With Mike Fisher now on the shelf, this could be an opportunity for Ilya Zubov to land on a scoring line. Or perhaps Vermette will move back to center. I wouldn't bet on either player right now, but something sure needs to give in Ottawa. Fisher is out two weeks with a strained knee.

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I just read in the LA Times that Patrick O'Sullivan has finally moved back to the top line in practice. He does not belong anywhere else – this new coach has been killing his fantasy value. It seems like he will need to produce immediately or Terry Murray will bump him off the line again.

Carey Price faced 48 shots last night and stopped 46 of them.

Sergei Samsonov finally cracked the goal column last night – he took six shots and played 16 minutes. Perhaps this will start a run.

Jordan Staal has eight points in his last five games. He has played at least 19:47 in each game of that span.

The Stars recalled James Neal and tried to sneak BJ Crombeen down to the minors, but Crombeen was claimed by the Blues. I'm not sure why Dallas wanted Neal up when they have Parrish in the lineup, Lehtinen healthy and Brunnstrom champing at the bit. It's a testament to Neal's talent and NHL readiness.

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Antti Miettinen has two points in his last eight games – he's reminding me of Eric Belanger, who took the Wild by storm over the first 15 games or so and then hit a wall.

MA Bergeron played fewer than 14 minutes last night, which is a bad sign for a player who was always on the cusp of getting scratched last season.

Evgeni Malkin's 13-game assist streak ended last night.

Derick Brassard finally played over 18 minutes and he rewarded Hitchcock with assists on both of their goals. Last night's 18:36 was the most ice he has seen all season and he has seven points in his last five games. Brassard has only been held pointless three times all season.

Robert Nilsson saw just 10 minutes and did not get played on the power play. He's a streaky player and it may take a healthy scratch to get him rolling.

Dave Bolland's 19:02 was second among Hawk forwards in ice time – he was on the PK unit, not the PP unit.

Brian Campbell logged monster minutes: 31:47.

Daniel Carcillo saw extensive time with Jokinen and Mueller last night, and was still pointless and a minus-1. Offensively, he has been a bust this year, although his PIMs are still on pace for 222 which is about where I had him in the Guide.

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Alexander Semin will probably not play tomorrow night – his injury is still undisclosed.