The Sabres goaltending plans, Staal’s season hasn’t been that bad, ane’s importance to the Blackhawks and more…

***

Dobber is taking your fantasy hockey questions – here.

***

The Sabres blew it. They had a chance to clinch dead last with a loss to Carolina and they went out and won.

You can't say they didn't try allowing 52 shots last night. Anders Lindback, playing for his career at this point, turned aside 49 of those shots for the win. Good for him. I no longer believe in Lindback as a starter in this league but his play for Buffalo has been pretty darn good. Maybe someone gives him a shot as a backup. If can stick around as a backup the door remains open for fantasy relevance. All it takes is one injury and some hot play.

I still think Buffalo go out and get Antti Niemi this summer. He's a perfectly mediocre starter, which would be an upgrade for a Buffalo team looking to establish competence. They could also be major players in the prospect goalie market.

The problem with the prospect route is that I can't see either Montreal or Boston looking to move their stud prospects within the division and those two teams have the most moveable prospects. Maybe Martin Jones comes available from LA or something shakes loose from the three-headed monster in Ottawa but again that would be within the division.

Even if the Sabres do nab a prospect they'll probably still look to bring in a capable veteran, which brings us back to Niemi. He can hold the fort for a year or two while the prospects acclimates to the league.

Niemi isn't going to light the world on fire but again he's competent. He'll be like Jaroslav Halak for the Islanders this year. Competence is enough to turn things around. I'm not projecting playoffs, mind you but they won't be embarrassing either. Think about the Florida Panthers this season as an example.

*

More Sabres talk…

I hope no one is falling in love with Johan Larsson or Brian Gionta. Both have been hot down the stretch but don't forget that the Sabres are bringing in serious reinforcements next season who will push these guys down the depth chart.

Evander Kane and Zemgus Girgensons will be back healthy and ready to grab spots in the top six. One of Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel should get drafted and push for a big role as well. Last year's first round draft choice Sam Reinhart will be looking to join the squad as well. Not to mention a possible free agent splash or two. Add those four to Tyler Ennis and Matt Moulson and things are looking crowded.

Gionta and Larsson on the third line isn't a bad thing. It just means they won't consistently receive 19-20 minutes a night with the best players on the team.

Remember when Cody Hodgson was going to be the next Mike Richards? Who knew that would play out all too accurately.

*

Some nice fantasy lines from Eric Staal and Alex Semin for those who were brave (or foolish) enough to put them in the lineup last night. For the record, Staal's season, while a disappointment hasn't been as bad as it seems. Using the Fantasy Hockey Geek player ranking system for a fairly standard six-category setup with Goals, Assists, Plus/Minus, PPP, SOG and Hits Staal ranks in the top 100 skaters and well within range of Joe Thornton, Bryan Little and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins fellow centermen with as many or more points on the season.

Don't like Hits? How about PIM instead? Staal once again finds the top 100 not far off the likes of Thornton, Ryan Kesler or Anze Kopitar.

53 points (and counting) isn't that bad. Staal's on-ice shooting percentage of just 5.51% is one of the worst that you will find in the entire league so you can make a good case for a rebound even if his sluggish play is at least part of the reason his numbers have slipped. I'm recommending a buy low if for no other reason than he won't perform worse than this.

*

Derek Stepan came through in the clutch for the Rangers last night tying it late in the third period and then scoring the overtime winner to boot. He's been running hot the past month or so but I still don't trust this guy come playoff time. He's let me down too many times. The Rangers could make the final again and I still wouldn't necessarily want this guy on my playoff roster.

Okay that last part was hyperbole. But how about this? I wouldn't want Stepan on my playoff roster unless the Rangers make the final again.

Including playoffs Martin St. Louis has scored 72 points in 115 games as a Ranger. Over 82 games that's a 51-point pace. In related news, St. Louis has 49 points this season. Looking like a trend here.

The win last night puts the Rangers in the driver’s seat for the President’s Trophy.

*

Huge shutout win by Ondrej Pavelec last night. I never thought I'd see this guy come through in the clutch like this but Pavelec has been playing some excellent hockey of late. He did have some stumbles in his last three contests allowing 11 combined goals but for the better part of the month Pavelec has been keeping the Jets' season alive.

How about Mathieu Perreault returning to add some offense? He skated just 8:40 in his first game back but since then he's been skating above 13 minutes a night with a bunch of time on the top power play unit. Give him five assists in the past three games.

*