Fantasy Forecast for Thursday, November 5

WEDNESDAY'S ROUNDUP:

Blue Jackets backup goalie Mathieu Garon starts Thursday at Atlanta, and why not? He's 2-0-0 with two shutouts against the Thrashers in his career. But here's the twist -- both came long ago, in 2000-01 when he was with Montreal. Garon stopped 25 shots in a 6-0 win and 24 in a 3-0 win, both in Atlanta. Still, Columbus is playing well and Garon (4 games, 1-1-0, 2.59 GAA, owned in 5 percent of all Yahoo! leagues) is worth a spot start in fantasy. He will face Ondrej Pavelec (5-3-1, 2.75 GAA, 44 percent).

When forward Phil Kessel plays his second game with the Maple Leafs on Friday at Carolina, he may have his second center in as many games. Coach Ron Wilson said after practice Wednesday that he feels John Mitchell (13, 0-5-5, 1 percent) deserves a look next to Kessel (1, 0-0-0, 83 percent). "I'm experimenting right now, nothing more, nothing less," Wilson told the Globe and Mail. "I think he might be able to match up with these guys (Kessel and Jason Blake). Again, it's about finishing off the opportunities, who's been on the ice for a lot of goals for, etc., things like that. That's all it is." In his season debut Tuesday, Matt Stajan centered Kessel and Blake in a 2-1 loss to Tampa Bay.

In Wednesday's 3-0 loss at Florida, the Hurricanes played their first game without franchise center Eric Staal (upper-body injury) since March 19, 2004. The Raleigh News and Observer reported Jussi Jokinen (14, 3-5-8, 7 percent) replaced Staal on a line with Erik Cole and Tuomo Ruutu. Matt Cullen centered the second line, with Ray Whitney and Chad LaRose. "Jokinen has always had the hand-set and the brain-set to play," coach Paul Maurice said. "A lot of times maybe he doesn't get to play with people who are able to best utilize his skills, but he's going to get the chance now. He's got some speed and some size on his wings (and) he's got a real comfort level with Ruutu.

"Those top two lines look like our lines looked when we were going last year, minus Eric. ... We're trying to get back to all hands on deck and get everybody going."

Panthers goalie Tomas Vokoun posted his second consecutive shutout in Wednesday's win against Carolina, and is one behind League-leader Ilya Bryzgalov. "I've been working hard to turn my game to the highest level I can," Vokoun (3-7-1, 2.97 GAA, 76 percent) told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. "Finally it's paying off."

Newsday reports Stephen Valiquette may start in goal for the Rangers on Thursday at Edmonton, spelling Henrik Lundqvist. Star forward Marian Gaborik and Lundqvist (8-5-1, 2.52 GAA, 98 percent) did not practice Wednesday, and Lundqvist received treatment for a stiff right thigh. Valiquette (1-1-0, 3.00 GAA, 2 percent) hasn't played since Oct. 19.

A left shoulder injury will keep Oilers first-liner Shawn Horcoff (15, 2-3-5, 32 percent) off the ice for 7-10 days. The Edmonton Journal reports Sam Gagner will replace him on the No. 1 unit, with Dustin Penner and Ales Hemsky. Also, Patrick O'Sullivan will center J.F. Jacques and Robert Nilsson, Gilbert Brule will be flanked by Mike Comrie and Zack Stortini, and Andrew Cogliano will play with Ethan Moreau and Fernando Pisani.

I've spent so much time reporting on fantasy-team-crushing player injuries this season that I feel obligated to offer even the smallest morsels of good news. Center Jonathan Toews practiced with the Blackhawks on Wednesday, the first time since suffering a concussion Oct. 21. The Chicago Tribune speculates that if Toews (9, 1-4-5, 92 percent) doesn't experience any setbacks, he could return Thursday at Phoenix or Friday at Colorado.

"It was frustrating to be out as long as I was," Toews said. "I feel good and I feel confident out there. I don't feel like I'm missing a step yet. The legs are little heavy (Wednesday), but it only has been a couple of weeks. I felt great before the hit. The next couple of nights would be a great way to get back into a routine."

Washington coach Bruce Boudreau updated the media on the week-to-week upper-body injury to Alex Ovechkin (14, 14-9-23, 99 percent). "He said he's feeling better (Wednesday), a lot better. I was excited about that. I don't know how much better a lot better is, but he's telling me he felt a lot better. That's a positive sign. I think he's getting bored not practicing."

During a second-period interview during Wednesday's 3-2 loss at New Jersey, Ovechkin said with a smile, "Soon, you are going to see me again. Soon."

Fantasy workhorse goalie Ryan Miller soon may get a rest. The Sabres host the Flyers on Friday and visit Boston on Saturday. Coach Lindy Ruff suggested to the Buffalo News that Jhonas Enroth, filling in for injured backup Patrick Lalime (groin), may make his NHL debut this weekend. Miller (9-1-1, 1.69 GAA, 93 percent) has started the last six games, including a 3-0 shutout of the Islanders on Wednesday. "We're going to stick to the program," Ruff said. "By the weekend, if Patty isn't ready to play, there's a good chance Jhonas would play." Enroth was 3-7-0 with a 3.90 GAA with Portland of the AHL.

Stick a fork in Thrashers goalie Kari Lehtonen, as he's done for the next 6-8 weeks after undergoing a second surgery on his back. Lehtonen (32 percent) has yet to play this season after his first surgery to repair a herniated disc on July 20. In all Yahoo! league drafts, Lehtonen was, on average, selected higher than such useful goalies as Jonas Hiller, Jose Theodore, Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Jaroslav Halak, Pascal Leclaire, Jonathan Quick, Craig Anderson, Mike Smith, Dwayne Roloson and Martin Biron, just to name a few.

THURSDAY'S PROJECTED GOALIES:

Montreal (Carey Price) at Boston (Tim Thomas), 7 p.m. ET
Columbus (Mathieu Garon) at Atlanta (Ondrej Pavelec), 7 p.m. ET
Tampa Bay (Antero Niittymaki) at Ottawa (Pascal Leclaire), 7:30 p.m. ET (TSN2)
San Jose (Evgeni Nabokov) at Detroit (Chris Osgood), 7:30 p.m. ET
Calgary (Miikka Kiprusoff) at St. Louis (Chris Mason), 8 p.m. ET
Vancouver (Andrew Raycroft) at Minnesota (Niklas Backstrom), 8 p.m. ET
Chicago (Cristobal Huet) at Phoenix (Ilya Bryzgalov), 9 p.m. ET
N.Y. Rangers (Henrik Lundqvist or Stephen Valiquette) at Edmonton (Nikolai Khabibulin), 9:30 p.m. ET
Nashville (Pekka Rinne) at Anaheim (Jonas Hiller), 10 p.m. ET (NHLN-US)
Pittsburgh (Marc-Andre Fleury) at Los Angeles (Jonathan Quick), 10:30 p.m. ET

RECENT INJURIES:

Donald Brashear, LW, N.Y. Rangers:  Is day-to-day with a wrist injury.
Derick Brassard, C, Columbus:  Is day-to-day with a hand injury.
J.P. Dumont, RW, Nashville:  Is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Simon Gagne, LW, Philadelphia:  Is sidelined 6-8 weeks following hernia surgery.
Hal Gill, D, Montreal:  Is day-to-day with a leg injury.
Michael Grabner, RW, Vancouver:  Sidelined indefinitely with an ankle injury.
Shawn Horcoff, C, Edmonton: Out 7-10 days with a shoulder injury.
Kristian Huselius, LW, Columbus:  Placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.
Patrick Lalime, G, Buffalo:  Is day-to-day with a groin injury.
Georges Laraque, RW, Montreal:  Is day-to-day with a back injury.
Enver Lisin, RW, N.Y. Rangers:  Is day-to-day with a foot injury.
Alex Ovechkin, RW, Washington: Is week-to-week with an upper-body strain.
Eric Staal, C, Carolina:  Is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury.
Scottie Upshall, RW, Phoenix:  Is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Shea Weber, D, Nashville:  Is day-to-day with a foot injury.
Colin Wilson, C, Nashville: Is day-to-day with a groin injury.

TRANSACTIONS:

NHL: Suspended F Dane Byers of the New York Rangers for one game. Suspended D Shane O'Brien of the Vancouver Canucks for one game.
Boston Bruins:  Recalled F Mikko Lehtonen on emergency basis from Providence (AHL).
Buffalo Sabres: Recalled G Jhonas Enroth from Portland (AHL).
Columbus Blue Jackets: Recalled C Derek MacKenzie and F Alexandre Picard on emergency basis from Syracuse (AHL). Activated D Jan Hejda off injured reserve. Placed LW Kristian Huselius on injured reserve.
Dallas Stars:  Activated C Mike Modano and RW Jere Lehtinen off injured reserve.
Detroit Red Wings:  Assigned D Doug Janik to Grand Rapids (AHL).
Montreal Canadiens:  Recalled F Ryan White and F Tom Pyatt from Hamilton (AHL).
Nashville Predators:  Recalled F Andreas Thuresson from Milwaukee (AHL).
New Jersey Devils:  Recalled RW Matt Halischuk from Lowell (AHL).
Ottawa Senators:  Recalled C Jesse Winchester from a two-week conditioning assignment at Binghamton (AHL).
St. Louis Blues:  Recalled F Lars Eller on emergency basis from Peoria (AHL).
San Jose Sharks:  Recalled LW Jamie McGinn and C Logan Couture from Worcester (AHL).
Washington Capitals:  Recalled C Michael Nylander from a two-week conditioning assignment at Grand Rapids (AHL).

NHL.COM EXPERTS LEAGUE:

Week 5 results through Nov. 4
Rocky Trottier 5, Code Monkeys 3 (3 ties)
Skoula Hard Knocks 7, Out on a Dan Hinote 3 (1 tie)
No Shanahan-igans 8, Clown Shoes 1 (2 ties)
Hempstead Slowpokes 7, The Birdcage 1 (3 ties)
Ovi's Heroes 5, Big Skillets O'BKLYN 2 (4 ties)
Hammerhead United 6, Philly Cheesestakes 2 (3 ties)

E-MAIL OF THE DAY:

Hi there,
I've been proposed a trade about three times in the last two weeks for Craig Anderson (mine) in return for Miikka Kiprusoff. Normally I would snatch the other guy's hands off for Kipper, but Anderson seems to be doing so many good things for me and I have a bit of a gut feeling that I should hang on. Could you lend your expert opinion with this? The guy who's proposed the trade has turned out to be a huge Avs fan and seems pretty determined to land Anderson. Kipper aside, there's nobody else on his roster that would appeal to me, to be honest. I'm currently at the top of my league of 20 so it's not as though I'm desperate to replace my goalie, but this other guy's persistence is starting to wear a little thin. Anything you can advise would be very much appreciated.
Kindest regards,
-- Chris

I'm guessing you're a veteran fantasy owner, Chris, and you and I think alike -- Kiprusoff and Anderson shouldn't be in the same class. One is a journeyman, the other a 70-game, 40-win fantasy stud. But here we are, one month in, and Anderson (15 games, 10-3-2, 2.11 GAA, .936 save percentage) is playing out of his mind and Kiprusoff has been, well, Kiprusoff (11 games, 7-3-1, 3.00 GAA, .901 SVP). Anderson is in the top 10 in the League in wins, GAA, save percentage and shutouts. Kiprusoff is among the leaders in wins only.

What's wearing on our minds here is Anderson's track record of success is nowhere near as long as Kiprusoff's, who has played in 70-plus games four straight seasons and won 40-plus games in three of them. That's Martin Brodeur territory.

Anderson? He went 15-7-5 in 31 games with Florida last season, his best NHL season before 2009-10. All he's done in the first month is make 15 consecutive starts, post two shutouts, and was twice named the NHL's Second Star of the Week. Anderson also leads the League in shots faced (497) and saves (465).

What I've also noticed about Anderson is he's getting League-wide publicity in all the major cities. I've read lengthy newspaper stories on him in the Chicago, Boston and St. Louis markets, the three teams he first toiled with before joining Florida. The premise of those stories has been how Anderson, now age 28, has evolved into a dependable goalie, and each of the stories had a veiled "we didn't see this coming" message.

In fantasy you have to be able to let go of the past, because we are playing with present-day stats. Taking it a step further, you can even argue that we are playing for tomorrow's stats, aren't we? This fantasy stuff is weird business. I say hang on to Anderson and keep that other owner begging. Each victory increases Anderson's value, and maybe the one-for-one proposal is updated to include two or three players coming your way down the road.

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