As expected, Alexei Ponikarovsky lined up with Evgeni Malkin and Ruslan Fedotenko in his Pittsburgh debut. The line was a minus-2, so don’t chisel it into stone just yet. Poni did score, however, on the power play. He has replaced Chris Kunitz on the top unit, which is wise.

I still think they need to put Malkin on the left wing and have Staal center he and Poni. Then have Talbot anchor the third line. Dobber for coach!

Better late than never – Letang has 10 points in his last 15 games and Alex Goligoski has six in 10.

Kari Lehtonen’s numbers in a Dallas uniform: two games, one start, eight goals allowed. We’ll cut him slack for missing the entire season… but hopefully you haven’t played him on your active roster yet.

Marian Gaborik played 20 minutes in his first NHL game since February 12, but he was held pointless. His last point was on February 6.

Derek Boogaard got two games for his knee on knee with Ryan Jones. The clip was in yesterday’s ramblings.

Man, I think I have everything figured out in the NHL (well, not really) and then Chris Stewart does a Sidney Crosby impression. Seriously Chris, slow down. Nine points in his last four games to give him 45 in his last 42. That’s the secret to Colorado’s success and all teams should try this: simply make five of your prospects suddenly become superstars. It’s foolproof!

Don’t look now, but Peter Mueller has five points in his last four games and four in three as an Avalanche member. Yes – get him back off the wire!

Building on the Alex Steen note from yesterday, he had his third straight two-point game last night and has 30 in 32. He also leads all Blues forwards with plus-4.

Brad Boyes has a point in every game since the break – three points and plus-6. Perhaps he had been playing with an injury of some kind and the break helped. If so, then expect a turnaround (finally).

COL line combos last night: Stastny, Stewart and Galiardi – preseason, that sounded pretty weak and Stastny owners were saying “Uh oh”. Today, that line line sounds pretty damn good. Also Duchene with Mueller and Hejduk (also awesome) and Yelle with Stoa and Tucker.

Since I’m already on Frozen Pool checking line combos, may as well give you St. Louis: Backes with Oshie and Kariya; McClement with Boyes and Steen; McDonald with Berglund and Perron.

Kristian Huselius was red hot heading into the break and ice cold coming out of it – pointless in two. When a player like that is on a hot streak, the last thing he needs is a disruption.

Benoit Pouliot has 15 points in his last 17 contests.

The shutout last night was Ilya Bryzgalov’s seventh, tying him with Brodeur and Vokoun for the league lead. Since most leagues carry shutouts as a category – and some leagues weigh it very heavily – he is easily a Top 5 fantasy goalie this year.

Ilya Kovalchuk: eight points in eight games since the trade, and plus-1
Niclas Bergfors: seven points in eight games since the trade, and plus-5 – and Atlanta gets to keep him and spend $9 million on other players.

Teddy Purcell notched another two points, giving him three in two games with TB – pick him up now. He’s still playing with Lecavalier and Malone.

Give Evgeny Artyukhin two points in two games as a Thrasher. I told you he’d start hot – but then again, we’re seeing proof of the theory that a player gets really hot early on when he’s dealt to a new team. Tons of examples right now.

It’s hard to believe that Kurtis Foster started the year without a point in 10 games, interspersed with a pile of healthy scratches. He has 31 in his last 44 now and could be a 55-point defenseman for the Lightning next year. He’s certainly looking the part.

As expected with the moving of Leopold and Seidenberg, Dmitri Kulikov played 23 minutes last night and over four on the power play, notching an assist. That’s his second game with that much ice time – the points will come. Look for nine or 10 in the last 18 games.

I have two luxury suites side-by-side at the Marlies game on Sunday March 21. The game is sold out as it will be on CBC. They play Calgary’s farm team. I have sold most of the tickets for the two boxes, but still have six left – if you live in the Toronto area and want to hang with myself, Russ Miller, Brent Lemon and Notch – while eating wings (included) and talking fantasy hockey – get your ticket now. Just $35 for all that. Buy it HERE. Also, just an update – I’m seven tickets shy of my goal of 50 for the charity – Children’s Aid Society.

Colton Orr vs. Matt Carkner Round 4 – Don Cherry whines about how Orr holds three fingers up. I applaud it. The lesson here kids: if you win something, rub it in.