SMC 2/10/2019 WE NOW RESUME OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING My apologies for not writing for a while but hope to be back on a weekly basis until the end of the regular season.  Don’t worry, I have my coffee. It’s a race to the playoffs now that the ASG game is over and done with.  The games should be hotly contested for those battling for the last few spots. For the defensive minded teams, it’s a good time to try and grab their goalies for your fantasy squad as they tighten up their defense approaching the playoffs. Nashville and Las Vegas have the least games remaining with 24 and 25 respectively. Some teams in difficult position on deciding to make a playoff run or ‘lose for Hughes’. St. Louis is making a run by going 7-2-1 in last ten and are one of the 3 teams with the most games remaining with 28.  They have games in hand to catch the teams ahead of them. Hottest Blues in February---Tarasenko with 6 and Schenn also with 6 points in 4 games.  O’Reilly has been consistent all year and has 3 points in 4 February games. The best line in NHL was the Colorado line of Landeskog-MacKinnon-Rantanen.  But that was the first half.  The best line going forward is probably Pastrnak-Bergeron-Marchand. Surprise team of this season is the NY Islanders.  Coach Trotz and the coaching staff have solidified the goaltending and the offense is coming around nicely after a slow start. Ryan Pulock might be the best D-man the rest of the season.  6 points in 5 February games. Devils missed Cory Schneider, but they really miss Taylor Hall.  Ducks have been roasted since the beginning of 2019.  Not even that old Ducker Corey Perry will save them. Anders Nilsson is making a name for himself to be the Ottawa Senators starting goaltender for next season.  He only has won 6 of his last 8 starts while Craig Anderson, probably heading out by the trade deadline, has lost all four of his starts since returning from injury. Can the Florida Panthers get hot enough like they did the second half of last year and just fall short of the playoffs again?  History repeats.  Growing pains. When you have Carey Price in net I guess you shouldn’t count the Canadiens out. Not sure if Zibanejad can keep up this pace, especially since his line mate Zuccarello will get traded in a few weeks.  Can’t stay that hot anyway.  SELL HIGH! Zuccarello on the other hand will continue to produce since he should be traded to a contender battling for the playoffs.  Incentive remains. There are quite a few big-name players on the Who’s Not Hot list. Klingberg, Hornqvist-you know he will pick his game up, Simmonds, and Laine.  Oh, and Radulov on Dallas too.  All BUY LOW candidates. Thomas Greiss is clearly the backup, or more likely starter 1B, but he may be worth the 1 start a week you would get with the way he and the Islanders have been playing. You just knew it was coming, Randy Carlyle fired from the Ducks. Glad to be back.  May all your fantasies come true this week!