My first thought this morning as I glanced through my notes was how crazy it would be for fantasy owners to contemplate sitting Jarome Iginla for the final upcoming week, given that he has been arguably the "hottest" fantasy forward to own after the Olympic Break. However, the 36-year old has been rested twice this past week as he mends from minor bumps and bruises, reinforcing the notion that teams having secured playoff spots will rest their crucial veterans down the stretch. It's an imperfect science predicting which and how many games they will miss, but it needs to be taken into account when forming startin rosters for the final stretch run. Loui Eriksson, who collected four assists in Boston's 5-2 win over Philadelphia, took over Iginla's spot on the top line and looked just as dominant. He looks to be the most coveted potential waiver-wire grab as it's possible Iginla could be rested for at least 1 or 2 games over the final four. Young Swedish sensation Carl Soderberg should also be in more quality minutes in the case of key Boston forwards being rested. The rookie has quietly put together a solid season, amassing 18 points in the last 21 games. I like him as a decent 4th or 5th forward starting option next week. Well, what about in Detroit where their best player Pavel Datsyuk has been back for two games after a lengthy absence due to injury? The Russian vet scored a power-play goal in the 5-3 loss to Montreal, but you know coach Babcock will be careful with him if Detroit secures a playoff spot early in the week. His presence in the line-up also re-energized winger Johan Franzen, who responded with 2 power-play assists and now has five points in his last 6 games. However, you know the "Mule" has endured his share of injuries and would be a prime candidate to sit a game or two to ensure a healthy playoff run. In other words, fantasy owners should ride the Detroit young guns, Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar, down the stretch as they should be in line for expanded minutes. Yes, you heard it here first.. start Ilya Bryzgalov of the Minnesota Wild for the final week. Coming off last night's 4-0 shutout win over the mighty Pittsburgh Penguins, the goaltender has started four straight for the Wild, winning three of the games while allowing just 5 goals over that span. Playing for the defensive-minded and probable playoff-bound Minny team has done wonders for the "Mad Russian's" confidence, so look fo him to continue his "hot" play in the crease. Darcy ...

Soderberg missed Thursday's game because of the birth of his daughter, but he will be back in this afternoon vs. the Flyers .

Soderberg will miss tonight's contest because of the birth of his child. Soderberg has a four-game point streak (3G / 2A) and a total of 46 points (16G / 30A) in 68 games this season.

Busy schedule in the NHL yesterday with 11 games played.  The Bruins took care of Carolina 4-2 as Boston right wing Jarome Iginla scored 2 goals. While he doesn't score like he used to, Iginla has been hot lately, and with 30 goals and 30 assists on the season he has had a good year.  Young Bruin center Carl Soderberg had a big game with a goal and 2 assists. He has only 45 points on the season, but he has a lot of potential. Colorado beat San Jose 3-2 as Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov had a huge game with 47 saves. With a 37-14-5 record with a .926 save percentage, he is one of the premier fantasy goaltenders in the NHL.  Tampa Bay won over the hapless Buffalo Sabres 4-3.  Lightning center Steve Stamkos was all over the ice last night and he had 2 goals and an assist. He has 23 goals and 36 points on the season, but in only 29 games played as he was hurt.  That's the only knock against him, injuries.  When healthy he is one of the top forwards in the game. The Red Wings topped the Maple Leafs, as young center Darren Helm got his first career hat trick. Helm was used on the top line, something to keep an eye on.  He has only 16 points in 36 games played, but he might have some value if he stays on the first line. The Wings have a lot of injury issues.  Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard finally won a game, only number 18 on the year. The Canadiens took it to Florida 4-1 as Montreal left wing, "Mad Max" Pacioretty had a big night with 2 goals and an assist. Pacioretty has 54 points in 67 games played, so don't expect this to happen a lot. Montreal left wing, Thomas Vanek had a goal and an assist, and with 64 points he is a solid fantasy forward. The Islanders beat New Jersey in a shootout 2-1. Not much to say about this game. Anders Nilsson got the win in goal for New York, but it is only his 5th of the year, and he has a .885 save percentage. Young center Ryan Johansen got the power play game winning goal for Columbus, and we like this kid a lot. He has30 goals and 55 points on the season. Look for him next year.  Defenseman James Wisniewski had an assist, and he is a very dependable fantasy player with 45 points on the season. Left wing Alexander Steen seems to be heating up again for the St Louis Blues as he had 2 goals last night. Steen started the year on fire, then he cooled down, but now he seems to be heating up again. He has 60 points on the year. Nice game for Dallas goaltender Kari Lehtonen as he got the win with 33 saves. Win number 29 on ...

Busy schedule in the NHL yesterday with 11 games played.  The Bruins took care of Carolina 4-2 as Boston right wing Jarome Iginla scored 2 goals. While he doesn't score like he used to, Iginla has been hot lately, and with 30 goals and 30 assists on the season he has had a good year.  Young Bruin center Carl Soderberg had a big game with a goal and 2 assists. He has only 45 points on the season, but he has a lot of potential. Colorado beat San Jose 3-2 as Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov had a huge game with 47 saves. With a 37-14-5 record with a .926 save percentage, he is one of the premier fantasy goaltenders in the NHL.  Tampa Bay won over the hapless Buffalo Sabres 4-3.  Lightning center Steve Stamkos was all over the ice last night and he had 2 goals and an assist. He has 23 goals and 36 points on the season, but in only 29 games played as he was hurt.  That's the only knock against him, injuries.  When healthy he is one of the top forwards in the game. The Red Wings topped the Maple Leafs, as young center Darren Helm got his first career hat trick. Helm was used on the top line, something to keep an eye on.  He has only 16 points in 36 games played, but he might have some value if he stays on the first line. The Wings have a lot of injury issues.  Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard finally won a game, only number 18 on the year. The Canadiens took it to Florida 4-1 as Montreal left wing, "Mad Max" Pacioretty had a big night with 2 goals and an assist. Pacioretty has 54 points in 67 games played, so don't expect this to happen a lot. Montreal left wing, Thomas Vanek had a goal and an assist, and with 64 points he is a solid fantasy forward. The Islanders beat New Jersey in a shootout 2-1. Not much to say about this game. Anders Nilsson got the win in goal for New York, but it is only his 5th of the year, and he has a .885 save percentage. Young center Ryan Johansen got the power play game winning goal for Columbus, and we like this kid a lot. He has30 goals and 55 points on the season. Look for him next year.  Defenseman James Wisniewski had an assist, and he is a very dependable fantasy player with 45 points on the season. Left wing Alexander Steen seems to be heating up again for the St Louis Blues as he had 2 goals last night. Steen started the year on fire, then he cooled down, but now he seems to be heating up again. He has 60 points on the year. Nice game for Dallas goaltender Kari Lehtonen as he got the win with 33 saves. Win number 29 on ...

Lots of action in the NHL yesterday with 10 games played. Ottawa and Winnipeg played an afternoon game with the Senators prevailing 5-3.  Both Ales Hemsky and Jason Spezza had 3 assists for Ottawa. Hemsky is having a disappointing season with only 29 points in 57 games.  Spezza is doing a lot better with 50 points in 59 games played, but I would have expected him to be a point per game player.  Craig Anderson was terrific in goal with 46 saves as the Jets really carried the play. Unfortunately for fantasy players he has not that way for most of the season as his 3.08 GAA and .908 SP would indicate.  Well now he is 4-0 as the goaltender for the St. Louis Blues.  It's Miller time!  26 saves for Ryan as the Blues beat Colorado 2-1.  Miller has a 1.50 GAA and a .933 SP for the Blues.  Talk about being rejuvenated, Miller is now on fire in St. Louis.  He will be one of the top fantasy goalies for the rest of the season.  Toronto beat Philadelphia 4-3 as right wing Joffrey Lupul had a goal and an assist, but with only 38 points on the season has been a disappointment. Defenseman Kimmo Timonen doubled his goal production on the year with 2 goals. With 26 points on the season he is at best a marginal 6th forward.  Defenseman Johnny Boychuk had a good night for Boston with a goal and an assist in their 4-3 win over Tampa Bay. We once thought that Boychuk would be more of a scorer, but he has settled into more of a defensive defenseman with only 19 points on the year. Center Carl Soderberg had a goal and an assist as well for the Bruins, but with only 35 points on the season he is not worth looking at. Tuukka Rask got his 24th win, but he only made 17 saves. Still a win is a win!  The Devils outlasted Carolina 5-4 as a bevy of disappointing players finally had good nights.  Devils forward Travis Zajac had a goal and 2 assists, but he has only 34 points on the year. Adam Henrique had 2 goals for New Jersey, but with 38 points in 65 games played he has not stepped his game up this season. Finally, Alexander Semin had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes, but again he has only 35 points on the year. Jaroslav Halak had 31 saves and looked sharp in goal in his debut performance with Washington after his trade from St. Louis, as the Capitals beat Phoenix 3-2. We will have to wait and see how the Capitals goaltending situation settles out. Defenseman Keith Yandle had 2 assists for Phoenix, and this guy is fantasy money in the bank with 7 goals and 43 points on the ...

Lots of action in the NHL yesterday with 10 games played. Ottawa and Winnipeg played an afternoon game with the Senators prevailing 5-3.  Both Ales Hemsky and Jason Spezza had 3 assists for Ottawa. Hemsky is having a disappointing season with only 29 points in 57 games.  Spezza is doing a lot better with 50 points in 59 games played, but I would have expected him to be a point per game player.  Craig Anderson was terrific in goal with 46 saves as the Jets really carried the play. Unfortunately for fantasy players he has not that way for most of the season as his 3.08 GAA and .908 SP would indicate.  Well now he is 4-0 as the goaltender for the St. Louis Blues.  It's Miller time!  26 saves for Ryan as the Blues beat Colorado 2-1.  Miller has a 1.50 GAA and a .933 SP for the Blues.  Talk about being rejuvenated, Miller is now on fire in St. Louis.  He will be one of the top fantasy goalies for the rest of the season.  Toronto beat Philadelphia 4-3 as right wing Joffrey Lupul had a goal and an assist, but with only 38 points on the season has been a disappointment. Defenseman Kimmo Timonen doubled his goal production on the year with 2 goals. With 26 points on the season he is at best a marginal 6th forward.  Defenseman Johnny Boychuk had a good night for Boston with a goal and an assist in their 4-3 win over Tampa Bay. We once thought that Boychuk would be more of a scorer, but he has settled into more of a defensive defenseman with only 19 points on the year. Center Carl Soderberg had a goal and an assist as well for the Bruins, but with only 35 points on the season he is not worth looking at. Tuukka Rask got his 24th win, but he only made 17 saves. Still a win is a win!  The Devils outlasted Carolina 5-4 as a bevy of disappointing players finally had good nights.  Devils forward Travis Zajac had a goal and 2 assists, but he has only 34 points on the year. Adam Henrique had 2 goals for New Jersey, but with 38 points in 65 games played he has not stepped his game up this season. Finally, Alexander Semin had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes, but again he has only 35 points on the year. Jaroslav Halak had 31 saves and looked sharp in goal in his debut performance with Washington after his trade from St. Louis, as the Capitals beat Phoenix 3-2. We will have to wait and see how the Capitals goaltending situation settles out. Defenseman Keith Yandle had 2 assists for Phoenix, and this guy is fantasy money in the bank with 7 goals and 43 points on the ...

Soderberg indicated that he did not suffer a concussion in his collision with Erik Karlsson and will be good to return tomorrow.

Soderberg missed the last two games with a head injury that he suffered last Friday. He has been solid, recording 19 points (5G / 14A) in 32 games this season.

The Bruins recalled Nick Johnson this morning suggesting that Soderberg will not play, but monitor his status following the morning skate.