We are looking for sponsors for the DobberHockey Olympic Pool. Obviously bragging rights are good, but prizes for the top entrants is going to both increase the amount of users in the league as well as increase the excitement it will create! Not a big cost to get thousands of hockey fans looking at what you have to offer. Email Angus if you have any interest at angus @dobberhockey .com

My THN article from yesterday is on crazy stats correcting themselves. It can be found here. Also, you can find today’s fantasy mailbag right here.

If you live in the Toronto area and enjoy wings, beer and talking fantasy hockey, you may want to have a look at this link. If you don’t like those things, you may want to look at this link.

The worst kept secret in hockey – Khabibulin will undergo back surgery and is out indefinitely. And Dobber’s definition of indefinitely in this case is – summer.

The NHL has decided to fine Alex Burrows and do no action on Stephane Auger. They then said the matter is closed. That’s what they always say when presented with anything potentially embarrassing. I remember they said that to Jim Balsillie back in June, but his millions of dollars kept the matter open for a few more months. Anyway, point is they always try that trick. Not that it doesn’t work, I’m just sayin…

The Pittsburgh TV replay snafu I mentioned in an earlier ramblings has resulted in a suspension of an FSN employee. More on the story here if you are interested.

Good news for Varlamov owners – Michal Neuvirth finally was off his game last night, getting the hook after four goals. Jose Theodore proceeded to let in three himself. If you own Varlamov (and not the other two), you were probably getting worried that he may not get his job back. This doesn’t definitively give him the job back (when he returns from injury), but it certainly helps his cause.

Give Brandon Bochenski another three points. That makes five in two games and he’s seen about 15 minutes of ice time in each of his last three. He’s clicking with St. Louis and Stamkos, which has pushed Malone down to the Szczechura line. Bet you didn’t know there WAS a Szczechura line, did you? Well there is, and Malone is on it. Szczechura.

With Kariya and Tkachuk in, and McDonald out, here were the lines last night: Backes with Kariya and Oshie; Berglund with Perron and Winchester; Tkachuk with Janssen and Crombeen; McClement with Boyes and Steen.

Steen scored twice and led all forwards in ice time with 21:03. The new coach is pushing the right buttons. Steen has 13 points in his last 12 contests, though most of that was under Andy Murray. Still, the situation bears watching. Sometimes a new coach is all it takes.

I’ve noticed Nashville’s Ryan Jones scoring in bunches. After starting the season without a point in 12 games, he rang off five in four. Then he went 10 games without a point and now has four in his last two. i think Jones will be a 50-point third liner who can sub in on the second line at times.

Teammate Patric Hornqvist continues to roll – he has 19 points in his last 18 games, with 12 of them goals.

DobberHockey’s fourth annual Midseason Fantasy Guide – Buy it here if you haven’t already!

With two goals last night, Rob Schremp has eight points in his last six games. He’s found his comfort zone in the NHL and provided that he gets the ice time and that the coach lets him work through his slumps, he looks to be a fantasy player after all. He’s obviously worth a short-term pickup, but again I think he’s worth a keeper gamble.

A rookie goalie who is still gaining confidence should not be starting nine games in a row and 12 of 13. Thankfully, Mike Babcock pulled Jimmy Howard relatively quick. Osgood came in and didn’t fare any better, thus blowing his chance to earn a start and seize his job back.

Tyler Bozak assisted in debut on the Kessel line. He has two points in two NHL games and is worth a flyer if you’re desperate for a No.4 pivot.

Kurtis Foster is continuing to roll. The TB rearguard has 12 in his last 11 contests.

Josh Bailey is on a seven-game points streak, with 12 points in that span for the Isles who are just a point out of a playoff spot.

Matt Bugg’s work here on DobberHockey was noticed and referenced by Guy Flaming and the Pipeline show. It can be found here: http://thepipelineshow.blogspot.com/