Okposo is back; Faulk and Barrie amongst the fantasy elite d-men; and more: It was an epic battle in New York as the Islanders took on the Rangers and it was the Rangers who came away with the regulation 2-1 victory that leaves them one point behind the Isles with 4 games in hand. Kyle Okposo returned to the Islanders lineup and saw some action on John Tavares’ line near the end of the third period so look for that combination to stick the rest of the way….Cam Talbot with yet another win as he continues to play superbly in place of the injured Henrik Lundqvist.  Talbot’s time is coming to an end soon as Lundqvist is close to returning to the lineup and will need a few weeks to get into top form for the playoffs…. Philadelphia didn’t do themselves any favors by losing another close one, this time 2-1 to the Dallas Stars.  What has happened to Claude Giroux and the rest of the Flyers offense?.... Scott Hartnell (2 PPG) was the reason the Carolina Hurricanes lost 4-3 in a shootout last night after leading 3-1 after the first period.  Although it doesn’t really matter for these two teams as they are just riding out the season….Canes D-man Justin Faulk had a goal and 2 power play assists to lead the Carolina offense.  Continue to play the young talent as he is having a career year on his way to 50 points…. Carey Price and Ben Bishop put on a heck'uva goalie duel in Montreal but the Lightning's Tyler Johnson stole the show with the overtime game-winner. The undrafted sophomore continues to plug away with a monster season, having collected nine points during his current seven-game streak. How many of us predicted any other besides Steven Stamkos to lead the Bolts in scoring? Hey, it could happen... Cory Schneider was chased out of the Jersey net by the swarming Minnesota Wild, who scored plenty in the 6-2 rout of the Devils. Devan Dubnyk has shown few signs of slowing down as he made 30 saves in his 25th straight start. Thomas Vanek scored twice while Zach Parise picked up two helpers. D-man Jared Spurgeon played a solid game, collecting a goal and an assist and showing little rust from his time gone due to injury. If you are in need of defense, he bears watching.. For Colorado, no Semyon Varlamov in goal usually means no win and last night's game against LA was no different. Rota Berra replaced an ineffective Calvin Pickard in the first period and the Kings behind Brayden McNabb's three points waliopped the Av's 5-2. Fantasy stud Tyson Barrie scored a goal, ...

LIVING THE DREAM… At this time of the year there appears the unlikeliest of heroes from time to time.  Be it a young forward who just happens to click with a talented veteran, or a defenseman who suddenly is counted on more because of an injury, and in this case, an untested rookie goalie is counted on as both NHL Level goaltenders go down to injury with the team’s playoff hopes going down just as quick.  What more can be said of Ottawa’s rookie net minder Andrew Hammond that hasn’t been said already?  He instantly brings to mind the superb start of one time Pittsburgh Penguin goaltender Patrick Lalime, who lived the dream with an amazing 14-0-2 record in his first 16 decisions to set an NHL record for best start to a career for a goaltender. First it was Craig Anderson to go down to an injury in late January and then Robin Lehner in the middle of February leaving the Ottawa Senators to rely upon a rookie goaltender, who has only played 35 minutes in the NHL, to keep them alive until one of their two starters could make it back.  A funny thing happened while they were recovering.   Hammond not only has kept the Senators alive in the playoff hunt, he has them fighting for that last wild card spot just 5 points behind the Boston Bruins with a game in hand.  During Hammond’s stint, the team has gone 8-0-1 with Hammond posting such insane numbers as a 1.43 GAA and .954 SP along with 2 shutouts, both on the road. The Senators have to thank their lucky stars that Hammond has delivered in such a crucial time being that his numbers in Binghamton weren’t all that.  He was 7-13-2 with a 3.51 GAA and .898 SP, so it wasn’t like they were sitting on a can’t-miss prospect being that he is 27 years old, although for goaltenders it’s not that old. Hammond definitely has gained the confidence with each and every start.  And while he is the hottest goaltender in the NHL right now, let’s see how he finishes out the year now that Anderson is back from injury.  Usually these types of “out of the blue” players don’t usually carry their extraordinary play forward with the break of the off-season.  Not that he can’t repeat this type of performance, but even seasoned veterans like Brian Elliott who had a remarkable year in 2011-2012 couldn’t recapture that magic he had.  So, enjoy the ride and hope that he continues for your fantasy squad the remainder of the season. POST MARKS:  RETURN OF THE KING?—There has been a lot of secrecy regarding the return of Henrik Lundqvist to the...

Marchand on fire; plenty of Senators to consider; Zidlicky back on fantasy map: Brad Marchand RW, Boston- The pesky winger has been on quite the goal-scoring streak for the Bruins, scoring five goals over the last four games. While the B's rely on a four line approach, Marchand has heated up since the loss of a David Krejci and looks poised for another strong week ahead. With four games on the upcoming slate, take advantage of him while on his scoring binge.  Mark Stone RW, Ottawa- It's no coincidence that many Senators have surged up the fantasy rankings during the teams torrid winning stretch, but the young winger has found his scoring touch lately. With 2 multiple point outings in his last three, Stone has clicked with Kyle Turris on the second line. He is worth adding while the duo keeps racking up the points.  Mike Hoffman LW, Ottawa- We recommended Hoffman last week and he responded with 3 points in four games. His ownership is quickly rising, but he could still had in most leagues. The young sharp-shooter is definitely worth a shot, especially with how well the Senator's offense has been producing. Marek Zidlicky D, Detroit- The veteran rearguard has been penciled in a power play specialist for the Wings, which given that their have the best unit in NHL, is not bad for fantasy purposes. He already has made his mark with two power-play goals this week, including the overtime game winner over the Rangers. Zidlicky still has game left, so take advantage of his new digs and pick him up if you still can. Andrew Hammond G, Ottawa- I am sticking the "Hamburglar" here, as his stat-line reads as following during his unreal NHL stint so far: 7-0-1, 1.43 GAA, and .954 SP. Craig Anderson had his turn last night and although he made 42 saves, he did give up four goals. In other words, it's Hammond or bust for now in Ottawa. Use him while he is absolutely lights-out.

Ottawa rookie goalie on fire; Dubnyk prevails over Rinne; Price remains right; and more... Every so often, a goalie comes out of the woodworks and changes the course of action for that luck NHL team, and in our case, fantasy squads starving for a clutch backstopper. Well, Ottawa's Andrew Hammond surely qualifies as he posted his second straight road shutout, this time against the Stanley Cup champs who had won eight straight. The Bowling Green product is currently living a dream during his call-up, collecting four straight wins with a 1.15 GAA and a .962 SP. With Craig Anderson basically already to go, you can be certain that Ottawa will ride Hammond as long as he remains unbeatable. So should you. Pick him up ASAP.. ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** Carey Price and the Montreal Canadiens played a tidy game against the Columbus Blue Jackets winning 5-2.  Defense was the offense with P.K. Subban (G, 2A) and Andrei Markov (G, A) contributing to the road win.  The Habs will be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time…. Buffalo’s Michal Neuvirth is 3-1-2 in his last six starts and was the recipient of 6 goals in the win over Vancouver last night.  Neuvirth is a decent number 2 goalie with the team playing better hockey of late…Chris Stewart, with a goal and an assist, is rumored to be on his way out, most likely to rival Boston.  It will be an interesting weekend with the trade deadline on Monday… The New York Ranger’s beat the Arizona Coyotes with 2 pair against the Yotes 1.  Both Chris Kreider (2 PPG) and Lee Stempniak (2G) were enough to get by Arizona who got two power play goals of their own from Sam Gagner.  This one wasn’t easy for the Blueshirts as Goalie Cam Talbot continues to play brilliantly in place of the injured Henrik Lundqvist…Kreider shows glimpses of what is to come but hasn’t been able to provide the consistency just yet but his future looks bright…. While struggling at home lately, the St. Louis Blues continued their winning ways on the road with the 2-1 shootout win over Winnipeg. Not much to say here other than it seems no more Ondrej Pavelec in the Jet's goal for now. Thank gosh... The Monnesota Wild deliver a huge road win, 4-2 in Nashville, to further bolster their playoff chances. Don't worry about Pekka Rinne but remain thrilled about what Devan Dubnyk has done for the Wild goalie situation...

Rising stars in Calgary, Battle among giants, and Hammond is fine tuned. Rising star Sean Monahan had the game-winner, his 21st on the season, to give the Calgary Flames a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. Monahan will be entering his 3rd season in September and could be a prime candidate for a breakout campaign.  The kid Is talented so keep him on your radar….Speaking of breakouts, defenseman T. J. Brodie scored his 10th on the year and is enjoying a career year as he now has 35 points in 61 games. Congrats!.... Ottawa’s rookie goalie Andrew Hammond earned his first NHL shutout in just his third NHL start by stopping all 25 SOG against Anaheim in the Senators 3-0 win.  Hammond was mentioned, along with others, in our BETWEEN THE PIPES article the other day and is quickly making a name for himself and he is keeping the Sens playoff hopes alive in the absence of Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner…. A good old fashioned battle between the Penguins and Capitals that saw Pittsburgh hang on with a 4-3 win.  All the big guns contributed as expected with Evgeni Malkin getting 3 assists in the contest. Expect the Penguins offense to shift into high gear going forward.

MAY I HELP YOU? As the regular season turns into the home stretch, many teams are striving to reach the playoffs and others are trying to better their positions.  The latter ones are all but set in the crease going forward but some of the former teams need to either fix what is wrong or improve on their situation. Let's take a look at who can help your fantasy team down the stretch in your quest for the championship. EDDIE LACK: With Vancouver’s Ryan Miller suffering an injury due to a collision the other night, it appears the 2nd year goaltender will assume starting duty for the next 4-6 weeks as Miller recovers.  Expect Lack, who saw considerable time last year when Roberto Luongo was traded, to provide consistent goaltending as the Canucks battle for a playoff spot.  Probably not available on the waiver wire anymore, but if he is, grab him… ANDREW HAMMOND: Another situation where the starring goalie is out due to an injury, as is the case with Craig Anderson.  However, the backup goalie in Ottawa is also out, with Robin Lehner out with a concussion after colliding with team mate Clarke MacArthur.  Hammond was pressed into action and he has done remarkably well by winning his first two starts.  He may have a rougher time this week with 3 away games against the three California teams so temper your expectations.  His NHL starting experience may be short-lived as Anderson is close to returning as he is travelling with the team. MICHAL NEUVIRTH: You wouldn’t expect a recommendation of a Buffalo Sabre player especially with the season they are having but ever since Jhonas Enroth was traded away to Dallas, Neuvirth has settled in as the undisputed starter with 6 starts in a row and has posted decent numbers during that span, although only going 2-2-2.  If you are in multi-category leagues, Neuvirth may be helpful in all statistical categories except wins.  MICHAEL HUTCHINSON:  It may not be obvious to all but the Winnipeg Jets seem to play better when Hutchinson is in net as he has gone 5-3-2 in last 10 starts while Ondrej Pavelec has gone just 3-5-2.  With the Jets trying to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since their return to Winnipeg, expect the team to rely more on Hutchinson and break away from the alternating starter system they have employed since the All-Star break. POST MARKS: RETURN OF THE KING—With Cam Talbot and the NY Rangers winning without their star net minder, it appears the Blueshirts can take their time getting Lundqvist ...

A New York classic, crippled Jets and Sens, and streaking vets In what was arguably the most exciting game of the season, the New York Rangers stormed back from a 3-goal deficit to defeat the Islanders 6-5 on a late tally from defenseman Kevin Klein. When both squads eclipse the 40-shot mark, you should expect plenty of fireworks and this one did not disappoint. Ryan McDonagh was the most dominant player on the ice, leading the way for the Blueshirts with a goal and an assist. His recent point surge includes seven in his last nine games. Start him with confidence down the stretch. On the other side. Travis Hamonic continues to be the most valuable fantasy Islander defender over the last month as he collected two more helpers. Despite scoring a goal, Johnny Boychuk has been in a major funk while Lubomir Visnovsky has been an inconsistent point-getter at best. For now, roll with Hamonic if you need help on "D".. The biggest news from the Carolina-Ottawa tilt was a pair of key injuries for the Senators as both goalie Robin Lehner and Clarke MacArthur left the game after colliding with each olther. If Lehner misses time, there will be a goaltending panic in Ottawa given that Craig Anderson is not ready to return yet. Next up- Andrew Hammond. Good luck. Safe to say, do not pick him up.. The Winnipeg Jets are fresh off a huge trade but an injury-plagued game with the Oilers could necessitate more moves. Forwards Mathieu Perrault and newly-acquired Drew Stafford were both injured but details regarding their severity are not clear yet. In the case of Stafford, he was promoted to the top unit for the game and considering how streaky he gets, he would be a great fantasy sleeper for the short-term... Tobias Enstrom picked up a couple of helpers and could start resembling at least his 40-point former self. Snag him off the waiver wire if available... Carey Price was beyond inpenetrable in the Montreal crease last night as the Red Wings were dangerous all game long but could not beat him. Of course," Mr. Game Winner" Max Pacioretty set up the first goal and the Hab's held on 2-0. Jimmy Howard looked more sharp in his second start back from injury and should be back to top form very soon.. After a hot start to the season and then a somewhat cool January, Calgary d-man Mark Giordano looks to be heating up once again with 5 points in 7 February games that includes a 3-point effort against Boston in the Flames 4-3 win.  He tied his career high in points of 47 set last ...

The Toronto Maple Leafs came out flat against an Ottawa Senators team that had played a tough match against the New York Rangers the night before.  The Leafs fought back in the third period but Ottawa defenseman Erik Karlsson showed his All-Star form with 2 goals, including the game-winner. Karlsson proved once again why he is the top-rated defenseman in the NHL. The Senators are fighting for a playoff spot so look for good second halves from the likes of Bobby Ryan, Mike Hoffman, Mika Zibanejad and goalie Craig Anderson. Anderson has rebounded from a poor 2013-2014 and is putting up good metrics despite his record....the Leafs have been struggling on offense of late but with talent like Phil Kessel, James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak and company you just know that Toronto will break out in a big way soon, so keep them in your lineup or perhaps "buy low" opportunities await.... Pittsburgh was missing Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang in their matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks but managed to play them tough in a 3-2 shootout loss. The pair were injured in the Philly game the night before and with the long All-Star break, perhaps it was wise to be cautious with two of their top talents... Michael Hutchinson blanked the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0 heading into the break as the Winnipeg Jets continue to solidify a hold on a playoff spot. Hutchinson has put up some impressive numbers in his short stint in the NHL, so look for the Jets to ride Hutchinson for the majority of starts from here on out.  Evander Kane looks like he is picking up steam with his fourth goal in 7 January games, so if you need some goals and he's on the wire, he might be worth the pickup.... Colorado continues to climb their way back into playoff contention with a 3-2 shootout win over a surging Boston Bruin team. Avs goalie Semyon Varlamov is poised for a big second half and speaking of second halves, Jarome Iginla must feel good to score against his former team. Look for Iginla to be a big part of Colorado's climb going forward.... San Jose helped themselves with a 4-2 win over Los Angeles putting a little distance between the two teams. Logan Couture was the main cog for the Sharks and he should be able to consistently score with this lineup. Expect a point-per-game pace from the 25-year old as he has 11 in 10 January games.  He has the talent to be the top dog in terms of scoring so don't be surprised if he raises his game to the next level.

It was the "Night of the Mask" as two of the three NHL games o the docket were decided by 2-0 shutout and the Boston-Minnesota game went to overtime. Plus, yours truly had one of those sleep study tests overnight at the hospital to monitor my breathing and let's just say that my night with the mask did not go as well as these professionals. The Devils woes continue as they were blanked by Craig Anderson (34 SV) and the Ottawa Senators 2-0 at home. New Jersey's Cory Schneider only saw 15 shots on goal and made 14 saves but it wasn't his fault as Anderson was on his game last night. The Sens scored on the power play early in the first and then potted an empty-netter with a tick left on the game clock.... It was Loui Eriksson and Carl Soderberg with a goal and an assist each that carried the Boston offense last night as they beat Minnesota 3-2 in overtime. With David Krejci back, if this line can get on a roll, the Bruins should be back to what we've been used to over the past 2 years... Dallas Stars G Kari Lehtonen had a tidy 27-save, 2-0 shutout of the Vancouver Canucks and has now won 3 of last 4 and 6 of past 9. Lehts may not be one of the top goalies in the NHL, but as long as he stays healthy he proves to be a solid a no. 2 fantasy goalie as there is.

YOUNG GLOVE It is rare that a young goalie, those in their early twenties, can take over the starting goaltender role and have an immediate impact. There are those rare occurrences, like when Cam Ward as a 22-year old rookie with just 28 NHL games experience, backstopped the Carolina Hurricanes to an improbable Stanley Cup championship. Carey Price, much heralded as the next coming, has taken quite a few years since he burst onto the NHL scene in 2007 as a 20-year old phenomenon. Both had decent records in their debut season, but it took a few years until they could be counted on to perform at a consistent level.  There will always be young net minders who are just waiting for that big break, or that opening for them to showcase their abilities to perform as a No. 1.  Three young goaltenders on the cusp of becoming NHL starters are just biding time until that day comes. After backstopping the United States to the gold medal in the 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, his name was becoming well-known in fantasy circles as the goaltender to own for years to come. John Gibson got his first start in the NHL when Anaheim starter was injured and made 18 saves for a shutout win over the Vancouver Canucks at the end of last season. Entering the 2014-2015 season, there was much talk about Gibson being the No. 1 even though he had limited NHL experience.  In fact Gibson started the opener but lost 6-4 to the Pittsburgh Penguins and didn't make another start for six games.  Frederik Andersen had won those six games between Gibson starts, but Gibson ended up starting 3 of the next 4 before suffering a LBI (lower body injury). There is no doubt that Gibson has the skills to be a top-notch NHL goaltender someday, but with Andersen (9-2-4, 2.10 GAA & .921 SP) playing well, the Ducks can afford to take their time with Gibson and let him heal properly. There may be stretches during this season when Gibson returns where he will get the bulk of playing time, but expect the Ducks to monitor the number of games played in order to keep both goalies fresh come the playoffs. Jake Allen burst onto the NHL scene with the St. Louis Blues in 2012-13 and went 9-4-0 winning his first 3 starts and 8 of first 9. That was such an impressive debut but with Jaroslav Halak signed to a contract and Brian Elliott showing his ability to being more than just a capable backup the Blues elected to let Allen play regularly in the AHL the following season until they resolved their crowded ...