HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!! WISHING THE BEST OF HEALTH, HAPPINESS AND LOTS OF HOCKEY! A lot of games on NYE preceding the Winter Classic today pitting the Chicago Blackhawks against the Washington Capitals at Nationals Park. The game is scheduled to go off at 1:00 pm but expect delays because of sun glare on the ice making it difficult for the players to see.  Some previous games were delayed up to 2 hours, so be prepared.... It was all the Ryan-Strome-Frans Nielsen-Anders Lee last night for the NY Islanders as they defeated the Jets at Winnipeg. The Isles benefitted from playing against the lesser of their goalies in Ondrej Pavelec but the play of the SNL line was on point last night. Strome (G, 3A), Nielsen (2G, A) and Lee (G, A) combined for 9 points in the victory and 13 in last 2 games.  Perhaps you need to get one of these players in your lineup as it looks like there are heating up for the New Year....Jaroslav Halak won his 20th in 26 starts. Islander fans hope this performance carries over to 2015.... After losing their first matchup in Buffalo on December 2nd in a shootout, it has been all Tampa Bay in the next two, winning 5-0 2 days later and then 5-1 last to finish December with a 4-game winning streak. Ondrej Palat-Tyler Johnson-Nikita Kucherov remain hot for the Bolts with the trio combining for 10 points matching the Islanders hot line. Everyone was expecting the Lightning to get bulk of their scoring from the Stamkos line but these youngsters are making a major impression right now.... Don't look now but it looks like the New York Rangers are the hottest team in the NHL right now as they are getting contributions from up and down their entire lineup and it all starts from G Henrik Lundqvist who is in the zone right now. Winners of 9 of their last 10, the Blueshirts have shaken off all doubts from earlier in the season and are looked primed to build for the playoffs.... If you haven't noticed the Dallas Stars are streaking right now going 8-2-0 to climb back into the playoff picture after struggling in the month of November. G Kari Lehtonen has been on a resurgence winning 8 of December starts, capping off 2014 with a 6-0 shutout of the Arizona Coyotes. Lehtonen is a solid number 2 goalie in all fantasy scenarios... SCRAPS San Jose's Antti Niemi posted a 3-0 shutout of the Anaheim Ducks raising his record to 15-8-4. The Sharks lost Joe Thornton to injury in the first period and he did not return to the game. More news on his injury as it ...

Loui Eriksson-LW-Boston: Boston fans have been waiting for Eriksson to contribute to the offense on a consistent basis, especially so since the player they traded away to acquire him will probably lead the NHL in scoring this season.  It appears that the former Dallas Star let winger is heating up with 5 goals and 2 assists in his last 7 games along with a plus 4 and 13 SOG.   Three games on the schedule for the week with a tough matchup at San Jose before two home games with LA and Detroit.  Mats Zuccarello-RW-NY Rangers: When you're hot, you're hot and the Rangers are certainly hot with winning 8 in a row and Zuccarello has been a part of that streak with 2 goals and 5 assists in his last 7 games.  Only owned by 32.5% of ESPN leagues, the diminutive winger will be playing against Dallas and Florida on the road and then home against Buffalo.  Mark Scheifele-C-Winnipeg: Ever since Scheifele was drafted I have been waiting for the young talent to get his opportunity and that time may have arrived.  Scheifele did have a good stretch before getting injured last season and now, with the Jets being decimated on defense forcing them to put Dustin Byfuglien back on D, Scheifele is getting his chance. With 6 points in last 6 games and owned by just 19.3%, those in need of forward depth could do worse than putting this Jets center in their lineup.  The Jets have a favorable schedule for the week with 3 home games against Minnesota, the NY Islanders and Toronto. Kevin Connauton-D-Columbus: If you are seeking a defenseman for the week, take a chance on Columbus Blue Jacket Connauton.  The Jackets are the hottest team in the NHL right now and the unknown D-man has 5 points in last 6 games but has a minus 3 in those 6 games.  He doesn't have a lot of NHL experience but he does seem to have a knack to get involved in the scoring. Connauton is getting good ice time of around 17 minutes in the last 2 games plus and good portion of power play time as well.  # games on the schedule this week with Minnesota at home before heading on the road to Arizona and Colorado. Michael Hutchinson-G-Winnipeg: We already know about the favorable 3-game home stand mentioned above, but Hutch's numbers are spectacular lately, 1.99 GAA and a .936 in last 4 starts, and it's probably just a matter of time before the streaking Winnipeg Jets (6-1-3 in last 10) go with the hotter hand in net.  Owned by just 36.2% but his time is coming and maybe, just maybe, he gets 2 of the three starts this ...

Good morning. I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and a great Boxing Day!  So glad hockey is back! I got a coffee mug warmer stand from my son Derek for Christmas.  It's a Disney version, wonderful! A few weeks back I told you that the Columbus Blue Jackets were about to turn their season around, and Sergei Bobrovsky would be a big part of it, although he didn't start last night's game. The Jackets are the hottest team right now at 8-1-1, even better than the NY Rangers who are 8-2-0. I think you can all guess who the worst team over the last 10 games has been. Who is this Kevin Connauton and why is he acting like Bobby Orr? I thought Marty St. Louis was supposed to be the point-per-game player and not Derek Stepan? What has happened to the Boston Bruins this season? Don't tell me that they miss Jarome Iginla that much. I think the time is right for NY Islander John Tavares to start to really heat up. He's been good so far, but not REAL good. I still don't know if I could have any Buffalo Sabres on my fantasy team yet. This Detroit Red Wing team is pretty dangerous when healthy. Aren't Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk like the classiest players in the NHL? Add Patrice Bergeron to that list too. Dougie Hamilton had 6 SOG and so did Erik Karlsson to lead their respective teams. I'm not comparing these two, just so you know (JSYK). As great as Steve Stamkos is, the Lightning really depend on Ben Bishop, although this kid Andrej Vasilevskiy (learn how to say and spell it because he will be a good one!) looks like a damn, good goalie. What happened to the Carolina Hurricanes scoring? I think that the Devils need a head coach, not a three-ring circus. I hope Lou is not losing it. When is Winnipeg going to give the starting job to Michael Hutchinson? He deserves a long look in my opinion. I have always liked Andrew Ladd for his consistent play but he did have 2 four game stretches without a point. I don't think you'll see that again this season as the Jets are starting to fly high. Minnesota is having goaltending issues this season. I know, hard to believe, right? Washington Capitals G Braden Holtby is on fire. Did you read my BETWEEN THE PIPES article on December 23rd? I'm surprised Pittsburgh lost because they did have Colonel Klinkhammer in the lineup. I'm just kidding, you know that, right? Alex Ovechkin had 10 SOG in the game but was held without a point. Poolies love to see a double digit number under the SOG column. I'm stating the obvious ...

Columbus is continuing to climb into the playoff picture as they beat a floundering Boston Bruin team who is just 4-4-2 in last 10. Scott Hartnell returned to the lineup for the Blue Jackets and netted 2 goals and D Kevin Connauton had a goal and 2 assists giving him 7 points in past 8 games. The 24-year old defenseman may be worth a shot in deeper leagues.... Another team that has turned their play around of late are the buffalo Sabres who beat the NY Islanders by coming back with 3 unanswered goals in the third period to tie up the game before winning in overtime. Sabres G Jhonas Enroth got the win to break a two-game skid and should only be used as a fantasy starter in desperate situations.... Detroit started off a 9-game schedule with 8 on the road with an overtime win in Ottawa as Gustav Nyquist scored another clutch goal for the game-winner. Gustav now has 15 goals to go along with 8 assists in 36 games.  That was his 3rd game-winning goal on the season....Red Wing D Niklas Kronwall returned to action after leaving the last game and had 2 assists in the game. Continue to start with confidence.... Tampa Bay Lightning G Ben Bishop returned to action himself and backstopped the team to a 2-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Canes G Cam Ward had a tremendous game by turning aside 36 of 38 SOG. Too bad his team isn't giving him support.... The New York Rangers continued their amazing run by winning 3-1 over the New Jersey Devils, who were playing their first game after Pete DeBoer was let go. Behind the bench for the Devils were Lou Lamoriello, Scott Stevens and Adam Oates.  Maybe three heads aren't better than one....Derek Stepan had all the answers and all the goals for the Rangers who won for the 8th straight game. Stepan is playing at a point-per-game pace with 22 points in 21 games ever since his return from a leg injury that delayed his start to the season... Braden Holtby blanked the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 3-0 Washington triumph, improving his numbers to 16-8-5 with a 2.22 GAA and a .921 SP. With the roll that the talented goaltender has been on for the surging Capitals, four wins in his last five, he is definitely on the must start short list for fantasy netminders... Two key injuries to take note of- key Pittsburgh skaters Patrick Hornqvist and Kris Letang left the game due to apparent leg injuries although the severity of either is not clear... Another easy night for Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne as he turned aside 26 of 27 shots in the 4...

"He's really worked hard in practices," said Ruff. "In his first game, early on he was OK and as the game went on he got better. He skates well, he shoots the puck well and he knows our system really well. I told him the other day that I am going to play him, so it's up to him to play well now." Jamie Oleksiak, who played on defense in Sunday's game against Edmonton, will be a healthy scratch

Connauton, 23, made his NHL debut with the Stars this season, he played 16:05 with a plus-2 rating. If he draws in tonight it would be just his second NHL game after playing 221 games in the AHL since 2010. In that span he had 33 goals and 55 assists (88 points).

Connauton, 23, has one assist and a minus-4 rating with Texas. He has appeared in one game with Dallas this season, he played 16:06 and was a plus-2. The Stars have placed tough-guy Lane MacDermid in on Waivers to clear room for Connauton.

Connauton will make his NHL debut tonight. He had two goals and four assists in nine games with Texas (AHL).

The 23-year-old was acquired by the Stars with a second-round pick in the 2013 draft from the Vancouver Canucks for forward Derek Roy on April 2, and then sent to the American Hockey League. Connauton split his 2012-13 AHL season between the Chicago Wolves and the Texas Stars. He played 69 total games last season with nine goals and 22 assists.

Connauton is a strong offensive defenseman who has seven goals and 18 assists in 60 games in the AHL this season.