The Devils had that game against the Pens but Sidney Crosby was being Sid and scored the tying goal with seconds left in the game.  Then the Pens won in a shootout. The Capitals are just going through the motions this season, saving it for the playoffs.  How else do you explain them losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs?  Nothing personal Leaf fans, I’m just saying. Caps’ Nicklas Backstrom is starting to pick up the scoring pace of late. Ovechkin only had 3 SOG against Toronto.  Did he have the night off?  I mean Nazem Kadri had more SOG, 6, then OV had. Ottawa 2, Carolina 1.  That’s about right. Mrazek made some great saves to keep his Red Wings in it against Montreal, but the Canadiens are just too good. The Blue Jackets are 1-1-2 in last four games.  They could be coming back down to Earth. But Cam Atkinson is on fire of late.  As is Michael Cammalleri of the Devils. The Blues have won 5 of their last 6.  This could be because Schwartz seems to be picking up his production of late. Good Chicago-LA battle except that Chicago didn’t get a lot of SOG. Maybe next time. I wonder when Anaheim is going to put together a strong run? David Perron has been on fire of late with a 2-8-10 line in past 7 games.  How long will it last though? Markov is the hottest scoring defenseman right now. I hope everyone had a very nice Thanksgiving holiday weekend! Sorry for the short post today, I’m no feeling so hot today. Hope all your fantasies come true and have a great week!

W.W. O. R. D. (What would our Ray do?) We are in the homestretch as the season starts to wind down.  Hopefully your team is battling for a top spot in your fantasy league or have yourself so far out in front, it’s just a matter of waiting out the days until April. We are introducing a new feature article that will take permanent hold next season as we try and switch things up.  We hope you like it and will gladly listen to your comments and/or suggestions to make PrimePucks™ better. For those in the hunt, trying to stay competitive, trying to make up ground, or solidifying your team, scouring the free agent pool is vital at this point in time.  Even NHL teams out of playoff contention are good sources for players that may be getting a long look in important scenarios so it’s a good idea to monitor these teams as well as teams vying for a playoff position. Looking on ESPN’s free agent list in one of my dynasty fantasy leagues, there are quite a few decent pickups available on all levels except for perhaps goaltending.  The only goalies to look at are possibly Michael Hutchinson of Winnipeg and possibly Joonas Korpisalo of the Columbus Blue Jackets.  Columbus has just been a mess all season long but Winnipeg should be competing for a playoff spot but are too far back to make a run.  Which leads us to Ondrej Pavelec, who recently returned from injury and has started the past three games.  Pavs beat Edmonton upon his return but lost a heartbreaker to Carolina 2-1 before giving up three 1st period goals to Tampa Bay on Thursday night.  It’s possible that Pavelec could be traded before the trade deadline as the Jets may need to go in a different direction in net with Hutchinson who has shown the ability to handle #1 duty in the past but has really struggled to gain that consistency needed at the NHL level.  Hutchinson is only owned by 8.9% and could be worth a longshot, or at least keep on your Watch List as the trade deadline approaches. Looking at the skaters, one name that sticks out is David Perron.  Perron has traveled a bit the past few years but it looks like he is making the most of his chances now that he is in Anaheim.  The Ducks have really turned it on of late and Perron is putting up the points with 4 goals and 4 assists in the past 8 games.  Surprisingly, Perron is only owned by 43.5% but his stock is rising with a 12.8% increase over the past week. Patrick Eaves is another who has been finding the net lately matching Perron’s output but in just...

Let's face it. Phil Kessel represented the only true elite offensive threat on the Maple Leaf roster, so losing him to the Penguins without getting back a comparable talent is a massive blow to their offense. So can we depend on first liners James van Riemsdyk or Tyler Bozak for more than 50-60 point production without the services of Phil the Thrill? Absolutely not. Huge downgrade in fantasy value... As for Kessel,his drop in point production last season was mainly a result of much incurring bad blood with the Leafs organization, so you can expect a much more motivated version in Pittsburgh. At the age of 27, Kessel is still in the smack  of his prime and should see his best years ahead of him.    How about swapping Bozak for either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin as his primary puck feeder on a nightly basis? Yes, his supporting cast will be lights year ahead of the talent he has played with during his Toronto days.    There were many nights where his line was shut down due to the lack of secondary scoring, but that problem won't exist in Pitt as their top six should be the best in the NHL: Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Patrick Hornqvist, David Perron, and Chris Kunitz.    The one guy I would love to own next season in fantasy that could fall a bit under the radar is Hornqvist. With the acquisition of Kessel, the first power play should be downright nasty. The former Nashville Predator is the only viable down low presence so he should be a lock on the top unit. Pending injuries, a career season in the 65-75 point range should be a safe bet.

Let's start off by giving big-time kudos to Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury for posting his 8th shutout of the season in Calgary, surpassing the previous team record of seven set by Tom Barrasso. Say what you want but MAF is fantasy gold during the regular season and a trip away from home could be what cures the previously ailing Penguins. Sidney Crosby and David Perron combined for four points last night, and next in line to click tonight could be Evgeni Malkin and Patrick Hornqvist. You get the sense that their offense is about to get it going.. Ryan Johansen led the offensive barrage for Columbus against a tired St. Louis squad, collecting a goal and two assists in the 7-1 home rout. 48 points in 50 games is about right for the future PPG stud. Love him now and love him more in keeper leagues. Brian Elliott was bombasted in net but don't get cute and write him off. Like I said before, Elliott represents the NOW and Jake Allen the FUTURE for the Blue's goaltending situation. James Wisniewski left the game with a lower-body injury. Damn, this guy would be an elite option on defense every season if not for always dealing with injuries.. You should have known that Jonathan Toews and his Blackhawks would not lose a fourth straight against the Jets this season while playing before his hometown crowd. The captain was held in check but Mr. Patrick Kane supplied all the necessary firepower with a goal and the primary assist on Brandon Saad's overtime goal. Michael Hutchinson played admirably in defeat but he has been saddled with four straight losses and the team overall with six. With all the Evander Kane turmoil and a losing mentality settling in, maybe it's best to avoid the Winnipeg goaltending option altogether until they show signs of turning it around... The rise of Corey Schneider to the elite fantasy ranks is happening right before our eyes as the New Jersey Devils are suddenly hot. After the 4-1 win over Toronto, he has evened out his record at 19-19-5 while owning a 2.30 GAA and a .929 SP. He will be sitting down tonight as Keith Kinkaid will face the unenviable task of playing a Montreal team still fuming from consecutive losses to Arizona and Buffalo... If you need help on defense in deeper formats, take a flier on Jersey's Adam Larsson who collected two assists and now has eight points in his last 12 contests. Huge upside but has yet to take off. Worth a waiver-wire gamble..

The biggest storyline of the night revolves around Pekka Rinne, arguably the best fantasy goaltender, who left the game in the 3rd period after colliding with Vancouver's Chris Higgins. He is listed as day-to-day and will be re-evaluated before the team's next practice on Thursday. In such a situation where losing Rinne long-term would be a massive blow to my fantasy squad, I rather err on the side of caution and snag Carter Hutton off the waiver wire just in case. Nashville has been the leagues' best team, so securing their starting goalie should be of primary concern.. Lost in the shuffle of this 5-1 blowout for the home team was the continued excellence of young Colin Wilson who has thrived under the more up-tempo system of Peter Laviolette. His four-point explosion gives him 15 points over the last ten games, so you know what to do while he is streaking. The 25-year old has clicked on the second line with Mike Fisher and James Neal, who returned from injury with a nice two-assist effort. Own these Preds down the stretch because they can flat-out score... I am leaving the title of today's piece given our very own Ray was impressed with all the Czech fantasy standout performances, but Winnipeg's Matthew Perreault probably deserves the headline after his four goals fueled a 8-2 romp over visiting Florida. The forward is enjoying his most productive stretch of the season, extending his point-game streak to four while collecting eight points during that span. With all the top-line and power-play duties one man can handle, Perreault should be starting in most formats.. In case you haven't noticed, Dustin Byfuglien has been a beast since returning to the blue-line. Two more goals last night and a probable one-way ticket to top-five fantasy status in the near future... In three games back, d-man Tobias Enstrom has racked up four points. Cmon fellas, I told you to snag him ASAP. Potential 40+ point defenders are hard to come by... The New York Islanders continue their rise up the Eastern Conference ladder and with their 3-0 win over the red-hot New York Rangers, coupled with Tampa Bay's loss to the surging Boston Bruins, sit alone atop the Conference. Jaroslav Halak turned aside all 26 SOG for his 4th shutout and 23rd win on the season. The Islanders outplayed the Rangers who didn't seem to have their legs under them after their West Coast trip.... The Pittsburgh Penguins exploded against the Minnesota Wild with a 7-goal outburst led by newly acquired David ...

Good morning all! Coffee's hot, the air is cold!  Brrrrrr! Telling you what's not cold is the Boston Bruins. I think they are waking up.  No hibernating for this big, bad bear! Krejci is a big part of making that team click. You know who else is a big part of it?  Zdeno Chara  J. Pekka Rinne continues to prove that he is the best goaltender in the NHL. From the start of the season I keep seeing these three names in the Philly box scores. Voracek, Giroux & Streit. It's a shame their record is so poor. Will Minnesota make a deal for a goaltender? I think it's a matter of sooner than later. Colorado is starting their move. They have won 3 in a row and 5 of last six played.  Watch out as they will make the race for the playoffs very interesting.  The Avalanche is packed full of young explosive talent that can go off at any given moment. MacKinnon and Duchene had 5 and 6 SOG respectively last night. David Perron scored on like his first shot with Pittsburgh and nothing since. Don't worry.  He's getting plenty of chances and will break out soon.  He's had 6, 5 and 5 SOG in his first three games with the Pens. That Pitt-Montreal game would be a great series to watch come April. Even though Carey Price lost last night against Pittsburgh, he has truly blossomed into an elite NHL goaltender. Mike Smith's problems continue so don't rely on the Arizona goalie to help your cause this year unless he gets traded to some place like Minnesota. Every once in a while the Ottawa Senators give a glimpse of what may be in store for the future. Is there any hope for Arizona in the foreseeable future? I mean their defense looks tremendous going forward.... Losing Jimmy Howard for an extended period of time sucks but the Red Wings will be just fine with Petr Mrazek in net for the time being. Braden Holtby has turned into a workhorse; 24 starts in a row for the young goaltender. That's almost two month's worth of games. Look at those Islanders go! There were 8 goals in regulation between the Blues and Hurricanes and those 8 goals were scored by 8 different players. Carolina has been playing much better since Jordan Staal returned to the lineup. The New York Rangers remain hot with the three-game sweep of California. All lines are clicking! There is no ‘win' in Winnipeg unless Michael Hutchinson is in net it seems. Tobias Enstrom returned to the Jets lineup. They are slowly but surely getting their injured defensemen back which should be good for the team. Has anyone noticed ...

Injuries, injuries, injuries... Two starting goaltenders went down yesterday as both Steve Mason(knee) and Jimmy Howard(groin) both had to exist their respective games. Mason should only miss a week, but Howard owners could be without their star netminder for much longer. As he was stretchered off the ice, all I could think of while watching the NFL playoff games was to scoop up Petr Mrazek. The 22-year old is one of the more talented back-ups, albeit a bit unseasoned to say the least. He could be in line for a huge workload but the question remains whether he can rise to the occasion. I, for one. feel like he is definitely worth a gamble for fantasy teams in need of goalie help. Also, strategy-wise, getting the goalie before the Jimmy Howard owner does could help bolster your position. Of lesser fantasy consequence, Tanner Pearson broke his leg last night and will miss substantial time for the LA kings. With fellow line-mate Tyler Toffoli being diagnosed with mono, their second line is now on the shelf and more line tinkering will be in the works for coach Sutter. I am sure that Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter, and Marian Gaborik will get all the ice-time needed for a further fantasy boost in the second half. Zach Parise returned to the Minnesota Wild line-up with a heavy heart after missing two games due to the death of his father. He played 23:08 minutes and registered three shots on goal. If I had to venture an educated guess based on how this guy plays the game, he should put forth inspired hockey moving forward..Also back from injury is defenseman Tobias Enstrom who picked up an assist in his return game.He is playing on the 2nd power-play unit for Winnipeg, but could push for more minutes in the near future. A decent waiver-wire add if he is available, as the two-time 50+ point scorer has a vast track record of offensive production in the NHL. The Pittsburgh Penguins have been shaken up with a myriad of injuries, but their big guns are keeping up the offensive pressure in recent games. Sidney Crosby applied the finishing touch to their 2-1 win in Montreal by scoring the overtime tally. Fellow star Evgeni Malkin scored a goal and an assist for his third multiple point effort in his last four games. With the impending return of Patrick Hornqvist and the recent acquisition of David Perron, you can fully expect the Pens to put up fantasy-monster numbers down the stretch. You can't hold them down for too long.. Keep your eye on 18-year old David Pastrnak ...

The New York Rangers started their 3-game California trip with a solid 4-1 win over the NHL-leading leading Anaheim Ducks. This starts a 6 in 7 game road schedule for the Blueshirts who have won 11 of 12 with G Henrik Lundqvist leading the way. The Rangers are starting to get production from throughout their lineup.  Rick Nash potted his 25th on the season but Derrick Brassard (4 pts in last 3 games) & Mats Zuccarello (7 pts in last 8) are starting to heat up as well, both with goals in the contest. They face the Kings tonight in what should be a very emotional game for the Rangers.... Washington took care of a Toronto Maple Leaf team that looked a bit disorganized under the new Head Coach Peter Horachek, beating the Leafs 6-2 behind 2-goal efforts from Eric Fehr and Marcus Johansson. The issue with the Capitals has always been scoring depth and if they can get consistent production from those two, they will be tough to play against going forward.  Fehr has had some impressive minor league stats but has never been able to carry that effort over to the NHL.  Troy Brouwer had 2 assists. All three Caps are solid fantasy depth forwards, especially if they go on a tear.... Boston managed to finally win an extra time game after losing in 3 three straight. It was none other than Patrice Bergeron who righted the ship for the Bruins with two goals including the overtime game-winner in beating the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2. With an impressive effort from G Tuukka Rask, the return to health of David Krejci, and a surging Bergeron, the Bruins just might be on the verge of going on one of their streaks. They certainly have the makeup....Newly acquired Penguin David Perron had 5 SOG but was held off the score sheet.... The Detroit Red Wings continued on their 6-game road trip with a win in Calgary. The precious night in Edmonton it was Pavel Datsyuk who provided the offense but tonight it was Henrik Zetterberg who had a goal and an assist in the win. The two veteran Wings continue to shine when healthy. Gustav Nyquist had 2 assists in the win....Mikael Backlund returned to the lineup for the Flames and promptly had an assist on the opening goal by Mason Raymond. Backlund also scored a short-handed goal in the third period showing his value.   Backlund's return will be a breath of fresh air for the club at this point in the season.  Give him some time to get into game shape.

* TJ Oshie has been a dominant offensive force for the St. Louis Blues since the start of December, so it's time for fantasy owners to take notice. His four-point night, including a "hat trick", helped seal the fate of the San Jose Sharks in the 7-2 rout. He is currently sporting a five-game point streak and has racked up 17 points in the last 16 games. His line, with Alex Steen and David Backes, is rolling, but the return of Jaden Schwartz will also get the Tarasenko unit probably back to their early-season dominant form. Start Oshie now while he is smoking hot... *In his first game donning a Pittsburgh Penguin uniform, David Perron lined up with Sidney Crosby and scored a goal on his first shot. Awesome fairy tale stuff, eh? Well, the Pens got smoked 4-1 by visiting Montreal and should expect a transition period while Perron acclimates to his new high-end teammates. He should get top power-play minutes in the short-term but that could change when Patrick Hornqvist returns in a few weeks. Anyway you slice it, huge boost in fantasy value for the suddenly relevant Perron.. *A wild high-scoring affair in LA, as the Kings rallied for three goals in the dying minutes to sent the game against Nashville into overtime only to lose 7-6 after a goal by defender Roman Josi in the extra frame. Don't worry, both Pekka Rinne and Jonathan Quick still rock in goal! It was just one of those games.. *In case you have not received the memo, Winnipeg goalie Michael Hutchinson is indeed for real. After allowing six goals over his last two starts, "Hutch" settled down by stopping 20 of 21 Toronto shots in the 5-1 blowout win. I feel confident in saying that the youngster's superb numbers (10-3-2, 1.81 GAA, .937 SP) are not flukish and that he will be the starter over Ondrej Pavelec down the stretch.. *Now for the not so obvious- Sam Gagner is actually playing good hockey for Arizona and might warrant short-term fantasy consideration. The underachieving forward scored twice while adding an assist, improving his numbers to 8 points over the last five games. He has clicked big-time with Martin Hanzal, so he might be worth a starting nod for the next few weeks before he goes ice-cold again... *Huge applause for future HOFer Jaromir Jagr becoming the oldest player in NHL history-42- to collect a "hat trick". Pause. Reality check. 25 points in 40 games. His best fantasy days are behind him, but he will occasionally blow up for a few big offensive outbursts.. *The Dallas Stars are...

Two of the top offensive producers from last night's packed slate of games are arguably the most underrated in fantasy circles, as Jeff Skinner and David Perron do not get enough "love". The Carolina winger recorded 2 goals and an assist during the 4-1 romp in Washington, while Perron led the Oiler's offense with two goals in a losing cause. In the case of Skinner, he has been vastly overlooked because of his extensive history with injuries. He simply can't stay on the ice long enough to produce for fantasy teams, but when he does, he scores. In 17 games, he now has 14 points (6G/8A), including 54 SOG. With the injury to Alex Semin, the 21-year old has been put on a line with Eric Staal, with whom he enjoyed most of his success during his Calder Trophy run in '10-11. With Joni Pitkanen out for tthe entire season, Skinner has been utilized at the point on the power-play with Justin Faulk in recent games. If he can stay healthy, expect a huge boost of offense from Skinner.. Perron brings tons of offensive upside to the table, but he gets lost in the shuffle because of his more famous teammates. Let's see.. Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, RNH... You get the picture! However, the 25-year old has been their most consistent forward, collecting 22 points (11G/11A) in 25 games. His six seasons in St. Louis never resulted in huge numbers, mainly because the defensive-minded Blues always rely on a scoring-by-committee approach. In Edmonton, being a top-six forward in a potentially explosive offense can pay big dividends in fantasy. Keep him in your lineups, as he has showed little signs of slowing down. More Game Notes: The stars were out tonight, as Sidney Crosby scored two goals in the 3-2 win over the Isles, including a ridiculous OT move with the whole defense draped all over him. Fellow elite fantasy forwards, Evgeni Malkin and John Tavares, finished the contest with two assists apiece. Crosby leads the entire NHL with 37 points, followed by Malkin (34) and Tavares tied for third (32). This trio is surely lighting it up for their fantasy owners. However, Kyle Okposo of the Isles, who scored two goals in the game, has been a rising fantasy forward amidst the team's early struggles. With 25 points in 28 games and a plum assignment on the top line, his offensive contributions cannot be ignored. While his streakiness will drive you nuts, he should shatter his previous career highs in points and remain an above-average fantasy option.. With two goals last night, ...