SMC 11/3/2019 Connor McDavid was held without a point in the Pittsburgh game on Saturday. The fourth time this season already that he has been held without a point in a game. Evgeni Malkin had 6 SOG so he’s back and ready to contribute now that he is back from his injury. Patrik Laine returned after a brief absence from the lineup and had and assist, which he has been doing a lot of this season, but he had 7 SOG which leads me to believe that he will start scoring some goals in droves. Try to grab him from a disappointed fantasy owner. The NY Rangers, after getting drubbed by the Boston Bruins last Sunday, come back to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators.  It’s going to be an interesting season for the Blueshirts. My predictions on playoff teams come April: Eastern Conference-Boston, Washington, NY Islanders, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Florida, Toronto, and the battle for the last spot between Buffalo and Pittsburgh. Western Conference-Las Vegas, Nashville, Colorado, St. Louis, Vancouver, Dallas, Edmonton and a tossup between Anaheim, Winnipeg and Calgary. Every year it seems 2 new teams make the playoffs and 2 previous playoff teams miss out. Jack Hughes seems so smooth out on the ice as compared to Kaapo Kakko.  Hughes may take more of a beating this year, but he has the skills for sure. Kakko looks a little sluggish so far but has skated better the past few games. Did anyone watch the MLB World Series? Yeah, like who would when hockey is on. The Pittsburgh Penguins are finally getting some healthy bodies back which means that G Matt Murray will get one of his nagging injuries soon. Maybe this Mika Zibanejad injury is a blessing for the Rangers team as the players now can’t depend fully on Mika carrying them and that they all need to contribute. Rangers C Ryan Strome might be the guy you pick up and ride until he comes back to Earth. Elias Pettersson has picked up his game of late! Will he compete with David Pastrnak and his team mate Brad Marchand along with the Oiler Duo for the scoring title?  Or even the Sunshine Boys? Lots of solid pairings. 4 shutouts in Saturday action. NJ Devils needed that win. Big time!  I can see them going on a run now as they head out on the road through Western Canada. Detroit should be much better than what they have shown.  Maybe its time to move on from Jimmy Howard in net sad to say. They have lost 10 of their last 11.  Ugggg-lee! The NHL really must go back to a steady schedule and scrap this week-off between games BS. I don’t want to be playing the Florida Panthers now. I may have to add the Philadelphia Flyers into the mix for that last playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. D Ivan Provorov led the Flyers with 7 SOG against Toronto on Saturday.  Breakout season. I don’t think Carolina’s Eric Haula is going to slow down this season.  Pick him up if still available and ride the wave. He will have the type of season current team mate Ryan Dzingel had last season splitting time between Ottawa and Columbus: 25 G, 30 A. Or maybe even hitting the 60s. Um, the Dallas Stars are starting to play hockey. Buy low before it’s too late if it isn’t so already. Ryan O’Reilly is the beast that runs the Blues! The Minnesota Wild are playing better now that Mats Zuccarello is in the lineup.  Makes Eric Staal that much better too. Wild’s D Brad Hunt, with 8,  has more points than D Matt Dumba.  Really. The Colorado Avalanche really need Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog in the lineup.  Huge losses. Jets win!  Hopefully saying that later today if the NY Jets can possibly beat the 0-8 Miami Dolphins. The LA Kings beat the Blackhawks on Saturday.  Low point for the Hawks? Hate to leave on a low note so how about this, let’s see some more of that amazing talent scoring NHL goals in a more creative and fun way! Have a wonderful week and may all your fantasies come true! Ray