Very busy schedule in the NHL yesterday as the league frontloaded games yesterday so as to not compete against the Super Bowl. Boston started things off with a matinee game and they whitewashed the Oilers 4-0, with backup Chad Johnson getting the shutout with 22 saves. Johnson has played well when needed as his 9-3 record would indicate, but Tuukka Rask is the guy in goal for the Bruins. Defenseman Zdeno Chara had 2 assists for Boston, but he has only 25 points on the season, and at his age, he doesn't score like he used to.....Tampa Bay edged Montreal 2-1 as center Nate Thompson had 2 goals for the Lightning. He has only 11 points on the season, so don't get too excited.  Defenseman Victor Hedman had 2 assists for Tampa, and he is someone to get excited about. After struggling his first 4 years in the league, the former 2nd pick in the 2009 draft is finally getting the NHL game.  He has 11 goals and 36 points this season in 48 games played.  Get this guy next year if you can.  Big potential.  Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop had another outstanding game with 28 saves. With 27 wins on the year a 1.98 GAA and a .933 SP, it's hard to believe he is not on the US Olympic team....Colorado just buried the hapless Sabres 7-1.  Joe Sakic is beginning to look like a genius for drafting Nathan MacKinnon number one. The kid had a goal and 2 assists yesterday, and with 40 points on the season he leads all rookie scorers.  Defenseman Erik Johnson had 3 assists for the Avs, but with 24 points on the year, he continues to be a disappointment. Great things were expected from him. Colorado goaltender Semyon Varlamov continued his terrific season with a 28 save effort.  With 28 wins this year he is a top goalie option. Philly fillet: The Flyers shutout the Kings 2-0 as Philadelphia goaltender Steve Mason had a great game with 35 saves. That's 2 shutouts in a week.  Los Angeles really carried the play as their goaltender, Jonathan Quick, had to make only 11 saves. But Mason was too good in this one.  Right wing Wayne Simmonds had a goal and an assist for the Flyers, and with 40 points on the season, he is worth a look as a 6th forward option. Claude Giroux had a goal and an assist as well for Philadelphia, and after a miserable start to the season he has quietly climbed back to close to a point per game player with 52 points on the year. Killer Kessel: Toronto beat Ottawa 6-3, and the Maple Leafs center Phil Kessel had a monster game with 3 goals and an assist. Kessel has 61 points on the season, including 30 goals and he is one of the best fantasy forwards in the league. Toronto center Tyler Bozak had a goal and an assist, and while he has only 29 points on the season, he has done it in only 33 games. He is definitely someone to consider. Bobber looks strong: The Blue Jackets took out the Panthers last night 4-1, as goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky had a solid game with 35 saves and he continues to rebound from a slow start to the season. His record is now 19-13-2 with a 2.54 GAA and a .916 SP.  21 year old center Ryan Johansen had a goal and an assist for Columbus, and he has 42 points on the season. This kid is going to be really good, so look for him next season. More fantasy notes: The Blues took out Nashville 4-3 in a shootout.  22 year old right wing Vladimir Tarasenko had a goal and an assist for St Louis, but he has only 33 points on the season. The Blues are stacked 3 lines deep at forward, so as talented as Tarasenko is, he is just not getting enough quality ice time.  Jaden Schwartz is probably the better choice in St Louis....Phoenix rising? Mike Smith had a solid game in goal for Phoenix as they beat the suddenly stumbling Penguins 3-1. Smith had 23 saves to win his 19th game. His overall metrics are not that great with a 2.87 GAA and a .909 SP, but we will take wins when we can get them. Mike Ribeiro had a goal and an assist for Phoenix, but with only 39 points on the season, it is not like last year scoring almost a point per game playing with Ovie and Backstrom. Calgary beat Minnesota 4-3 in OT. Forward Mikael Backlund had 2 goals for the Flames, but only has 27 points on the season. He may not have been fantasy worthy at the beginning of the season, but with 8 points in his last 4 games, he just might be worth a pickup if you need scoring help.  Backlund was mentioned in Friday's UNDER THE RAYDAR.  Defenseman Mark Giordano had 2 assists for Calgary, and with 28 points in only 37 games played, he is a solid defenseman option....Dallas suprised Anaheim 2-0, in a game which the Ducks must have sleepwalked their way through it. Shutout by the backup goalie?  Sheesh!....The stumbling Chicago Blachawks continued to stumble last night as they lost to San Jose 2-1 in a shootout.  Sharks goalie Antti Niemi was sharp with 29 saves. Big Joe Thornton had a nifty game winning goal in the shootout. Chicago has now lost 5 of its last 6 games.  Bueller anyone?  Or how about Kane and Toews!  Can someone step up for them?