Our weekly digest of everything fantasy hockey. Facts don't lie and Power Plays is full of 'em. Projections for the week of Oct. 23-29. Stats through Oct. 19:


Toronto Maple Leafs, C
Comment: He had a four game multi-point streak until Saturday night, scoring a goal and a helper in each game. Antro's on the best hot streak of his career and he's making Maple Leaf fans across the globe drop their collective jaw with his performance the past few weeks.

Detroit Red Wings, LW
Comment: Zetterberg is on a six game goal streak and has managed at least a point in all eight of Detroit's games, leading the NHL with 17 points. Eight of those points have come off the powerplay points and he's managed 35 shots on goal thus far.

Calgary Flames, RW
Comment: Iggy has had at least a point in his last five games and it looks like Calgary's offense is starting to really click. He is benefiting greatly from the fact that linemate Daymond Langkow is finally playing like a top-line center.

Philadelphia Flyers
Comment: Who? Exactly. Jones went on a four-game point binge, scoring six points and netting a plus-eight rating in six games this season. He might fall into obscurity as the season moves on but, for this moment, he's a viable fantasy option.

Ottawa Senators, G
Comment: As of right now Gerber has solidified himself as the Sens' No. 1 goaltender. A platoon system doesn't seem to be in Ottawa's goaltending plans, and so Gerber will continue to get the starts until he begins to falter. With only one loss in seven games this season, though, it looks like backup Ray Emery might have to wait a while to steal the show.
San Jose Sharks, C
Comment: The Joe Thornton experiment is over as Marleau finally left the top line, playing wingman to Big Joe. Hopefully, he will regain his scoring touch being back on the second line alongside Milan Michalek but four points thus far just isn't cutting it for the Shark's captain.

New York Rangers, LW
Comment: One powerplay goal against Atlanta isn't saying much. Shanahan has not produced alongside similarly cold Scott Gomez (who easily could have been on this list for a third consecutive week). He's a talented, gritty winger who shoots the puck often (40-plus shots on goal). He will eventually bounce back, but he's doing nothing for the Rangers so far.

New Jersey Devils, RW
Comment: Gionta isn't the only talented player on this New Jersey team who isn't playing up to potential but he has been pretty unspectacular thus far. A lot of people (myself included) were hoping this would be a bounce-back year for him but with only two goal and four points in his first seven games it's starting to look like it won't happen.

Pittsburgh Penguins, D
Comment: Whitney was considered to be a Top 5 defenseman in many drafts this year but hasn't started the season like one. He's managed only two goals and one assist and a minus-four rating so far. As the Penguinsheat up Whitney's cold streak will begin to thaw so keep your eyes on him.

New Jersey Devils, G
Comment: Marty's up here for a second week in a row but he just isn't playing well. He has a 3.51 GAA and an .865 SV% with two wins and four losses to start the year. He's better than this and WILL improve but without the defense he once had it will be much harder for Brodeur to get his wins.


Philadelphia Flyers, C
Comment: Briere is on the road all week this week and that's just how he likes it. He's collected nine points in four games away from home thus far and is going up against teams with either suspect defense, goaltending, or both (Florida, Tampa and Boston).

Carolina Hurricanes, C
Comment: Carolina's offense has been on fire so far and with four games at home this week Staal has a chance to pad his stats.

Philadelphia Flyers, LW
Comment: If Daniel Briere scores, Gagne will score (and vice versa). These two continue to click and are getting even better together. Florida, Tampa and Boston will be good matchups for this very hot line.

St. Louis Blues, LW
Comment: Who figured St. Louis would be looking good this early on? The heat wave might not last but ride it while you can. Kariya makes everyone better and he's playing with some underappreciated talent who are thriving right now.

Carolina Hurricanes, RW
Comment: Williams leads the 'Canes in points so far and will have the same chances as Staal (four games) to add to his numbers. Both him and Staal play well at home, have four good chances to add to his numbers this week.

Nashville Predators, RW
Comment: The young Russian is starting to heat up and has some very favorable matchups in Los Angeles, Atlanta and Florida. If Vokoun doesn't start on the 27th then it's even better for Radulov.

Pittsburgh Penguins, D
Comment: Gonchar has been a force on the powerplay thus far, notching five points with the man advantage. The Penguins are beginning to heat up offensively and Gonchar will benefit greatly, especially against Toronto this week (who leads the NHL in penalties).

Detroit Red Wings, D
Comment: Another powerplay monster has been Rafalski. Six of his eight points have come on the PP and he'll continue to rack up those points this week with Detroit's high powered offense.

Philadelphia Flyers, G
Comment: The Flyer's haven't had back-to-back shutouts since 2001. By the end of the season it might be possible that they haven't had a goaltender as good as Marty Biron. Biron is hot so far, winning five straight and recording two shutouts (back to back) this season. His opponents this week are offense-heavy but expect Biron to barely budge.

Carolina Hurricanes, G
Comment: There is no question that Ward is a must-start this week. He might not play all four games this week but the fact that the potential is there (and that he has not lost in regulation) makes this a no-brainer.


Ottawa Senators, C
Comment: Be in for a shock this week. I'm going to tell you to sit some seriously heavy hitters starting with Jason Spezza. The reason is simple: he only has one game this week and it's up against Brodeur. Sure, Brodeur hasn't been himself but he's still one of the best (if not the best) goalie in the world today.

New York Islanders, C
Comment: Comrie is winding down a bit but sitting him has more to do with the fact that he only has one game this week. Just like Spezza, don't put your eggs in one basket and hope he has a monster game in his only game of the week.

Ottawa Senators, LW
Comment: This will be the last time you see Heatley on this list. Hoping for the one game is just not enough this week and the matchup is not good enough. Remember to be smart about this pick though. Don't be a fool and sit him over Ben Eager but play this one smart.

Buffalo Sabres, LW
Comment: This is what 10-million dollars gets you? Seriously, though, Vanek will start producing. He's already STARTED to get things going but has still done very little. Also, the week ahead doesn't provide the best matchups to break out of a slump.

Ottawa Senators, RW
Comment: You might be sensing the pattern here. Just like his linemates, be smart about this one. For those who have to choose their matchups for the entire week, sit this one out.

New York Islanders, RW
Comment: Guerin gets a hat trick and UPDATE! tells you to sit him. How's that work? You guessed it...just like Comrie, Heatley, Spezza, blah blah blah. One game = bad matchup.

New York Rangers, D
Comment: No points for Mara yet, who has recently returned from injury. He just doesn't look like a good fit for the Rangers. And three rough games this week will do nothing to change our opinion.

Florida Panthers, D
Comment: Murphy has been a pleasant surprise on the power play this season for the Panthers. But this 30-year-old is just a flash in the pan and will not continue to produce steadily in the coming weeks.

Edmonton Oilers, G
Comment: The only good thing about this busy week is that Roloson might not play all four games. This is good because the oilers have lost their "best defenseman" (the offense-only Sheldon Souray) and is a struggling team right now. Rolli might have a rough time this week.

Atlanta Thrashers, G
Comment: Poor Johan Hedberg. He's now the No. 1 goalie because Kari Lehtonen has been placed on the IR and yet look at what team he's playing for. The coaching change may not be enough but at least the return of Marian Hossa means that they have a chance of winning. But wins aren't everything for goalie stats and Atlanta's poor defensive play and slow start does sound like a good matchup against three explosive offenses this week. The Toronto game alone could be terrible for him because Atlanta has a habit of being embarrassed by the Buds.



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

1594 Colorado Avalanche center Joe Sakic's 1594th point last week was enough to propel him into eigth place for the NHL's All Time Points behind Mario Lemieux.

200 Detroit Red Wings winger Tomas Holmstrom could get his 200th career assist this week.

55 New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur, sitting at 496, needs 55 more wins to tie Patrick Roy for most all time at 551.

22 Recently concussed Anaheim Ducks winger Todd Bertuzzi has played only 22 games out of a possible 98 over the past two seasons.


Chicago Blackhawks, C
Comment: He isn't a sleeper any more; this kid is the real deal! Toews has scored in every game since coming back from a broken finger that kept him out until Oct. 10. He's going up against some softer opponents this week and is averaging just under 18 minutes of playing time. He's also seeing some powerplay minutes with Martin Havlat out of the lineup, so expect Toews to keep flying along at this pace. His goal against Colorado on Oct. 19 will be considered for goal of the year, for sure.



Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET, CSN-P, SUN
Who wouldn't want to watch two of the most offensive-minded teams in the league right now? Tampa has hit a slight bump in the road and hasn't been as productive as they can be and so you can expect coach Tortorella to be breathing down their necks to score. Martin Biron will be facing one of his toughest challenges yet in net.


BLUES @ BLACKHAWKS

• Power Plays: Oct. 15-21, 2007
• Power Plays: Oct. 8-14, 2007
• Power Plays: Oct. 1-7, 2007