Angus popping in here. Some confirmed USA line combinations: Stastny centering Parise and Kane on the top line, Kesler centering Brown and Langenbrunner, and Pavelski centering Malone and Kessel.

The other line will feature Bobby Ryan and two others forwards, as a third offensive unit. The Kesler line is going to be the line to match up against the top opposing lines.

Lecavalier is starting the game with Parrish and Malone as his wingers.

So what do you say about a guy who’s had three straight seasons hovering around 80 points, but followed it up with 58, bounced back with 41 in 50 games (pro-rates to around 67) and now is on pace for 43 – and he’s only 30?  Alex Tanguay was a young player with 60 or 65-point potential, but who hit some dumb luck clicking with different stars in Colorado. Once established, he got the ‘star’ treatment and took full advantage in Calgary, notching a point per game (career high). Once he slumped there, however, he was no longer given the ‘star’ treatment and was forced to earn that label back – which he didn’t. Furthermore, he overvalued himself in the market and was forced to settle on a rather cheap one-year deal with Tampa Bay. Not signed next year and not even making three million, Tanguay is being treated like any other second liner (as he should be) and the result has been what will amount to 45 points. Will he get another contract in the NHL next year? Of course. And yes, he has a shot at recapturing his former glory… but the odds of that are slim. I think he’s Petr Sykora-ing his way to the fringes of fantasy hockey and is three years away from Mike York-ing his way around the AHL or the Euro leagues. I know I’m hard on a guy after one terrible year, and I did say he has a shot at coming back from this, but that is just my hunch.

Brooks Laich is on a three game points streak (six points). He’s a streaky player, so will obviously produce like a top forward in your league for another week or two.

Speaking of which, I think Radim Vrbata may be maturing. The last time he went three games without a point was in November – and I normally rely on him for extreme streaks. Example – he’ll get 10 points in four games and then get four points in 12 games. We’re not seeing that anymore. Steady production will be a good thing next season, as the Coyotes mature.

With David Moss and Nigel Dawes back from injury, what you see is probably now what you will get for the Flames in terms of healthy forwards, once Rene Bourque returns. Here are their line combos: Stajan, Iginla and Hagman are still together; Langkow has Higgins and Kotalik with him; Backlund with Dawes and Moss; Mayers with Nystrom and Glencross. Craig Conroy would take over for Backlund when he returns… then again he may not, given the dismal numbers. Bourque could make Dawes a scratch if he doesn’t produce.

Zach Boychuk scored his first NHL goal last night for the Canes. He has three points in the last three games for the team and is clearly getting comfortable in the NHL. Lock him in for a roster spot next year. And as long as he doesn’t play 25 games this year, he’ll be up for Calder consideration in 10-11.

Jussi Jokinen’s streak is up to nine games and he has points in 12 of 13. He has 22 points in 15 games (11 of them on the power play) and 30 in 25. His shooting percentage is nearly 20.

Jonathan Cheechoo, like a lame horse, has been put down… to Binghamton. His torrid 17-point pace has been stopped as a result.

Tampa has recalled Mark Parrish, who will likely take Bochenski’s spot in the lineup. If memory serves from last year in his first game for Dallas, he kicking things off with a hat trick before his production tanked. You may see another early surge before the inevitable fade.

Look for the AHL to get a huge boost from teams who are able to send some players down to get in some ice time during the break.

Interesting note in the Dispatch – Rick Nash faces Keith, Toews and Seabrook today as an enemy, and then hops on a plane to Vancouver with them later in the day.

There is a chance that Ray Emery has a torn hip labrum, which according to philly.com would be “career threatening”. Look for Turco talks to really heat up after the break. Meanwhile, Michael Leighton is really turning his career back around and in two years could be the next “Craig Anderson”.