Almost exactly a year ago, our ten team league decided to try something new and add categories that few fantasy leagues might use in their head to head matchup leagues. Instead of your typical setup of goals, assists, power play points, plus/minus, penalty minutes, and shots on goal for skaters we added hits and blocks to add value to players further down NHL team’s depth charts. This sparked waiver wire action that was unprecedented in our league that allows for four additions/drops per week, as teams on average used about three of their four a week and also led to greater trade value for all around players in the league. Why do it? First, let us look at hits. We probably can all agree that big hits and players that are physical can change games. You needn’t look any farther than the New York Islanders fourth line. Would Matt Martin, owned by 6% of fantasy hockey players on Yahoo, or Cal Clutterbuck, owned by 4%, ever have any fantasy value in a typical league described above? Nope! The Islanders organization, Islander fans, and publications like The Hockey News will all tell you that those two were incredibly important to their 102 point season as they grinded opponents down with their intense physical play. Are they going to score a lot of goals, absolutely not, as Martin scored 8 and Clutterbuck 7 this season, but to say they aren’t valuable to the success of the Islanders would be an injustice. Martin led the NHL with an incredible 382 hits, beating his line mate Clutterbuck (343) by 39 hits. The third highest total in the league was Brooks Orpik with 306 hits. This also adds value to other 3rd and 4th liners. Like with Tommy Wingels who, when healthy, was an all-around stud. On top of his mediocre 40 points, or breakout depending on your view, he also had 263 hits and 158 shots on goal and was injured for several weeks in the middle of the season, so all of those totals could have been much higher, yet he was only owned by 10% of leagues on Yahoo. The second category we added was blocks and of all of the categories this turned out to be one of the more popular choices. The amount of defensemen that can help your fantasy team are limited but with the addition of hits and blocks we added to the value of tons of defensemen who would typically be overlooked. To make this argument you only have to look at one man, Kris Russell of the Calgary Flames. Before the injury to Mark Giordano, Russell’s value in fantasy leagues was almost non-existent, that is ...

Clutterbuck left Tuesday's game with an upper-body injury and did not return. The Islanders' season is all but over, so they will keep all injured players out for the rest of the year. Clutterbuck scored 12 goals and added seven assists in 73 games this season. As we have grown accustomed to seeing, Clutterbuck is once again in the top-5 in hits with 270 on the season.

Good morning! Coffee in hand and ready to go! Congrats to the Boston Bruins, who clinched the Eastern Conference title yesterday afternoon! Loui Eriksson has found fortune in the misfortune of Jarome Iginla's injury with 4 points playing on the top line; and he had 7 SOG. T-Rask is a monster of a goalie. Are Varlamov and the Avalanche peaking at the right time? You betcha! Lots of PIMs doled out in the third period of that Colorado-St. Louis match yesterday. Paul Stastny with 7 SOG last too. It took half a game against the NY Islanders for the Capitals to realize their season was hanging in the balance if they didn't wake up, but they did to win in a shootout. Funny to say Holtby played a great game yesterday because he hasn't all season long. Cal Clutterbuck had 7 SOG last night also. What's going on? With last night's 4-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, the Toronto Maple Leaf season is over for all intents and purposes. Shame really. The Canadiens got a scare when Detroit stormed back with 3 goals in the 3rd period to tie but the Habs woke up and recovered to win 5-3.  The Red Wings are going to be scary come playoff time. Niklas Kronwall had 7 SOG last night for the Wings. Unbelievable! Jamie Benn didn't have 7 SOG but he did score 2 goals and an assist in beating the Bolts last night. I can't see John Tortorella behind the Vancouver bench come the start of next season. Ottawa always gives the Rangers fits. Always. It was Z-night in the NHL as Zajac, Zubrus (2G), Zibanejad, and Zuccarello (2G) all hit the twine last night. Zidlicky had an assist. New Jersey is fighting hard to make the playoffs. Don't count them out, especially with Schneider in net. Rick Nash had 7 SOG.   That's 5 so far. Patric Hornqvist is on fire! Good luck on the final week of the regular season. You may need a hot cup of coffee to keep you up for the late games.

Head coach Jack Capuano did not know what his lineup would be tonight, other than Thomas Vanek being out. Clutterbuck has missed the last three games after scoring a goal and adding an assist in his first 12 games with the Islanders. They will likely announce their lineup later in the afternoon, stand-by.

Clutterbuck recovered way ahead of schedule and will be on the ice tonight. He was practicing on the Islanders third line throughout the week, but with Matt Moulson questionable tonight, he could skate alongside former OHL teammate John Tavares.

Clutterbuck has not appeared in a game this season, because of a leg injury.

Clutterbuck who has been practicing lately is nearing a return, but is not quite ready. He could be back on Friday vs. the Blackhawks.

Clutterbuck was originally expected to miss close to a month, but apparently he is only going to have missed the Isles first two games. Even if he does not play on Tuesday expect him to be back in the lineup Friday vs. Chicago.

Clutterbuck is still a few weeks away from returning, but this is a positive sign for the Islanders.

The off-season acquisition practiced on a line with Casey Cizikas and Peter Regin. Clutterbuck was wearing a non-contact jersey during the skate. On Saturday, the former Minnesota Wild winger was put on injured reserve retroactive to September 17.