San Jose takes Game 5, Zach Werenski, Nick Bonino, Michal Kempny, Isle's prospects and more highlight Tuesday's Ramblings …

This is a few days old, but it was interesting to browse through the teams with the most playoff wins since 2000.

It really puts the Sharks into the must-win category, and highlights how strong they've been without ever putting it all together for a win.

It is amazing to think Joe Thornton has 96 points through 111 playoff games (0.86 points per game) since joining San Jose. Patrick Marleau was in tow for the duration with 107 points through 147 playoff games (0.73 points per game).

Joe Pavelski has 74 points through 97 playoff games, including no shows in 2007, 2009 and 2012 where he had just two points through 17 games. Excuse those years, and Pavelski has 72 points through 80 playoff games and 36 points over his past 34 postseason games through the past three second seasons.

Logan Couture had four goals through 15 playoff games as a 20-year-old rookie in 2010, but since he has 52 points through 57 postseason games.

Impressive offense. These were the numbers leading into Game 5.

And while I'm a huge fan of St. Louis, and don't have a strong investment in who wins this series. I enjoyed reading this article about Thornton by Craig Custance. So often, players are slammed with negativity for poor off-ice conduct because it sells and grabs clicks.

It's nice to see some positive spins. Please, read the article and consider sharing it for others. Not a lot of fantasy takes here, but two solid reads, nonetheless.

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Vladimir Tarasenko is taking his scoring slump in stride and saying the right things.

And while this isn't unique, by any stretch, Tarasenko also had a lengthy midseason slump this season. He went 17 games with just three goals and three assists from Jan. 8 to Feb. 18.

St. Louis was shutout in Games 2 and 3, and the Blues only scored two goals in their Game 1 win.

This was a particular interesting quote from head coach Ken Hitchcock:

“The playoffs are for veteran players,” said Hitchcock. “The veteran players on both teams have this thing dialed up. They know they're not giving much room to us. As you experience this as a younger player, you're going to have to learn to fight through a lot if you expect to score. We would like him to learn that lesson a day from now, but we're not sure on the time frame.”

Nikita Kucherov and Tyler Johnson disagree.

Tarasenko's Round 3 flop will be a major story if St. Louis fails to advance, but there is still plenty of time for Tarasenko to make his mark on the series. He entered Game 5 with 11 shots over four games during the series, and his career 13.8 shooting percentage suggests he'll kick the funk sooner than later.

Tarasenko registered his first shot of Game 5 with 4:23 left in the third period.

***

Zach Werenski is turning heads with Lake Erie. He is up to four goals and seven assists through 11 playoff games.

There are a lot of great quotes from team captain Ryan Craig and head coach Jared Bedner in the linked article, but the narrative seems to be the same about Werenski. He is a complete player with excellent character and maturity.

There aren't many pieces ahead of Werenski in Columbus, and he could have an immediate impact next season. Without doubt, he is late-round flier material in leagues deeper rotisserie leagues.

Let's just hope he isn't Tortorella'd. That's not a joke, either. It's a realistic concern with selecting anyone from Columbus right now.

***

Nick Bonino is a curious fantasy case for next fall. He killed it down the stretch and has been solid during the playoffs. His 20 power-play points in 2013-14 were a huge part of his 49 points that season, and he has returned 39 points and 29 points in the two seasons since.

What is impressive about Bonino is his strong stick work in retrieving pucks, intercepting passes and clearing attempts and winning board battles. The puck is magnetized to his stick, and his reach and ability to manoeuvre the puck in tight to his body and at the outmost of his reach is the key to his offensive ability.

Without winger eligibility, Bonino isn't a fantasy force in the majority of leagues, and while he will likely have a tough time topping his career-high 49 points, it isn't out of the question.

There is a respectable floor, and a 40-point season is within reach.

***

The Chicago Blackhawks have inked Michal Kempny.

He projects to push Trevor van Riemsdyk for a top-four role and likely push one of Erik Gustafsson or Viktor Svedberg out of the mix most nights.

Here is what general manager Stan Bowman had to say about Kempny:

“He’s a mobile defenceman,” said Bowman. “He’s got that mixture of offence and defence. I would call him a really well-rounded guy. He can defend well in his own end. Mobility; he’s a good skater.

"He can transition the puck. He can sort of play a well-rounded game, which I think as a defenceman, you’ve seen our team play a lot, you have to be able to defend for our coaches to be able to rely on you. He’s got that ability to sort of play both ways.”

A full season with top-four minutes should help Kempny to a 20-point season with an excellent plus/minus rating and enough shots to tip the scales in the category. It's always difficult to project how hits and shot blocking will transfer over to North America.

***

Georges Laraque is still keeping folks in line.

***

Here is a look at a projected roster for USA's club for the World Cup.

It is acknowledged immediately, that general manager Dean Lombardi has some major decisions after leaving Tyler Johnson, Justin Faulk, Kevin Shattenkirk, David Backes and Phil Kessel off the initial roster.

Then the writer includes four of the five plus Cam Fowler, Kyle Okposo and Kyle Palmieri with the lone excluded being none other than Phil Kessel.

Unbelievable, how is that even possible?

As a Leafs fan, I never understood the disrespect his game received while with Toronto. I was delighted the day he was traded away, but expected him to thrive in Pittsburgh as he has over the past 50 games.

Why is Kessel so underappreciated?

Otherwise, the team looks strong in goal and balanced for the most part, you know, outside of the Justin Abdelkader inclusion.

***

Arthur Staple had a solid rundown of the Islanders prospects heading into the 2016-17 season. It is usually helpful when beats take these looks because of their day-to-day coverage of the team.

Obviously, while some beats are better than others, they watch every game and practice and have a strong grasp of the team at the upper level, too. In this case, Staple highlighted the organization's typical unwillingness to roster teenagers citing Josh Bailey's unfulfilled upside and the mismanagement of Nino Niederreiter.

Mathew Barzal needs to be on the opening night roster given he has nothing left to prove in the WHL, but where does he fit?

Look for some changes with Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen set for unrestricted free agency. It would be difficult to envision Brazal not making the team, and he could potential be the No. 2 center, which would make him a solid fantasy option.

The other bonus for anyone joining the Islanders is there is likely no chance they play a fourth-line role. Casey Cizikas is a restricted free agent and Matt Martin is a UFA, but it would seem likely that both are back with the Isles.

Here are the takes on Michael Dal Colle and Josh Ho-Sang.

Michael Dal Colle’s second year in the Isles organization had quite a few ups and downs, starting when Joshua Ho-Sang, his training camp roommate, overslept on the first day of full camp and was sent home. Dal Colle was a bit rattled by that incident and, perhaps coincidentally, simply never looked at ease on the ice with the veterans.

Once he went back to Oshawa, things didn’t improve until he was dealt to Kingston midway through the OHL season. He was 8-17-25 in 30 games before the trade, then had 27-28-55 in 30 games after the deal, plus 6-12-18 in nine playoff games before Kingston was ousted by Ho-Sang’s Niagara squad.

Dal Colle is a pro now and his first season begins in early July with prospect camp. His goal when the veterans arrive in September is to prove he belongs with the big boys this season because the organization doesn’t see it that way just yet.

Ho-Sang, of course, has the most to show the Islanders as he joins the pro ranks full-time. He took the right steps in his final amateur year after the embarrassment of his day-one dismissal from camp, posting 19-63-82 in the regular season and 6-20-26 in the OHL playoffs for Niagara.

Now, in addition to becoming a bit more dedicated to things like off-ice workouts and strength training, Ho-Sang has to come in this summer with a spotless attitude. Fair or not, he’s viewed as selfish before he’s even played a game for the Isles or Bridgeport; it could be a very long road back for him this season. If he has the patience and the dedication, there’s still a spot for him with the Isles eventually.

The Islanders have an intriguing group of young skilled players entering the mix, and they're already a strong team with a go-to leader and scorer in John Tavares.

***

Roman Polak lost it on Dmitri Jaskin in the second period Monday. It was costly, but it should have been more costly.

This should have been a two-minute minor for roughing, a two-minute minor for instigating and a five-minute major for fighting. Obviously, the Western Conference Finals isn't the time to start making an example.

But, if the National Hockey League is serious about player safety, there is no place for a player being able to take multiple liberties before the opposing player has to respond by fighting.

It was Jaskin's first fight since the 2012-13 season when he was playing in the QMJHL, according to HockeyFights.com.

Jaskin fought Polak because Polak wasn't going to stop throwing punches, and Jaskin needed to defend himself. That's just not acceptable. If players are being suspended for body checks to the head, this warrants the same penalty, if not more.

It is typically a split second decision whether a hit is late or legal, and where the point of contact is made is often largely subjective.

There was no grey area with Polak's assault.

Maybe Jaskin put Polak in the figure-four leglock, but Polak went over the top.

***

So, San Jose heads home with a 3-2 lead and the chance to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time on home ice.

And circling back, Thornton had three assists, and Tarasenko had just the single shot on net.

I enjoyed watching the game while I was finalizing these ramblings, but there weren't any significant fantasy takeaways. The final score wasn't indicative of the back-and-forth nature of the game, as there were two empty-net goals.

Saturday, I highlighted Marc-Edouard Vlasic as a potential bust candidate following the in-depth look at secondary assists from defensemen. But, man, he rattled off a goal and an assist in Game 5, and he has a goal and nine helpers through 19 playoff games.

Vlasic's been incredible, and it is almost like it all clicked when he was handed the job for Team Canada at the Sochi Olympics. He is also likely still underappreciated in the majority of circles.

You can't find his type of cross-category production often, so while maybe the assist and point totals could suffer slightly, he is still a high-floor option to round out the blue line of your fantasy club.

***

Yesterday, Dobber talked Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine. NHL.com must have been taken a peek. They followed up with some analysis.

Don't click on any Laine vs. Matthews articles, Toronto is taking Matthews. Sorry Winnipeg, but you have won second prize in a Beauty Contest. Collect Laine.

***

I'm with Angry Evgeni Malkin, and will be counting on a Game 7.

But who is starting in nets?

I hope Chris Johnston is right.

My gut feeling after #pens media availability today is that Matt Murray gets the start in Game 6. We'll find out in roughly 23 hours.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 23, 2016

Thanks for tuning in, Dobberheads. Be well.