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Blog: Today’s Q&A
Dallas Stars 4 @ Washington Capitals 3 (SO)
Goaltending match-up: Marty Turco (49/52, .942 SV%) vs. Semyon Varlamov (23/26, .885 SV%)
Net notes: Turco was 3-0-1 vs. WAS coming in with 2.31/ .913 splits. Varlamov had never faced the Stars before tonight.
Steve Ott Brad Richards Loui Eriksson
Brenden Morrow Mike Ribeiro Brandon Segal
James Neal Jamie Benn Jere Lehtinen
Toby Petersen Mike Modano Krys Barch
Mark Fistric Stephane Robidas
Karlis Skrastins Matt Niskanen
Trevor Daley Jeff Woywitka
Alex Ovechkin Nicklas Backstrom Mike Knuble
Brooks Laich Eric Belanger Alexander Semin
Jason Chimera Brendan Morrison Eric Fehr
Boyd Gordon Dave Steckel Matt Bradley
Jeff Schultz Mike Green
Tom Poti Joe Corvo
John Erskine John Carlson
Key notes: Brad Richards (1G, 1A, even, 21:42 TOI, 1:21 PP, 0:21 PK, 1 SOG, 7-12 FO for 37%) hit the 70-point plateau for the season in the third period and that extended his March points streak to four games. He had gone seven games without a goal, but the points have been flowing steadily for the PEI-born forward. He scored in the shootout. Mike Ribeiro (1A, -1, 21:05 TOI, 1:32 PP, 1:32 PK, 1 SOG, 7-12 FO for 37%) had eight points in six games coming in since being activated.
Loui Eriksson (1A, even, 22:21 TOI, 1:32 PP, 0:57 PK, 2 SOG) headed in here just seven points back of last year’s 63. He has points in three of four since coming out of the break. He got the clincher in the shootout. James Neal (1G, even, 17:18 TOI, no PP, 0:36 PK, 1 SOG, 0-1 FO for 0%) had 22 points in 32 road games before his contribution tonight and he snapped a five-game goalless stretch in the process. Stephane Robidas (1A, even, 2 PIM, 25:57 TOI, no PP, 1:54 PK, 1 SOG) has helpers back-to-back after 10 games without a point.
Top PP times (DAL): Morrow (1:32), Eriksson (1:32), Ribeiro (1:32), Richards (1:29) and Niskanen (1:19)
Top PP times (WAS): Ovechkin (4:20), Backstrom (3:22), Laich (3:22), Green (3:18) and Semin (2:43)
Alex Ovechkin (2G, even, 26:00 TOI, 4:20 PP, no PK, 10 SOG) came into tonight’s contest ahead of Henrik Sedin in the Art Ross race by five points, but behind Sidney Crosby in the Rocket Richard derby by two goals. Two goals later, consider that a tied ballgame. Alexander Semin (1A, +1, 18:36 TOI, 2:43 PP, no PK, 7 SOG) has points in two straight after his first two-game pointless skid since the calendar turned over to 2010.
Nicklas Backstrom (2A, even, 25:29 TOI, 3:22 PP, 0:46 PK, 4 SOG, 11-13 FO for 46%) began the evening trailing last year’s career high of 88 points by only 11 points. Mike Green (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 28:17 TOI, 3:18 PP, 0:46 PK, 4 SOG) had his nine-game point streak stopped in the last game, but he hardly ever seems to go without a point and he’s still easily above the point-per-game average on the season.
Columbus Blue Jackets 0 @ Los Angeles Kings 6
Goaltending match-up: Steve Mason (9/13, .692 SV%) & Mathieu Garon (20/22, .909 SV%) vs. Jonathan Quick (11/11)
Net notes: Mason was 3-4-0 vs. LOS coming in with 2.87/ .889 splits and one shutout. Quick was 3-3-0 vs. CBJ with 2.02/ .922 splits and one shutout. This was his third shutout of the season and seventh of his career.
Andrew Murray Antoine Vermette Rick Nash
Derick Brassard R.J. Umberger Jakub Voracek
Nathan Paetsch Samuel Pahlsson Derek Dorsett
Chris Clark Mike Blunden Jared Boll
Jan Hejda Marc Methot
Kris Russell Mike Commodore
Fedor Tyutin Anton Stralman
Ryan Smyth Anze Kopitar Dustin Brown
Brad Richardson Jarret Stoll Alexander Frolov
Fredrik Modin Michal Handzus Wayne Simmonds
Scott Parse Jeff Halpern Richard Clune
Jack Johnson Drew Doughty
Rob Scuderi Sean O’Donnell
Randy Jones Matt Greene
Key notes: Rick Nash left this game with a lower-body injury.
Top PP times (CBJ): Russell (4:00), Tyutin (4:00), Paetsch (3:47), Vermette (3:44) and Stralman (3:42)
Top PP times (LOS): Smyth (7:01), Doughty (6:46), Kopitar (6:35), Stoll (5:44) and Handzus (5:39)
Drew Doughty (1G, +2, 23:17 TOI, 6:46 PP, 3:24 PK, 1 SOG) reached the 50-point plateau for the season this evening and he has points in six of his past seven. Jack Johnson (1A, +1, 17:56 TOI, 5:11 PP, 1:29 PK, no SOG) had five points in four games before tonight and he hit 30 points here. Alexander Frolov (1G, 3A, +2, 2 PIM, 18:43 TOI, 4:08 PP, 1:52 PK, 6 SOG) had nine points in nine games coming into this tilt. He had a trio of three-point games as his prior single-game high before tonight.
Ryan Smyth (1A, even, 15:46 TOI, 7:01 PP, 0:31 PK, no SOG, 1-0 FO for 100%) had two points the last time he faced this team and he has points in all four March contests and 10 of his past 11 outings. Anze Kopitar (1A, even, 19:57 TOI, 6:35 PP, 2:31 PK, 5 SOG, 4-3 FO for 57%) has points in seven straight and she came into tonight 10 points shy of his career best of 77.
Wayne Simmonds (1G, +1, 2 PIM, 12:53 TOI, 0:59 PP, no PK, 2 SOG) stopped a six-game pointless skid here. Jarret Stoll (1A, +1, 2 PIM, 16:44 TOI, 5:44 PP, 1:06 PK, 2 SOG, 6-3 FO for 67%) has points in three of four after seven without one.
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!