The Midseason Guide was released this week – pick it up here right now!

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DOOOOOOOOOOOOOBIE!!

Devan Dubnyk starts off his Wild tenure with a cream puff against the Sabres needing just 18 saves for a comfortable 7-0 shutout win. Great confidence booster right there. The Wild have home games against the Coyotes and Blue Jackets coming up next so it's looking good. I could see him going on a run similar to what Darcy Kuemper did to start this season just because of how the schedule has been laid out for him. Things really couldn't have lined up more perfectly.

Jason Pominville was top scorer for the Wild in what was really a complete team effort. He added three assists to help continue what's been a month and a half straight of point-per-game production. Since December rolled around he's scored 21 points in 20 games after just 15 through the first 23. Credit the power play for added production. Seven of his 21 points these past 20 games have come on the power play.

Matt Dumba was called up with Ryan Suter suspended and filled in a nice fantasy line, scoring a goal, adding a fight and going plus-three. Doubtful you'll need someone for Saturday's jam-packed schedule but if you do you could do worse than Dumba.

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That's two shutouts in a row for the Rangers against some tough opponents but more importantly, without top centerman Derek Stepan. Stepan did start the other night against the Islanders but did not finish the game as he was injured. He's currently day-to-day with an upper-body injury. No surprise that the Rangers struggled without him. The WOWY (with or without you) numbers are staggering.

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Without Stepan: 6-5-2 record, 2.38 goals per game, 13% power play efficiency

With Stepan: 18-8-2 record, 3.25 goals per game, 23% power play efficiency

The sample size is on the smaller side but I think that this confirms what we've seen; the Rangers are much better with Stepan in the lineup because they simply do not have the depth at center to make up for his absence.

At least they didn't try throwing Martin St. Louis back in at center. Instead it was JT Miller suiting up in Stepan's stead but I'm not convinced Miller should be a centerman or in anyone's top six.

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