McDonagh returns, Stepan on fire, Ennis heating up, the Canucks blueline scoring woes and more…

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Once again, remember to get those lineups set early. The Rangers and Flyers are running it back with another matinee game at 1:00 pm Eastern.

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Ryan McDonagh returned for the Rangers yesterday, as promised. Alain Vigneault hardly eased him in skating McDonagh 22:12 with 6:16 shorthanded. I guess he didn't have a choice considering the undisciplined play of the Rangers. They had to kill off six Flyer power plays, no easy task, but accomplished that just fine.

McDonagh was only used on the second power play unit but did manage a short-handed assist. Instead, the Rangers continued on with Dan Boyle on the top unit and he scored a power-play goal for the second straight game. He picked a good time to turn it on with McDonagh returning.

I love McDonagh but he isn't so good offensively that it would be impossible for Boyle to hold him off if he keeps producing. But, as I mentioned yesterday, I think that Father Time has caught up to Boyle and that he no longer has the goods to hold McDonagh off. Time will tell but I'm betting on McDonagh.

Derek Stepan is simply sizzling. He has been held off the board in just two games since returning earlier this month. After a three-assist night he now has 11 points in 10 games.

The trick for Stepan is putting together a full 82-game season. He can't do that after missing the first month but could he put together a full 71 games after missing the first 11? We know that Stepan can produce in short stints, he scored over a point per game back in the lockout shortened 2013 season. I think that he has the talent, particularly in the weaker Eastern Conference. And his usage is where it needs to be skating on the top line with Chris Kreider and either Mats Zuccarello or more recently Martin St. Louis, as well as on the top power play unit.

The trick for Stepan staying above a point per game will be sustaining his above-average on-ice shooting percentage of 9.62%. That's right around where elite players perform over a full season. I think he's capable but it wouldn't surprise me if he saw a little regression.

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He only landed one SOG yesterday but Claude Giroux has been shooting way more this season.

He’s on pace for 379 shots, which would be nearly 140 shots more than his career best of 242 shots in 2011-12. And at 4.62 shots on goal per game, he’s averaging nearly 1.50 shots per game more than his best of 3.14 in 2011-12.

One thing working for Giroux is how great of a playmaker Jakub Voracek is. What's surprising is that Voracek is shooting more than ever as well. Last season he landed a career high 235 SOG but he's on pace for 273.

Is this added shooting the reason for these two busting out or is the extra shooting happening because they've simply hit another level. I'd argue that it's the latter. These two are just scorching together. They are a problem on every shift.

I'd be treating Voracek like a superstar in trades. I would try to sell high but I'd be asking for guys like Perry, Malkin, Ovechkin or Kane. Otherwise, I'd just keep him.

Keep in mind Giroux's increased SOG for pools that score it. You aren't likely going to get him in a deal right now but if you have Giroux that's added reason to hang onto him.

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The Blackhawks really stuck it to the Ducks yesterday in Anaheim but the Blackhawks have been doing that to everyone lately. Also, the Ducks have been struggling with injuries on the backend. Francois Beauchemin is out once again, this time with a broken finger. He'll miss a month and a half. They are also without Clayton Stoner who is the latest mumps victim. That's why the Ducks went out and traded for Eric Brewer not long after moving a big defenseman in Bryan Allen.

Don't miss the hidden meaning in this deal. Victor Hedman has been upgraded to questionable for today's game. Looks like he'll be back soon.

Back to the Ducks. They were getting dominated more than fairly but a fairly questionable boarding call on Kyle Palmieri cost them basically the first five minutes of the third period, a huge blow for a team looking to mount a comeback.

Palmieri has been productive since returning to the lineup. He has been skating with Ryan Kesler on the second line (much to the chagrin of Jakob Silfverberg owners) and has three goals in six games. He also has 19 PIM thanks to the 15 yesterday's misconduct afforded him. Palmieri has never been a high-PIM guy at the NHL level though so maybe use this recent spike to try and sell him on the high side before the market correction comes.

Did I mention that Palmieri is currently shooting 23.1%? Again, try to sell him before the market correction hits.

I wouldn't expect Palmieri to carry much value in one-year leagues but keepers is where I'd try selling. Think of it this way, you could hang onto Palmieri and hopes that he is one of the eight different prospects riding the wheel of fortune vying for a spot on the top line with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf or you could cash out while the going is good and try to get an established player.

Whatever you do, don't blame Freddie Andersen for yesterday's loss. Check out this beauty of a save and an equally awesome reaction from Marian Hossa:

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Letdown game for the Islanders yesterday in the second half of their home-and-home with the Capitals, which ends their five-game winning streak. They had the backup, Chad Johnson in though so Jaroslav Halak will have a shot at extending his personal eight-game winning streak against the Devils today.

Johnny Boychuk missed the game with soreness yesterday. He's officially day-to-day with an upper-body injury. He could be back as soon as today.

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