UPDATE: The Buffalo Sabres have fired Head Coach Ron Rolston and brought back none other than former Sabres coach, Ted Nolan. Along with bringing back Nolan, Buffalo announced that Pat LaFontaine will be joining the franchise as President of Hockey Operations.  I had mentioned a few weeks ago in my Sunday Morning Coffee that coaching changes were needed again in Buffalo. Good luck to the new staff. In last night's contest between two of the "Best In The West", Oliver-Ekman Larsson scored the overtime game-winner for the Phoenix Coyotes in their 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues. The 22-year old is making plenty of fantasy noise in his fourth season, as he looks to be breaking out in a big way. With a goal and an assist, the rising Swede now has 15 points in 19 games, "knocking on the door" of the fantasy elite defenseman in the NHL. Last season, he scored at a .50 point-per-game clip with 24 points in 48 games, but he seems to have taken his game to a higher level in the early stages of the '13-14 season so far. His rise to stardom looks eerily similar to the path taken by fellow countryman Erik Karlsson, who wasn't exactly surrounded by elite starpower either. Forget about the fact that Ekman-Larsson plays for a presumed defensive-minded team, the Coyotes actually resemble a very competent offensive squad this year, so look for him to make a strong push for top-five defensemen scoring honors. Anyone Better Than "AO"? Russian superstar Alex Ovechkin ended the game in grand style, scoring the OT game-winner in Washington's come-from-behind 4-3 victory over Columbus. With Steven Stamkos out indefinitely after breaking his tibia, "Ovie" should coast toward winning the Maurice Richard Trophy for most goals in the season. He has replicated his '13 Hart Trophy form so far, collecting 14 goals and 24 points in 17 games. With the possible exception of Sidney Crosby, he is the elite fantasy forward to own. Anderson Or Lehner? Despite Robin Lehner leading the Ottawa Senators to four straight wins and capturing Player Of The Week honors, Craig Anderson was back in the net to face the Philadelphia Flyers. The results were less favorable to say the least, as he gave up 5 goals on 31 shots in the 5-0 blowout loss. Anderson is 4-5-0 on the season with a 3.30 GAA and .906 SP. Meanwhile, Lehner posted a 3-0 record last week with a 1.33 GAA and .958 SP. The youngster has allowed two or fewer goals in six of eight starts, so he has been the far better option in goal ...

In last night's contest between two of the "Best In The West", Oliver-Ekman Larsson scored the overtime game-winner for the Phoenix Coyotes in their 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues. The 22-year old is making plenty of fantasy noise in his fourth season, as he looks to be breaking out in a big way. With a goal and an assist, the rising Swede now has 15 points in 19 games, "knocking on the door" of the fantasy elite defenseman in the NHL. Last season, he scored at a .50 point-per-game clip with 24 points in 48 games, but he seems to have taken his game to a higher level in the early stages of the '13-14 season so far. His rise to stardom looks eerily similar to the path taken by fellow countryman Erik Karlsson, who wasn't exactly surrounded by elite starpower either. Forget about the fact that Ekman-Larsson plays for a presumed defensive-minded team, the Coyotes actually resemble a very competent offensive squad this year, so look for him to make a strong push for top-five defensemen scoring honors. Anyone Better Than "AO"? Russian superstar Alex Ovechkin ended the game in grand style, scoring the OT game-winner in Washington's come-from-behind 4-3 victory over Columbus. With Steven Stamkos out indefinitely after breaking his tibia, "Ovie" should coast toward winning the Maurice Richard Trophy for most goals in the season. He has replicated his '13 Hart Trophy form so far, collecting 14 goals and 24 points in 17 games. With the possible exception of Sidney Crosby, he is the elite fantasy forward to own. Anderson Or Lehner? Despite Robin Lehner leading the Ottawa Senators to four straight wins and capturing Player Of The Week honors, Craig Anderson was back in the net to face the Philadelphia Flyers. The results were less favorable to say the least, as he gave up 5 goals on 31 shots in the 5-0 blowout loss. Anderson is 4-5-0 on the season with a 3.30 GAA and .906 SP. Meanwhile, Lehner posted a 3-0 record last week with a 1.33 GAA and .958 SP. The youngster has allowed two or fewer goals in six of eight starts, so he has been the far better option in goal for the Sens thus far. Anderson owners need to snag Lehner ASAP if he is still available, because he will make a strong play for the permanent starting job very soon- if not already. More Fantasy Game Notes: Ryan Miller was a world-beater in the crease last night for the Buffalo Sabres, turning away 43 of 45 shots in the Sabres 3-2 SO win over the Los Angeles Kings. Man, when he eventually gets traded...

There is no timetable for Stamkos' return.

ALL GOALIES CONFIRMED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED AT TIME OF PRINT The NHL's top team rolls into sunny Florida, as the Anaheim Ducks will face a Panthers squad who are losers of their last 8 games. Frederik Andersen, the Great Dane Goaltender, has been stellar while Tim Thomas has not been at his best since returning from a leg injury. In those two starts for Florida, he posted a 3.56 GAA and .881 SP. OUCH! Andersen continues his magical season... After having his three-game winning streak snapped at the hands of Colorado, Braden Holtby and the Washington Caps take the show home to face the struggling Columbus Blue Jackets. Alex Ovechkin and company should be stoked to get back in the winning column. Edge to Holtby...Jonathan Quick has won 5 of the last 6 starts for the Kings, while Ryan Miller was pulled in his last start after two periods in Buffalo's lop-sided loss to Anaheim. The Sabre's defense has been very porous, leaving Miller to hang out and dry on many occasions. The Kings should have their way tonight. Go Quick.... The Isles have been playing it smart by giving Kevin Poulin a bunch of starts in place of the struggling Evgeni Nabokov. Marek Mazanec gets his first career start after relieving Hutton in the last game. We love Poulin tonight against the invisible Nashville offense.... Niemi gets the night off as Alex Stalock will be getting just his second career start. Stalock and San Jose are looking to stop their 5-game winless streak. They are bound to win a game, right? Their opponent Calgary has fallen off after a good start, so expect a big bounce-back game from the Sharks... The matchup between the Devils and Rangers pit the best of all-time (Martin Brodeur), against the best right now (Henrik Lundqvist). This could be a mild shocker, as the proud Brodeur continues to roll, even against a surging Blueshirts squad....What could turn into another goaltending duel is Mike Smith and the Phoenix Coyotes against Jaroslav Halak and the St. Louis Blues. Phoenix is having a good start to the season behind Smith, whose metrics haven't been great, whereas Halak has solidified his hold on the No.1 spot for the Notes.  Notes over Yotes.....Even without the loss of Superstar Steven Stamkos, it was going to be a tough night against Carey Price (LIKELY) and the Montreal Canadiens. The Bolts may still be in shock over what happened yesterday, and now must find ways to replace the missing offense.  Ben Bishop (LIKELY) has been stellar so far this season and ...

As everyone knows by now, Tampa Bay Lightning Center Steven Stamkos broke his leg in a crash into the goalpost that apparently didn't budge like it was supposed to. With the Bolts sitting atop the Eastern Conference, the Lightning will have to find ways to make up for the lost production.  Stamkos is believed done for the season, with initial reports stating that he would miss anywhere from 6-12 weeks.  Losing a player of this magnitude is damaging to everyone; the NHL team, the Canadian Olympic Team and the fantasy owner.  There will be a few call-ups for tonight's match against the Montreal Canadiens with D-men Sami Salo and Keith Aulie also getting injured in yesterday's afternoon tilt against Boston. Expect wither Tyler Johnson or Alex Killorn to grab a little more ice time, but monitor the next few games to see where the trend lies.....What has probably gone unnoticed was the fine play of both goaltenders, especially Tampa backup Anders Lindback who turned aside 23 of 25 SOG but came away with the loss. Don't expect Lindback to start grabbing starts away from starter Ben Bishop, but the coaching staff will have confidence to go with the backup to spell Bishop from time-to-time....Tuukka Rask continued his dominance over the Bolts this year with his third victory against them by a combined score of 11-1 and shutting them out twice in the process.....I'll be watching the transaction wire to see who the Tampa Bay Lightning call up. Could one of those players be named Jonathan Drouin? Drouin has gone 9-20-29 in 14 games for the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL.

As everyone knows by now, Tampa Bay Lightning Center Steven Stamkos broke his leg in a crash into the goalpost that apparently didn't budge like it was supposed to. With the Bolts sitting atop the Eastern Conference, the Lightning will have to find ways to make up for the lost production.  Stamkos is believed done for the season, with initial reports stating that he would miss anywhere from 6-12 weeks.  Losing a player of this magnitude is damaging to everyone; the NHL team, the Canadian Olympic Team and the fantasy owner.  There will be a few call-ups for tonight's match against the Montreal Canadiens with D-men Sami Salo and Keith Aulie also getting injured in yesterday's afternoon tilt against Boston. Expect wither Tyler Johnson or Alex Killorn to grab a little more ice time, but monitor the next few games to see where the trend lies.....What has probably gone unnoticed was the fine play of both goaltenders, especially Tampa backup Anders Lindback who turned aside 23 of 25 SOG but came away with the loss. Don't expect Lindback to start grabbing starts away from starter Ben Bishop, but the coaching staff will have confidence to go with the backup to spell Bishop from time-to-time....Tuukka Rask continued his dominance over the Bolts this year with his third victory against them by a combined score of 11-1 and shutting them out twice in the process.....I'll be watching the transaction wire to see who the Tampa Bay Lightning call up. Could one of those players be named Jonathan Drouin? Drouin has gone 9-20-29 in 14 games for the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL.

Stamkos is out indefinitely after scoring 14 goals and adding 9 assists (t-1st in NHL with 23 points) in 16 games. Valtteri Filppula, Tyler Johnson and Nate Thompson should see expanded roles with Stamkos out.

Stamkos was in obvious pain and has been taken to the hospital for X-rays. It looked gruesome and could be a severe injury for the Lightning sniper. We will get a full update when it is released.

BREAKING NEWS: Tampa Bay superstar Steven Stamkos has broken his right tibia in this afternoon's tilt between the Lightning and the Bruins. The league leader in goals (14) and points (23) will be out indefinitely, so obviously this is a devasting loss to Tampa Bay, the NHL, and all fantasy owners. More details and info as we get it, but further fantasy analysis to come. Varlamov Bounces Back: After a tough outing against Nashville, where he gave up 5 goals on 27 shots, goaltender Semyon Varlamov bounced back strongly with a 33-save effort in Colorado's 4-1 win over Washington. The 25-year old had additional motivation facing his former team, but his excellent play in the crease has been overshadowed by his much-publicized personal issues. Perhaps now, Varlamov owners can be rest assured that his dream season will continue without a hitch, so don't panic and "sell-high" yet. The biggest difference in "Varly's" numbers this season is that he has not been a liability in his road starts. In '12-13, he owned a dismal 1-14 record away from home, with a 3.67 GAA and a .882 SP. However, he has been 3-0 on the road so far with a 1.31 GAA and a .959 SP. Obviously, the "Patrick Roy" factor has Varlamov playing on an All-Star level, so keep riding his hot hand in goal. More Goalie News: Martin Brodeur enjoyed an easy shutout in the 5-0 win over Nashville, turning aside all 15 shots. He looks to have a leg up in the goaltending competition over Cory Schneider with his recent hot streak, winning four of his last five starts while allowing only five goals over that span.... Frederik Anderson of Anaheim cannot be stopped, as he kicked away 35 of 36 shots in the 3-1 win over Vancouver. He now sports a 6-0 record with a 1.41 GAA and .952 SP, making him a mandatory handcuff for all Jonas Hiller fantasy owners. Fantasy Game Notes: The fantasy forward of the night was Montreal's Alex Galchenyuk, who scored a goal and added two assists in Montreal's 4-2 win over the Isles. The 19-year old's starpower is on a steep rise, as he collected 14 points in 18 games in his sophomore year. He has been on a line with Brendan Gallagher and Lars Eller, which could end up being the dominant offensive line for the Habs.... Nick Bonino, who scored the game-winner for Anaheim, has the makings of a great fantasy sleeper for this season. With 11 points in 19 games, he has been firmly entrenched in the Duck's top-six and even played on the top line last night with Ryan Getzlaf out due to ...

BREAKING NEWS: Tampa Bay superstar Steven Stamkos has broken his right tibia in this afternoon's tilt between the Lightning and the Bruins. The league leader in goals (14) and points (23) will be out indefinitely, so obviously this is a devasting loss to Tampa Bay, the NHL, and all fantasy owners. More details and info as we get it, but further fantasy analysis to come. Varlamov Bounces Back: After a tough outing against Nashville, where he gave up 5 goals on 27 shots, goaltender Semyon Varlamov bounced back strongly with a 33-save effort in Colorado's 4-1 win over Washington. The 25-year old had additional motivation facing his former team, but his excellent play in the crease has been overshadowed by his much-publicized personal issues. Perhaps now, Varlamov owners can be rest assured that his dream season will continue without a hitch, so don't panic and "sell-high" yet. The biggest difference in "Varly's" numbers this season is that he has not been a liability in his road starts. In '12-13, he owned a dismal 1-14 record away from home, with a 3.67 GAA and a .882 SP. However, he has been 3-0 on the road so far with a 1.31 GAA and a .959 SP. Obviously, the "Patrick Roy" factor has Varlamov playing on an All-Star level, so keep riding his hot hand in goal. More Goalie News: Martin Brodeur enjoyed an easy shutout in the 5-0 win over Nashville, turning aside all 15 shots. He looks to have a leg up in the goaltending competition over Cory Schneider with his recent hot streak, winning four of his last five starts while allowing only five goals over that span.... Frederik Anderson of Anaheim cannot be stopped, as he kicked away 35 of 36 shots in the 3-1 win over Vancouver. He now sports a 6-0 record with a 1.41 GAA and .952 SP, making him a mandatory handcuff for all Jonas Hiller fantasy owners. Fantasy Game Notes: The fantasy forward of the night was Montreal's Alex Galchenyuk, who scored a goal and added two assists in Montreal's 4-2 win over the Isles. The 19-year old's starpower is on a steep rise, as he collected 14 points in 18 games in his sophomore year. He has been on a line with Brendan Gallagher and Lars Eller, which could end up being the dominant offensive line for the Habs.... Nick Bonino, who scored the game-winner for Anaheim, has the makings of a great fantasy sleeper for this season. With 11 points in 19 games, he has been firmly entrenched in the Duck's top-six and even played on the top line last night with Ryan Getzlaf out due to ...