There is a must-read topic on the DobberHockey Forums (created and researched by teddy369). It breaks down the numbers for first-year goalie sensations. Check it out here.

Tough break for Conklin owners. After he came on in relief of Osgood, who stopped just 11 of 14 shots, he saved 11 of 12 – but the one he let in was the game winner. So Conklin gets the 'L'.

Partik Elias missed last night's contest with a lower body injury. He played hurt with it on the weekend, and is considered 'day to day'.

Brendan Shanahan was back in the lineup – he was a healthy scratch on the weekend. He anticipates being given another "day of rest" before the season is over.

The Panthers scratched Steve Eminger last night. The fade from what was a promising season is now complete.

The Oilers signed Jordan Eberle to a three-year entry-level contract. He is ranked 29th on my prospects list. He has a shot at making the team in the fall, although I would expect another year of junior. It just may come down to Eberle vs. Schremp vs. Potulny. With O'Sullivan, Cogliano and Gagner as young scoring pivots, the other guys have a big hill to climb. The team is already playing their centers on the wing to make room (yes, I know O'Sullivan mostly plays LW these days). Eberle will probably make the NHL as a right winger.

Nathan Horton was back in the lineup for Florida. He played nearly 20 minutes and notched an assist.

Alexander Frolov will be out for a week with a lower body injury. His absence opens up ice time for Oscar Moller, who has been a frequent scratch of late.

Mikko Koivu (knee) will be out at least a week and probably the rest of the season. I was questioning myself for only giving him an upside of 70 points prior to this season. Now I remember why I did that – in four NHL seasons he has missed 18, 0, 25 and now 10 games. If a point-a-game player only plays 70 games, then he is a 70-point player. Koivu is not even that yet.

The Coyotes have sent Josh Tordjman to the minors and have recalled Al Montoya. Tordjman had been very promising, but had lost both of his NHL starts. Montoya has never played an NHL game and has horrible AHL numbers this year. But then, weak AHL numbers didn't stop Dan Ellis from having an NHL career – it's all about opportunity.

Pittsburgh prospects Nathan Moon (C) and Robert Bortuzzo (D) have signed short-term contracts with Wilkes-Barre. As junior players get elminated from the playoffs, you are going to see some of them get AHL cups of coffee. Occasionally, you might even see them play a game or two in the NHL.

A couple of things that caught my eye that I wanted to comment on:

1) George Gillett is considering selling the Habs. TSN's headline was "Sale of the Century?". That doesn't make sense. He bought the team in 2001. If a team gets sold every eight years, is the sale of said team so big that it earns such a moniker?

2) Ryan Kesler won't take a "hometown discount". The only reason he has the large contract that he does is because of the offer sheet he signed with Philly. He is earning the inflated salary that he signed for finally. It makes you wonder – if his contract ran out last season, would he sign a contract for less money?

Alexander Semin may miss tonight's game with the flu.

Paul Kariya is skating harder in practice and if the team gets into the playoffs he is certain he will be in the lineup. Whether or not he gets in a regular season game or three we shall see. I suspect that he will play 2-3 regular season games, but that's just my own hunch.

Brenden Morrow skated very lightly yesterday. He is still a month away.

PLAYOFF RACE:
EAST
5. CAR 87, 7 GR
6. PIT 86, 8 GR
7. NYR 84, 9 GR
8. MON 81, 10 GR
9. FLA 81, 9 GR
10. BUF 76, 10 GR

WEST
6. CBJ 82, 10 GR
7. EDM 79, 10 GR
8. NSH 77, 10 GR
9. ANA 76, 10 GR
10. MIN 76, 10 GR
11. STL 75, 10 GR
12. DAL 74, 10 GR

Dobber Nation lineup – coming WEDNESDAY – The "Puck Daddy" Greg Wyshynski, Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch, our own Matthew Bugg of Bugg Bytes fame, and prospect Landon Ferraro of the Red Deer Rebels. That's TOMORROW.

Playoffs are three weeks away – time to preorder my fourth annual Interactive Playoff Draft List !

The baseball season kicks off in just over a week – pick up the Dobberbasball Fantasy Guide – the cheapest, and best on the market.