Tampa's young guns do the scoring, Tarasenko injured, Hossa leads the way for Hawks It was the Tampa Bay youngsters that provided all the offense that Ben Bishop would need, but we do have to say that Bishop helped his own cause with 2 assists on the night.  The regulation win brought the Bolts to within one point of the team they defeated, the Montreal Canadiens in the Atlantic Division.  Vladislav Namestnikov had 2 goals and Nikita Kucherov and Jonathan Drouin both had goals as the Lightning edged the Habs 5-3.  The future looks very promising for Tampa Bay as they have a stockpile of young talent to be competitive for years to come…. Vladimir Tarasenko took a mid-ice hit in the third period and left the game against the Vancouver Canucks last night.  He did not return.  Let’s hope for his sake, and the Blues’ that the injury isn’t serious and that the team was just being cautious.  Radim Vrbata scored his 31st and added an assist in the 4-1 road win for the Canucks and he has had himself a great season up in Vancouver.  Playing with the likes of Henrik and Daniel Sedin can do wonders for your confidence and game.  Eddie Lack is now 9-4-2 after taking over for the injured Ryan Miller… Two of the NHL’s powerhouses over the past few years took the ice in Chicago last night with the Blackhawks prevailing over the Los Angeles Kings 4-1.  Marian Hossa (G, A) has been playing well of late and should be able to crack the 60 point mark once again, but his 70+ scoring days are over it seems.  But keep in mind that Hossa is still a clutch playoff performer and a tremendous asset to have down the stretch as he has 11 points in last 13 games. A huge second-period staked the Calgary Flames to a lead that they never relinquished,defeating the Dallas Stars 5-3. Another monster effort by the NHL's hottest scorer in March, Jiri Hudler, who collected a goal and an assist for a lofty total of 23 points in the last 15 games. A mid-season scoring drought resulted in him being dropped by many fantasy teams but the few who kept him are laughing last now. Career highs across the board for Hudler... Not much to say about our other two games of little playoff consequence other than both road dogs, Buffalo and Edmonton, prevailed 4-1 over Arizona and Colorado. Still think the Avalanche could bounce back nicely next season as a top-five fantasy juggernaut but much depends on the growth of Nathan McKinnon in Year 3 and a comeback of sorts for Matt Duchene. Those two fuel the ...

SMC 3-15-2015 The weather is turning and the smell of playoff fever is starting to fill the air.  Nice cup of java to get teh day started off right! There are some really hot teams out there right now.  Boston, Ottawa and the NY Rangers in the East all at 8-1-1 in last ten.  In the West it’s Colorado and Minnesota at 7-3-0. Philadelphia’s offense exploded against the Detroit Red Wings but where was it for the longest time?  They still need defense though. Wayne Simmonds had everything yesterday.  A goal, two assists and 14 PIMs.  Not a bad fantasy day for the RWer. If Chicago’s Patrick Sharp can expound on his 2-goal night, the Blackhawks are going to be tough once again in the playoffs. San Jose is a hard team to figure out sometimes. Congratulations to New York Ranger goaltender Mackenzie Skapski who got his second win in only his second start, both against Buffalo, with last night being a 2-0 shutout.  With the way both Skapski and Cam Talbot have been playing, Henrik Lundqvist may not be needed until the end of the regular season to warm up for the playoffs. Vancouver is definitely not Eddie LACK-ing in the net after Ryan Miller went down as they are 6-3-1 in last ten. Montreal helped out the Rangers with a 3-1 win over the Islanders and they also helped themselves to stay tied with the Rangers atop the Eastern Conference.  Could be another amazing Conference Final come May? You just gotta love the way the Florida Panthers have played this entire season.  Jaromir Jagr is making a difference. Devan Dubnyk with 27 straight starts.  Who woulda thunk it in September? I bet Arizona’s Mike Smith can’t wait for this season to be over. Okay, now Pekka Rinne has won two of his last three starts. That’s more like it! The Predators offense has sure dried up quickly. This is going to be some race for the NHL Scoring title in the next few weeks.  Any of 15 players have a legitimate shot at it, especially if one player gets red-hot.  For a while it was Boston feeling the pressure of securing that last wild card slot in the East but now that has switched to Washington.  Gotta love the race! Detroit has looked real sloppy of late. 3 teams mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.  It’s not hard to guess which three. Have a great week and may all your fantasies come true!

Islanders gain critical 2 points, Detroit struggles to win 5-2, Pekka and Preds finally win again The New York Islanders gained a crucial 2 points in their overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs as they try to stave off the charging New York Rangers whom they face tonight on the Island.  A win tonight over their rivals will go a long way in securing their hold on the Metropolitan Division title.  Of course you have to look no further than John Tavares for the Isles offense as he had the OT game-winner and an assist to pad his NHL scoring lead….Islander defenseman Nick Leddy left the game and did not return putting more emphasis on Travis Hamonic to pick up the vacancy that may be created if Leddy is out for any period of time.  Monitor this situation…. Detroit struggled with a clearly inferior Edmonton Oiler team until the 3rd period when they managed to eke out a 5-2 win.  I know it sounds funny to say “eked out a win” especially winning by three goals but two of those were empty-netters that sealed the game late in the 3rd period.  It was the veterans of Henrik Zetterberg (3A) & Pavel Datsyuk (G, A) that provided the offense and leadership as the Red Wings try to close the gap in the Atlantic Division…. Pittsburgh didn’t close out their California string by sweeping the West Coast teams but got the next best thing with a 2-1 overtime loss to San Jose giving them a point, and 5 in three games, in the race for the Metro Division, keeping them 1 point behind the second place Rangers and 4 behind the Islanders with 2 games in hand.  It’s tough to keep the Penguin offense at bay but Antti Niemi had a strong game with 39 saves earning the win.  The Sharks will need lots of strong efforts like this one if they want to get into the playoffs, but it may be a bit too late…. Nashville’s Pekka Rinne finally got a win after losing 5 straight but it was a nail-biter against the Arizona Coyotes and their rookie net minder Louis Domingue, winning by a score of 2-1 in overtime.  The Predators offense has struggled a bit lately but hopefully getting this monkey off their back will lead to better things.  They did pour 40 SOG against the rookie with everyone getting in on that action. So that’s a good sign… Eddie Lack and the Vancouver Canucks got a solid 2-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks winning 2- 1 in regulation.  The win helps keep some distance between the Canucks and those trying to gain a playoff spot.  Lack has now gone 4-1-1 since Ryan Miller was injured.  Keep...

Starting with the late-night thriller between Pittsburgh and Los Angeles, Marc-Andre Fleury withstood a 31-shot barrage to hold on for his ninth shutout of the season. Patrick Hornqvist provided the game-winner in overtime, improving his goal to seven over the last seven games. After a mid-season dip in offensive production, the former Nashville winger has resumed his early-season scoring ways where he was one of the hottest fantasy assets with 25 points in his first 23 games. With all their key forwards healthy for the stretch run, look for Hornqvist to close the season on a point-per-game pace and back to fantasy must-start status.. Speaking of streaking, Vancouver's Radim Vrbata scored two goals to extend his point-streak to four games. Even though fantasy owners rather him play on the top line with the Sedin twins, the winger has delivered a team-leading 25 goals and still gets primary power-play time. If you have him on your bench, it might be time to start him while the Canucks push hard for a playoff spot. With Eddie Lack manning the crease instead of the injured Ryan Miller, there will be a stronger focus on the offense carrying the team.. Let's just re-name John Tavares Art Ross as the Islanders star continues to lead the NHL in scoring with another dominant effort, a goal and two assists in South Florida. With Kyle Okposo nearing a return, there has been plenty of debate on how the top line will look when he gets back. For my money, Anders Lee has more than earned his spot alongside JT so he should stay put. A Tavares-Okposo-Lee unit would reap huge fantasy dividends for all three... Big news in Dallas as Tyler Seguin returned to action last night, not missing a beat with two goals in the 5-3 loss to Tampa Bay. Jason Spezza's fantasy value once again takes a slight hit as he returns back to second-line center duties but he remains a fixture on the no. 1 power-play unit. Breakout defenseman John Kingberg left the contest with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. With Trevor Daley also out, this could be the best and only time to start Alex Goligoski who has been a bitter fantasy disappointment. He could string together a decent stretch of games with those two out. Consider playing him.. The Leafs were beaten down by the St. Louis Blues, as Vladimir Tarasenko plus Jaden Schwartz and TJ Oshie each collected a goal and an assist.One fact remains true- Phil Kessel is definitely unstarteable in all fantasy formats, while Tarasenko has ...

Fantasy Impact Of Yandle Trade; and Sunday Game Notes: A huge trade sending All-Star defenseman Keith Yandle to the New York Rangers for young Anthony Duclair, John Moore, and a 2015 1st rd pick has pretty decent fantasy implications. Yandle was already a lock to top 50 points once again as his 41 points led the Coyotes. Expect a marginal rise in his own fantasy value as he will be surrounded by a much better supporting cast on the Rangers. However, any boost in power-play efficiency for the Blueshirts should help all on the top unit, including the already smoking Rick Nash, Derick Brassard, Derek Stepan and whichever rearguard plays the point alongside him- Ryan McDonagh or Dan Boyle. Let's see how the PP configurations play out, but Boyle could be the odd man out on the top unit. Early Sunday action saw Jaromir Jagr make a huge impact for his new team in a huge spot as the 43-year old scored a goal and an assist in a crucial 4-3 win for Florida. While its unreasonable to suggest that he could maintain a PPG pace, youngsters such as Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov and even Brandon Pirri should all see their scoring improve as Jags should get the power-play going plus give the kids a much needed a jolt of confidence. Love this deal for real-life purposes as Florida could sneak into the playoffs... Evgeni Malkin posted his third straight three-point effort in the 5-3 Pittsburgh win over Columbus. Sergei Bobrovsky returned to the Blue Jackets crease, but found it difficult to shake off the rust against one of the NHL's most dangerous teams. BTW, we all know Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang are must-starts, but Patrick Hornqvist has been heating up again. Get him in all starting line-ups for next week and beyond.. Big triumph for Winnipeg over the LA Kings, as Andrew Ladd led the offense with two goals. Two new additions Drew Stafford and Tyler Myers continue to gain fantasy relevance with consistent offensive production since the Evander Kane trade. Don't look now but the Kings have lost three straight after notching eight consecutive victories... In Dallas, the Getzlaf/Perry superstar tandem combined for four points while John Gibson stopped 39 of 40 shots in the 3-1 Anaheim win... The St. Louis Blues roared back from a third-period three-goal deficit to force overtime, but the Vancouver Canucks get the extra point. Eddie Lack has been hit or miss since the Ryan miller injury, but he should get the bulk of the work in the crease. A decent no. 2 ...

Rangers continue to roll, Islanders round up the Coyotes, Boston & Philly blow chances & birthday wishes. Happy Birthday wishes go out to our newest PrimePucks™ fan, Ella from New York.  Happy Birthday Ella! Huge injury news from Chicago as RW Patrick Kane apparently injured his shoulder while falling head-first into the boards. Nothing more to say other than a long-term injury to Kane would represent an irreaplacable loss for fantasy owners at this time of the NHL season. Hopefully, the MRI will not reveal serious damage but it did not look good. More info when we get it... New York Rangers Cam Talbot has performed brilliantly in net as he starts for the injured Henrik Lundqvist and gives the Rangers some breathing room in making sure the King is ready to return.  Talbot posted a 1-0 shutout of the Calgary Flames who gave the Rangers their all but Talbot came up big stopping all 21 SOG to raise his record to 8-1-2 since taking over.  Don’t fret Lundqvist owners, the King will rightfully return to his throne when he is 100% healthy….With the trade deadline approaching, the Rangers may look to solidify their 3rd and 4th lines but with all cylinders clicking, may not need to make a big move… Cam Ward continues to show that he still has what it takes to be a premier starting goaltender in the NHL by beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 and raising his record to 5-1-0 in last six starts.  Start Ward with confidence as he is playing extremely well…As I mentioned in my SUNDAY MORNING COFFEE, when Jeff Skinner is healthy and gets on a roll, he’s a blessing as witnessed by his second consecutive game with a goal and 5 in his last 7.  Ride him while he’s hot, but get ready because he is injury prone….Philly, in a race for a Wild Card spot, lost a tough one especially, and with Boston losing as well, they missed a golden opportunity to bridge the gap.  They still remain 4 points behind the Bruins… The New York Islanders exploded for 4 goals in the 3rd period to rout the Arizona Coyotes who are plummeting fast in the Western Conference.  Expect a fire sale of Arizona veterans as the trade deadline approaches.  Names like Antoine Vermette, Shane Doan, Keith Yandle perhaps and more…. Although the Buffalo Sabres are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, they have been playing spirited hockey although the wins haven’t been coming but tonight Goalie Michal Neuvirth was rewarded for his solid play of late with a 4-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets… With Eddie Lack ...

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 ...

Great weekend for the Flyers; Career night for MacKinnon; Miller injury; and more: The Flyers won another big game and are drawing closer to a playoff spot.  The final weeks should be exciting for Philly fans as they have battled to stay close.  Claude Giroux (G, A) seems to have awoken from his slumber after my SUNDAY MORNING COFFEE comment about him being the invisible man.  Mark Streit (2A) and Jakub Voracek (2A) also contributed in the win.  Keep these Flyers in your lineup as they can be explosive on any given night as evidenced by their performance yesterday afternoon…. Boston, without the services of David Krejci, took it to the Chicago Blackhawks with a 6-2 pasting on home ice.  Six different goal scorers for the Bruins as they are feeling the heat from the Flyers and Florida Panthers for that final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.  Patrice Bergeron, with a goal and 2 assists, is perhaps one of the most under-rated fantasy players and hardly gets enough credit.  Bergeron should have a really good finish to his season…. Like I had predicted in yesterday's SUNDAY MORNING COFFEE, Pittsburgh erupted for 5 goals against the Florida Panthers with Patric Hornqvist having a huge night with 2 goals and an assist.  Get your Pegnuins in your fantasy lineups ASAP... The NY Islanders were blanked by the Vancouver Canucks but unfortunately for the Canucks, Ryan Miller left the game after a collision. Expect the net-minder to miss a few games with Eddie Lack getting the call.  Radim Vrbata, with his 22nd on the year, and the Sedin twins were the catalysts on offense.... Yes, the sophomore jinx has victimized the young Nathan MacKinnon this season, but the future Colorado star gave us a reminder of what is to come with his first NHL "hat trick" last night. With six points over his last five games, the 19-year old could be saving his best for last in 2014-15, before erupting in Year 3.. Veteran Martin St. Louis has been heating up for the Blueshirts lately, scoring two more goals to improve his numbers to seven points in his last five games. We probably seen the last of any prolonged slumps for the 39-year old, who should be starting in all fantasy leagues.. The Minnesota Wild lit up the Dallas Stars for 6 goals in the third period, winning 6-2 in another crucial match with heavy playoff implications. After a mini-drought, Zach Parise has collected four points over his last two games, while his center Mikael Granlund was the fantasy star of the night ...

Lack allowed a single goal on 14 shots in a relief effort of Ryan Miller in last night's 5-1 loss to the Canucks. He will get the call tonight in Anaheim--he enters play with a 4.09 GAA and .881 SV%. With the late confirm, you likely won't have the time to spot-start him.

Lack allowed seven goals on 48 shots in a blowout loss to the Avalanche in his last start on October 24th. He has allowed 12 goals on 87 shots (.862 SV%) in his first three starts of the season. He will look to be better tonight against a Predators team who are off to a 6-2-2 start to the year.