Nathan Horton- Columbus Blue Jackets, RW(Owned in 33.5% of ESPN leagues) The word is that the talented forward is almost fully recovered from shoulder surgery and could be making his season debut with Columbus this week. With Marian Gaborik out indefinitely, Horton will take over the top RW spot and get plenty of power-play time as well. More known as an elite playoff performer, he should be plenty motivated to jump out to a fast start with his new team. The Blue Jackets have been lacking a true power forward for years, so Horton should make an instant fantasy impact. Wayne Simmonds- Philadelphia Flyers, RW (Owned in 88.5% of ESPN leagues) With three straight two-goal efforts, the 25-year old winger has 24 points (12G/12A) in 38 games. As hot as anyone at the moment, the streaky Simmonds has been a beneficiary of a scorching Flyer's power-play, where he been playing on the primary unit with Giroux and Voracek. Also, he adds extra value in multi-category leagues, where he brings a decent amount of PIM's to the table. Tyler Bozak- Toronto Maple Leafs, C (Owned in 34.9% of ESPN leagues) The Leaf's top center returned to action last night, recording three assists and injecting some life into Phil Kessel, who responded with two goals. With 14 points in 17 games, Bozak needs to be activated in all fantasy leagues immediately, as he and Kessel share undeniable offensive chemistry on the ice. David Desharnais-Montreal Devils, C (Owned in 3.6% of ESPN leagues) Mostly disappointing after his 60-point season in '11-12, the fifth-year center has been showing signs of breaking out with 14 points in his last 18 games. After collecting just one point in 13 October games, Desharnais has been steadily improving each month and has been flashing that past chemistry with Max Pacioretty. It might worth it to stash him away on your bench and hope for a torrid second half. Philipp Grubauer- Washington Capitals, G (owned in 22.5 % of ESPN leagues) The fantasy goalie to own in Washington now, as the 22-year old is making the most of his opportunity while incumbent starter Braden Holtby has been struggling mightily. With a 5-1-2 record and a 2.02 GAA, the Caps have been riding his hot hand in the crease. It's tough to predict how much longer his stint as the top goalie will last, but he should be starting in all fantasy leagues while he is hot.

Bozak was back on the ice on Saturday and was centering the top line with James van Riemsdyk and Phil Kessel. Bozak has missed the last 12 games but is almost certainly in the lineup tomorrow vs. Carolina. Bozak has four goals and 11 points in 16 games.

Bozak is not eligible to return from long-term injured reserve until after Christmas, but it is a positive sign that he is back on the ice this morning.

Bozak will miss at least another four games, but monitor his status prior to the December 29 meeting with the Hurricanes.

So much for Semyon Varlamov erasing his road struggles this season, as he and the Colorado Avalanche were hammered by the Edmonton Oilers in a 8-2 romp. Leading the way for the offensive explosion was Taylor Hall, who collected a "hat trick" and an assist. With 24 points in 23 games, there isn't much stopping the young phenom from being a top-five fantasy forward, other than his perpetual injury issues. If he can stay healthy, all the key Oiler forwards and defenseman Justin Schultz will improve their scoring production by a wide margin over the second half of the '13-14 season. These boys could be deadly come January. "Skinned" Alive: Speaking of needing to stay healthy, Carolina's Jeff Skinner also recorded a "hat trick" in the Cane's 5-2 road defeat of Nashville. With 17 points in 18 games, he is taking advantage of more top-line ice-time and is equaling his level of play during his Calder Trophy winning season. If this youngster can keep out of the infirmiery, he should easily post a career-high in points, but that is no guarantee. The absence of Alex Semin has propeled Skinner back into the the position of Carolina's second best scoring forward, which is certainly giving his fantasy value a huge boost. Start him with extreme confidence. More Fantasy Game Notes: Fresh off signing his 7-year contract extension, Henrik Lundqvist was nearly impenetrable last night against the Buffalo Sabres. The "King" of Broadway turned aside 27 of 28 SOG for his 9th victory against 11 losses. If there ever was a chance to snare Lundqvist, now may be the time.  Just mention his losing record and how well backup Cam Talbot has been playing to put some doubt in his owner's mind....Toronto came away with a much needed 2 points against the Dallas Stars.  Nazem Kadri woke up by scoring 2 goals in the contest, one on the power play. Kadri has been a bit of a disappointment especially after last year's 44 points in 48-game effort.  They will need Kadri to continue this type of offensive support with Tyler Bozak, Dave Bolland and Joffrey Lupul all out with injuries....Martin St. Louis (2G) & Goalie Ben Bishop (33/34 SV)were the main characters in the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 win over Bishop's former team, the Ottawa Senators. St. Louis never ceases to amaze me with how he can continue to score the way he has as he has gotten older.  He is in the top-20 in NHL scoring and once Steven Stamkos' returns, whenever that is, his numbers should improve greatly. Bishop is showing that ...

Head coach Randy Carlyle said that Bozak will be out for "an extended period of time". This is a tough break for the Leafs who's injury woes continue. He has already missed a month this season with a hamstring injury.

An MRI revealed a strained oblique that will keep Bozak out for an "extended period of time". The Maple Leafs recalled Jerry D'Amigo and Josh Leivo today and Nazem Kadri will replace Bozak on the top-line.

It is not really surprising that he is not on the ice after just suffering the injury last night. The Leafs will release a full injury update on Bozak in the next couple of days after he is re-evaluated. He already missed a month with a hamstring issue earlier this season.

Coach Randy Carlyle didn't know the severity of Bozak's injury. Bozak left the bench and went down the tunnel early in the second period, returned to play a handful of shifts and then did play in the third. "When he went back out, he tried it. It wasn't able to go," Carlyle said. "That was probably about the 12-minute mark of the second period, so for half the game almost we were short. We had three centres. We're taxing a lot of people here right now." The Leafs were already without centre Dave Bolland (severed tendon in ankle), winger Joffrey Lupul (groin) and defenceman Cody Franson (lower body).

Bozak is skating on the top line with Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk which is a good sign he will be back in the lineup tonight vs. Columbus. We will get an official word from the Maple Leafs following the morning skate.