Our weekly digest of everything fantasy hockey. Facts don't lie and Power Plays is full of 'em. Projections for the week of Oct. 8-15. Stats through Oct. 7:


New York Islanders, C
Comment: Comrie must have heard that he was on last week's SIT list and has officially become my first big mistake! The change of scenery and the chance to be the number one guy on the Island has done wonders for Comrie. He came on strong, scoring four goals and six points in his first two games of the season, gelling incredibly well with new linemates Bill Guerin and Ruslan Fedotenko.

Philadelphia Flyers, LW
Comment: Gagne has found something special with new pivot Daniel Briere. The two were on fire, finding each other often. This will be the case all season long. Gagne posted a goal and three assists in his first two games.

Ottawa Senators, RW
Comment: In a few weeks this spot might officially be Dany Heatley's. Heatley is on pace to easily reach the 50 goal mark for a third season. He scored three goals in his first two games, potting an overtime game winner in the season opener. His scoring touch has improved and he has some of the best players in the game passing the puck to him.

Anaheim Ducks, D
Comment: Pronger is a fantasy horse and is starting early this season. With three points, two coming off the power play and (for those in leagues that award penalty-minutes) 10 PIMs, Pronger is looking sharp.

Nashville Predators, G
Comment: Mason has been quite possibly the most dominant goaltender thus far with two near-perfect performances against Colorado and Dallas. He started the season with a 35 save shutout on the Avs and allowed only one goal on 29 shots against the Stars.


Florida Panthers, C
Comment: Jokinen is probably the most underappreciated player in the entire league but that is due to the fact that he's in one of the NHL's least-covered markets and is on a team that doesn't seem to be competing just yet. He is a 70-plus scorer and has the potential of breaking out big against the Lightning this week but with his team playing the way they are, don't expect these big things just yet. You'll see him break out of this quiet streak soon enough.

Minnesota Wild, RW
Comment: The Minnesota top line is not producing the way that they should. It's loaded with talent but both Demitra and linemate Marian Gaborik have had nothing to show for their first two wins of the season.

Minnesota Wild, LW
Comment: If he stays healthy don't expect him to be cold for too long but as of right now he's not scoring on a team that doesn't score often. That's not a good sign. He posted a big goose egg in his first week against two teams not known for their defense.

Philadelphia Flyers, D
Comment: Timonen has the ability to be an offensive force on the blueline but has so far had a slow start to the season with a minus-1 rating and only one assist in two games. Don't expect this slow start to continue but know what you're getting into.

Colorado Avalanche, G
Comment: Budaj had better pick up his play this week if he wants to keep his starting job. The Colorado Bhudda followed up a so-so performance against Dallas on opening night with a terrible showing against Nashville, making only 18 saves on 22 shots and getting pulled midway through the first period. Jose Theodore makes his way back to the Colorado roster this week which doesn't bode well for Budaj's job security.


Tampa Bay Lightning, C
Comment: Last year's Rocket Richard trophy winner has arrived with style. Lecavalier is showing no rust in his first two games, picking up three goals, two helpers and a plus-four rating. He'll have a chance to pad his stats this week with two games against a Florida team that has allowed nine goals in their first two games.

Carolina Hurricanes, C
Comment: Staal is playing like he's got something to prove, coming out strong and making the best of some great chances. He's potted three goals and a game winner in his first week. Expect him to keep the momentum going with three matches in Ontario coming up.

Colorado Avalanche, LW
Comment: Normally, being moved off Joe Sakic's line would be a terrible thing but that's only if you aren't put on Paul Stastny's. Stastny is great. Brunette and Stastny will be amazing. Getting dropped from the top line is turning out to be a great thing for Brunette who has found some tremendous chemistry with his new linemates, assisting on all three of Stastny's goals on opening night. He's getting lots of opportunities and should carry this into the next week against the St. Louis and Columbus.

Columbus Blue Jackets, LW
Comment: Nash started off the season with his best career game, scoring two goals and four points — three coming off the power play and one a game winner. Nash is coming off a poor, injury filled season and has a lot to prove to the hockey world. When he's healthy, he's unstoppable. This week only gives Nash two matchups but one of them is against Pheonix, a team that Nash just loves to play against (nine points in four games last year).

Ottawa Senators, RW
Comment: Alfredsson had better be thanking head coach John Paddock for putting him back on the Senators top line. He has scored in three straight games and appears to be building steam along with the rest of his offensively-charged line. The Sens have a busy week ahead with four games, which can only mean more opportunities for this scary line to do some damage.

New York Islanders, RW
Comment: Just like his new center, Mike Comrie, Guerin has benefited greatly from a change of scenery. He has found amazing chemistry with his new line and continues to rack up points, picking up five assists in just two games for the Islanders. The coming week is a busy one for the Islanders with four games, which is great news for the NHL's hottest line.

Ottawa Senators, D
Comment: His plus-two rating will keep growing and growin and he is turning into a solid offensive threat, scoring a shorthanded goal and two points in his week of games. Week 2 is busy for the Sens which is great news if you have Meszaros on your team.

Buffalo Sabres, D
Comment: Spacek has scored two goals and added a helper in his first two games of the season. Although he only has two other games this week they are up against the Thrashers and the Capitals, two teams who are not known for their defensive stonewall tactics. Spacek's blasts from the point are lethal and he should be grabbing some big goals as the season carries on.

Ottawa Senators, G
Comment: Gerber is making a strong statement to his team and is taking full advantage of Ray Emery's wrist injury. Gerber most recently posted a shutout on Saturday night against the new-look Rangers for his third win of the season. Ottawa has four games this week and with Emery still questionable for this week expect Gerber to see the majority of those starts. Ottawa doesn't look like they're slowing down.

San Jose Sharks, G
Comment: Nabokov has a solid defense in front of him and one of the league's best offenses to cushion a lead and yet this is nothing but a bonus; Nabokov looked like he's a number one, 65-plus game starter with a win and a 1.45 GAA in his first matchup. The coming week provides two great matchups as he faces the possibly Havlat-less Blackhawks and the Bruins.


New York Rangers, C
Comment: Gomez is setting himself up for the "Bust of the Season" award. Gomez has the ability to be a 70-plus point player with the right people around, but his line has produced nothing thus far. Like the rest of this week's SIT list, Gomez is a guy to keep an eye on because when he does finally find some chemistry with his linemates he could be very dangerous.

Anaheim Ducks, C
Comment: Getzlaf has been great for the Ducks so far but after a heavy first week and a trip to Europe, this team is in need of a break and they're about to get it. They only have two games this week and one of them (NOT Boston) has been solid so far (Minnesota).

New York Rangers, LW
Comment:,Avery's productivity is tied to Scott Gomez's and so far nothing's happening. He has three games this week and hasn't had much luck against any of his opponents. Avery's points depend on how quickly his line can click. To make things worse, Avery's status is up in the air with a possible separated shoulder.

Chicago Blackhawks, LW
Comment: Havlat posted 0's across the board in his first game and came out of it sporting a sling for his shoulder. He is questionable this week and so your best bet would be to not risk the no-play.

Edmonton Oilers, RW
Comment: Edmonton's top line was held scoreless with a minus-1 rating in their season debut and things won't be getting any easier this week. Penner has only one point (a goal) due to a terrible Flyers defensive lapse and his new team is going into four games against some tough defenses with spectacular goaltending. Sit him this week but keep an eye out on him; he has the potential to breakout.

Anaheim Ducks, RW
Comment: Like linemate Ryan Getzlaf, Perry has been terrific but the week ahead doesn't look incredibly appealing. Boston could potentially be a big game for this team but they'll be coming off a hard week and a half and only a few days rest so wait until next week to let the Ducks get their legs back.

Washington Capitals, D
Comment: Aside from the fact that he's posted zeroes across the board in his first week, Poti faces some tough competition in the Sabres, Rangers and a very hot Islanders team.

Vancouver Canucks, D
Comment: This is not the start that the Canucks were expecting from their offensively gifted defenseman. The only numbers Bieksa has to show for the beginning to the season is a minus four rating.

Florida Panthers, G
Comment: Do you think Vokoun is saying to himself, "How did Luongo do this?!" Poor Vokoun has allowed nine goals in only two games and looks nothing like the goalie of the past few years. The week ahead doesn't look any better as they face a Devils team who blasted them 4-1 and the Lightning who are carrying some big, loaded guns.

Boston Bruins, G
Comment: Fernandez looked atrocious on a sorry-looking Bruins team, letting in four goals on only 18 shots. Boston has some tough matchups this week and you can bet that backup Tim Thomas will be getting a few of those starts.



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

500 San Jose Sharks center Jeremy Roenick is only three goals away from hitting the 500 goal mark after a two goal opening game performance.

450 assists for San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton after the season opener.

200 points for Washington Capitals winger Alexander Ovechkin in only 165 games.

30 points for New York Rangers right wing Jaromir Jagr in season openers.


Carolina Hurricanes, LW
Comment: Ladd scored 11 goals and 21 points last season while only playing 65 games and getting minimal ice time. With Carolina looking like they should bounce back from their mediocre performance, Ladd has a chance to shine. He was drafted fourth overall in the 2004 entry draft and now, three years later in his second NHL season, he could be seeing some time playing on the top line alongside Rod Brind'Amour and Justin Williams. Ladd scored his first goal of the season on opening night against the Penguins, putting a beautiful wrister over Fleury's shoulder. This could be Ladd’s breakout year.



Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ET, MSG (HD)
Could this be a possible Eastern Conference Final? These two teams were dubbed to be the favorites in the East and are looking very good. The Sens held the Rangers to a 2-0 shutout in their first meeting and the Rangers will be looking to exact revenge. Maybe by game time Scott Gomez and the second line unit will have found their groove giving New York a deadly combination. Watch for the goalies to shine in this one.

 
ROENICK HIT HARD

• Power Plays: Oct. 1-7, 2007