Gionta put up his second straight two-point game Thursday, scoring an unassisted power-play goal among seven shots and adding a power-play assist in a 4-3 overtime loss to Arizona. That's seven points now in the last six games for the suddenly red-hot Gionta, but he's been such a marginal fantasy asset for the last several years -- and the Sabres are so bad -- that it's hard to imagine him maintaining anything resembling this kind of production.

Gionta scored two goals in Monday's 4-3 loss to Dallas, just the second time this season he's scored two goals in a game. The last time Gionta scored two goals was Nov. 18, but the Sabres captain seems determined to finish the season on a strong note with five points in his past five games. He's played more than 20 minutes in eight of his past 10 games, including 23:23 Monday night with seven shots on goal. Gionta's best days are over and his mini-hot streak might go as quickly as it came, but the Sabres face the Coyotes twice and the Avs and Leafs once each over their next four games, so he might be a good play.

Gionta set up the Sabres' only regulation goal in Tuesday's 2-1 shootout victory over the Bruins. Gionta has posted near-identical stat lines the last two games, amassing a power-play helper, four SOG, and between 23 and 24 minutes of ice time in both contests. Unfortunately, even that meager level of production can't be counted on to continue, as Gionta and second-line mates Phil Varone and Marcus Foligno routinely find themselves overmatched on any given night. With 21 points so far, Gionta is on pace to produce his lowest mark for a full season since supplying 15 points for the Canadiens in an injury-plagued 2011-12 campaign.

Gionta dished out two assists, scored an empty-net goal and went plus-4 in Thursday's win over Vancouver. With that, Gionta matched his point production from the last 12 games put together. So although this was quite an explosion, it's not one that you can count on persisting. Don't go rushing out to pick up the largely washed-up winger.

Gionta's second-period goal in Thursday's 3-2 shootout win over Philadelphia was the 500th point of his career.The 36-year-old is a veteran of 821 NHL games, and his sixth goal of the season gives him 255 goals and 245 assists in his career. His best days are clearly over with just 15 points in 45 games this season, but should get his fair share of chances in Buffalo. His fantasy upside is very minimal at this point and the team has younger players, such as Zemgus Girgensons, that may be better options.

Gionta's first period goal was the eventual winner as the Sabres defeated the Canadiens on Tuesday, 3-2. Gionta has spent time seeking Hall of Famer Bryan Trottier for advice and it seems to have paid off. Scoring under a minute before the first intermission, Gionta's goal snapped a 14-game losing streak. The Sabres captain played 19 minutes, the most since returning from an injury in late January. Gionta's fifth of the season gives him 14 points in 38 games. His best years are clearly behind him, but he still has the ability to score on occasion, though not enough to be considered of any significant fantasy value.

Gionta's interference penalty led to the Canucks scoring the game-winning goal in Friday's 5-2 loss. Gionta took an ill-advised interference penalty against Dan Hamhuis while chasing the puck, and the ensuing power play saw Yannick Weber score the eventual game-winning goal. The Sabres captain didn't have a particularly strong game coming off a two-point effort against Edmonton. Gionta put it on himself after the game and if the Sabres want to snap out of the funk Gionta's not doing them any favors at the moment. He has 13 points in 37 games this year.

Gionta notched two assists in a 3-2 loss to Edmonton on Thursday. Gionta snapped a five-game pointless streak and notched his first multi-point game since Nov. 18. The Sabres captain has struggled all season and admitted it was tough to see his team keep losing while he was sidelined with a head injury. The Sabres are still winless in January and Gionta has just 13 points in 36 games. The former 48-goal scorer and six-time 20-goal scorer has really become a fringe fantasy asset.

Gionta (upper body) was activated from injured reserve Tuesday. Gionta will suit up Tuesday evening against the Flames, marking his first game since Dec. 21. The captain has 11 points and a minus-6 rating over 34 games, putting him on track for his worst scoring total for a full season since 2011-12.

Gionta (upper body) was on the ice for practice Monday and is expected to play Tuesday against the Flames, Amy Moritz of the Buffalo News reports. Gionta's return to the ice wasn't much of a surprise after he was ruled out for the final two games prior to the All-Star break mostly as a precaution, but what was more notable was the captain insistence that he never sustained a concussion -- nor any other head injury -- as was previously believed. He remains listed on injured reserve for now with the upper-body ailment, but expect his formal activation to come following Tuesday's morning skate.