Crashing The Net: April.4

Photo by Lindsay Rockstar

This week in Crashing the Net, I’ll hand out the 2010-11 fantasy hockey awards.

Fantasy MVP’s (one per position)

Steven Stamkos, Lightning
44-45-89, +3, 74 PIMs
After 51 goals and 95 points in his second season it looks like Stamkos will fall just a bit short of those numbers this year, a result of a horrific slump to end the year that includes just six goals in his last 27 games. Still, the kid has been dynamic yet again and is a sure fire top-5 selection for 2011 drafts.

Cory Perry, Ducks
47-46-93, +7, 104 PIMs
MVP talk continues to swirl around the league’s leading goal scorer who is also the only skater in the league with a triple-digit PIM mark and more than 30 goals. Perry has been hotter than Kim Kardashian in a skin tight dress of late with 16 goals in hist last 13 contests.

Daniel Sedin, Canucks
41-59-100, +28, 30 PIM
The only skater in the game with 100 points, Sedin appears likely to capture the league MVP as the best player on the best team in the game. A fantasy owner’s dream, Daniel has scored at least 71 points in each of the past six years, has already set career bests in goals, assists and points, and is working on a third straight year with a plus/minus of at least +24.

Dustin Byfuglien, Thrashers
20-33-53, (-3), 77 PIMs
In a rather remarkable effort Dustin completely blew up. Not only did he set career bests in goals and assists, while moving to the blue line mind you, he also fired a career best 334 shots on net, 123 more than he ever had before and 82 more than any other defender. Before slowing down after the All-Star game he had 15 goals and 40 points in his first 41 games.

Lubomir Visnovsky, Ducks
18-48-66, +15, 77 PIMs
The leading point getter amongst blue liners, Lubomir has used his offensive skills to post his best season since 2005 in his first full season with the Ducks. He has been particularly lethal on the power-play where he has recorded 29 of his points (5g, 24a).

Tim Thomas, Bruins
33-10-9, 1.98 GAA, .939 SV%, 9 shutouts
There might be nine goalies with more victories, but Thomas leads the league with a 1.98 GAA and has a chance to set an all-time single season save percentage record as well. Toss in nine shutouts and he has been the fantasy MVP in net without question.

Most Disappointing Non-Injured Players

Joe Thornton, Sharks
19-47-66, +3, 43 PIMs
Since he became a Shark in 2005 Thornton has never railed to hand out 61 assists or to record at least 86 points. He has no shot at either mark this year. Thornton will also see his 5-year run of finishing with a +16 or better mark come to an end. Toss in a six year low in penalty minutes and goals, and you have yourself a whopper of a fantasy disappointment.

Dany Heatley, Sharks
25-37-62, +8, 52 PIM
Part of the reason that Thornton struggled for points was that Heatley has had his worst full season production since his rookie effort. In each of the past five seasons Dany had scored at least 39 goals, and that alone is enough of a reason to call his effort this year a massive disappointment. My goodness – he has fewer assists this year than his five year low in goals.

Ilya Kovalchuk, Devils
29-27-56, (-23), 28 PIM
For the 9th straight year he has scored at least 29 goals, but this will be his first effort since his rookie year with fewer than 38 goals. Historically pitiful in prior to the All-Star break (29 points, -29 in 48 games), Ilya actually performed pretty well over his last 29 games (15g, 12a, +6). Hopefully it won’t take him two-thirds of a season to wake up next year.

Victor Hedman, Lightning
3-23-26, +4, 70 PIM
He entered the year with a ton of hoopla after a successful rookie season, which when coupled with what was thought to be a potential offensive juggernaut in Tampa, had Hedman’s star on the rise. As a result, his effort this season was a major disappointment in that his numbers are virtually identical to last year – he has one less goal, nine fewer PIMs, five fewer hits and only 11 more shots. Defenders sometimes take a bit longer to develop, but there wasn’t much development to note his second season in the league.

Zach Bogosian, Thrashers
5-12-17, (-26), 29 PIMs
In his first full season last year he recorded 10 goals and 23 points. He’s missed a few games with injury having appeared in 67 games this year, but that doesn’t excuse his awful performance. The third overall selection in 2008 has just about fallen out of favor in Atlanta and has a long ways to go to fulfill his potential.

Marty Turco, Blackhawks
11-11-3, 3.02 GAA, .897 SV%, 1 shutout
It may be tough to remember at this point, but going into the year most expected Turco to make 55 starts for the Blackhawks in a career resurgence. It hasn’t played out remotely close to that. In his first year in Chicago his GAA has climbed to a career worst while his save percentage has also fallen to a career worst. He has only one shutout, another bottom feeder mark in his career, and any way you cut it his effort has been wildly disappointing.

Out of Nowhere Stars

Logan Couture, Sharks
31-23-54, +19, 39 PIM
He’s scored more goals than Martin St. Louis, Ilya Kovalchuk and Alexander Ovechkin. If that’s all you knew about Couture you would think he’d had a hell of a season. When you add in that he’s also a +19 skater, has taken more shots on net than Johan Franzen, Anze Kopitar and Thomas Vanek, and that he is still considered a rookie, well then you have an out-of-nowhere All-Star.

Michael Grabner, Islanders
31-17-48, +15, 10 PIMs
Released by the Panthers, Grabner latched on with the Islanders and turned into a scoring star. In one blazing hot stretch in February and March he lit the lamp 16 times in 24 games. Throw in a +15 for a team that most nights is already behind by the end of the first period and in Grabner you have the quintessential waiver-wire add that helps teams to win fantasy leagues.

Teemu Selanne, Ducks
28-48-76, +4, 42 PIM
It’s tough to call a future HOFamer who has the nickname of “The Finnish Flash” an out of nowhere star, but Selanne really does qualify. Thought to be playing his last season at age 40, all Selanne has done is to score 76 points in just 70 games for his highest point total since 2006. He’s also four PIMs away from the second best mark of his career, and once again he’s completely lit up keepers on the power player (15g, 17a).

Brent Burns, Wild
16-28-44, (-10), 98 PIMs
The plus/minus is bad, but otherwise it’s been a hell of a season for the Wilds’ blue liner. First, he appeared in more than 60 games for the first time in three years (77 so far). Second, he set a career best with 16 goals, this after scoring 11 times the previous two years. Third, he’s tied his career best in assists while setting a new high in penalty minutes. When healthy, as he has been this year, he’s a hell of a player.

Alex Pietrangelo, Blues
11-31-42, +18, 19 PIM
About the only thing he hasn’t done is produce in the penalty minute category. After being unable to crack the everyday lineup in two abbreviated seasons, this 2008 first round draft pick has exploded on the scene with a strong offensive showing built largely around even strength performance (he has 13 points on the power-play). The Blues have a lot of young talent to build around, and Alex is one of those foundational blocks.

James Reimer, Leafs
20-8-4, 2.54 GAA, .922 SV%, 3 shutouts
I could have gone with Corey Crawford who has been the better goalie this season, but Crawford was, at worst, going to function as a part-time keeper for the Blackhawks this year while Reimer wasn’t drafted in a single league this season.  Reimer was the main reason that the Leafs stayed into the playoff race until the last week of the season, he has won seven of his last eight decisions, and to think, from a mid-year waiver wire pickup.

Ray Flowers can be heard daily on Sirius/XM Radio on The Fantasy Drive, 5-8 PM Eastern, on Sirius 211 and XM 147.

Crashing The Net: March.28

Photo by Tiffa Day

Crashing the Net takes you around the league touching on hot and cold players, battles for ice-time and what’s going on in net.

FIRE

Simon Gagne, Lightning
Always injured, Gagne was always an offensive force when on the ice, that is until this season. Oh he’s been injured again, he’s appeared in just 56 games, but until lately he was producing like a third line winger whose main job was shutting down the other teams top line. Finally producing points with some regularity, Gagne has scored four times in his last two games and six times in his last six contests. Toss in four assists in that time and he’s finally rounding into form as the playoffs approach.

Patrick Marleau, Sharks
Just a short while ago Marleau was having a very poor season. The numbers are still down from what he accomplished the last two years, but he has been on a feeding frenzy for the Sharks of late. Marleau has 11 goals in his last 15 games including six in his last five games to push his season total up to 33. Moreover, in his last 12 contests he has recorded 17 points for the surging Sharks. If you weathered the storm of his uneven early season play you’ve reached safe harbor in solid shape with Patrick.

Corey Perry, Ducks
Hello NHL goal scoring leader. Here are the staggering numbers Perry has posted of late: thirteen goals, five multi goal games, and four game winning goals in a meager nine games. Perry also leads the NHL with 20 third period goals, has tied a franchise record with 10 game winning goals and has also equaled the club record for tallies in a month with 13. Moreover, if you look at the totality of his game he could be the fantasy MVP this season: 44g, 41a, 100 PIMs, 254 shots on goals and 25 power-play points. What a season for the right wing who has increased his point total each of the last five seasons.

Blake Wheeler, Thrashers
As a Bruin this season be averaged 0.47 points per game, but that rate has gone up significantly since he pulled on the Thrashers’ sweater. In 16 games in his new home Blake has recorded 13 points, a rate of 0.81 points per game, as he has lit the lamp five times while dishing out eight assists. He’s also drastically pushed his shot rate up from 1.74 per context in Boston to 3.44 per game with the Thrashers. He’ll attempt to finish strong this season to assure himself a top-6 role with Atlanta next season.

ICE

David Booth, Panthers
Booth scored 31 times in 2008, but injuries limited him to just 28 games last year. This season has been one filled with health, he’s appeared in all 76 Panthers’ games, but he has just 21 goals an a pitiful (-24) mark. Recently he has gone four games without a point, has gone seven games without a goal and has only one assist in nine games.

Drew Doughty, Kings
He just never really got going this year. Oh he has 11 goals and a +14 rating, solid totals to be sure, but after a 16 goal, 59 point season in his second campaign more was expected  of him this season. His production has really slowed the past little while as he has but one goal 13 games and just one helper in his last seven contests. There’s always next year.

Patrik Elias, Devils
Have the Devils run out of steam in their mad push to make the playoffs after a horrendous start to the year? Elias seems to have hit a wall of some kind as he has five games without a point. The Devils’ long time leader also has a mere three goals in 27 games. Sprinkle in a (-7) rating in the month of March and you have a veteran who is limping to the finish line.

Steven Stamkos, Lightning
He is second in the NHL with 43 goals and fourth with 86 points, but the scoring phenom has gone cold of late with just two goals in 15 games. Even worse, he’s stopped handing out helpers too having played 5-straight without being on the score sheet. Obviously it’s only a matter of time before the points come, but this slump comes at a terrible time – the fantasy hockey playoffs.

MOVIN’ ON UP

Troy Brouwer, Blackhawks
Welcome to Nirvana Mr. Brouwer. After going 17-straight games without a goal, Brouwer will get a chance to end that drought on Monday as he’ll be placed on the Blackhawks’ top line alongside Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews who is working on a rather amazing run of 11 goals in 15 games and 23 assists in 25 games. Brouwer will need a big final push to reach 20-goals for the second straight year – he currently has 17.

Oscar Moller, Kings
With Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams on the shelf for the rest of the season, the Kings nee someone to skate on the top scoring line, so they are going with a trio of Michael Handzus along with Dustin Penner and Moller. A talented skater who had 50 points in 59 games in the AHL this season, Moller has a mere 12 goals and 14 assists in 80 games in his young NHL career, but with first line minutes will come the chance for him to improve upon those lackluster scoring rates.

KEEPER CORNER

Ray Emery, Ducks
Jonas Hiller (vertigo) is back, but in his first action in over a month he lasted only 12 minutes before surrendering three goals. The team says that Hiller didn’t suffer any setbacks, perhaps it was just rust, but it’s unclear how much he will play down the stretch since Ray Emery is playing so well. Eleven months after having bone-graft surgery in his hip, Emery is back in the NHL and thriving for a Ducks team that is desperately trying to make the playoffs. Emery has been spectacular in his five appearances with a 4-0 record, a GAA of 1.39 and a save percentage of .952. Again, there is uncertainty about who will be in net for the club, but one thing is for sure, Emery is performing at an elite level right now.

Braden Holtby, Capitals
Holtby is the third goalie with the Caps, so it’s understandable that he would shuttle between the AHL and the NHL. However, I have a hard time understanding their use of him of late. Holtby was called up to fill in when Semyon Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth were less than 100 percent on the weekend, and all Holtby did was post a shutout. His reward? He was sent beck to the minors on Monday. I’m sorry, but when you have won 6-straight appearances and have a GAA of 1.01 in your last nine outings you simply must be on the ice for every game – period. Odd to say the least that he isn’t in net for the Caps don’t you agree?

Joey MacDonald, Ducks
Jimmy Howard has 34 wins, tied for second in the league, but his ratios are poor by current standards (2.77 GAA, .904 SV%). Still, a “W” is a “W”, and that’s why he has value in the fantasy game. However, he recently injured his shoulder, and though an MRI showed nothing significantly wrong, it is possible that he could miss a week of action (he thinks he might be able to return by the middle of the week). With Chris Osgood still dealing with groin issues, MacDonald figures to start until Howard returns. Given that Joey has a 2.05 GAA and .928 save percentage in 13 appearances this year, and that he hasn’t allowed a goal in his last three appearances, the Wings should be fine.

Looking Ahead

* Twelve teams play four games this week: Anaheim, Buffalo, Carolina, Chicago, Colorado, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Minnesota, Philadelphia, St. Louis and Tampa Bay.

* Two teams plays only two games this week: Phoenix and an Jose

Ray Flowers can be heard daily on Sirius/XM Radio on The Fantasy Drive, 5-8 PM Eastern, on Sirius 211 and XM 147.

Crashing The Net: March.21

Photo by lululemon athletica

Crashing the Net takes you around the league touching on hot and cold players, battles for ice-time and what’s going on in net.

FIRE

Blake Geoffrion, Sabres
In 11 games as an NHL player, Blake has scored six goals while posting a +6 rating. That’s some pretty good stuff for the 2006 second round draft pick with the famous hockey name. He upped the offensive ante on Sunday when he scored on all three shots he took against the Sabres for a hat-trick. His future is bright, and right now he is producing enough offense to help those in deep leagues.

Joe Pavelski, Sharks
A scoring change in the last game took away Pavelski’s hat-trick, but don’t feel to sorry for him. Little Joe has scored at least two points in 4-straight games as the offensive side of his game has erupted, and during those four games Pavelski has scored three goals while handing out eight assists. He’s also taken at least four shots on net in 6-straight contests. He’s rounding into perfect form just in time for the playoffs.

Teemu Selanne, Ducks
The Finnish Flash is now tied for 30th in league history with 1,327 points (Pierre Turgeon), 49th in assists with 699 and he’s tied for 8th with 232 power-play goals (Dino Ciccarelli). Yeah, Selanne is historically good. Teemu has only one goal in seven games, but he has still handed out six assists for a point-per-game pace which is actually slightly behind his season long rate (he has 67 points in 63 games). Just 22 goals from 650, the question is, will he return for another season to make a run at that mark?

ICE

Johan Franzen, Wings
Not only is he now dealing with a slightly strained groin, The Mule simply hasn’t been able to score of late. On the year his numbers are solid – they include 27 goals and 24 assists in 69 games – but since he scored an amazing five goals on February 2nd Johan has lit the lamp one time in 20 games. Think about that. He scored five times as many goals in one game as he has in the last quarter of the NHL season.

Ryan Smyth, Kings
First the good. Smyth has his customary 20 goals (it’s the 11th time in his career that he has hit that plateau despite constantly being in and out of the lineup with injuries – something he has actually avoided this year given that he has appeared in all 72 of the Kings’ games). Now the bad. He’s been brutal in March with two points in nine games. He’s also been saddled with a (-8) rating on the month. Moreover, Smyth hasn’t scored a goal since February 23rd, a stretch of 12 games, and going back to the start of February he has one goal in 22 games. Yikes.

R.J. Umberger, Blue Jackets
In each of his three years with the Blue Jackets, R.J. has recorded at least 21-goals and 46 points, so his 21 scores and 51 points are exactly what one would expect. He’s also been a +5 performer this season, a strong total for a guy who recorded a (-26) mark the past two years. Still, his point production has dried up of late. Umberger hasn’t scored a goal in six games, has just one in 12 games, and just two in 20 contests. It’s not like he has been dishing the puck off for scores either as he has just three helpers in 11 March games. Umberger has given you solid production this season, but he’s clearly limping to the finish line in the point producing column.

KEEPER CORNER

Martin Brodeur, Devils
Johan Hedberg was 7-1-1 with a 1.43 GAA in February holding down the fort while Brodeur was out of action due to injury. So much for that miraculous run as Hedberg hasn’t seen the ice since February 25th. Why? Because Martin Brodeur remembered that he wasn’t Bob Essensa but instead an all-time great. Since February 27th Brodeur is 8-3 and only once in that time has he allowed more than two goals. In fact, over his last 14 appearances he is 11-3 with a GAA of 1.55 (he also has a .924 save percentage). With his recent run of awesomeness – yes I just used that word – Brodeur has dumped his GAA down to 2.45 on the year. Welcome back Mr. Brodeur.

Ray Emery, Ducks
Dan Ellis is 6-2 for the Ducks since he was added to help cover the gaping hole in net with Jonas Hiller out with a case of vertigo. However, Ellis has allowed eight goals in his last two outings which has opened the door for Emery to get some work in net. Back in the NHL now that his body is healed after hip surgery, Emery has allowed two goal on 72 shots leading to a 0.87 GAA and .972 save percentage with the Ducks. He’s clearly moving into the lead in net for the Ducks. However, there is one caveat – Hiller appears to, finally, be moving in the right direction. There is no established date for his return to action, but reports seem to suggest that it could happen by the middle of next week. When he returns both Ellis and Emery figure to be nothing other than Hiller’s caddy.

Braden Holtby, Capitals
The NHL’s First Star of the week ending March 14 after going 4-0 with a 1.05 GAA, Holtby has been sent to the minors since Semyon Varlamov is healthy enough to play in net. Michal Neuvirth is also back , and after his 33 save shutout against the Devils the Caps made the decision to send Holtby down. You gotta feel for Holtby, and even if the Caps are right and he is their third best goalie, you have to question the wisdom of demoting the NHL’s reigning player of the week don’t you?

Tim Thomas, Bruins
Thomas leads the NHL in GAA (2.08) and save percentage (.937) so he has clearly been an elite option, and probably the leader for the Vezina trophy. However his play has slumped of late as he has won just one of four starts as he has allowed a total of 14 goals in that time leading to a 3.62 GAA. Again, it’s completely unfair to throw Thomas under the bus given how spectacular he has been this season, but it should still be pointed out that after posting a 1.81 GAA prior to the All-Star break that he has added a full goal to that mark since (2.88). Damn the regression gods.

Looking Ahead

* Five teams play four games this week:  Boston, Florida, Ottawa, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

* Three teams play only two games this week: Chicago, Dallas and Minnesota

Ray Flowers can be heard daily on Sirius/XM Radio on The Fantasy Drive, 5-8 PM Eastern, on Sirius 211 and XM 147.

Crashing the Net: March.14

Crashing the Net takes you around the league touching on hot and cold players, battles for ice-time and what’s going on in net.

FIRE

Andy McDonald, Blues
Frequently injured in recent seasons, McDonald is a nice source of points when healthy. Over the last three seasons he has 140 points in 170 games, a pace that would net about 68 points over an 82 game season. McDonald has been streaking the past 10 days with eight points in his last five games (including four goals). Moreover, since returning from his latest bought with inactivity Andy has nine goals and 13 helpers in 20 games for the Blues. You know you are going to get points with this guy – it’s just a matter of how often he can drag his body onto the ice.

Andrej Sekera, Sabres
With three goals, 22 assists and a +3 rating on the year, I’d venture that Andrej is likely on waivers in about 90 percent of leagues. However, his pedestrian season totals mask what has a been a fantastic month of March that has seem him produce as if he was a top-10 defensemen. In addition to a +5 rating on the month, Sekera has 11 points in just eight games. Hell, Andrej has scored at least two points in six of his last nine games. It can’t possibly continue, but hitch a ride to Sekera’s wagon as he his hauling fantasy squads to victory.

Jason Spezza, Senators
As has been his trend in recent seasons, Spezza shifts from invisibility to brilliantly glowing almost as easily as The Invisible Woman and the Human Torch from Fantastic 4 fame. Spezza scored twice while dishing out two assists in his last game and that gives him seven points in his last five contests. Stretching things back over his last 16 games Jason has six goals and 13 assists for the Senators. The only negative is his (-5) plus/minus mark in that time as the Senators continue to limp to the finish line as they try desperately to avoid being the worst team in the Eastern Conference.

ICE

Patric Hornqvist, Thrashers
This right winger exploded on the scene last year lighting the lamp 30 times in his first full season. Not surprisingly he has found the going a bit tougher this time around with 18 goals on the year. Patric has also found the going particularly tough of late as he hasn’t  scored a goals in four games and has just one marker in 13 games. To pile on, Honrqvist isn’t exactly a passer extraordinaire as he has a mere 16 helpers on the year, and he hasn’t setup a teammate for a goal since February 19th, a span of 10 games. Look for your points elsewhere down the stretch

Rick Nash, Blue Jackets
Nash is a star who is one goal from a 4th straight season of 30 goals. He’s also seven points from a 4th straight effort of at least 67 points. Overall he has been just what his owner’s hoped for. However, he has been a disaster of late in the goal scoring department. Though he has four assists in his last four games, Nash hasn’t lit the lamp since February 22nd, a span of nine games. It’s only a matter of time before the red light starts flashing again, but his goal scoring drought comes at a tough time in the fantasy game with playoff matchups starting.

Henrik Zetterberg, Wings
It’s odd to list Z here given that he has 69 points in 69 games this season but he has been, to put it kindly, a wasteland of late. Henrik has suited up for six games in March and the results make him look like a 4th liner struggling to hold on to a roster spot: zero goals, zero assists and a (-3) rating. Going back a bit further, Zetterberg has scored only five times in 31 games while recording a (-9) in the plus/minus category. You can’t bench him (duh) but his effort has been pretty rough of late.

MOVIN’ ON UP

Marcus Johansson, Capitals
Nicklas Backstrom is currently sidelined with a thumb injury that is making it very difficult for him to control his stick. In fact, he has a cast on the thumb and he really can’t do much of anything at the moment. Into the first line void has stepped Johansson who now gets to ride shotgun to Alexander Ovechkin. Johansson has only 22 points in 57 games this season, but he has been producing points of late with a 3-game point scoring streak and four points in five games. His role will diminish substantially when Backstrom returns, but until then Johansson is worth an add in deep leagues.

KEEPER CORNER

Corey Crawford, Blackhawks
An out of nowhere star this year (26 wins, 2.30 GAA), Corey has hit a speed bump of late. After winning 8-straight games, Crawford has lost in his last three appearances, and in his last four games he has allowed three or more goals each time. In fact, his GAA in six appearances in March is more than a goal above his season long mark at 3.48. Luckily Marty Turco continues to struggle as he has allowed three or more goals in four of his last five outings. Crawford is still the starter but you have to wonder – have we seen the best we are going to see this season from the youngster?

Braden Holtby, Capitals
Semyon Varlamov continues to be sidelined with a knee injury, and though Michal Neuvirth is over the issue that plagued his eye, the Caps will continue to ride the scalding hot play of Holtby… for the moment. Holtby is insanely hot with a 1.95 GAA and .931 save percentage in 12 appearances and those numbers pale in comparison to what he has done in four appearances in March (4-0, 1.05 GAA, .965 SV%). It’s far from certain that he will hold on to the role the rest of the season, but for now he is a must start and shouldn’t be on waivers in any league. By the way, the Caps are the first team in NHL history to have three difference keepers, all under 23 years of age, win at least seven games in the same season.

Antti Niemi, Sharks
The best keeper in the NHL since the All-Star break? That might sound far fetched, but a look at the numbers that this workhorse has posted for the Sharks over his last 19 starts tell the story: 13-3-2, 1.95 GAA, .928 save percentage and three shutouts. Dynamite is right. Antero Niittymaki is finally back and healthy after a protracted injury layoff, but the Sharks’ bus is being driven by Antti, and he figures to start the overwhelming majority of the games the rest of the way for the surging Sharks.

Carey Price, Canadians
Finally living up to expectations, Price is tied with Jimmy Howard for the NHL lead with 33 wins, and he is second in the league with eight shutouts. Price has also stopped 1,684 pucks, the second highest save total in the game (Cam Ward with 1,795) and his .924 save percentage is fifth in the NHL. The Habs almost let him go, but the organization, and the fans, finally have their star in net in Price.

LOOKING AHEAD

* Eight teams play four games this week:  Columbus, Minnesota, Montreal, Nashville, New Jersey, Phoenix, San Jose and Toronto.

* Two teams play only two games this week: Edmonton and Pittsburgh.

Ray Flowers can be heard daily on Sirius/XM Radio on The Fantasy Drive, 5-8 PM Eastern, on Sirius 211 and XM 147.

Crashing the Net: March.7

Photo by Doc Searls

Crashing the Net takes you around the league touching on hot and cold players, battles for ice-time and what’s going on in net.

FIRE

Ryan Callahan, Rangers
What did you expect? Anyone who records four goals and five points in a single game makes the “hot” list. Mainly because of that outing, Callahan has 10 goals and six assists in his last 16 games.

Matt Calvert, Columbus
This 2008 5th round draft pick has excelled of late for the Jackets as he has six goals and two assists in his last seven games. Be careful though as his mojo might be slipping as he has gone three contests without a point.

David Krejci, Bruins
After 73 points in 2008 David slumped to 52 last season. He’ll surpass that lower total this season, he has 50 points in 58 games, thanks in no small part to a run of productivity of late that has seen him produce 11 points in his last eight games.

Vinny Prospal, Rangers
Well it’s about time. Though he’s only been on the ice for 15 games this season thanks to a knee injury, Vaclav has been productive with 11 points including a point in 4-straight games for the Blueshirts.

ICE

Zdeno Chara, Bruins
The big fella has only one point in seven games and just one goal in 20 contests. Still, he has 11 goals, 32 points, is a +21 and has 67 PIMs, so he has been pretty darn good this season, even if he’s struggled for points of late.

Ryan Kesler, Canucks
Like Chara, his yearly numbers are superb as Kesler has 33 goals, 58 pints, and is a +21 in 67 games. However, his offense has been non-existent of late as he has just two points in nine games and just one goal in 12 contests.

Filip Kuba, Senators
He certainly isn’t an offensive defenseman, but he has recorded at least 24 points in 9-straight years. He won’t get there this season as he has nine points in 47 games (along with a -28 rating). Oh, he’s also failed to light the lamp a single time.

Tyler Seguin, Bruins
He’s been in an out of the lineup of late and he hasn’t produced when on the ice. Tyler hasn’t produced a point in five games and has just 21 points in 60 games on the year. He’ll get there, but the game just isn’t that easy people.

MOVIN’ ON UP

Alexander Giroux, Oilers
Giroux has played 697 games in the AHL after being drafted in 1999, though he has only found his way onto the ice in 32 NHL contests. He’ll get one more shot to prove he has something to offer as the Oilers have been racked up front by injuries (Taylor Hall, Ales Hemsky) and a trade deadline deal (Dustin Penner). Giroux has skill, he was the AHL MVP in 2008 when he scored 60 goals in 69 games, and this season he was second in the AHL in points when he was recalled, so deep leagues might consider giving him a look.

David Moss, Flames
The Flames are without Brendan Morrison who is out with a knee injury, and that means there is a hole on the #1 line next to Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay. Somewhat surprisingly, Moss was centering that line over the weekend, and the result, if Moss is able to stick with that talented duo, could be a significant upswing in performance. Moss hit the 20-goal mark back in 2008 and he has 16 tallies in 55 games this season so he has some talent. Time will tell if his scoring rate will improve, but it certainly should if he sticks on the top line.

Kyle Wilson, Blue Jackets
Wilson last saw time with the NHL club on January 18th. He was shipped to the minors after recording a mere 11 points in 31 games (including two points in his last 19 games), but instead of sulking the center went to work as he posted 11 goals and 22 points in 20 games in the AHL. With the Jackets in need of help down the middle with Derrick Brassard out of action with a hand injury, Wilson could be given a shot in the top-6.

KEEPER CONER

Jonathan Bernier, Kings
Jonathan Quick is still the starter in net for the Kings, but

Crashing the Net: Feb.21

Don’t panic, I’m not going soft on all of you. I just thought I would post my hockey article for those of you who follow the fastest game on ice. I’m still all baseball all the time at BaseballGuys.com – minus a little diversion here or there.

FIRE

Here are the NHL leaders in offense the past 14 days.

Goals (9): Michael Grabner. It’s hardly a shock he is the leader since he has 16 markers in his last 17 games.

Assists (8): Olli Jokinen. He has 12 points his last seven games.
Corey Perry: He’s 13 short of his career best of 49 assists.
Ryan Getzlaf: Because of injury, he’ll have to push to reach 50 assists for 4th straight year (he has 32 in just 46 games this year).
Jonathan Toews: He has 13 helpers his last 10 games.
Henrik Zetterberg: 48 assists in 59 games is one off his career best mark.

Plus/Minus (+9): Michael Grabner. What did you expect from a guy who is scoring goals like the reincarnation of the Finnish Flash? It’s probably more shocking that Frans Nielsen, another Islander, is second with a +8 mark.

Shots on Goal (35): Michael Grabner. Phil Kessel is the only other player over 30 – he had 34 shots.

A few others worthy of note for their positive play the last two weeks.

David Backes, Blues (22g, 23a, +19, 81 PIM)
Over his last seven contests he has lit the lamp like Steve Stamkos with six goals, has been a plus/minus force (+5), and has rubbed a few faces with his gloves as well (19 PIMs). He’s one of the best point/PIM power-forward types in the game.

John Taveras, Islanders (23g, 28a, [-20], 39 PIM)
What’s the deal with the Isles of late? They actually resemble a real NHL team. Taveras, the young face of the franchise, has 13 points in his last eight games leaving him with 23 goals and 51 points, ever so slightly behind his marks of 24 and 54 from last season – though he reached those totals in 82 games (he’s suited up just 56 times this season).

ICE

Loui Eriksson, Stars (19g, 36a, +11, 6 PIM)
Eriksson is going to be hard pressed to match his totals of 36 and 29 goals the past two years  thanks to a recent stretch that has seen him score one goal in eight games and three in 24 games. He’s paid to score goals, and he just hasn’t delivered in 2011.

Simon Gagne, Lightning (9g, 10a, [-22], 14 PIM)
Gagne has been limited to 41 games because of injury, but with half a season of contests under his belt he would be on pace for an 82 game performance of 18 goals and a gnarly (-44) rating. Can it get much worse than that for this former 47 goal scorer who is a +121 for his career? He’s been invisible of late with only two assists in six games, and he hasn’t scored a goal in eight February games.

Erik Johnson, Avalanche (5g, 14a, [-9], 37 PIM)
That’s right, in the trade that shock keeper leaguers everywhere, Chris Stewart was sent from Colorado to St. Louis in exchange for potential #1 defensemen Erik Johnson (you can get an insider’s take on the deal in Erik Johnson and Jay McClement Colorado Bound).Perhaps the new environment, where he will likely be given top power-play unit duties, will allow Johnson to rediscover his offense as he has just two assists in his last 12 games.

Mikko Koivu, Wild (15g, 34a, +5, 36 PIM)
Reports are circulating that he could miss most of the regular season with a broken left index finger. Koivu is the Wild’s leading assist man who is one point behind Martin Havlat for the team lead in points, so it’s obvious that the club can ill afford an extended period of time without their most complete player.

Brad Richards, Stars (24g, 39a, +4, 24 PIM)
He is on the shelf with a concussion sustained on February 13th. The injury is considered to be of the minor variety, he’s expected to return to the ice shortly, but you never know with concussions. Richards is currently 8th in the NHL with 63 points and 11th with 215 shots on goal.

Keeper Corner

Craig Anderson, Senators (14-15-3, 3.17 GAA, .901 SV%, 1 SO)
The Sens made a bold moving trading for a keeper who will be a free agent at the end of the year (they sent under-performing Brian Elliott to the Av’s).

Anderson was a star last season for the Avalanche with 38 victories, a .917 save percentage and 2233 saves, the most in the NHL. This year he has struggled with injury and off ice concerns, and the results on the ice have been pretty dreadful.

So why did the Senators make the deal? The reasons are many.

(1) The net minding this season in Canada’s capitol has been awful. The Sens are 28th in the NHL in GAA (3.19) and save percentage (.895).

(2) Brian Elliott has played the majority of the games, he’s appeared 43 times, and his numbers are pitiful (3.19 GAA, .890 SV%). His career numbers are slightly better (2.81, .903), but their still rather uninspiring, so moving him to Colorado appears to have little long term risk.

(3) The Sens have Robin Lehner waiting in the wings. The 2009 2nd round pick has appeared in eight NHL games with disastrous results (3.53 GAA, .888 SV%), but most pundits  view him as a potential starting goalie. Still, he is just 19 years old and the team feels that more time in the minors would be beneficial to his long-term development.

(4) The club also has Pascal Leclaire in net. He should be healthy enough to return to backup duties behind Anderson by next week, he’s missed 25 games with a lower-body injury, at which time Lehner will head back to the AHL.

All of this means that if you are an Anderson owner there is no reason to panic. It appears that there is nothing in his way to playing the overwhelming majority of games with the Sens the rest of the way, and after his 47 save shutout in his first appearance with the club, perhaps there is some hope that he will more closely resemble the star he was last season versus the morning skate keeper he has been most of this season.

Looking Ahead

* One team plays five games this week: St. Louis.

* Ten teams play four games this week: Boston, Calgary, Colorado, Edmonton, Florida, Nashville, NY Islanders, Phoenix, Pittsburgh and Toronto.

* Zero teams play only two games this week.

By Ray Flowers