GM Gates is running a little contest in the forum in which you can name the DobberHockey farm team – that’s the area where myself or Angus choose a column written by YOU for publication on front page. Details here.

The rookie adrenalin rush has finally worn off of Matt Calvert, as he has just two points in his last 10 games. He’ll make the team next year, but I’d be shocked to see 45. He’ll get there, but it won’t be as fast as he hinted at a month ago.

Sami Lepisto picked up his first three points as a Blue Jacket. He’s seeing lots of ice time there, but none of it on the power play. Perhaps this will convince the coach to give him a look there.

Grant Clitsome left that game with a knee injury that will be re-evaluated.

Evgeny Dadonov finally returned to action after missing six weeks with a broken finger and he made his presence felt with a pair of goals. He saw some time with Sergei Samsonov, but lined up with Reasoner and Booth.

Samsonov, by the way, is pulling a Tom Gilbert and making poolies interested in him because of a late season surge. Well we’re not falling for it this time Serge! But we don’t have to – NHL GM’s have to. He needs a contract. Anyway, Samsonov has three consecutive two-point games. That’s nine in 10 for his new team. Seeing 20 minutes a game, he could keep this up. Yes…I blew it when I reviewed this trade and felt that he wouldn’t do much in Florida.

Rick DiPietro got that win (over Florida), by the way. Montoya is his backup going forward now. Next year, I think it will be Montoya/Poulin as 1a/1b, with DiPietro making cameo appearances in between surgeries and rehab stints.

Dmitry Kulikov has a four-game points streak going. He has six points in 10 games since the McCabe trade, indicating that if he’s ‘the man’ back there, then he can give you some nice numbers. How he does next year will depend on who the team signs in the summer.

Jonathan Blum has a three-game points streak going for the Preds.

So the Fan Duel contest was yesterday for DobberHockey. You can still sign up for the opening day contest over at DobberBaseball right here. Anyway, congratulations to Azridine, whose secret was to grab Ray Emery for cheap and build from there. Conversation about the contest is here.

So how did I do? I was 29th out of 313. So only 28 of you get the $5 for beating me. I’ll have more info on how your prize money is collected on Monday, if Fan Duel hasn’t already credited your account there. My team: LW: Ennis 6.4, Calvert 0, RW: St. Louis -2 (not off to a good start, but check it), D’Agostini 6.6, C: Stamkos 0.4, Thornton 6, D: Goligoski 4.4, Karlsson 8, G: Reimer 9

Back on my radar for my keeper league – Matt D’Agostini. He has a five game points streak and has nine in that span. Thanks to Alex Steen for getting out of the lineup. It looks like he actually has a shot at 50 points. Man, if he gets there I’d have to think he can build on that – he was completely unproductive during the two months leading up to Steen’s injury. If you can erase those 70 days or so, his production would be close to a 70 pace.

Kevin Shattenkirk has just three points in his last 12 contests.

This guy’s available for you – Torrey Mitchell has six points in his last six games and is plus-6 in that span. Throw in six PIM and 18 shots and he’s currently a multi-category stud. He’d be a 55-point player right now, if injuries didn’t derail his development. I don’t believe he’ll ever get to that level now, so this is a short-term pickup.

TJ Oshie has just four points and is minus-5 in his last 14 games. He also boasts just two PIM in that span.

In his second start, Ray Emery gets another win. This guy is clutch – he may be average when the games don’t matter, but when he HAS to win he almost always does. To get a contract in the NHL, he has to play – and to play right now he HAS to win. And he is. Teams don’t trust goalies with questionable hips who take most of the season off. So he HAS to win. The guy has faced 70 shots and has allowed two goals. Gold. He’ll be gold down the stretch and I’m sure the team will ride him for most of the games.

Alex Goligoski played 32 minutes yesterday. He has arrived as a No.1 defenseman. He’s now at 40 points and is plus-27 on the season.

Michael Grabner has 34 points in his last 33 games. Just playing that half of the season would have him four points behind second on the Panthers in scoring. That team that waived him. His 46 on the year would put him three behind Weiss for top spot in Florida.

For all the flak that I give the Kostitsyn brothers, the bottom line is that each of them will probably finish third in scoring on their respective teams. Not that that is saying a lot, but still…(hell, Grabner would be leading the Preds in scoring with his 46 points)

The win last night was Brian Elliott’s first win on his new team. He’s 1-5-1 there.

John Tavares has 46 points in his last 45 games.

Ryan Shannon has 10 points in his last 13 games. He’s a former Dobber favorite, but h’e seeing 19 minutes a game right now.

In his last 35 contests, Nate Gerbe has 20 points. That’s nothing to brag about, but he’s a small player playing his first full NHL season and I love that progress. Pencil him in for 40-45 next year and then a possible explosion the following campaign. The guy is a bundle of talent.

Logan Couture left last night’s game with a leg injury. He is day to day.

Wanna know why Kris Letang is in such a horrible slump? The Pens are two for their last 42 on the power play.

Braden Holtby has been sent back to Hershey. Varlamov is back in practice.

Loui Eriksson is back skating, and could be back the middle of this week.

The Caps have signed 19-year-old agitator Garrett Mitchell. He’s obviously a couple of years away, but he has a future as an energy player who stirs the pot.

Simon Gagne’s neck injury held him out yesterday and he’ll also probably miss Tuesday as well.

Florida has signed undrafted 20-year-old Jonathan Hazen. As a QMJHL overager he has 83 points in 62 games. He needs to bulk up and produce next year at the AHL level to move forward. But those numbers, to me, are not prolific enough.

The undrafted chips are starting to fall – the Oilers have signed undrafted college free agent Tanner House to a contract. House was named Best Defensive Forward for Hockey East, but he also had 74 points in 70 games over his last two seasons. His 35 points were fourth, just 16 behind teammate Gustav Nyqvist. Interestingly enough – U. of Maine is the team that regular reader “Playmaker” plays on (he’s also undrafted – let’s get him signed NHL!).

Marco Scandella broke his finger. Nate PRosser has been recalled.

Mike Comrie is looking like a possibility for next weekend for the Penguins.

Tuukka Rask came in for Tim Thomas…but then threw a temper tantrum at his d-men after this goal and the coach pulled him and put Thomas back in. Rask is known for flipping out, so that is a bit of a concern:

Unexpected tilt – Comeau vs. Kulikov:

Horton vs. Phaneuf: