PHILADELPHIA It was hard to believe that the Philadelphia Flyers did not make the playoffs last season after the incredible season Jakub Voracek enjoyed amassing 81 points in a career year.  And you couldn’t place blame on goaltender Steve Mason who enjoyed one of his better overall seasons in bet with a 2.25 GAA and A .928 SP, which were actually better than his rookie season in Columbus when he was nominated for the Vezina trophy eventually awarded to Tim Thomas.  Part of the blame could be on Claude Giroux who had just a so-so season with 71 points.  Giroux needs to be his dominating self and post in the 90-point range for this team to be successful.  Even a patchwork defense held their own with young journeyman defenseman Michael Del Zotto and veteran Mark Streit finding their offensive games again.  So what was the reason behind such an average season?  Perhaps it was that the team just didn’t mesh with Head Coach Craig Berube.  Well, Berube is gone now and stepping into his shoes is a rookie head coach in Dave Hakstol, who implements a similar style but perhaps with a little more emphasis on speed and quicker transition.  GOALIES When a team misses the playoffs, a lot of the blame gets placed on the goaltender.  Mason had struggles early in his career after a spectacular rookie season under Ken Hitchcock in Columbus but faltered quickly in his sophomore year and just couldn’t find that magic again.  After a few average seasons as a Blue Jacket, the Flyers traded for Mason, giving up their own struggling net minder in Sergei Bobrovsky.  Mason regained his confidence with a 4-2-0 record and a 1.90 GAA and a .944 SP in his brief stretch at the end of the 2012-2013 season after being acquired.  His metrics as a Philadelphia goaltender are   2012-2015         GP       GAA     W         L          T          SP Steve Mason     119       2.36     55        38         18         .923 So you can see his numbers are a bit above average for a goaltender and if the Flyers can get that type of performance again and the team tightens up and wins more of their fair share of 1-goal games that they lost early last season, better times await.  Michal Neuvirth was brought in to back up Mason, getting a little younger in that department by letting Ray Emery walk.  Neuvirth is another underrated goaltender who does well with stopping high-percentage shots down low and will be capable to fill in if and when Mason goes down to injury.  Don't let Mason slip too far as ...

To our dear faithful, I am struggling with the flu so here are some random fantasy thoughts from last night's games: In his second straight start for Minnesota, Ilya Bryzgalov turned out an expected "stinker" against the New Jersey Devils. For those fantasy owners who actually scooped him up, he will break your hearts. The Wild will go back to Darcy Kuemper for their next game. In his first game back to Jersey since his trade to the Wild, Zach Parise notched a goal and fired 6 shots. With 9 points in the last 10 games, he is playing inspired hockey right now. You gotta love Adam Henrique, who has come back to life for the Devils with three more assists last night, giving him 14 points in the last 11 games. Plenty of fantasy value at the moment. Buffalo's Tyler Ennis and Drew Stafford are not going away quietly. They each picked up a point last night in Buffalo's 3-1 road win over Edmonton, giving them close to point-per-game numbers over the last 20 or so games. Pretty decent sample size, so why are both available in my Super Terrific fantasy hockey league? Gustav Nyquist won't quit scoring for Detroit, piling up more points last night with a goal and an assist. With 37 points in 44 games, the talented Swede should be breaking out in a big way next season. Don't let him slip too far in your drafts. Where have you been Ales Hemsky?? Invisible for several years in Edmonton, the talented winger is making quite a mark in Ottawa with 8 points in 7 games. His line-mates are also clicking, as Jason Spezza has 11 and Milan Michalek has 6 over that span. Poor "Timmy T".. After a promising start, goaltender Tim Thomas has lost three straight starts for Dallas. The Stars need Kari Lehtonen back to stellar form in a big way. Keep a "look-out" for Washington's Evgeni Kuznetsov, who has been playing on a second line with Nicklas Backstrom and has accrued 5 assists in 6 games. Minimal power-play time for now, but we see this kid's fantasy stock ready to explode if he clicks with his countryman Alex Ovechkin. Fantasy gold in keeper leagues Two helpers for Pittsburgh's James Neal, which is more of what we expect from the high-scoring left winger. He looks fully recovered from his concussion, so make sure he is starting ASAP.

To our dear faithful, I am struggling with the flu so here are some random fantasy thoughts from last night's games: In his second straight start for Minnesota, Ilya Bryzgalov turned out an expected "stinker" against the New Jersey Devils. For those fantasy owners who actually scooped him up, he will break your hearts. The Wild will go back to Darcy Kuemper for their next game. In his first game back to Jersey since his trade to the Wild, Zach Parise notched a goal and fired 6 shots. With 9 points in the last 10 games, he is playing inspired hockey right now. You gotta love Adam Henrique, who has come back to life for the Devils with three more assists last night, giving him 14 points in the last 11 games. Plenty of fantasy value at the moment. Buffalo's Tyler Ennis and Drew Stafford are not going away quietly. They each picked up a point last night in Buffalo's 3-1 road win over Edmonton, giving them close to point-per-game numbers over the last 20 or so games. Pretty decent sample size, so why are both available in my Super Terrific fantasy hockey league? Gustav Nyquist won't quit scoring for Detroit, piling up more points last night with a goal and an assist. With 37 points in 44 games, the talented Swede should be breaking out in a big way next season. Don't let him slip too far in your drafts. Where have you been Ales Hemsky?? Invisible for several years in Edmonton, the talented winger is making quite a mark in Ottawa with 8 points in 7 games. His line-mates are also clicking, as Jason Spezza has 11 and Milan Michalek has 6 over that span. Poor "Timmy T".. After a promising start, goaltender Tim Thomas has lost three straight starts for Dallas. The Stars need Kari Lehtonen back to stellar form in a big way. Keep a "look-out" for Washington's Evgeni Kuznetsov, who has been playing on a second line with Nicklas Backstrom and has accrued 5 assists in 6 games. Minimal power-play time for now, but we see this kid's fantasy stock ready to explode if he clicks with his countryman Alex Ovechkin. Fantasy gold in keeper leagues Two helpers for Pittsburgh's James Neal, which is more of what we expect from the high-scoring left winger. He looks fully recovered from his concussion, so make sure he is starting ASAP.

Thomas allowed four goals on 17 shots before being pulled on Sunday. He has a 3.32 GAA and .892 SV% in his first four appearances with the Stars. Tonight, he will get the call against the Flyers after Kari Lehtonen allowed five on Tuesday. Philly has won three in a row and six of their last eight.

Thomas allowed four goals on 17 shots before being pulled on Sunday. He has a 3.32 GAA and .892 SV% in his first four appearances with the Stars. Tonight it looks like he will get the call against the Flyers after Kari Lehtonen allowed five on Tuesday. Philly has won three in a row and six of their last eight.

ALL GOALIES ARE CONFIRMED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED AT THE TIME OF PRINT Coming off a 6-0 blanking of the New York Islanders, Ilya Bryzgalov gets his second start in a row for the Minnesota Wild as he takes on the New Jersey Devils. Cory Schneider gets a turn in net for the Devils who are in desperate need of a win. Schneider looks to get both his team and his personal performance back on the winning track...Tim Thomas (LIKELY) goes for the Dallas Stars against a Philadelphia Flyers' team that has been surging up in the standings ever since their start of the season slump. Steve Mason draws back in net after Ray Emery Gave Mason a rest against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday. The Flyers are soaring whereas the shine has been lost from the Stars who have lost 3 in a row.   Flyers should continue to roll...The Montreal Canadiens and Carey Price are coming off a big win against the Colorado Avalanche and look to make it 4 in a row tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky will look to keep the Jackets in playoff position as they are holding onto the 8th spot, tied with Washington in points and Detroit a point behind. Bobber is 3-2-1 in past 6 but Price is rounding into form.  Hot Habs should pull this one out...Robin Lehner got lit up against the New York Rangers for 8 goals in his last start and now will face a surging Tampa Bay Lightning team that has Steven Stamkos back in full swing. The Sens are truly missing Craig Anderson in net as Lehner has lost 3 in a row in his place.  Ben Bishop (LIKELY) will go for the seventh straight game even after starting last night's game. Bolts might be too much for a fragile Lehner....Marc-Andre Fleury gets back in the crease for the Pittsburgh Penguins in tonight's tilt against the Detroit Red Wings after Jeff Zatkoff started the past 2. Jimmy Howard draws in for the Wings who are looking to leapfrog into a playoff spot with a win tonight. Without their superstars in the lineup, Howard needs to come up huge tonight. Tough task as Fleury will look to get back on track after sitting...Matthew Hackett gets his first start of the season tonight as Buffalo heads into Edmonton to face Ben Scrivens and the Oilers. The Oilers seem to have solidified their goaltending with the arrival of Scrivens and Viktor Fasth.  The Oil should beat a spiraling Sabres team that has lost 7 in a row....Roberto Luongo (LIKELY) and the Florida Panthers are coming off a spectacular game against San Jose and looks to keep it going...

ALL GOALIES ARE CONFIRMED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED AT THE TIME OF PRINT There is lots of action tonight with 12 games on the schedule. Boston goes up against Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils who are in desperate need of a win. With Rask starting last night, Chad Johnson (LIKELY) will get the call. Desperate Devs pull this out....The Minnesota Wild travel to Long Island to go up against Anders Nilsson and the Islanders. Ilya Bryzgalov (LIKELY) is auditioning for a job next year, be it with the Wild or elsewhere. The Isles have been playing spirited hockey in the absence of superstar John Tavares and that should continue.  Nilsson will be making his 10th start of the season. This could be a huge game fantasy-wise for scoring ....Kari Lehtonen (LIKELY) should return to the net for the Dallas Stars after missing a few games. Tim Thomas lost the past two after winning the first 2 while filling in for Lehtonen.  Facing an upbeat Pittsburgh Penguins team is not a good formula for success.  The Pens had a good practice with encouraging results from some injured players. Also the Penguins are looking to wash away the bad taste of a weekend sweep by the Flyers.  Jeff Zatkoff gets the start after impressing the team in relief of Fleury, who had a terrible weekend against the Flyers....Speaking of the Flyers, Ray Emery will defend the net for Philadelphia as they ‘welcome' the Chicago Blackhawks to town. A big matchup as Emery will face his former teammates, and Antti Raanta, (LIKELY). The Hawks are a team that is trying to get back to their early season dominant-winning ways.  Mason is coming off two huge back-to-back wins over the Pens, so go with the hot hand.....The Carolina Hurricanes are clinging to their playoff lives and go up against a team trying to solidify their place in the playoff standings. Look for the Hurricanes to go right back in net with Anton Khudobin (LIKELY) after his tough-luck 2-1 loss to Edmonton on Sunday. Ward is still trying to get back into top form after his injury stint and will face a tough opponent in Sergei Bobrovsky and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Jackets at home....James Reimer starts again for the Toronto Maple Leafs as Jonathan Bernier continues to recover from a LBI. He will be facing a very desperate team in the Detroit Red Wings, who are without their two star players.  Toronto is finishing a 5-game road trip and may be looking ahead to getting home tomorrow against the Tampa Bay Lightning.  A win tonight will make it ...

Jarome Iginla continues to defy "Father Time" with another great effort, two more goals in the Bruins 4-1 win over Minnesota. The 36-year old is putting up elite fantasy numbers with his second straight 2-goal game and 7 points in the last 5 contests. It seems that the "light" went on for "Iggy" back on January 21st, when he and David Krejci exploded for a combined 8 points in the 6-1 rout of Philly. Since then, all he has done is collect 12 goals and 26 points in the last 19 games. Kudos to all fantasy owners who scooped him up during the ascent of his sizzling scoring streak. All of a sudden, Vancouver's slumping offense has been energized by winger Alex Burrows who lit the lamp twice and collected an assist last night. His second straight 3-point effort gives him 9 points in the last 5 games. His overall numbers are quite mediocre this season- 14 points in 39 games- but he has found his groove lately. Burrows is worth a look, given that Daniel Sedin could be returning soon and the 'Nucks need every goal to stay in the playoff chase. Keith Yandle is something else these days. The prolific offensive defenseman had another standout performance with a goal and an assist for Phoenix in the 4-3 win over the Kings. With 14 points in the last 15 games, Yandle leads his team in scoring with 49 points and is currently one of the better fantasy options on defense for the stretch run. I wish I had him.. Steven Stamkos will continue to get more acclimated to life without Martin St. Louis in Tampa with a few more games under his belt. Last night's performance, a power-play goal and an assist, bodes well for fantasy owners while Stamkos gets back to elite form. Marian Gaborik scored a power-play goal for the Kings, giving him 3 points in the last 3 games. He could start "cooking" now that he is developing some chemistry with Anze Kopitar. Watch him. A shining "Star" could be back soon, as Dallas goalie Kari Lehtonen is nearing a return from a concussion. Well, there goes my crazy prognostication that Tim Thomas would be a fantasy savior over the last 20 games. For tonights Dallas-Pittsburgh matchup, we can also see the returns of coveted fantasy forwards James Neal and Chris Kunitz. Fantasy owners rejoice!