This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around The Rink
Sunday was the NHL's version of "Revenge of the Nerds," with Buffalo beating Detroit, Carolina topping Los Angeles, Calgary (they're pretty decent) over first-place Montreal and Winnipeg knocking off Chicago.
Eric Staal returned this week and picked up a point in his first two games. He failed to score Sunday night but the Hurricanes won. Go figure.
What a weird week for backup Chicago Blackhawks goaltenders. Scott Darling comes out of nowhere, starts three times and then gets sent to the AHL, even though he has to pass through waivers and Antti Raanta doesn't. In any case, starter Corey Crawford returned Sunday and will see the great majority of starts – provided he can stay healthy.
Tommy Wingels has been a fantasy stud for four weeks. In his last four games, Wingels has four points, 13 hits, seven PIM, three blocks and 19 shots on goal. While the peripherals are likely to continue, don't look for Wingels to continue his 9-point, 13-game pace. He averaged half a point per game in 2013-14 and while he might bump that rate up to .60 points per game, it'd be surprising to see him finish with more than 50 points.
The Johnny Gaudreau bandwagon continues to grow and rightfully so. "Johnny Hockey" had two assists Sunday night, giving him two goals and eight points in his last seven contests. If he isn't available then it might be wise to give Sean Monahan a look, especially in keeper leagues. Monahan, who netted 22 goals as a rookie last season, has five points in his last five.
Filip Forsberg was traded from Washington to Nashville for Martin Erat. That's just not fair. Forsberg collected three points Sunday for the Preds.
The Penguins are clicking at 41.9 percent (18-for-43) on the power play and have killed off 26 straight power plays. That's not fair, either, is it? Patric Hornqvist has added so much to Pittsburgh's man advantage. Hornqvist has never met a shot he hasn't liked and his right-handed shot has added a new dimension the power-play hasn't seen up front. That said, Hornqvist has still benefited from playing on the Pens more than the Pens have benefited from him. Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, Chris Kunitz, etc. are pretty good in their own right.
Josh Gorges may be the Wayne Gretzky of blocked shots. Entering Sunday, Gorges was averaging 4.5 blocks per game.
Monday, Ryan McDonagh and Keven Klein won't play for the Rangers against St. Louis while T.J Oshie remains out for the Blues. Oshie has a whopping one point in eight games, so maybe the time away from the rink will help him, though nobody's making light of his concussion symptoms. Vladimir Tarasenko, is there anyone hotter? Yours truly has kept Tarasenko on the bench for all of his six goals thus far, instead playing Jamie Benn and Wayne Simmonds. The lesson? Drafting three guys who are limited to one position (right wing) hinders the versatility angle, though I'd still take all three in a heartbeat.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check our Projected Goalies Grid
St. Louis Blues (Brian Elliott) at New York Rangers (Cam Talbot), 7:00 PM
Injury News For Teams Playing Monday
St. Louis Blues
T.J. Oshie, RW - In addition to a concussion, Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Oshie (concussion) is dealing with a bacterial infection, according to GM Doug Armstrong. (10/31/2014)
Paul Stastny, C - Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said Saturday that Stastny (upper body) will travel with the team on its upcoming road trip, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Jeremy Rutherford reports. (11/1/2014)
Ryan Reaves, RW - Reaves left Saturday's game against Colorado with an upper-body injury and will be reevaluated Sunday, Lou Korac of NHL.com reports. (11/1/2014)
New York Rangers
Dan Boyle, D - Boyle participated in Sunday's optional practice. (11/2/2014)
Kevin Klein, D - Klein (ankle) has swelling in his foot and will not play Monday. (11/2/2014)
Ryan McDonagh, D - Coach Alain Vigneault said McDonagh (shoulder) is expected to miss three-to-four weeks, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports. (11/2/2014)
Derek Stepan, C - Coach Alain Vigneault suggested that Stepan (leg) could return to the lineup as soon as Monday's game against the Blues, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports. (10/31/2014)
John Moore, D - Moore has been suspended five games for his illegal hit on the Wild's Erik Haula during Monday's game, Bob McKenzie of TSA.ca reports. (10/29/2014)
Hot
Alex Chiasson: Seems like a long time ago when Chiasson started the 2013-14 campaign with nine points in his first nine games. While that may have been a little flukish for a player so young in his Dallas career, his spot and production both appear to be more stable with Ottawa the second time around. With three power-play goals, three assists and ample time on the man advantage, Chiasson has plenty of room to grow.
Jakub Voracek: With 16 points (3G, 13A) the winger ranks second in the NHL behind Sidney Crosby for the Art Ross Trophy. Voracek is in the midst of a five-game point streak which includes one goal and eight helpers. Savvy fantasy owners who jumped the gun and picked him ahead of his draft ranking have been well rewarded. Voracek finished with more than 50 points for the first time in his six-year career last season and looks to be a lock to repeat a 60-point campaign in 2014-15.
James Neal: The Real Deal got off to a one-goal, five-game performance, but since then has seven goals and nine points in seven contests. Sunday, he picked up a pair of assists, but it's Neal's goal-scoring ability that lands him on the hot list. He's clicking with the young Filip Forsberg and the thing is is that Neal only has one power-play point. Once Nashville figures out its man advantage, look for the Predators power forward become even more fantasy reliable.
Cold
Brandon Saad: He snapped a four-game pointless stretch Saturday with an assist, then went scoreless Sunday. Before Saturday, Saad registered two shots or less in each of those four games and put up a combined minus-5 rating. He's got loads of skills, but Saad better be careful. The Hawks are deep and could push him down the depth charts. Saad will be a restricted free agent after the season.
Anze Kopitar: Two goals and an assist in nine games isn't what fantasy owners expected from the first-or-second round draft pick. Kopitar just returned from an upper-body injury and will likely pick up the pace. Tyler Toffoli can't keep leading the Kings in scoring, can he?
Alex Stalock: There are plenty of ebbs and flows (and injuries) throughout the course of an 82-game schedule, but right now Stalock is planted firmly behind starter Antti Niemi in San Jose. Niemi is 3-0-1 in his last four starts since Stalock last saw action. Although Stalock is 1-2-1 in four decisions, his peripherals are strong -- .924 save percentage, 2.22 goals-against average.
Recommended Pickup
Christian Ehrhoff: After a rough start, Ehrhoff is settling into his new digs in Pittsburgh. He has assists in both of his last two games and is unleashing his hard shot with more frequency. With Ollli Maatta out for November and Paul Martin (back) seeing less minutes, the opportunity is there for Ehrhoff. He'll see more time on the Pens' second power-play unit and that's a good thing for fantasy owners.
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