El-Bashir reports that the Caps will be scratching Fleischmann and Walker tonight, giving them rest. Boudreau has a lot of depth and his players are healthy – since the Caps have a big lead they’ll be resting their guys a lot down the stretch. I get the feeling that if you own a player on this team, that player will miss at least one game going forward, although I am sure that he has an obligation to dress Ovechkin every time.

Chris Stewart leads the NHL in points since the Olympic break with nine. Some of us could probably have guessed that, but could you have guessed that Bryan McCabe is second with eight?

I’ll throw some other names out there: Patrick Kane, Paul Stastny, Mike Richards and Martin St. Louis have seven each; D. Sedin, Keith, Steen, Crosby, Toews, Booth, Datsyuk and Stamkos have six.

Manny Legace has won five straight and has allowed just eight goals in that span. I’ve been doubting him, and still do, but it would be a mistake to ignore the trend. If you don’t mind his splitting games 50/50 with Peters, pick him up.

Just like the last two years, Sergei Samsonov is showing up in the second half. For two years, that has been good enough to tease us into believing that he will have a 60-plus season the following year, only to watch him do Jack Squat in the first 50 games. He has five points in his last six and 12 in his last 17.

Marc Savard suffered a concussion at the hands of Matt Cooke and was carried off on a stretcher. No penalty was given. Suspension? Discuss. I stuck the clip at the bottom. Savard will be out for at least week, but I would say two, three or even more is certainly likely.

Dustin Boyd played on a line with Colin Wilson and Jordin Tootoo. But Barry Trotz only gave him 10 minutes.

Still with Trotz, he only gave Denis Grebeshkov 12 minutes of ice time. This despite Shea Weber being out of the lineup (UBI – day to day).

Carey Price was thrown in net again – to my dismay as a Price owner. It was his third start in four games. He truly is the golden boy, and I think it hurts him more than it helps. He got the hook after giving up three goals on 11 shots. He should be starting every three games, and not this frequently. He had a couple of great games last week while Halak recovered from the Olympics, and now that confidence is spoiled with this nonsense. Hopefully they go with Halak two out of every three games down the stretch. If they do that, I am confident that Price would have strong numbers during his six-odd games. I understand that it was a back-to-back situation, but Halak just did 100 of those at the Oympics. He can handle it. Price let in one weak goal yesterday, and the team let him down on the other two.

Evander Kane blocked a shot with his foot Saturday and was in a boot Sunday and was unable to play. They’ll have a look at it today – possible break.

Dan Bylsma really likes Ponikarovsky on Malkin’s line. From the Gazette: “There’s not a lot of flair to Alexei’s game,” Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. “The goal was evidence of that. He picks up a turnover, gets his feet moving, moves the puck — a simple play, but he drives the net. “There’s not a lot of flash. You don’t have to read. [Malkin] doesn’t have to figure out where the guy’s going. He’s going to the net. That gives [Malkin] more time and space with the puck, and creates havoc at the net when [Malkin] shoots the puck.”

13 days from today: 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 THREE 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.

Cooke on Savard: