Joe Pavelski continues his elite scoring ways for the Sharks with two more goals in the 3-2 win over Calgary. With 18 goals in the past 20 games, he now has 27 on the season, tied for second in the NHL with Corey Perry. At this rate, his career-high of 31 goals will be obliterated very soon, but be wary of a point slow-down after the Sochi Olympics. A few of the "chosen ones" for Team USA have responded with above-the-norm scoring production, but it will be difficult for them to maintain that pace. In the case of Pavelski, his current point-per-game scoring pace of "50 in 50" is unchartered territory for him, as his best statistical year was his 66 points in 74 games back in '10-11. For now, enjoy the ride as few are better for fantasy purposes. USA Snub Keeps Rubbing It In: On the contrary to Pavelski, Kyle Okposo keeps putting up "monster" numbers in the face of not being selected by Team USA. He pulled off the Gordie Howe hat trick against the Flyers yesterday afternoon, including scoring the game-winner in the shoot-out. With 49 points in 50 games, he has been exceptionally sharp with 13 points (6G/7A) in the last 10 games. His scoring pace could actually remain constant, considering he is clicking with John Tavares and at the age of 25, he could be breaking out in Year 6. Plus, he will not be dealing with post-Olympic fatigue and his motivation for being snubbed will last all season long. Am loving Okposo as a solid fantasy option in the second half! More Fantasy-Game Notes: Toronto's Nazem Kadri has responded to a plethora of trade rumors with another solid effort, a goal and an assist in the 4-2 win over Phoenix. With 4 points in the last two games, he has briefly bounced back after a mediocre first half so far, but can fantasy owners trust him? He will need a few more high-scoring efforts to warrant fantasy status.. What's up with Kari Lehtonen? With yesterday's loss to Nashville, he has gone 1-6-1 in his last 8 starts. His current numbers are still better-than-average with a 17-14-8 record, a 2.69 GAA and a .913 SP. If you have a better option, sit him for now.. Watch out for Toronto defenseman Jake Gardiner, who been playing at a very high level in recent games. With a goal and an assist against Nashville, the enigmatic blueliner might be worth a look if Coach Randy Carlyle keeps rewarding him with big minutes, especially on the power-play... Jimmy Howard and Jakub Voracek both left their respective games due to injury. In the case of Howard, ...

Good morning hockey fans! Coffee time!  Saturdays are always fun, aren't they? How about Martin St. Louis potting 4 goals in the game for the Lightning? But they still lost to the Sharks.  Joe Pavelski rose to the occasion, didn't he? He's so underrated as a leader. Happy to see that goalie Steve Mason has found a home in Philadelphia. Mason signed a 3-year extension. Marleau continues his fine season. Ben Bishop is allowed to have a bad game every once in a while. I wouldn't panic folks. Henrik Lundqvist and the NY Rangers have really turned it around without much fanfare too. And what about Jimmy Howard returning from his injury and returning to form as well? Derek Stepan gets benched. Derek Stepan responds with a goal and 2 assists. Benching is so underrated. What has happened to Bobby Ryan lately? Jacob Trouba is having a coming-out season isn't he? Wow!  Do you think Ondrej Pavelec likes the new coaching change? If you're not rooting for the Columbus Blue Jackets, there may be something wrong, Tyler Myers is big and bad (in the good way) and no one is going to change that. Nazem Kadri had himself a game. Some more please! Some fluky goals this year, huh? I believe Detroit will be a team to watch the rest of the year. Get them now because once Datsyuk gets back in the lineup, watch out! Detroit D Brendan Smith has 4 assists in past 7 games. Hmmmmm, is he finally heating up a little? No offense Sid, but you need some competition for the scoring title. Come on JT!  Edmonton just loves going for that No. 1 overall pick year after year, don't they? This Philly team is so exciting to watch. I'll never take my eyes off the screen again. It is funny how two guys (Moulson & Vanek) that were traded for one another in a trade that probably shouldn't have been done in the first place are most likely to be traded again. Tim Thomas is playing well in net but he has got the "Ryan Miller" syndrome this year as well. It's nice to pluck a goaltender off your farm team and start him in 2 of last three games and get wins in both those games. These Ducks are downright scary. Well, Dubnyk gave up 5 goals in his debut with Nashville. Maybe it wasn't the Edmonton D? I think from here on out, Roberto Luongo is going to have a monster season. Doesn't Phoenix Coyotes Head Coach Dave Tippett understand that in order for Colonel Klinkhammer to get included in SUNDAY MORNING COFFEE, he needs to be in the lineup on Saturdays. Very feisty game between the Flames and Canucks last...

So much for Semyon Varlamov erasing his road struggles this season, as he and the Colorado Avalanche were hammered by the Edmonton Oilers in a 8-2 romp. Leading the way for the offensive explosion was Taylor Hall, who collected a "hat trick" and an assist. With 24 points in 23 games, there isn't much stopping the young phenom from being a top-five fantasy forward, other than his perpetual injury issues. If he can stay healthy, all the key Oiler forwards and defenseman Justin Schultz will improve their scoring production by a wide margin over the second half of the '13-14 season. These boys could be deadly come January. "Skinned" Alive: Speaking of needing to stay healthy, Carolina's Jeff Skinner also recorded a "hat trick" in the Cane's 5-2 road defeat of Nashville. With 17 points in 18 games, he is taking advantage of more top-line ice-time and is equaling his level of play during his Calder Trophy winning season. If this youngster can keep out of the infirmiery, he should easily post a career-high in points, but that is no guarantee. The absence of Alex Semin has propeled Skinner back into the the position of Carolina's second best scoring forward, which is certainly giving his fantasy value a huge boost. Start him with extreme confidence. More Fantasy Game Notes: Fresh off signing his 7-year contract extension, Henrik Lundqvist was nearly impenetrable last night against the Buffalo Sabres. The "King" of Broadway turned aside 27 of 28 SOG for his 9th victory against 11 losses. If there ever was a chance to snare Lundqvist, now may be the time.  Just mention his losing record and how well backup Cam Talbot has been playing to put some doubt in his owner's mind....Toronto came away with a much needed 2 points against the Dallas Stars.  Nazem Kadri woke up by scoring 2 goals in the contest, one on the power play. Kadri has been a bit of a disappointment especially after last year's 44 points in 48-game effort.  They will need Kadri to continue this type of offensive support with Tyler Bozak, Dave Bolland and Joffrey Lupul all out with injuries....Martin St. Louis (2G) & Goalie Ben Bishop (33/34 SV)were the main characters in the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 win over Bishop's former team, the Ottawa Senators. St. Louis never ceases to amaze me with how he can continue to score the way he has as he has gotten older.  He is in the top-20 in NHL scoring and once Steven Stamkos' returns, whenever that is, his numbers should improve greatly. Bishop is showing that ...

Kadri has been moved to the top-line in practice because Tyler Bozak is not on the ice after suffering a lower-body injury versus San Jose on Tuesday. Should Bozak miss an extended period of time, Kadri will likely get a look on the top-line with James van Riemsdyk and Phil Kessel - something that will certainly boost his fantasy value, because he not be great alongside David Clarkson so far.

Kadri is only expected to miss tonight's game but should be back in the lineup on Thursday.

The Maple Leafs have had a patchwork roster with Kadri, Tyler Bozak and Dave Bolland out, but Kadri's return will stabilize their top-6. The Leafs went 2-1-0 without Kadri. He has five goals and 14 points in 18 games and a spot on the first line should only help him produce even more.

This is a tough break for the Maple Leafs who lose yet another centre. They are already without Tyler Bozak (hamstring) and Dave Bolland (ankle). He is not eligible to play until next Thursday vs. Nashville.

Kadri was also assessed a match penalty last night for a hit on Mikael Granlund, but the NHL viewed it primarily as a full body hit. Head was not primary point of contact. The penalty on ice fit the crime. We will update if a suspension is handed down.

The Los Angeles Kings announced today that starting goaltender Jonathan Quick has a grade 2 groin strain. This means that Quick will likely be out for 4 to 6 weeks, maybe more. Groin strains are very tricky for goaltenders, and often times players try to come back too soon, and then get reinjured.  This injury is a big blow for the Kings, and maybe for the US Olympic hockey team, as well if Quick is not fully ready by February.  Quick had a magical year 2 seasons ago when the Kings won the Stanley Cup. He went 35-21-13 that season in 69 games played with a 1.95 goals against average a .929 save percentage and 10 shutouts.  He was even better in the playoffs with a 16-4 record a 1.41 goals against a .946 save percentage and 3 shotouts.  Quick has never come close to those numbers again.  Last year he went 18-13-4 with a 2.45 goals against and a .902 save percetage.  That save percentage was most definitely medicore.  As I have stated before, the NHL average is around .912-.915.  Anything less than that is subpar.  This year while Quick has a good 10-5-0 record, his save percentage is only .905.  He just has not been playing up to the level he did a couple of years ago.  Well he is going to be out for a while now, and it looks like backup Ben Scrivens who came over in a trade with Toronto will get his chance to be the starter. Scrivens has played in 5 games this year with a 1-1-1 record a nice 1.89 goals against and a .924 save percentage.  His career numbers are not as impressive though at 12-15-3 a 2.78 goals against and a .911 save percentage.  At 27 years old he has never had to shoulder the load of being a starting goaltender in the NHL.  He will have to now.  At least for a while.  The Kings have called up Martin Jones from the AHL to backup Scrivens. Jones has put up some good numbers in ths AHL going 9-2-2 this year, but for now Scrivens is going to be the man. Grab him and put him in your linep if you can.  The Kings are a solid team, and Scrivens should get a lot of wins. Stick saves: Minnesota goaltender Josh Harding came in to replace Niklas Backstrom after he was hit hard by Toronto forward Nazem Kadri a few nights ago. Harding had 19 saves in the Wild's 2-1 victory.  He has been outstanding this season with a 10-2-2 record an amazing 1.21 goals against average a .947 save percentage and 2 shutouts.  You have to ride this guy now because the often injured Backstrom is likely to be out for a while, and Harding is hot.  Get him in your lineup ...

The Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick is out with a hamstring/groin issue. The Kings backup goaltender Ben Scrivens will get most of the starts until Quick returns. Scrivens has played in 5 games this year with a 1-1-1 record with a 1.89 goals against and a .924 save percentage.  His career numbers are mediocre at 12-15-3 with a 2.78 and .911, but he will be the starter now. Hardy Harding: Minnesota goaltender Niklas Backstrom was run over early by Toronto forward Nazem Kadri, and he was forced to leave the game. It looked serious and Backstrom may have a concussion.  His backup Josh Harding replaced him and he got the 2-1 shootout win with 19 saves. Harding will likely get a number of starts now until Backstrom can come back, although it looked like Harding already had a hold on the No. 1 job before last night.  He has been really solid this year with a 10-2-2 record a 1.21 goals agains and a .947 save percentage.  Play him if you can.  Wild forward Zack Parise had the regulation goal and the game winner in the shootout. Parise has 16 points in 19 games this year, and while those are ok numbers, he has not really lived up to his big contract.  Jonathan Bernier was the tough loser in goal for Torotnto as he played great with 33 saves. Flyers flying: The Flyers have now won 3 straight games after a terrible start to the season. Last night they beat the suddenly struggling Penguins 2-1 as Philadelphia's young foward Brayden Schenn scored both of the Flyers goals. Schenn has 12 points on the season in 18 games, so he is not yet fantasy worthy, but he will get there in time.... Ray Emery had a great game in net for Philadelphia with 31 saves, but his numbers this year are not that special and Steve Mason should maintain his hold as the starter. Emery's goals against is 2.82 and his save percentage is only .898....Sidney Crosby had a power play goal for Pittsburgh, and with Lightning forward Steve Stamkos out for possibly the rest of the season, the scoring title should be Crosby's to win. Stars are shining: Nice win yesterday for Dallas, 3-0 over Winnipeg. We are big fans of Stars' goaltender Kari Lehtonen, and he did not disappoint last night with 22 saves and a shutout. Lehtonen's numbers this year are strong with a 8-3-2 record, a 2.01 goals against, and a .932 save percentage.  Good numbers!  He is a first tier fantasy goalie....Dallas forward Tyler Seguin had a goal and 6 shots on goal. He also played 7:04 minutes on the power play, so he is being given ...