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Ah, the dog days of summer. Scraping just to find a shred of fantasy hockey-worthy news. Oops, sorry – habit.

Hockey’s back. For the first time years (feels like), we can look at our team and actually see fresh statistics besides some of the player names!

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I was impressed with Lars Eller, and early on when he was wielding a hot stick, the coach leaned on him with a ton of ice time. The Habs have four great centermen, each of whom should be in the top six. But I get the feeling that whoever is hot at the time will be leaned on for a pile of ice time. The result will be streaks – and lots of them. As such, I get this feeling that all four of these guys will post between 45 and 55 points. Eller had three points and six shots.

Max Pacioretty left the game in the first and returned after the second period was underway. It looked like his arm was wrapped up though and he didn’t seem to be himself.

Here were Montreal’s most frequent line combinations:

And remember – you can get these free, and live while the game is still happening – by clicking here. But as you can see, Eller was double-shifted. To my point about the ‘riding the hot hand’ thing.

Colton Orr and George Parros got into it twice. The first fight was entertaining. The second one was scary as Parros was stretchered off when he went face first into the ice. Here is the first fight:

And here is the second fight:

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It’s amazing how terrible the Leafs forwards look just by replacing the word “Clarkson” with the “Bodie”. But with Clarkson’s name there, the lineup looks very competitive. I can’t explain the psychology behind that, I just know that looking at the lines last night I caught myself thinking that.

One thing I’m not down on is Toronto’s No.1 center. Not that I’m high on Tyler Bozak, I just think he gets a bad rap. The fact of the matter is, the common perception of a No.1 center is actually suitable for about 15 teams. Then you get down to the Bozaks. He can keep up with Kessel and since they are both in Toronto for the long run, I think Bozak is a great buy-low guy in keeper leagues. Barring injury, he should be a steady 50-55 guy with upside for 70. After all, he’s playing with a reliable 85-point player who should be in the Top 10 in NHL scoring year in and year out. Bozak’s also getting a crapload of ice time.

James Reimer was the star of the game. He really steps up his play when he needs to, which is why it will take Bernier longer than you think to take over the top job – and even still don’t count out Reimer.

I have a feeling scoring is going up more than people think. Simply because of the goalie equipment. Look at the goals last night. How many would have been stopped had the goalie pads gone up several more inches? Two? Three? That’s two or three more goals than normal. Now extrapolate that over a full season with all of the teams.

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 Martin St. Louis is the new captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He’s signed for two more years.

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Mikhail Grabovski is making quite the impression, but keep in mind that he’s always kind of been this way – streaky, and hot when he’s got something to prove. After tying for the league lead in preseason points, he has the league lead in regular season points, albeit after one game. He had four points last night, including the first hat trick by a Capital in a Washington home opener ever. It was his first career hat trick too.

The key? He was fourth on the team in PP ice time. That’s why I’m comfortable with him having a career season even if he never plays with Ovechkin at even strength. Three of his four points last night were on the PP.

Connor Carrick, Michael Latta and Tom Wilson played a combined 23 minutes last night. Not a number that indicates that they have a shot at sticking.

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Chicago’s line combinations last night:

Note that Brandon Saad – he of three points in that game – is playing with a couple of, well, non-stars. While Handzus gets Hossa and Sharp, and Bickell gets Kane and Toews, Saad gets…Shaw and Hayes.

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Mark Arcobello got on the score sheet, tallying an assist on the Jesse Joensuu power play goal. Arcobello is a great waiver pickup for the short term. But the million dollar question is – can he keep this up after Sam Gagner and RNH return?

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The more things change…Michael Frolik saw the big two seconds on the power play. Are the Jets putting the Ferrari out to plow the fields? Yet he still scored. Twice (and I went to bed with five minutes left so who knows?). I’m wondering if the move here is to shop him before he hits a slump. Because the lack of PP time raises flags.

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Speaking of raising flags, attention Martin Erat owners:

Erat saw just eight minutes. Yep, he’s on the fourth line right now.

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Nice looking Frolik goal: