First of all, is there a hotter top line in the NHL than Alex Steen-TJ Oshie-David Backes? The trio combined for five points in last night's 3-0 blanking of the Toronto Maple Leafs, improving their point totals to 49 in the last 11 games. Seriously? Proving to all fantasy owners that he is the "real deal" after his breakthrough 2013-14 season, Steen is currently riding point-streaks in goals and points, 5 and 9 respectively... Another shutout for Brian Elliott and another step closer to fantasy elite status. Jake Allen represents the future in the crease for the Blues, but Elliott is clearly the "now". Start him with confidence... Fantasy performer of the night- clearly Tomas Plekanec, who helped roll the Metroplitan Division leading Islanders with a four point effort. A "heart and soul" Hab who can draw some comparison to Boston's Patrice Bergeron mainly because of his superior two-way play, but is no more than a seviceable depth forward option in most fantasy formats. Awesome game nonetheless.. Two more points in a losing cause for John Tavares, giving him five points over the last two games and 13 over the last 10. JT has accelerated the scoring since the beginning of the calendar year, so superstar production seems likely for the second half... Columbus snapped a four-game losing skid with the road win at Boston, but fantasy phenom Ryan Johansen kept a 13-game point streak alive with another goal and an assist. This guy is looking like an early round draft selection come next September as he is downright dynamite... Two great buy-low options to consider at the forward position- Nathan MacKinnon and Jason Spezza. The former was expected to take a huge leap in Year 2 for Colorado, but has fizzled during the first half of the season. However, MacKinnon has shown signs of late including a late 3rd period equalizer last night against the Lightning. The latter continues to plug away as six points over the last eight games is encouraging for his typical second half outburst. Consider this- Spezza centers the second line alongside Erik Cole who is starting to heat up. Plus, he is a mainstay on the top power-play unit with All-World Tyler Seguin and the underrated Jamie Benn. This team will light the lamp plenty in the second half. Love Spezza moving forward... Dubie,Dubie,Dubie-where are you? In Minnesota, that's where! The former Arizona Coyote Devan Dubnyk continues to inject some life into his new team as the goalie led the Wild to a 3-1 win and only has allowed one goal over his first two starts. Maybe it's a bit premature to jump on his "bandwagon" but it's safe to assume that he needs to be owned in all fantasy formats.... There was a debate on which back-up goalie thrust into starting duty would be the better fantasy option- Petr Mrazek or Carter Hutton- but that contest has been mostly one-sided so far. Hutton struggled in the Nashville's 5-2 loss in Detroit, getting pulled in favor of Marek Mazenec. On the other hand, Detroit's Mrazek has won his three starts, allowing only five goals over the span. It seems that Pekka Rinne will be missed more than Jimmy Howard. Just a hunch... Another stinker of an effort by Toronto's Phil Kessel, who has scored only 2 points in 6 games since the Randy Carlyle firing. He just doesn't look right so maybe temper your expectations for the short-term and hope the All-Star Break serves him some good... Florida's young gun Jonathan Huberdeau has been heaating up of late, improving his point totals to eight over the last six games with a goal last night. Currently on a 50-point pace for the entire season, we think it's reasonable to add 10-15 points on to that as his second half should be quite more productive. Take a chance on this high-riser if he is still available... Don't look now but Anton Khudobin's number in the Carolina crease have been far superior to Cam Ward's in January. Will there be another goaltending contoversy brewing? Not sure yet, but I would not be shocked... With an upcoming four-game slate and goals galore for this up-tempo Nashville team, center Mike Fisher should merit some fantasy consideration. He is currently on a six-game point streak, but don't expect much long-term success. Not much of a track record...