Fantasy Spin: Stars move Eakin to top line

Saturday, 12.20.2014 / 1:17 AM

By David Satriano - NHL.com Staff Writer / Fantasy Spin Blog

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Fantasy Spin: Stars move Eakin to top line

Forward Cody Eakin played on the Dallas Stars' first line Friday and he delivered like a top-line player in a 2-1 victory against the Calgary Flames.

Cody Eakin
Center - DAL
GOALS: 6 | ASST: 7 | PTS: 13
SOG: 60 | +/-: 5
Eakin (2 percent owned in Yahoo leagues, center eligibility) played with Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn, and had an assist on each of the Dallas goals in 18:34 of ice time, including 1:16 on the top power-play unit with Seguin, Benn, Trevor Daley and Jason Spezza. Eakin assisted on Benn's first-period goal and Daley's goal in the second period.

Eakin had been playing on the second line with Antoine Roussel and Ales Hemsky, and had one point in his past six games. He got more ice time than his season average (17:18), and may be worth adding if his chemistry with Seguin and Benn continues.

- New Jersey Devils forward Scott Gomez (2 percent owned, C) picked up an assist in a 3-2 shootout win against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Gomez has seven points in 10 games since signing with the Devils earlier this month, and has seven points in his past seven games. Gomez played 16:50 on the top line with Adam Henrique and Jaromir Jagr, as well as 2:12 on the first power-play unit.

After starting the first 20 games, New Jersey goalie Cory Schneider has backed up rookie Keith Kinkaid (1 percent owned) in three of the past six. In his three starts, Kinkaid has allowed six goals and made 94 saves on 100 shots (.940 save percentage). Schneider is the No. 1 goaltender, but those who own him should take a look at Kinkaid as a handcuff.

Lightning forward Jonathan Drouin (46 percent owned, LW) played a career-high 21:15, including 6:18 on the first power-play unit. Drouin had an assist playing on the top line with Steven Stamkos and Ryan Callahan, and has a point in each of his past three games.

Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman has no points in his past five games. He has played in 16 games this season, and has all 13 of his points in five games. Jason Garrison has replaced Hedman on the first power-play unit; Garrison (67 percent owned, D) played 5:39 on the man advantage, and Hedman 4:18.

- Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard left the 2-1 loss against the New York Islanders after the first period with a lower-body injury. Coach Mike Babcock did not specify the injury or give a time frame for when Howard could return. Howard was replaced by Petr Mrazek (3 percent owned), who made 15 saves on 16 shots. Howard has started 26 of 33 games for Detroit.

Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk (67 percent owned) returned after missing nine games with an upper-body injury. He played 20:00, including 1:57 on the power play. Boychuk was on the second power-play unit with Lubomir Visnovsky (6 percent owned) and forwards Ryan Strome, Anders Lee and Mikhail Grabovski.

Defenseman Travis Hamonic (7 percent owned), who missed six games with an upper-body injury, played 20:55 and had five hits. With the return of Boychuk and Hamonic, the rest of the Islanders defensemen saw a drop in ice time. Thomas Hickey played 17:36 (12 seconds on the power play), nearly two minutes less than his average of 19:25. Visnovsky played 20:01 (1:59 on the power play), near his average of 20:09. Nick Leddy played 19:04 (including 3:25 on the first power-play unit); he was averaging 20:19.

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