Around the League

Tm	Player	Pos	NOTES
	Jason Spezza	C	Didn't dress for the Senators last two games with an 'upper body' injury, likely being his wonky back. Considered day-to-day but the Sens don't play until Thursday so the extra time in scheduling quirk may turn out to be a plus for the pivot and his fantasy owners.
	Daniel Briere	C	It wasn't a groin problem, rather a quadriceps injury. Discouraging news for an already injury-prone player recently, and he's a likely scratch for Monday's affair with Tampa and may miss games until Friday. According to the Philadelphia Daily News he received a "platelet-rich plasma injection" to help speed up recovery. This is enough to suggest trading him in all leagues and letting him become someone else's problem. Take the value and run.
	Alex Ovechkin	LW	Left Sunday's game against the Capitals after locking ankles with Blue Jackets forward Raffi Torres. Broadcasters indicated he 'may' return to the lineup and since the Capitals don't play until Wednesday, it's safe to assume any bumps and bruises would heal. Brooks Laich stepped up with two goals in his absence, and Dean Evason completely gushed over the opportunity afforded to Tomas Fleischmann .
	Patrik Elias	LW	There are rumblings of Elias practicing sometime this week with his teammates. He could return within two weeks to great elation of many who stashed him away in an IR spot since the draft. Be prepared to start possibly in Week six.
	Phil Kessel	RW	Leafs coach Ron Wilson hinted at the winger making his debut on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. It might still be a little optimistic and there isn't any word on medical clearance as of this time so he remains a risk to start in Week 5. Coming off shoulder surgery, its best to temperate immediate results, but he's certainly a good addition for the goals category.
	Shea Weber	D	Played only half a minute in the third period on Saturday against the Stars with what coach Barry Trotz said was attributed to the rearguard losing his edge after getting 'banged up a little bit.' They decided to limit his playing time after a standout start to this season with nine points in 13 games (13-5-4-9) with a nice total of 36 shots on goal. Has the same opening to the 22 points in 23 games last season but if he had lost his edge as the coaching staff believed, it may affect his immediate future production. Not likely to miss games, but might be frustrating to watch.
	Andy MacDonald	C	More bad news for the struggling pivot after crashing into the corner boards headfirst early in the third period against Florida on Saturday. Has only one point in the last six games (6-1-0-1) with long periods of inactivity and alternating big night scoring totals (2-1-3). A frustrating season may get even more so if he is out for a prolonged period of time.

Streaking ?

Tm	Player	Pos	NOTES
	Tomas Kaberle	D	The hottest player in the last week, exploding for a career high five points against the Ducks while banking his third career four-point outing against Montreal. Scored all on a five-game road trip (5-2-11-13) with eight PP assists to boot. He's also shooting more often, with a blend of big wind ups and drifters that just get on net, like the game-tying goal against Montreal. Has re-established himself as one of the elite defensemen in the league, underappreciated by Leafs Nation, and by many fantasy GM's.
	Tomas Plekanec	C	Likely undrafted in many fantasy leagues due to the fall from grace last season, but has been one of the better Canadiens with a consistent work effort early in the season. It hasn't gone unrewarded either as he's off to the fastest start of his career with 13 points (14-3-10-13, plus-5). He entered the league with defensive presence and frame of mind while developing better sniping ability. It's probably too much to believe he could return to a 29-goal mark, but banking 20 with a 50-60 potential this season isn't too bad for a likely waiver wire addition.
	Lee Stempniak	RW	It's a Leafs two-fer with the right winger finally capitalizing on the opportunities he wasn't finishing earlier in the season. Buried only one goal in the first eight games (8-1-0-1), really struggling to find his scoring touch, but working hard and trying to get to the net without the puck. Found touch on West coast with a four-point game and six in the last four (4-3-3-6) with 16 shots-on-goal. Now getting the time on the point like in St. Louis. Skating hard, getting to the net and starting to find twine. A good depth addition, however, the footnote is in a talent-rich RW slot, and not one person in the Industry Experts league has added him to their lineup.
	Ryan Getzlaf	C	Has a goal and seven assists in a five-game point streak after struggling for three games after three assists in four games after off season hernia surgery. Has really battled through a lot of adversity early, clearly missing an edge to both feistiness and is having trouble finding scoring lanes. May still be bothered by hernia surgery and is likely to continue the goal-scoring slide with a need to fully recover. He can't be removed from the lineup, but don't expect a miraculous turnaround.
	Mikko Koivu	C	There hasn't been much to be fond of in Minnesota as the squad adapts to a new system and fights through breaking old habits, but the younger Koivu has been a strong force lately despite having a four-game point streak (4- ) snapped in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Penguins. Has at least one point in seven of last eight and 12 on the year (14-3-9-12). There's a small turnaround happening in Minnesota with Martin Havlat recording an assist in two straight and Petr Sykora had a two-point game (1-1-2) the night before Halloween.

Stinking ?

Tm	Player	Pos	NOTES
	Bryan Little	C	Scoreless after first 10 games (10-0-5-5) and struggling in his sophomore season while seeing less ice time as a result. Asked by the coaching staff to shoot the puck more, with only 16 shots-on-goal thus far, far off the mark of 179 that netted 31 last season. He's passed off on certain occasions where he would have had the better chance and this bit of trigger-shyness is affecting his totals.
	Jeff Carter	C	Scoreless in the last seven (7-0-4-4) after scoring four in the first four games (4-4-3-7). Coupled with lack of production from the ailing Daniel Briere (6-2-1-3 all in one game) and since he may miss some time, Carter will have to find some chemistry with some revolving teammates. Has actually been good defensively despite the minus-2 rating in the last three games. A must start in every format, and it's unlikely he remains this snakebit. Do not remove.
	Scottie Upshall	RW	Was replaced in the press box by Peter Mueller - as his career continues to derail - after taking some selfish penalties in the previous game and given the warning shot that the Coyotes want a team game, not individualistic efforts that don't help out the club. Upshall has some scoring ability and plays with that edge that fantasy owners like in PIM's totals, so this wake up call to smarten up and fly right might help out in the point production, but may stall the route to the penalty box.
	Ville Leino	LW	Relegated to the press box as a healthy scratch against the Flames for the first time this season after recording only three points (11-2-1-3). His ice time was reduced from 17-18 minutes down to 11-12 for his lack of involvement shift-to-shift as well as not going to the net without the puck. Hasn't stepped in to provide the offense needed in the loss of Jiri Hudler . It's noteworthy to see this scratch as a wake-up call with the lack of scoring power already in losses to Johan Franzen and Valteri Filppula, as well as slumps by big guns Pavel Datsyuk (two goals, both in one game) and Henrik Zetterberg (two goals, one in the last six games). Thomas Holmstrom continues to bulge the twine with seven.

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