JOE THORNTON
San Jose Sharks, C
Comment: Thornton is heating up as the season winds down. In his last eight games Big Joe has managed to give fantasy owners 13 points after a slow Feb.
SERGEI SAMSONOV
Carolina Hurricanes, LW
Comment: Whaaaa? Brind'Amour's gone but Sammy's still producing!? Five goals and 10 points in his last seven games! This doesn't look like a weird little streak, either. Samsonov is thriving in Carolina and they are making a hard push to win the Southeast.
JASON POMINVILLE
Buffalo Sabres, RW
Comment: You can easily identify him as the best Buffalo Sabres right now. He's been fairly consistent all year and can taste the playoffs, leading the way with his scorching 10 game point streak. If we look at the even bigger picture we'll see that in his last 20 games Pominville has given fantasy owners 10 goals and 25 points.
SAMI SALO
Vancouver Canucks, D
Comment: Salo has been a quiet producer as of late with four goals and 12 points in his last 14. With Matias Ohlund out of the picture the Canucks will be looking to guys like Salo to pick up the slack.
VESA TOSKALA
Toronto Maple Leafs, G
Comment: Behind all this Leaf drama sits one consistent goaltender. Toskala is riding a 20-straight start streak and has kept the Leafs in games they should have lost, going 5-1-1 in his last seven starts and has kept the scores tight.
VINCENT LECAVALIER
Tampa Bay Lightning, C
Comment: Three points in eight games. Wow. And that plus / minus keeps dropping. Last week I told you he was cold only because of the fact that he hadn't scored a goal since Feb. 9. Now I'm telling you this is starting to turn into a full-blown funk.
VACLAV PROSPAL
Philedelphia Flyers, LW
Comment: Vinny misses Vinnie, that's for sure. Since the move to Philly Vinny has notched one goal and nothing else. His production will continue to drop until April.
TOMAS HOLMSTROM
Detroit Red Wings, RW
Comment: Four assists are his only claim to fame in his last 14 games! I actually opted to drop Holmy over Jason Blake. Blake is at least producing and getting me shots on goal. Holmstrom will get you the odd assist now and then. The second half slowdown is in full gear.
DION PHANEUF
Calgary Flames, D
Comment: Phaneuf had a scorching February come to a halt on Feb. 22. Since that time (seven games) Phaneuf has only managed to put one point on the board. However, he won't be held down for long and if you have PIMs count he's worth the risk just for that alone.
TIM THOMAS
Boston Bruins, G
Comment: The Curse of the Who's Hot list has fallen on Thomas in a bad way. In just his last two starts Thomas has allowed 12 goals. Twelve!!! That's five of Toronto's eight and seven of Washington's 10! A brutal effort by Thomas and his defense. You can't blame it all on the goalie but you sure as hell can't blame it all on Chara's defense.
NIK ANTROPOV
Toronto Maple Leafs, C
Comment: Four goals last three games, on a nice streak and finding his scoring touch in February. By now people should be getting used to the fact that Antropov is a legitimate fantasy stud this year. That sounds so weird. More importantly, he's playing very prominently in the powerplay these days.
MATS SUNDIN
Toronto Maple Leafs, C
Comment: Normally I wouldn't do this but I've got to tell you to start BOTH these guys. Antro is playing on the wing with Sundin so if Mats gets points so will Antro (and they've both been getting plenty). Mats feels like he has to prove something to interim general manager Cliff Fletcher so take advantage of the new Sundin fire!
ZACH PARISE
New Jersey Devils, LW
Comment: Goals are important in fantasy and are much harder to come by than assists. That's why you want Parise in. This kid doesn't think "pass". He thinks "score". In his last 11 games he's notched just one assist but has scored eight goals. That's good, too, because in three games against Montreal Parise's scored three goals. The same should be done against the untested Wild and Avalanche so stick with him.
KRISTIAN HUSELIUS
Calgary Flames, LW
Comment: As a warning I'll say this: he'll likely get you nothing against Chicago. Now, as for the other matchups I suggest good things. He plays fantastic on the road (33 points in 32 games) and absolutely demolishes the Blues with two goals and six points in only three meetings this year. A weak Atlanta team and a slightly improved Washington squad won't stand in Huselius' way.
PATRICK KANE
Chicago Blackhawks, RW
Comment: The perfect matchup for Kane owners is right now! He's got a busy week and is playing in Chi-town where he feels most comfortable (40 points in 33 games). He's bringing a nice hot streak into the week and should feast on the likes of a banged up Detroit and Columbus.
MAXIM AFINOGENOV
Buffalo Sabres, RW
Comment: I'm going out on a limb here but I really do feel that Afino will have a nice week. He's already managed two goals and four points in the four games since his return from injury. His team is heating up and he has the ability. Plus a four-game work week does wonders for a fantasy player.
DUSTIN BYFUGLIEN
Chicacgo Blackhawks, D
Comment: Buff-lin is back, giving us hints of that great stretch he head in late November/early December. He's continued scoring goals (15 on the season!) and is starting to heat back up with three in his last five games. Now's the time to use him!
ANDREI MARKOV
Montreal Canadiens, D
Comment: Normally when Markov is up against the Sens I'd tell you to shy away but the new-look (bad-look) Sens are nothing to be afraid of. Markov will get a few helpers and keep a solid plus/minus for you this week. If Emery / Gerber implode he'll likely get you a power play goal or two.
CAM WARD
Carolina Hurricanes, G
Comment: Only one loss sits between two three-game winning streaks. Ward has really picked up his game in Feb. and it's carrying over to March. You can tell he wants the playoffs again, allowing no more than three goals in only one of his last 11 starts.
MIIKKA KIPRUSOFF
Calgary Flames, G
Comment: Now's the time you've been waiting for. Kipper is in playoff form and ready to win you your fantasy week. He's better at home than on the road but that shouldn't stop you because he's solid either way. Kipper was a sure-start even when he wasn't in full form but now that he's good to go and has a four game week you better start him!
MIKE COMRIE
New York Islanders, C
Comment: A nice two goal night is the only bright spot in Comrie's last nine games. The Islanders need him to score (or at least tally a point!), losing five of those nine and barely winning the others, all by one goal.
ANZE KOPITAR
Los Angeles Kings, C
Comment: He does alright against Vancouver but if I tell you Robbie Luongo's going to be good you better trust me. Kopitar doesn't show up against Minnie or Nashville and that's a fact so let's just sit this one out.
ALEX TANGUAY
Calgary Flames, LW
Comment: I was actually trying to find a way to convince you guys to start him but I couldn't find ANYTHING. This is possibly his worst matchup week of the year. Nothing good against opposing clubs and, worst of all, he has a measly 15 points in 30 away games. Stay clear of this stinker for the week.
MARKUS NASLUND
Vancouver Canucks, LW
Comment: Sure he puts up so-so numbers against his opponents but it isn't anything spectacular. That alone isn't the reason though...how about the fact that he's recently been removed from the top line? This could just be an experiment but his play of late hasn't really justified being a lock on that line. See how this one plays out.
TOMAS HOLMSTROM
Detroit Red Wings, RW
Comment: He's back to that second-half snail's pace that has plagued his career. D-Town has a slow two-game week and I don't see Holmstrom changing his habits any time soon, especially against Manny Legace and an out-to-prove himself Chris Mason.
COLBY ARMSTRONG
Pittsburgh Penguins, RW
Comment: This will likely be the last time you hear any mention of Colby Armstrong in this column for the year. I'll give you two simple reasons why Armstrong no longer deserves a spot on your fantasy roster: 1) No Evgeni Malkin 2) No Sidney Crosby.
RAY WHITNEY
Pittsburgh Penguins, D
Comment: The need for Whitney as an offensive threat isn't there for Pittsburgh right now and he's playing like it. His plus / minus won't hurt you but the lack of scoring will. A quiet week during a quiet streak for Whitney means no fantasy value.
BRENT BURNS
Minnesota Wild, D
Comment: Burns has been slowing down since Jan. rolled around and that shouldn't change in this quiet week. You used to look at a matchup with LA and say "Sure-thing" but not anymore. They might not be great but they're not letting in the stinkers they once were.
KARI LEHTONEN
Atlanta Thrashers, G
Comment: The game against Washington is almost enough reason to shy away but having Colorado and Calgary come to town doesn't look all that inviting either. Lehtonen won't get you those wins and will be sure to kill your GAA and SV% this week.
CHRIS MASON
Nashville Predators, G
Comment: He's been brutal lately and I don't trust his 2-0-1 record against Detroit as something to look forward to. He gets dominated by San Jose. Mason's time as a fantasy helper has passed.
J.P. Del Monte is UPDATE! National Hockey League Editor.
