5 SOG) entered this tilt just two points shy of recording his fifth 50+ point campaign.

Top PP times (SJ): Boyle (3:56), Heatley (3:18), Marleau (3:00), Pavelski (3:00) and Thornton (3:00)
Top PP times (CGY): Kotalik (3:14), Langkow (3:14), Hagman (3:14), Bouwmeester (3:12) and Staios (3:05)

Jarome Iginla (1G, even, 5 PIM, 17:25 TOI, 2:46 PP, no PK, 2 SOG, 2-1 FO for 67%) had been completely blanked in his past four starts and not only did he score tonight, but he also fought for his owners. Matt Stajan (1A, -1, 20:08 TOI, 2:46 PP, 1:36 PK, 1 SOG, 8-6 FO for 57%) had nine points in 15 GP with CGY coming in here. Mark Giordano (1A, +4, 2 PIM, 19:51 TOI, 2:33 PP, 1:55 PK, no SOG) has points in two straight for the first time since the first week of February.

Daymond Langkow (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 16:46 TOI, 3:14 PP, 1:35 PK, 2 SOG, 6-12 FO for 33%) has points in four of eight. Niklas Hagman (1A, +1, 16:03 TOI, 3:14 PP, no PK, 1 SOG) ended a six-game pointless skid and he had one in 10 before tonight. Mikael Backlund (2A, +1, 7:57 TOI, no PP, no PK, 4 SOG, 2-3 FO for 40%) drew back into the line-up here and registered his first career multi-point effort.

Detroit Red Wings 2 @ Edmonton Oilers 3 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Jimmy Howard (22/24, .917 SV%) vs. Devan Dubnyk (31/33, .939 SV%)
Net notes: Howard was 0-1-1 vs. EDM coming in with 4.32/ .870 splits. Dubnyk hadn't faced DET before tonight, but he picked up his first NHL win here.

Johan Franzen Pavel Datsyuk Tomas Holmstrom
Valtteri Filppula Henrik Zetterberg Danny Cleary
Todd Bertuzzi Drew Miller Jason Williams
Kris Draper Darren Helm Patrick Eaves

Nicklas Lidstrom Brian Rafalski
Brad Stuart Niklas Kronwall
Andreas Lilja Jonathan Ericsson

Dustin Penner Andrew Cogliano Gilbert Brule
Robert Nilsson Ryan Potulny Marc Pouliot
Ethan Moreau Shawn Horcoff Fernando Pisani
Chris Minard Sam Gagner Zack Stortini

Ryan Whitney Tom Gilbert
Taylor Chorney Theo Peckham
Aaron Johnson Jason Strudwick

Key notes: Brian Rafalski (1G, +2, 28:11 TOI, 2:30 PP, no PK, 3 SOG) got the GTG with less than a second left to go in the third period. He's been sizzling lately with 13 points in 14 GP coming in here. Pavel Datsyuk (1A, +1, 20:38 TOI, 2:19 PP, no PK, no SOG, 11-8 FO for 57%) has points in 13 of 15, while Henrik Zetterberg (1A, -1, 22:23 TOI, 1:41 PP, no PK, 4 SOG, 7-10 FO 41%) had 15 points in 14 GP before tonight.

Patrick Eaves (1G, +1, 6:39 TOI, no PP, 0:59 PK, 1 SOG) had two points the last time these teams met and he has points in three of four. He's still generally not a good fantasy option though. Jason Williams scored in the shootout.

Top PP times (DET): Rafalski (2:30), Lidstrom (2:19), Datsyuk (2:19), Holmstrom (2:11) and Franzen (2:07)
Top PP times (EDM): Gilbert (1:23), Gagner (1:23), Minard (1:21), Cogliano (1:08) and Johnson (1:06)

Andrew Cogliano (1G, 1A, +2, 16:28 TOI, 1:08 PP, 0:07 PK, 3 SOG, 4-3 FO for 57%) has picked up points in five of seven with multi-pointers in two of four. Gilbert Brule (2A, +2, 16:48 TOI, 0:39 PP, 0:07 PK, 2 SOG, 4-2 FO for 67%) has them in seven of 11 and he scored in the shootout. Ryan Whitney (1G, +1, 25:47 TOI, 0:37 PP, 2:39 PK, 5 SOG) has points in three of four now after a slow start with the Oilers. Ryan Potulny scored in the shootout.

New York Islanders 4 @ Anaheim Ducks 5 (OT)
Goaltending match-up: Martin Biron (34/39, .872 SV%) vs. Jonas Hiller (14/17, .824 SVV%) & Curtis McElhinney (13/14, .929 SV%)
Net notes: Biron was 8-0-0 vs. ANH coming in with 1.36/ .946 splits and three shutouts. Hiller hadn't started vs. NYI before tonight.

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

Mark Streit Bruno Gervais
Jack Hillen Dustin Kohn
Dylan Reese Freddy Meyer

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

Steve Eminger Scott Niedermayer
Aaron Ward Lubomir Visnovsky
Sheldon Brookbank Brett Festerling

Key notes: Kyle Okposo (2G, -1, 19:33 TOI, 1:32 PP, 0:08 PK, 4 SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) had a goal the last time these teams met, although he had just two points in eight games before this evening. John Tavares (1G, 1A, -1, 16:52 TOI, 1:32 PP, no PK, 3 SOG) was coming off that magical five-pointer against the Canucks. Mark Streit (2A, even, 27:16 TOI, 2:11 PP, 2:48 PK, 2 SOG) has points in six of nine since returning from the Olympics. Frans Nielsen (1A, -2, 17:32 TOI, 1:57 PP, 1:38 PK, 1 SOG, 12-7 FO for 63%) has points in four straight and five of seven now.

Top PP times (NYI): Streit (2:11), Nielsen (1:57), Tavares (1:32), Okposo (1:32) and Moulson (1:32)
Top PP times (ANH): Visnovsky (3:56), Selanne (3:44), Perry (3:44), Getzlaf (3:44) and Niedermayer (2:48)

In stopping a streak of one point in six games before tonight, Scott Niedermayer (1A, +2, 2 PIM, 30:19 TOI, 2:48 PP, 1:53 PK, 1 SOG) reached the 40-point plateau for the ninth time in his career. Lubomir Visnovsky (2G, +1, 2 PIM, 26:45 TOI, 3:56 PP, no PK, 4 SOG) had four points in six games with the Ducks coming in. Teemu Selanne (2A, +3, 19:36 TOI, 3:44 PP, no PK, 6 SOG, 5-3 FO for 63%) had just one point in five games before this one started.

Jason Blake (1G, +1, 12:51 TOI, 0:12 PP, 0:24 PK, 2 SOG) had five points in 14 GP with ANH coming in here. Saku Koivu (1G, 1A, +1, 15:28 TOI, 0:12 PP, 0:25 PK, 4 SOG, 11-4 FO for 73%) has points in three straight after having two in eight. He got the OT GWG quickly after creating a turnover and converting his breakaway.

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!