Both Letang and Staal are expected to play for the Pens in their two-game California trip. You’ll also find an interesting little Crosby update in that link.

Niklas Kronwall may have a head injury – the Wings are looking into it today. More ice time for the likes of Kindl.

The Flyers will be without Daniel Briere and Matt Read tonight. Both are also expected to miss tomorrow’s game. The famous UBI is the culprit for each.

Are the Ducks hiding Teemu Selanne's ID? Are they hanging 1999 calendars throughout the arena to fool him about the current year? The guy is 41 and just had a four-point night. He has 14 points in 12 games to kick off the year. That's 94 points in his last 85 games.

After two points in 11 games, Cam Fowler picked up three in one game. The Ducks lost the game, but Fowler and Selanne were huge stories. Just like that, Fowler's pretty much back on track. Ah, fantasy hockey…

Another guy to snap out of it is Brooks Laich, who shot up from four points on the year to seven.

I have no idea why Backstrom has 14 points to Ovechkin's 10. I can see this as a season in which each of them get around 90-95 points. That's above last year, but below their ability – but that's the system they play in. That being said, Ovechkin is a great buy-low acquisition.

Wideman strikes me as a 45-point player on this team…unless Mike Green is out. Then he's a 60-point player.

Troy Brouwer has four points in his last five games, but has joined a new line – Perreault and Cody Eakin (who was recalled yesterday).

Tomas Vokoun is racking up the wins, but let's face it – you or I in net could rack up the wins on this team. And in his last three games he has allowed nine goals on 51 shots. The scary thing is – that's as close to a slump as you're gonna get from him. Maybe he gets bored with the puck in the other end all game? He could be this year's Grant Fuhr – stops enough to get the W.

My Anderson theory continues to hold a bit of water. Three goals allowed in the first two periods on 33 shots. Two goals allowed in the third period on eight shots. I have him in one league and every game at the end of two I nod and smile. Then cringe in the third. And to make things worse, it seems like the goals he allows in the third period are not scored by any player I own in any league I'm in. D'oh! #nosilverlining.

Chris Kelly picked up his third two-point contest in the last five games.

Stephane Da Costa has three points and is plus-4 in his last five games. That's about when I wondered why he wasn't sent down for a few weeks to get some confidence. Obviously, he worked it out on his own.

One goal allowed in two games for Josh Harding. The guy has gone through some tough luck, but for two years now I've felt that he could and should be an NHL starter. And the injuries have not slowed him down any it would seem. Can he play so well that the team trades him to start elsewhere? Right now he'd be No.2 behind Cory Schneider in terms of trade desirables.

Jiri Tlusty has points in three straight games. He needs to keep this up – and not get injured – for several more weeks. And just like that, his career turns around. Keep in mind that he is still only 23, amazingly. He's on my radar as a short-term waiver pickup… and I would have no problem making it longer term as I watch this continue.

Marc-Andre Bergeron extended his lead in the TB scoring race with another assist. Give him 13 points on the year already.

Nino Niederreiter has been re-assigned to Bridgeport for conditioning. I would imagine he makes his NHL season debut on the weekend. But that's just me, and if not – then shortly after. Trevor Gillies was also sent down.

Kiprusoff got the hook after giving up five goals on 18 shots. It was Karlsson's third appearance.

Alexander Edler had his second consecutive three-point game… and has 10 points in his last six.

David Booth notched his first assist with his new team. Playing with Kesler and Hodgson.

Roberto Luongo – oh so close to the shutout…32 seconds away.

The Preds returned Ryan Thang to the minors, which hints that Sergei Kostitsyn is ready to return for Thursday. Both SK and Fisher were back in practice. Good sign.

Gustav Nyquist played 11 minutes in his first NHL games. He was held without a shot, but got some PP time. I'm hoping he gets at least three games in and gives us a glimpse of what to expect.

Same ol' same ol' when it comes to Jiri Hudler – a healthy scratch last night as Nyquist to his spot on the second line. Unlike last year, I don't think Hudler will get the help of five or six injuries in the lineup to get him 18 minutes per game and shake the slump. He'll have to shake it himself. May not happen. To me, a better hope is a trade – but both the trade route and the "five injuries" route are doubtful.

Here is a column from yesterday about how Mike Yeo is unhappy with Marek Zidlicky's power play performance and how he hopes that Zidlicky will shoot more. The result last night? Zidlicky saw five minutes on the power play and was pointless. Oh, and he had zero shots. Ouch!

Steve Ott has a cut on his hip and may miss Friday's game. Jamie Benn is dealing with swelling and pain in his wrist, but should still play.

LIKE the Dobber Sports Facebook page – I have drawn the names! The first name drawn from the list of “likes” will receive an EASTON Stealth RS hockey stick. The one I have is a left shot, so if you shoot right and your name is drawn I have a Synergy EQ50 I can send you instead. The second name drawn will receive – courtesy of forum buddy Sin Bin – an autographed Sergei Gonchar picture. The next 10 names drawn will receive 10 free premium memberships at Pick’em First, which is a tool that helps you find and read info on players of interest quickly and easily. The winners:

Winner – Easton stick – Craig Zamzow

Winner – Gonchar autographed pic – Joe Remillard

Winner – Picke’em First memberships – Chris Gerlach, Joseph Ampon, Steve Beylon, Marvin Pascual, Oscar Sala, Mark Wilson, Chris Burns (yes – that one; no, not rigged), Susan Egland, Mike Crotty, Brian Barrett

Winners contact me at dobber at dobberhockey dot c0m to go over shipping info/details

Konopka vs. Thornton: