January 06, 2011

Jeff Angus

2011-01-06

 

Pick up the 2010-11 Midseason Guide here! It will be released tomorrow and is absolutely packed to the brim with fantasy hockey gold.

 

Cory Schneider’s emergence as a legit NHL goaltender could be a huge blessing for Luongo and his fantasy owners.

 

Kevin Bieksa’s last six games – plus-9, three goals, four helpers, and 11 shots on goal. His turnaround in play from the beginning of the season has been amazing.

 

Calgary’s best player was Mikael Backlund. No one else on the team really stood out – a team stuck in mud right now. It will be interesting to see what Feaster can do at the deadline.

 

The Ducks learned earlier yesterday that they were going to be without Ryan Getzlaf for up to six weeks. They obviously took the news hard, as they led the Predators stomp all over them (to be fair, the Ducks outshot Nashville 2-1).

 

The new top line: Bobby Ryan centering Corey Perry and Matt Beleskey. Maxim Lapierre was also tried on the left side.

 

Shea Weber has six points in three games.

 

Hornqvist is streaky, we all know this. He scored in his third consecutive game last night. Sergei Kostitsyn added a goal and an assist. He’s quietly putting together a productive season in Nashville.

 

Luongo was 10 seconds away from a shutout last night – he ended up stopping 44 of 45 shots against the Flames.

 

He looks fresh and sharp in each start. He won’t play more than 60 games (compared to his usual 65-75), but his peripheral stats will all be much improved.

 

Bruce Arthur is one of the best writers in sports. If you do one thing today (besides buy the Midseason Guide…) read this column.

 

Evgeni Dadonov missed Florida's game last night with a minor ankle injury.

 

Rich Peverley has three goals in his past two games. He was pointless in his previous seven games. A solid buy-low for the second half (much more on him in the 2010-11 Midseason Guide…)

 

Andrew Ladd also has points in consecutive games after firing blanks for seven. He's on pace for over 60 and I'd expect him to get there.

 

This is the best Brenden Morrow has skated in over three years (since his ACL injury). He had a goal last night and looks to have his offensive mojo back.

 

Ho hum, another two point night for Brad Richards. The vultures are going to be circling at the deadline this year.

 

Hjalmarsson had an assist last night, just his fourth point of the season. I had him in the low 20's, he skates well and makes a good first pass. Surprised at the lack of production.

 

So much for first impressions. 24 hours after his debut shutout with the Lightning, Dwayne Roloson was exposed for five goals by the Penguins (who then went on to fire three past Dan Ellis).

 

Roloson allowed three and gave way to Ellis, who promptly allowed three of his own. Roloson then returned to let two more in.

 

Eight goals for the Penguins, and of course only one assist for Crosby.

 

Chris Kunitz had a hat trick, and Goligoski and Letang combined for seven points.

 

Goligoski's four points match his cumulative total over his previous 10 games.

 

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I cut bait on Simon Gagne (one-year league) last night. Too soon?

 

Mats Zuccarello scored his first career NHL goal last night – it was the OT winner to boot. He also had an assist on New York's other goal.

 

The Rangers called up Ryan McDonagh, but he was a healthy scratch last night.

 

Matt Gilroy has three goals in his past four games. Not sure what to make of him right now – his defensive game will never be great, and he needs to produce to hold a lineup spot down. He was highly-touted coming out of college but has been a disappointment at the pro level.

 

With Pitkanen out, Jamie McBain has found his way onto Carolina's top PP unit alongside Joe Corvo.

 

Not much of a race in the Eastern Conference right now as the 8th placed Rangers are now seven points up on 9th place Carolina.

 

Highest scoring duo – Rafalski/Lidstrom, Letang/Goligoski, or Enstrom/Byfuglien?

 

Jordan Staal was pointless for the Penguins (he had an assist that was eventually taken away from him).

 

Chicago is 12-11 at home – they lost eight home games all of last season.

 

Stalberg hasn't scored since mid November. Versteeg struggling in Toronto – a lose-lose trade? I am not sure what the Leafs expected out of Versteeg – phenomenal complementary player, but he needs to be in the right situation.

 

Canada/Russia… what a game.

 

Kudos to the Russians for never giving up. Once it was 3-2 Canada, the Canadians started to play "not to lose" instead of "trying to win." It ended up biting them in the rear end.

 

Tarasenko was every bit as impressive as Evgeni Malkin and Alexander Radulov were in Vancouver/Kelowna a few years ago.

 

I don't think Dmitri Orlov left the ice in the third period for the Russians. He's got a TON of upside – this was the first time I got a really good look at most of the Russian players.

 

He started the tournament slow (I thought he looked a bit soft at times against better competition), but last night was by far his best game.

 

Dallas scored their first empty net goal in 63 games last night.

 

Viktor Stalberg managed to hit all three posts on a penalty shot attempt last night:

 

A hilarious Ovechkin commercial for ESPN:

 

I… am… speechless:

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