Fantasy hockey is kind of like poker in that bad luck is what you tend to remember, while good fortune you often take for granted. Let's face facts – right now on most fantasy teams there are as many, if not more, players who are defying expectations in a good way versus bad. At the risk of jinxing things for the 20 skaters and goalies I've named below who've all stormed out of the gates for 2022-23, it's time to vote on which of them will be able to continue to shine at or above their current level of output.

How do you decide to vote for a player or players? For skaters, it's whether you believe they will be able to maintain or even improve upon their current scoring pace, while for goalies it's whether they can keep both their GAA this low (or lower) and their SV% this high (or higher). Note that in order for a skater to get your vote, it's not necessary that he actually score that many points – only that he stay at or above his current scoring pace based on however many games he manages to play.

What follows is an alphabetical list of 20 "pleasant surprise" players, with their relevant pace(s) through November 26th games. I tried to pick 20 who aren't so vastly outperforming their expectations as to have little to no realistic shot to keep things up. If you don't see someone you'd expect, that's why. You should vote for however many of the 20 you think will be able to maintain – or even improve upon – their listed pace(s). The link to cast your vote(s) will be at the end of the column.

Mathew Barzal (Current Scoring Pace = 89)

Not to jinx myself, but one of my 17 Fearless Forecasts prior to this season was that Barzal would set a career high in points. He seems well on his way to doing so, what with the offense-stifling system of Barry Trotz now a thing of the past and Barzal in his prime.

Andre Burakovsky (Current Scoring Pace = 82)

I was one of those who felt that of the two major offseason additions that Seattle made, Oliver Bjorkstrand would be more impactful. Yet it's been Burakovsky who's thrived at least up to this point, with a vastly improved SOG rate and a career high in ice time seemingly helping him to prove to his naysayers that he is more than the 60ish point scorer that he was over his last few seasons with the Avs.

Kirby Dach (Current Scoring Pace = 66)

The former third overall pick seems a lot older than 21 due to having been a fixture in Chicago since his draft season. For those owners who didn't push the panic button after Dach was unable to find chemistry with any Blackhawk big guns, the reward has been markedly improved production thus far for 2022-23. He's not playing his natural position of center, and the Habs need to diversify their offense, making it realistic to think Dach's days on the top line might be numbered. Perhaps that served him well enough to instill him with confidence to succeed on his own?

Alexander Georgiev (Current GAA = 2.29; Current SV% = .933)

Don't look now, but after some early shakiness Georgiev has been outstanding. Yet as I've so often pointed out in my columns, this is a goalie who has never – not even once – had a season with a QS% over 50%. The Avs believed in him enough to make him the presumed starter, and perhaps that confidence is rubbing off. Can it last? That's the magic question.

Nico Hischier (Current Scoring Pace = 94)

Lost amid the break out season from Jack Hughes in 2021-22 was Hischier playing well above a point per game level for nearly half the campaign. He's picked up right where he left off, or so it seems. Is there room for two scoring centers in New Jersey?  The answer looks like it might just be yes.

Bo Horvat (Current Scoring Pace = 90)

After seeing his scoring pace increase for five straight seasons to start his career, Horvat was stuck in neutral over the past two campaigns. For 2022-23 though, he's emerged red hot. On paper it looks like he's overachieving; however, perhaps he's had this talent all along but chose to prioritize unselfish play rather than individual numbers but now is trying to fill the score sheet due to his status as an impending UFA this summer? If so, maybe he can keep this up for the rest of 2022-23?

Filip Hronek (Current Scoring Pace = 74)

Moritz who? Look – no one is saying Moritz Seider isn't still on a path to stardom; however, Hronek, after finishing every one of his four NHL seasons with a scoring pace of 38-41 points, has upped the ante big time this season. Can it last? Maybe, as he's just past his breakout threshold and there is room enough for two scoring d-men on a team in today's NHL.

Travis Konecny (Current Scoring Pace = 92)

Until this season, Konecny's issue had been when put with lesser talented players he was unable to carry them, yet when placed alongside the best of the best he tended to fade into the background. Perhaps he's finally connecting the dots, or it could just be a short term burst of scoring that might not endure.

Dylan Larkin (Current Scoring Pace = 94)

Twice Larkin has flirted with point per game pace; but he never could quite get over the hump. What's the difference now? Detroit has more offensive talent than it has since Larkin became an NHL fixture, making it so his talent is able to translate to upped production.

Martin Necas (Current Scoring Pace = 89)

With Necas, everyone agreed the skill was there for him to do as well as he's doing now. They just didn't know if his effort and/or deployment would enable it to rise to the surface. Now that he's stepped up, is he here to stay as an elite player?

Brock Nelson (Current Scoring Pace = 78)

Thought by many – myself included – to have seen improvement the past two seasons due to being a darling of Barry Trotz, Nelson is seemingly proving himself to be perhaps even better than he was now that New York has opened up its offense. With what looks to be a locked in spot on PP1 and a SOG rate that keeps climbing without hurting his SH%, perhaps Nelson is becoming Sean Couturier 2.0?

Elias Pettersson (Current Scoring Pace = 98)

When Pettersson ended 2021-22 with 25 points in 19 games, optimists felt it was EP finally on the cusp of long expected greatness. Well nothing so far in 2022-23 should've changed their minds, and perhaps it's served to convince some who remained skeptics.

Alex Pietrangelo (Current Scoring Pace = 75)

After scoring at a 45-47 point pace in three of the past four seasons, and seeing Shea Theodore emerge as arguably more of a go to guy for blueline offense, Pietrangelo has embraced the new lease on fantasy life he's receiving under Bruce Cassidy. Yes, he's nearly 33 and Theodore still looms, but Pietrangelo looks like he's found the fountain of youth, and production.

Mikhail Sergachev (Current Scoring Pace = 78)

It was never in doubt that Sergachev had talent; however, being stuck behind Victor Hedman on the PP pecking order and as the focal point for rearguard offense held him in check. After signing a huge extension, this season Sergachev been the one on the top man advantage unit and has flourished. With the Lightning likely thrilled to be able to keep Hedman's minutes down for the all-important playoffs, Sergachev could stay – and thrive – in his new role all season long.

Jeff Skinner (Current Scoring Pace = 82)

Yes, it again appears Skinner is being propped up by a talented center, except this time it's not Jack Eichel but Tage Thompson, who only didn't make the list because his scoring pace is so high. The concern is even with Eichel Skinner wasn't able to score above a 65-point pace. Whether Skinner has added motivation or better chemistry, he's rolling, at least for now.

Nick Suzuki (Current Scoring Pace = 94)

The explosive Suzuki is among the league leaders in multipoint games and has developed some amazing chemistry with Cole Caufield, stoked by the coaching change to Martin St. Louis. With Suzuki only hitting his breakout threshold this season he could just be scratching the surface.

Troy Terry (Current Scoring Pace = 82)

Speaking of breakout thresholds, Terry make a huge leap to coincide with his. Now for a second act he's pacing the scoring for a Ducks team that struggles to score goals, although he did start last season on fire too before fading somewhat, so will it last this go-round?

Logan Thompson (Current GAA = 2.48; Current SV% = .920)

The Knights were so concerned above Thompson's ability to man the crease that they went out and acquired Adin Hill. Thompson's numbers have been superb thus far, although somehow his QS% is under 50%. Plus, with Thompson not having played more than 45 games in a season since his days in juniors, one has to worry about him hitting a wall.

Alex Tuch (Current Scoring Pace = 82)

Much younger than Skinner and, as a larger player, not yet having hit his 400-game breakout threshold, Tuch's production might seem more "for real." Let's not forget though that last season Tuch posted 17 points in his first 16 games, so there is a risk of him slowing as he subsequently did then. Given the chemistry that the Sabres' first line is displaying, it's difficult to envision that line being split, in which case Tuch – ala Skinner – should be deployed in a manner that would allow him to continue to thrive.

Vitek Vanecek (Current GAA =2.05; Current SV% = .923)

Is Vanecek really this great, or is he a merely good goalie playing for a red-hot team? He's still young enough to be coming into his own, so it could be a little bit from column A and a little bit from column B.

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So there you have it – 20 players on pace to outperform expectations, at least based on what we have seen from them thus far. How many can keep up their pace? That's for you to decide with your votes As a reminder, you should vote for any and all players you believe will, if a skater, maintain or exceed their currently indicated scoring pace by the end of the season, or, if a goalie, will have a GAA as low (or lower) and SV% as high (or higher) than it is now. Click here to cast your vote(s).

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Questions for Mailbag Column

My monthly mailbag runs next week and I have room to answer a couple more questions. To get yours to me, you can either private message “rizzeedizzee” via the DobberHockey Forums or, instead, send an email to [email protected] with “Roos Mailbag” as the subject line.