Our weekly digest of everything fantasy hockey. Facts don't lie and Power Plays is full of 'em. Projections for the week of Oct. 16-22. Stats through Oct. 13:


Ottawa Senators, C
Comment: What else can you say about a guy who leads the NHL with 10 points in six games? He's had at least a point in all six games this season, and six of them came from last week's games. His only knock is the fact that all of his 10 points are assists — Spezza hasn't even lit the lamp yet!

Carolina Hurricanes, LW
Comment: Cole is helping out on a team that seems fit for a bounce back, scoring two goals and an assist in two games last week. He's getting lots of shots on net which will only lead to more points and you can count on him to grab a few powerplay points as well.

Ottawa Senators, RW
Comment: This spot is officially Heatley's to lose. He continues his goal scoring ways, potting two goals and four points in three games last week. Can you say 'Rocket' Richard winner?

Buffalo Sabres, D
Comment: Campbell, if healthy, could be one of the highest scoring defensemen this season. He's on a three game scoring streak and potted one goal and two assists only one game last week. Buffalo's defense and goaltending are starting to settle and their offense is picking up.

Carolina Hurricanes, G
Comment: Ward has been a brick wall to start the season and kept up his winning ways last week with two wins. He held the very potent Ottawa offense to only three goals and kept Toronto at bay with only one goal in Carolina's 7-1 drubbing, keeping his stats to a .939 SV% and a 1.99 GAA.
Pittsburgh Penguins, C
Comment: : Let's face it, Who thought Crosby would come off flat to start the season, posting only two assists in three games? This isn't a terrible start but it isn't the start Crosby (or the fans) expected. The good news is by midweek Crosby should have bounced back from this slow start and will never find himself on this list again.

New Jersey Devils, LW
Comment: Elias is one of many Devils that could be on this list. He has been off to a brutal start, going scoreless in two games last week and amassing only one assist and a minus-4 rating in his first four starts. This is not the Elias we've come to know. When he's healthy he should be a viable fantasy option so we'll just have to wait for him and his team to pick up the slack.

San Jose Sharks, RW
Comment: If you can't score with Joe Thornton then who can you score with? Albeit, Thornton himself hasn't been up to his usual self but the fact remains that Cheechoo not only went scoreless with a minus-3 rating in two games last week, but he's scoreless in four games since the season began.

Vancouver Canucks, D
Comment: Bieksa is playing badly right now. It's not just that it took him almost two weeks to record his first point, or the fact that he is supposed to be the team's best choice offensively from the blueline with Sami Salo injured. It's the fact that he's a minus-4 defending in front of the second best goaltender in the world today.

New Jersey Devils, G
Comment: What? Blasphemy! Okay, just ask yourself when Brodeur last lost three straight? How about three straight to start the season? The answer is 2001 when he went 0-4 to start the season. He also let in three goals in two straight games last week. Marty will probably snap out of this streak and, yes, there are worse goalies out there right now, but they aren't supposed to be defending the title of Best Goaltender in the World.


Toronto Maple Leafs, C
Comment: The pressure of breaking the two biggest records in Maple Leaf history (390 goals and 917 points) is finally off and now Sundin will most likely flourish from this point onwards. It's a busy week ahead for the Buds, with Sundin facing off against Buffalo, Florida and Chicago. Sundin is going to carry his five-game point streak and plus-6 rating this week against some teams that have been allowing many goals to start the season.

Colorado Avalanche, C
Comment: This kid is incredible. Really. After his first career hatrick he managed to have a five point night. He'll be facing the floundering Flames, the young and inexperienced Blackhawks and Minnesota. Expect good things from these games as even Minnesota's stonewalling defense and goalkeeping will eventually let in a few goals.

Detroit Red Wings, LW
Comment: He's on a five game point streak with three goals and nine points. He has a very busy week with four games (two against LA and Phoenix's suspect goaltending). This should be enough information for you. Want some more? He's back alongside Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom.

Philadelphia Flyers, LW
Comment: The way this Flyers top line is clicking, Gagne could end up having a monster week against the likes of Atlanta, New Jersey and Carolina. Look for Gagne to pad his assists with Briere on such a scoring streak (and to possibly add a few goals of his own).

Detroit Red Wings, RW
Comment: Holmstrom has been one of the league's most consistent goal scorers thus far, potting a goal in four of his five games and a point in all six games. Add that to a busy week and the return of Zetterberg to his line and this could be a big week for Holmstrom.

Ottawa Senators, RW
Comment: The Sens only have two opponents this week (Florida and Montreal) but that shouldn't stop their top line from racking up the points. Alfredsson is a must start every week and should find more points this week. Montreal is not adverse to letting goals in and don't let Tomas Vokoun’s recent Luongo — like start confuse you — he's no Roberto Luongo and he still plays on a Florida team with a very weak defense.

Montreal Canadiens, D
Comment: The youngest Markov brother should keep up his stellar start. He plays very well against both Buffalo and Ottawa and will be the Canadiens powerplay horse this year. A game against Florida shouldn't hurt, either.

Tampa Bay Lightning, D
Comment: With Dan Boyle still sidelined due to injury Kuba will continue to be the No. 1 man on the blueline in Tampa. He's going up against Atlanta and Boston and plays well against both. The way those two teams are playing, Kuba might be able to pick up some key points with the firepower up front.

Tampa Bay Lightning, G
Comment: Here's something that won't last forever: no goalie controversies in Tampa! Use Holmqvist (3-0-0, 1.34 GAA, .945 SV%) while he's hot, in Tortorella's good books and up against some good matchups in Atlanta and Boston.

Philadelphia Flyers, G
Comment: Biron has been better-than-average so far for the Flyers and will have some decent matchups this week against Florida, New Jersey and Carolina. Carolina could prove to be very difficult but with the firepower in front of Biron he’s sure to at least have a fighting chance for a win. Also, with the Antero Nittymaki as his backup and the games being spread out across the week expect Biron to get all the starts. His rests will probably come the following week.


New York Rangers, C
Comment: Even though the only games he has this week are against Boston and Atlanta, there are still better options out there. Wait till he proves us wrong before even thinking about starting him. And one goal against Washington should not be enough to change our minds yet.

Washington Capitals, C
Comment: Nylander hasn't found a consistent spot on this team yet, moving between the first and second line. Currently he is on the second line but he might move back up to Ovechkin's side. Nylander's productivity depends greatly on if he plays with playmakers and aside from Ovechkin, this team has very few.

Colorado Avalanche, LW
Comment: Smyth could end up having a big week but it all depends on if he wishes to break out of his slump. He hasn't found any chemistry with Joe Sakic yet and it isn't clear whether or not he'll be on Stastny's line full-time so until Smyth breaks out of his cold spell, think of some safer options.

Washington Capitals, LW
Comment: Semin has only played one game this season and is still listed as day-to-day. It's possible he'll be ready to play this week but it is more likely that he will only play the one game against Pittsburgh on Saturday. He is a talented player who just doesn't have the chances to really make something happen this week.

Columbus Blue Jackets, RW
Comment: Rick Nash doesn't need a top-tier center to rack up points but David Vyborny does. Vyborny doesn't have anyone to pass the puck to him as coach Ken Hitchcock has been juggling lines, finally settling on aging veteran Sergei Federov. The only way Vyborny's productivity goes up is if Federov has a comeback season and that's just not going to happen...at least not this week.

New York Islanders, RW
Comment: Guerin has been a pleasant surprise thus far but the main fact is exactly that: he's been a surprise. The competition now knows that the Islanders top line is on fire and will be cracking down on them. Although the matchups are good this week, he still has to face Marty Brodeur. Even though Brodeur has lost three straight doesn't mean he has been absolutely terrible. And he's sure to want revenge this week.

Florida Panthers, D
Comment: He is so talented but it's possible that the looming drunk-driving charges are causing some off-ice headaches for Bouwmeester. He's had zero points to start the season and a minus-4 rating and goes up against some teams that have been scoring a lot this week. This could be a terrible week for Bouwmeester's plus/minus rating, especially if Vokoun doesn't keep up his recent form.

Phoenix Coyotes, D
Comment: Jovo-cop is one of the many talented players on terrible teams. He isn't the kind of player who can change a game on his own and since he doesn't have much of a supporting cast, his fantasy points will continue to suffer. With Edmonton and Detroit at the plate this week it's possible that Jovanovski won't get on the score sheet until after the second week of the season.

Colorado Avalanche, G
Comment: Theodore has returned but had a terrible outing. That doesn't mean he won't get another start which is not great for Budaj owners. Budaj himself hasn't been playing incredibly well and so you'd be safe to go with someone else this week.

Atlanta Thrashers, G
Comment: The good news: he's only 23 and so he will have much more time to improve. The bad news: that doesn't help fantasy owners. Lehtonen got lit up last week and will give up some starts to backup Johan Hedberg this week. Even if he does see the majority of starts this week keep in mind that the competition will be very tough as they’ll be playing the offensively-minded Flyers, Rangers and Lightning.



J.P. Del Monte is UPDATE! National Hockey League Editor.

917 Mats Sundin broke the all time Maple Leaf's record for points with his 917th against the New York Islanders.

400 Simon Gagne will have the chance to reach his 400th career point this week and possibly even move up to 16th on the Flyer's All Time Scoring list.

166 Marc Savard's consecutive game streak of 166 came to an end last week on Wednesday night due to a groin strain.

25 game suspension for Jesse Boulerice as a result of his vicious crosscheck on Ryan Kesler.


St. Louis Blues, C
Comment: The young Mississauga, Ontario native and former 24th overall draft pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs might have finally found a proper home. He has been promoted to the top line, floating between wing and center alongside Kariya, Weight and Tkachuk. The expectations were there for Boyes and he seems to be living up to them and flourishing with the clear-headed veterans. This could be his breakout year.



Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ET, CSN-W
This could be a potential Conference Final within the next five years. Alexander the Great vs Sid the Kid in their first meeting of the year. This game shouldn't disappoint and we can be glad it comes at this point in the season. Both Ovechkin and Crosby will have had time to find their legs and will want to come out the best player on the ice so we can expect this to be an exciting game.

 
ROENICK HIT HARD

• Power Plays: Oct. 8-14, 2007
• Power Plays: Oct. 1-7, 2007