The Blackhawks decided to sit Toews the rest of the regular season and make sure he was fit for the playoffs. ‘'I don't feel like I lost anything,'' Toews said. Toews generally is one of the last players to worry about making that adjustment. In 2012 he missed the final 22 games of the regular season with a concussion, then scored a goal 4:04 into the Hawks' playoff opener against the Phoenix Coyotes. Toews was a plus-4 in the first two games of that series. If anything, it'll be up to Toews' teammates to follow his lead.

Toews skated in Chicago yesterday and coach Joel Quenneville said that everything went well. The Hawks are still hoping to have Toews back in the lineup for game 1 of the playoffs.

Toews was injured on Sunday and could miss Thursday's game. A number of Hawks players were absent at this morning's practice, so we will have a better idea of Toews' status on Thursday.

Originally the Blackhawks said that Toews injury was not that serious, but it will cost him at least the next two weeks. Reports are that Toews will be 100 per cent for playoffs, so you can't blame the Hawks for playing it safe and shutting him down when they have playoff spot locked up. The Blackhawks recalled Joakim Nordstrom on Wednesday, but there is no word how their lines will shakeout without Toews and Patrick Kane.

Toews was drilled by Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik with 6:30 remaining in the second period on Sunday night. The two were going for a loose puck. Toews got up slowly and was seen holding his left arm on the bench before heading down the runway. Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville says he doesn't think the injury is serious, but the team would know more on Monday.

Bruins-Flyers battled it out yesterday afternoon in true playoff style with the B's prevailing in the shootout. There is just no slowing down these big, bad Bruins as they are 15-1-1 since March 1st. Simply incredible!  Most of that success is due to the Iginla-Krejci-Lucic line but Patrice Bergeron has been almost as hot with a 7-game goal scoring streak and 18 points in that 17 game stretch. Bergeron is as steady as they come. Even though he has been demoted to the fourth line, Philadelphia Flyer Vincent Lecavalier scored twice and has 3 goals in past two games. Vinny doesn't always bring his ‘A' game but it looks like he has something to prove.  Start him with confidence. Flyer teammate Kimmo Timonen had been given up for dead by most poolies midway through the season but the veteran defenseman has picked up his game of late and scored 13 of his 32 points this season in March alone. The Philly vet had 2 points in yesterday's loss to the Bruins so ride the defenseman to the finish line as he will give you steady production from here on out. Ottawa Senator Kyle Turris continues to put up decent fantasy numbers although much of that has come under the radar. The young Center had 2 goals and an assist in the Sens 6-3 win over Calgary giving him 7 points in last 4 games.  The 3rd overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft has found his play in Ottawa the past few years and should be a lock for 65-70 points next season. It feels like he has been around for so long but he is only 24 years old. If you haven't heard about Detroit Red Wing Gustav Nyquist yet, you will certainly hear a lot of him over the next few years as he has 18 points in 15 March games and 45 points in 50 games played this season. Some will still have a touch of doubt about Nyquist's skills but don't let him slip too far in next year's draft because he is the real deal. And just think what he could do playing alongside Datsyuk or Zetterberg? While on the subject of Red Wings, if David Legwand happens to re-sign with Detroit, it could be possible that this longtime Nashville Predator could score between 55-60 points next season. All the center has done since coming over to Hockeytown is go 3-6-9 in 14 games; definitely worth a late round selection in next year's draft if that resigning does occur. The big news in the Chicago-Pittsburgh game was not Sidney Crosby scoring twice late in the third period to seal the victory for the Pens, but the hit Blackhawk captain Jonathan Toews took from ...

Bruins-Flyers battled it out yesterday afternoon in true playoff style with the B's prevailing in the shootout. There is just no slowing down these big, bad Bruins as they are 15-1-1 since March 1st. Simply incredible!  Most of that success is due to the Iginla-Krejci-Lucic line but Patrice Bergeron has been almost as hot with a 7-game goal scoring streak and 18 points in that 17 game stretch. Bergeron is as steady as they come. Even though he has been demoted to the fourth line Philadelphia Flyer Vincent Lecavalier scored twice and has 3 goals in past two games. Vinny doesn't always bring his ‘A' game but it looks like he has something to prove.  Start him with confidence. Flyer teammate Kimmo Timonen had been given up for dead by most poolies midway through the season but the veteran defenseman has picked up his game of late and scored 13 of his 32 points this season in March alone. The Philly vet had 2 points in yesterday's loss to the Bruins so ride the defenseman to the finish line as he will give you steady production from here on out. Ottawa Senator Kyle Turris continues to put up decent fantasy numbers although much of that has come under the radar. The young Center had 2 goals and an assist in the Sens 6-3 win over Calgary giving him 7 points in last 4 games.  The 3rd overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft has found his play in Ottawa the past few years and should be a lock for 65-70 points next season. It feels like he has been around for so long but he is only 24 years old. If you haven't heard about Detroit Red Wing Gustav Nyquist yet, you will certainly hear a lot of him over the next few years as he has 18 points in 15 March games and 45 points in 50 games played this season. Some will still have a touch of doubt about Nyquist's skills but don't let him slip too far in next year's draft because he is the real deal. And just think what he could do playing alongside Datsyuk or Zetterberg? While on the subject of Red Wings, if David Legwand happens to re-sign with Detroit, it could be possible that this longtime Nashville Predator could score between 55-60 points next season. All the center has done since coming over to Hockeytown is go 3-6-9 in 14 games; definitely worth a late round selection in next year's draft if that resigning does occur. The big news in the Chicago-Pittsburgh game was not Sidney Crosby scoring twice late in the third period to seal the victory for the Pens, but the hit Blackhawk captain Jonathan Toews took from ...

Brief schedule in the NHL yesterday with only 4 games played. The Rangers beat Columbus 3-1 as goaltender Henrik Lundqvist had a strong game with 25 saves. After a very sluggish start to the season, he has played very well lately, and he has won 3 of his last 4 games.  His record is 27-22-4 with a 2.47 GA and a .917 SP.  Decent numbers!  Derek Stepan had a goal for New York, and with 48 points on the year he is an okay 6th forward. Chicago took out Carolina 3-2, despite a strong game by Hurricanes right wing Alexander Semin who had 2 goals. Semin has 41 points in 57 games played, so he is not really fantasy material.  Carolina center Eric Staal had 2 assists, and with 54 points he is having a good year. Jonathan Toews scored the game winner for the Blackhawks, and with 66 points he is a top fantasy forward. Corey Crawford got win number 28 with 26 saves. Left wing Patrick Sharp had a goal for Chicago, and he has 10 points in his last 9 games. With 69 points he is having a great season.  Boston shutout Columbus 2-0, as Chad Johnson got the shutout in goal with 31 saves. Johnson is having a terrific season with a 16-3-1 record, a 2.04 GA and a .925 SP.  He is beginning to really eat into Tuukka Rask's playing time. Young defenseman Dougie Hamilton had 2 assists for Boston, and while he has only 21 points on the season, he has a big future. A year or two to develop.  Big night for the veteran Matt Cullen of Nashville as he had a goal and 3 assists in a 6-5 win over Calgary. Cullen has only 28 points on the season, so don't chase him.  Predators defenseman Shea Weber had 2 goals, and you should definitely chase him, as with 46 points he is a top fantasy player. Calgary center Mike Cammallieri had 2 goals and an assist, but with only 34 points on the year he has been a big disappointment. Flames defenseman Mark Giordano had 2 assists, and he now has 6 points in his last 5 games.

Brief schedule in the NHL yesterday with only 4 games played. The Rangers beat Columbus 3-1 as goaltender Henrik Lundqvist had a strong game with 25 saves. After a very sluggish start to the season, he has played very well lately, and he has won 3 of his last 4 games.  His record is 27-22-4 with a 2.47 GA and a .917 SP.  Decent numbers!  Derek Stepan had a goal for New York, and with 48 points on the year he is an okay 6th forward. Chicago took out Carolina 3-2, despite a strong game by Hurricanes right wing Alexander Semin who had 2 goals. Semin has 41 points in 57 games played, so he is not really fantasy material.  Carolina center Eric Staal had 2 assists, and with 54 points he is having a good year. Jonathan Toews scored the game winner for the Blackhawks, and with 66 points he is a top fantasy forward. Corey Crawford got win number 28 with 26 saves. Left wing Patrick Sharp had a goal for Chicago, and he has 10 points in his last 9 games. With 69 points he is having a great season.  Boston shutout Columbus 2-0, as Chad Johnson got the shutout in goal with 31 saves. Johnson is having a terrific season with a 16-3-1 record, a 2.04 GA and a .925 SP.  He is beginning to really eat into Tuukka Rask's playing time. Young defenseman Dougie Hamilton had 2 assists for Boston, and while he has only 21 points on the season, he has a big future. A year or two to develop.  Big night for the veteran Matt Cullen of Nashville as he had a goal and 3 assists in a 6-5 win over Calgary. Cullen has only 28 points on the season, so don't chase him.  Predators defenseman Shea Weber had 2 goals, and you should definitely chase him, as with 46 points he is a top fantasy player. Calgary center Mike Cammallieri had 2 goals and an assist, but with only 34 points on the year he has been a big disappointment. Flames defenseman Mark Giordano had 2 assists, and he now has 6 points in his last 5 games.

Welcome folks, it's that time of the week again. This week's edition of SMC is being brought to you by 'Steve' as Ray gets the day off. Let's start by handing out major kudos to Jaromir Jagr and Alex Oveckin for their milestone moments last night. JJ gets his 700th goal. AO gets his 800th point. Future fantasy hockey Hall of Famers for sure! Is there a better big-game player than Jonathan Toews? He absolutely dominated in Chicago's 6-1 romp of Pittsburgh at Soldier Field. A game of huge stars dominated by one. Eddie Lack is projected to start the Heritage Classic for Vancouver. How much more disrespect can Roberto Luongo take? You think Marty St. Louis is playing with a chip on his shoulders since returning from Sochi? Four goals in the last two games, while apparently making it clear he wants out. If he stays put and Stamkos gets back soon, they should be the best fantasy forward tandem over the last 20 games or so. Phil Kessel has made James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak very fantasy relevant this season. Just like he did for Joffrey Lupul last year. In Steve Mason we trust? The Flyer's starting goalie had a 7-goal clunker sandwiched between 2 great wins against Colorado and the New York Rangers. So much for Team Russia's meltdown and a IOC suspension slowing them down... Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom are on "fire" for the Washington Capitals. Fantasy owners should enjoy the ride. Looking for a nice sleeper goalie with solid starting fantasy value? Darcy Kuemper that's who. It's looking less likely that Minnesota will be trading for a goalie by the deadline. If Johan Franzen can stay healthy for Detroit, he will put up big numbers with Henrik Zetterberg out. Big "IF" though.. Is Alex Semin hurt again? What else is new? Will Daniel Sedin ever score again? Tortorella's defensive scheme is "kryptonite" to the fantasy values of offensive stars. I am loving Jarome Iginla as solid fantasy option the rest of the way. The Olympic Break has done the 36-year old plenty of good. He has great chemistry with Krejci and Lucic. He is also perennially a second-half stud. Do you need anymore evidence? Now, speaking of second-half duds, hopefully many Kyle Okposo owners "sold high" when the news of JT's season-ending injury broke out. His numbers are about to get even worse if Vanek is dealt soon. Under Paul Maurice, Winnipeg goalie Ondrej Pavelec is very startable in all fantasy formats. Those poor Edmonton Oilers.. All these claims of incredible offensive ...