New York Rangers winger Sean Avery may have played his last game for the Rangers, evidenced by the Rangers' signing of Swedish agitator Andreas Jamtin on Monday.

BOTTOM LINE: This seems like a mistake for a team that was much better when Avery was a part of it. The Rangers are still open to negotiating with Avery, but will let him walk if his price tag doesn’t come down.

Colorado Avalanche center Joe Sakic is up in the air over whether or not he will retire or not. The Avalanche want to find out sooner rather than later because that the draft and free agency loom ahead.

BOTTOM LINE: Sakic is a sure hall of famer and still has some game in him. The key for him is staying healthy. If Sakic were to return for one more campaign, it is hard to imagine him playing for anyone other than the Avalanche.

Atlanta Thrashers goaltender Johan Hedberg was resigned to a two year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

BOTTOM LINE: The deal is believed to be worth about the same as he has been making annually. Hedberg is one of the best backup goalies in the NHL, and it is surprising that he didn’t enter free agency to try and land a starting gig.

Ottawa Senators goalie Ray Emery is likely to become a free agent very soon, most likely within the next 48 hours. It would cost the Senators $2.25 million of the remaining $6.75 million remaining in his contract.

BOTTOM LINE: Emery bought himself a ticket out of Ottawa with his inconsistent play and bad attitude last season. He will look to land a starting gig somewhere, but his attitude may limit the interest. I expect him to land as a backup somewhere, and I expect the Senators to make a strong push to sign impending free agent Christobal Huet.

Former New York Islanders center Alexei Yashin's agent has been in preliminary discussions with Islanders general manager, Garth Snow, regarding a return to Long Island.

BOTTOM LINE: Yashin had a healthy and successful season in Russia last year, and has hinted that if the Islanders aren't willing to meet his demands, he will return to Russia and play another season there.

Despite rumors that have connected pending free agent Mats Sundin to the Detroit Red Wings, Stanley Cup M.V.P Henrik Zetterberg doesn't think it is going to happen.

BOTTOM LINE: Sundin would be a compelling option for the Red Wings, and he certainly has the ability to produce. The biggest obstacle for him at this point in his career is remaining healthy, and if he can do that, some team will definitely be rewarded.

Colorado Avalanche center Joe Sakic will be making the decision of whether or not he will return for his 20th season in the NHL sometime this week.

BOTTOM LINE: Sakic's days as a top flight fantasy player are behind him, but if he does decide to return, he is worth a mid to late round pick if he proves to be healthy. The 39-year-old's career has been nothing but stellar in the NHL, and he will be a first ballot hall of famer.

Anaheim Ducks defenemen Marc-Andre Bergeron was traded to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday in exchange for a third round pick, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

BOTTOM LINE: This is a nice acquisition for a team that was desperately in need of someone to run the point on their powerplay. Bergeron has scoring ability, but he is yet to have that big breakout season. This year could be the year for him to finally get out of his shell.

Vancouver Canucks center Trevor Linden has decided to call it a career after 21 seasons in the NHL, according to the Canadian Press.

BOTTOM LINE: Linden has had an excellent career, and it will be an interesting discussion when his name comes up in hall of fame discussions. Personally, I feel like he is not a hall of famer, but he was an asset for all of his years, and led the Canucks to a Stanley Cup appearance in 1994.

Detroit Red Wings defensemen Chris Chelios is set to become an unrestricted free agent. The long-time veteran wants to return to the Red Wings and is willing to take a lesser role to do so.

BOTTOM LINE: Chelios' scoring numbers have gone down as he has aged, but he is still worthy of lacing up his skates. The Red Wings may decide to bring him back for yet another season, but he should not be drafted high in fantasy leagues. If you need a defensemen in the late rounds, maybe you can take a flier on him, but don't expect any miracles.

Nashville Predators center Steve Sullivan is trying his best to return from a back injury, but it looks like it will take some time.

BOTTOM LINE: Sullivan still has pain in his back, and until that goes away, we are not going to see him in professional hockey. Sullivan is said to not be too optimistic, as it looks like he may not be able to play at all next season.

Detroit Red Wings winger Johan Franzen's injury was not just a concussion as previously stated, but he also suffered a subdural hematoma -- a condition where blood pooled between his skull and brain.

BOTTOM LINE: The Red Wings hid this injury very well, which makes you wonder if they crossed a line by doing so. Gary Roberts' cheap shots are looking worse now, but thankfully, Roberts should not have any long-term ill effects from this.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin has given the Leafs permission to speak to other teams regarding his rights.

BOTTOM LINE: Sundin had another good season this year, finishing with 32 goals and 78 points in 74 games. I think we can all agree that Sundin is on the down side of his career, but he may still have enough left to be a productive number two center. Keep a close eye on him next year in the middle rounds, because he may be a nice find if he is available then.

New York Islanders netminder Wade Dubielewicz has opted to become a free agent. GM Garth Snow said the team lost faith in Dubielewicz last season, a notion in which Ted Nolan denies.

BOTTOM LINE: The Islanders backup goalie was 9-9 and did a solid job in covering for the injured Rick DiPietro last season. He finished with a 2.70 GAA last season. If someone were to give him a chance to be their starting goalie, he could be a solid everyday player. We will wait to see if he gets that chance.

Washington Capitals winger Alexander Ovechkin is apparently going to win the MVP award, news that was accidentally revealed by the NHL's official online store.

BOTTOM LINE: Ovechkin had an absolutely phenomenal year this season, and is very deserving of the award. Ovechkin played in 82 games this season and registered 112 points. Ovechkin has emerged as one of the premier fantasy players, and may be the number one overall pick on many of the draft boards next season.

Detroit Red Wings goaltender Dominik Hasek has decided to hang up his skates after a long and prosperous career.

BOTTOM LINE: Hasek started in the NHL in the 1990-91 season with the Chicago Blackhawks and played with Buffalo for nine years and Ottawa for one. He had a 2.20 career GAA and 735 wins. Hasek has been one of the best fantasy goalies for a while, and he is sure to be a first ballot hall of famer.

Detroit Red Wings defensemen Chris Chelios has made it clear that he would like to play another NHL season. The 46-year-old doesn't seem to show any signs of slowing down.

BOTTOM LINE: Chelios has had an astonishing career at the NHL level, and he continues to get valuable minutes in big games. While he is not the fantasy contributor he once was, he does accumulate a decent amount of assists in a season. He may be a good guy to swipe in the late rounds if he is still available on the draft board. I'd imagine the Red Wings would be happy to have him back.

Columbus Blue Jackets netminder Pascal Leclaire is currently working on a long-term deal with the Blue Jackets. It seems to be only a matter of time before the two sides come to an agreement.

BOTTOM LINE: Leclaire is coming off of his best season as a pro and signing him to a long term deal is a mere formality. With his 24-17-6 record last season, Leclaire intrenched himself as a top ten fantasy goaltender. He will probably be going in the top couple of rounds in next year's fantasy drafts.

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Marian Hossa will likely test the free agent waters rather than remain in Pittsburgh. Hossa played with Sidney Crosby after being acquired at the trade deadline.

BOTTOM LINE: The combination of Crosby and Hossa was downright scary coming down the stretch, and having Hossa as an extra weapon on the powerplay made the Penguins downright scary. Hossa will test the market and likely sign with the highest bidder. Hossa had 66 points in 72 games this season.

Detroit Red Wings winger Henrik Zetterberg scored the game winner as the Red Wings won game six of the Stanley Cup Finals. Zetterberg was awared the Conn Smythe trophy.

BOTTOM LINE: Zetterberg was absolutely phenomenal in the post season, posting 13 goals and 27 points in the Red Wings 22 games. Henrik has emerged as a premier player in the National Hockey League. He will be a high round pick next season.

Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood was sensational in the Stanley Cup playoffs, posting a 1.55 GA and a .930 save percentage in 19 postseason games.

BOTTOM LINE: The Red Wings initially decided to go with Dominic Hasek in the playoffs, but after he had some early struggles, they called upon the veteran to pick them up, and he answered the call. Osgood is like a fine wine; he gets better with age.

New York Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro underwent minor knee surgery recently. According to G.M. Garth Snow, "Everything is great."

BOTTOM LINE: DiPietro is expected to be ready by the start of training camp. Despite being injured on a couple of occasions this season, the Islander net minder had a productive year with his 2.82 GAA, 3 shutouts and 26 wins. He has definitely emerged as an above average goalie in fantasy.

Pittsburgh right winger Petr Sykora scored the game winning goal in triple overtime to keep the Penguins alive. It was his first point of the series.

BOTTOM LINE: Sykora has been practically invisible this post season for the Penguins. The goal that was scored on Monday was only his second goal of the playoffs, and his third point. He also has eight penalty minutes in overtime. Game six will be on Wednesday.

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Evgeni Malkin is still in search of his first point on the NHL finals. As of May 28, Malkin had scored 9 goals in 16 playoff games, but nothing has come since.

BOTTOM LINE: Malkin has definitely been disappointing thus far in the Stanley Cup finals, and the Penguins need him to excel if they have any chance of coming back. He has only taken 9 shots on goal this round, and the Penguins need him to be more aggressive.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin will seat the remaining two games of the season after sustaining a groin tear. Sundin, who has played his entire career for the Maple Leafs since 1995, will become an unrestricted free agent July 1, and though he has said he plans to retire a member of the Maple Leafs, there is a distinct possibility Sundin heads for a team with a brighter outlook.

BOTTOM LINE: Sundin has 32 goals and 78 points this season, his 17th in the NHL. A solid point per game guy, Sundin has remained remarkably heatlhy his entire career. In 1,305 games he has recorded 1,321 points.

Atlanta Thrashers goalie Kari Lehtonen recorded his fourth shutout of the season on Monday, stopping 36 shots in a 2-0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Lehtonen has won two straight following a three-game losing streak. He is just 3-4-2 in his last nine starts with a 16-22-5 record overall.

BOTTOM LINE: This was the first time since Feb. 9 and 13 that Lehtonen has won back-to-back starts -- a span of 13 games. He's not the worst goalie in the league, but he's certainly had a rough season. However, considering he closes his season out against the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay again, he's not such a bad start.

New York Rangers captain Chris Drury recorded a goal and an assist in a 2-1 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday. Henrik Lundqvist saved 21-of-22 shots on goal and has gone 2-1-1 over his last four starts. Drury has five points in his last three games and nine points on the month.

BOTTOM LINE: Drury has been remarkably inconsistent this season. He leads the team with just 24 goals. Lundqvist has also had an inconsistent season, though he has faired somewhat better. But with an easy upcoming schedule, including two games versus the New York Islanders, consider starting both.

San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton scored two goals in a 3-1 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes, eliminating them from the playoffs. Thornton has eight points in his last four games, including seven goals. The Sharks have won 17 of their last 19 games. The two losses came during overtime.

BOTTOM LINE: The Sharks are the hottest team in the league right now and Thornton is their captain. Keep him active. He's by and far the best player the Sharks have.

Detroit Red Wings Goalie Domink Hasek recorded his fifth shutout of the season on Sunday, making 22 saves in a 1-0 overtime win over the Nashville Predators. Hasek has won three straight and six of his last seven, though injuries and the suprising play of Chris Osgood has limited him to just seven starts in 14 games this month. Hasek is an impressive 25-9-3 this season.

BOTTOM LINE: Osgood has been impressive this season with a 27-9-4 record and a 2.06 GAA, but the Red Wings will need Hasek if they want to make a playoff run. Expect Hasek to steal the last starts of the season from Osgood (they had been evenly splitting starts) in order to fine tune Hasek come playoff time.

Minnesota Wild right winger Marian Gaborik scored two goals, including an overtime game winner, in Sunday's 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. Gaborik has 40 goals and 40 assists on the season and 16 points this month. He's having a career year, mostly because he's stayed healthy, and he leads the Wild in points.

BOTTOM LINE: Gaborik has seven points in his last five games and currently owns a modest three game point streak. Continue to start him in all formats. He's having an exceptional year.

Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby recorded two assists and Evengi Malkin picked up a goal in a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers Sunday. The assists were Crosby's first points since March 9. He has been injured and not played consistently since late Jan., however his return makes him an immediate start in all formats. Malkin, meanwhile, picked up his 20th point of the month with his goal.

BOTTOM LINE: No player benefited more from Crosby's absence than Malkin, who has a career best 104 points to his name. Malkin has 46 points in Feb. and March, mostly playing without Crosby. By comparison, Malkin totaled 42 points from Nov. to Jan.

San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton scored two goals in a 3-2 overtime win over the Dallas Stars on Thursday. Thornton has a three game, seven point streak going right now and has 18 points this month in 13 games. The Sharks have won 15 of their last 17 games. The two losses both came during overtime.

BOTTOM LINE: The Sharks are as hot as they come right now. Thornton is anchoring an absolutely unbelieveable team. Keep him active down the stretch.

Pittsburgh Penguins phenom Sidney Crosby returned after missing the previous seven games and 28 of the last 31 with a high ankle sprain and Jarko Ruutu scored and added two helpers in a 3-1 win over the New York Islanders. This was the first time Marian Hossa and Crosby were on the ice together this season. It was a career high in points for Ruutu.

BOTTOM LINE: Crosby will start pouring in the points now that he's back on the ice. Start him immediately. Ruuti has played well of late, but has little value.

Colorado Avalanche center Paul Stastny recorded a goal and two assists in a 6-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday, extending his point streak to seven games. He has 16 points in 12 games this month and has recorded a point in all but one game. This second year star has been impressive in March after injuries derailed his Jan. and Feb.

BOTTOM LINE: Stastny is a valuable keeper league option. He'd have approached 90 points if he had been healthy all season. Plus, he can score and pass with the best of them. Keep an eye on Stastny in keeper leagues.

Minnesota Wild center Mikko Koivu recorded all three assists in a 3-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. His big day snaps a three game point drought and gives him 10 points on the month. He has 10 goals and 28 assists this season.

BOTTOM LINE: Koivu has been solid after a spotty Feb. Ride him while he's hot. He's not a starter, but he could be a valuable fantasy grab.

Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Fredrik Norrena recorded his second shutout of the season in a 4-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday. The win snaps a three game losing streak for Norrena, who is 3-4-0 this month. Norrena is 10-17-5 with a .897 save percentage and 2.70 GAA this season.

BOTTOM LINE: Norrena hasn't played well this season, but he does have two shutouts this month. He's not a fantasy starter, but he might be behind the net for one more game while Pascal Leclaire rebounds from a freak injury.

Colorado Avalanche goalie Jose Theodore recorded his third shutout of the season and second this month, making 23 saves in a 2-0 win over the Calgary Flames on Monday. Theodore is just 2-3-0 in his last six starts. He was pulled Sunday after allowing three quick goals in 14 minutes.

BOTTOM LINE: Hopefully, Theodore will build on Monday's performance. He's been spotty in Feb. and turned in some ugly games. He's 24-21-2 on the season with a 2.39 GAA. He's a strong No. 2 goalie.

Edmonton Oilers center Andrew Cogliano scored two goals in a 5-3 win over the Minnesota Wild on Monday. Cogliano has 11 points this month, and the Oilers have gone 9-3. Although he's inconsistent, this rookie can put up points in bunches. He's been hot lately and should be started.

BOTTOM LINE: Cogliano has 18 goals, 25 assists and 43 points this season. Start him as he's been solid of late: 19 points since Feb. 1.

Montreal Canadiens winger Andrei Kostitsyn scored two goals in a 7-5 win over the Ottawa Senators on Monday. Alexei Kovalev added two assists, and defensemen Francis Bouillon scored a goal for the Canadiens, who have won three straight.

BOTTOM LINE: Kostitsyn has a modest three game point streak and has a point in four of his last five games. He's rebounded from a dreadful Feb. and can be useful down the stretch. He has 51 points this season.

Phoenix Coyotes center Peter Mueller registered a hat trick on Thursday, recording three assists in a 6-5 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Mueller has 10 points in 10 games this month and holds a modest two-game point streak. He has 53 points on the season.

BOTTOM LINE: Mueller is streaky, but he can be an important fantasy piece down the stretch. Continue to start him in all formats. He has played well of late.

Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward recorded 36 saves in a 2-1 shootout win over the Florida Panthers on Thursday. Forward Trevor Letowski scored the Hurricanes lone regulation goal, and Ward improved to 11-2-0 in his last 13 games. He is 35-22-4 this season.

BOTTOM LINE: Ward is the hottest goalie in the NHL right now. Unfortunately for his owners, the Hurricanes don't play against until Tuesday (March 25).

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Nikolai Khabibulin recorded a shutout on Wednesday in a 5-0 win over the Washington Capitals. This was Khabibulin's first stint as a starter since Feb. 20 against the Minnesota Wild -- also a shutout. Khabibulin had missed 12 games with back spasms.

BOTTOM LINE: Even though he's healthy, Khabibulin is not the safest start. The Blackhawks are quickly fading from playoff contention, and Patrick Lalime and Corey Crawford have a good chance at stealing Khabibulin's minutes.

Detroit Red Wings winger Henrik Zetterberg registered his second hat trick of the season in a 3-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday. Zetterberg has eight points in eight games this month and 83 points on the season.

BOTTOM LINE: Zetterberg has slowed down of late, but he's still a fantasy must start. He's a consistent point producer and will occassionally break out with big performances.

New York Rangers winger Sean Avery scored two goals and center Chris Drury added two assists, helping to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 on Tuesday. The Penguins were without Sidney Crosby, who has missed 24 of the teams last 27 games with various injuries. For Drury, his assists snap a five-game point drought, while Avery has registered a point in three of his last four games and four of his last six.

BOTTOM LINE: Although he won't be a nightly producer, consider picking up Avery if he's available. He's playing the best hockey of his season and can be a fantasy contributor.

Vancouver Canucks center Henrik Sedin scored two goals and goalie Roberto Luongo made 25 saves in a 3-1 win over the Phoenix Coyotes on Monday. Sedin snapped a four-game point drought and recorded his first multi-point game since Feb. 19. Luongo won for the fifth time in seven starts, improving to 33-22-9.

BOTTOM LINE: Luongo is hot right now. And Sedin has snapped out of his cold streak. Both players are worthy fantasy candidates in this final week of fantasy hockey.

Minnesota Wild defensemen Brent Burns recorded a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. Burns has seven points in eight games this month after posting just five in all of Feb. He's in the middle of his best stretch of hockey this season, but the Wild are just 3-5 in March.

BOTTOM LINE: Burns has always been an erratic fantasy defensemen, but he's posted career highs this season. Ride him while he's hot.

Carolina Hurricanes defensemen Joe Corvo recorded a hat trick on Sunday in a 5-1 win over the Ottawa Senators. Corvo has recorded a point in six of his last seven games. He has 10 points and a plus-six rating over this span.

BOTTOM LINE: Corvo has turned up the heat after a slow start to the season. He's playing well and scoring points. Start him in all formats.

Vancouver Canucks defensemen Mattias Ohlund will miss the remainder of the season after having bone chips removed from his left knee. Ohlund played Wednesday against the Anaheim Ducks, but didn't travel to Phoenix for Thursday's game. Instead, he returned to Vancouver to undergo surgery. There is a slim chance he will return for the playoffs if the Canucks advance.

BOTTOM LINE: It's safe to drop Ohlund from your fantasy roster. He had recorded 24 points in 53 games this season.

Colorado Avalanche forward Peter Forsberg went through a successful practice on Sunday and will play in Monday's game against the Minnesota Wild. The 34-year-old Forsberg strained his groin and missed all of last week. Forsberg signed with the Colorado Avalanche with just six weeks remaining in the regular season to help their playoff push.

BOTTOM LINE: There's no reason not to start Forsberg if you have him on your roster. He's experienced enough that week off won't have affected his timing.

The NHL suspended Anaheim Ducks captain Chris Pronger for eight games for stomping on Vancouver Canucks forward Ryan Kesler's leg during Wednesday's game. Pronger will not be eligible to return until April 6 -- the team's regular season finale. "While I did not intend to injure Ryan, I respect the league's decision on this matter and look forward to returning to the ice and leading my teammates into the playoffs," Pronger said in a statement.

BOTTOM LINE: This is a big blow for the Ducks, who are battling for a playoff spot. Pronger has 43 points in 71 games this season. Consider dropping him for the remainder of the season and picking up a valuable replacement.

Atlanta Thrashers left wing Ilya Kovalchuk registered three goals and an assist in a 6-4 win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday. Center Robert Holik also added one goal and two assists for the Thrashers, who have won two of their last 12 games. Kovalchuk has played well of late, recording 10 points in his last seven games.

BOTTOM LINE: The Thrashers aren't a good team. In fact, they're a bad team. Kovalchuk, however, remains a solid fantasy player. His 80 points tie him for eighth in the league. Start him.

Colorado Avalanche offensemen Joe Sakic and David Jones recorded three points apiece in 5-2 win over the Atlanta Thrashers. Both players scored a goal and added two assists for the Avalanche, who have won seven of their last eight contests.

BOTTOM LINE: Jones doesn't play enough to warrant fantasy consideration, but Sakic is a boarderline start in deeper leagues. He missed all of Dec., Jan. and most of Feb. with injury, but has played well since his return.

Ottawa Senators left wing Dany Heatly scored three goals and recorded an assist in a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. Heatly has eight points in six games this month and is currently in the middle of a modest two-game point streak. He has 35 goals and 39 assists this season.

BOTTOM LINE: Heatly hasn't been the same since his Jan. injury. He recorded points in just four games in Feb., though this month he has a point in four of five games. Hope he has overcome his slump and is back on track. Start him.

Calgary Flames right wing Jarome Iginla scored a goal and added two helpers in Monday's 7-3 win over the St. Louis Blues. Despite a brief two-game scoring drought, Iginla has still managed six points in four games this month. He's better than a point-per-game and a must start.

BOTTOM LINE: Iginla has recorded 41 points and 41 assists this season. He's one of the best fantasy producers out there and a must start.

New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist won his third straight contest on Monday, holding off the Buffalo Sabres to earn a 3-2 shootout win. Lundqvist has allowed three goals and recorded a shutout during his current win streak. Lundqvist is 6-0-1 in his last eight starts.

BOTTOM LINE: He's as good as they come right now. His nine shutouts are a fantastic fantasy number and his record -- 32-21-7 -- is not too shabby either.

Colorado Avalanche center Peter Forsberg missed Sunday's game against the Dallas Stars with a groin strain and is listed day-to-day by the club. Forsberg re-signed with the Avalanche Feb. 25 after sitting out the first two-thirds of the season. He has two assists in three games since his return.

BOTTOM LINE: Fantasy owners salivating at the thought of Forsberg racking up the points might consider waiting until next week to slot him into the starting rotation. He's clearly going through an adjustment period and needs time to work on his conditioning.

The San Jose Sharks earned a 3-2 shootout win over Minnesota Wild 3-2 on Sunday to extend their record winning streak to nine games. Brian Rolston and Milan Michaek scored regulation goals for the Sharks, and goalie Evengi Nabokov won his eigth straight match to push his record to 39-20-7.

BOTTOM LINE: Now in his eigth season with the Sharks, Nabokov has easily produced the best pro season of his career. He's a No. 1 fantasy goaltender and a must start.

Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the Pittsburgh Penguins took a 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals after rookie Nicklas Backstrom scored the winning goal on his own net in an attempt to clear the puck. Crosby finished with two goals, and Malkin recorded three assists. In three games since returning from an injury that sidelined him through Feb., Crosby has two goals and two assists.

BOTTOM LINE: These two might be the best duo in the NHL. Expect Malkin's scorching Feb. numbers (22 points) to come back down to earth with Crosby back in the lineup. Still, you can't beat either guy when it comes to per game production. They're both fantasy studs.

Dallas Stars center Brad Richards recorded a goal and an assist, and goalie Marty Turco shut out the Colorado Avalanche 3-0 on Sunday. Richards now has seven assists and one goal in five games since joining the Stars. Turco recorded his third shutout of the season and snapped a three-game losing streak with the win. He is 30-16-4 on the season.

BOTTOM LINE: Richards should be a point-a-game guy for the remainder of the season. He has played well and is currently on a two-game point streak.

Philadelphia Flyers defensemen Kimmo Timonen recorded three assists in a 3-1 win over the New York Islanders on Saturday. Timonen extended his point-streak to six games. He has 10 points over this span. He has officially ended his Feb. slump.

BOTTOM LINE: It's once again safe to rely on Timonen, who went through a really nasty Feb. Although he has a shot at 50 points, this has to be seen as a down year for Timonen.

New Jersey Devils left wing Zach Parise scored two goals in a 2-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. Parise now has a modest thee-game, five-point streak. Parise is just one goal shy of his career high (set last year). He has 30 goals and 30 assists on the season.

BOTTOM LINE: In his junior campaign Parise is setting the foundation for a good fantasy future. He should eclipse last season's point totals (62) and he has established himself as a reliable contributor. Start him.

Colorado Avalanche center Peter Forsberg recorded two assists in a 3-1 win over the Dallas Stars on Saturday. These were the first points of the season for Forsberg, who went scoreless in the previous two games. The oft-injured center has averaged more than a point a game his entire career.

BOTTOM LINE: Fantasy owners can start expecting an outpouring of points in the coming days. Forsberg is too good to stay off the boards for long.

Carolina Hurricanes center Eric Staal scored two goals and added a helper in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Atlanta Thrashers. Staal has 33 goals and 31 assists this season. He has 11 points in his last seven games and has a point in two straight.

BOTTOM LINE: Staal is one of the league's best. Keep him started in all formats. The Hurricanes have an easy schedule.

New York Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro returned to practice on Wednesday after leaving the team following his grandmother's death. DiPietro is expected to be behind the net for Thursday's game against the New York Rangers.

BOTTOM LINE: Expect the veteran goalie to be in the net for the Islanders, making him a strong start. In daily update leagues, feel free to give DiPietro the start. He is 26-24-7 this season.

Goalie Dominik Hasek recorded 22 saves and the Detroit Red Wings snapped a four game losing streak with a 4-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Monday. This was Hasek's second start since a hip injury sidelined him for three weeks in Feb. With Chris Osgood playing well and Hasek battling injuries, the former Sabres' playing time has been cut.

BOTTOM LINE: The Red Wings will try to get Hasek some starts, but it's best to bench Hasek if you have a better alternative. He's still splitting ice time with Osgood and he has been injury prone this season.

San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton recorded two goals and two assists in Monday's 6-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Thornton has 10 points in his last six games and is heating up after a slow Feb. He has 19 goals and 59 assists this season and has been one of the NHL's top performers.

BOTTOM LINE: Keep Thornton active in your lineup. It's fantasy playoff time for most leagues, and Thornton can blow up at any time.

Washington Capitals left wing Alexander Ovechkin netted his 50th goal of the season in a 10-2 rout of the Boston Bruins on Monday. Ovechkin finished with three goals and two assists. He has three hat tricks on the season. In two games this March Ovechkin already has seven points; he finished Feb. with 13.

BOTTOM LINE: For anybody else in the league, 13 points is a good month. For Ovechkin, it was a bit of down month. He should easily eclipse last month's totals with his hot start. He's one of the best in the league. Keep him in your lineup.

Boston Bruins left wing Marco Sturm scored two goals in a 5-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, extending his point streak to six games. Sturm has totaled nine points over his last six games and has really come on the last two months after a slow start. Sturm is quietly enjoying a career year.

BOTTOM LINE: Now that he's found his groove, there's no reason to believe Strum will slow down. Keep him started in all formats. He's in line for another solid March.

Dallas Stars newly acquired center, Brad Richards, set up five goals on Thursday in a 7-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. The five assists were a career high for Richards and a franchise record for the Stars. Richards centered the third line, which saw Niklas Hagman pot a hat trick and Antti Miettinen record two more assists.

BOTTOM LINE: Richards recorded 18 goals and 33 assists with the Tampa Bay Lightning before being dealt at the trade deadline. On a Stars offense that ranks second in the Western Conference with 2.89 goals per game, Richards should have no problem fitting in and is a fantasy must start.