Fantasy Forecast for Friday, November 6

THURSDAY'S ROUNDUP:

Devils forward Patrik Elias, the club's all-time leading scorer, will make his season debut Friday at home against the Islanders. He had been sidelined since prior to training camp following surgery to his hip and groin. Coach Jacques Lemaire had intended to use the versatile forward at left wing, but Elias (owned in 91 percent of all Yahoo! leagues) is slated to play center in place of Rob Niedermayer (13 games, 2-5-7, 1 percent), who has an upper-body injury and will not be in the lineup.
"He'll have to play. I would say he's going to play from 17-19 minutes," Lemaire said. "We'll see how it goes and how he plays."

Elias took Niedermayer's place at Thursday's practice, centering Matt Halischuk and Jamie Langenbrunner. Other lines were Zach Parise-Travis Zajac-Nicklas Bergfors; Brian Rolston-Dainius Zubrus-David Clarkson; and a fourth line consisting of Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, Rod Pelley, Ilkka Pikkarainen and Andrew Peters.

"Obviously it's a big and important player to lose, but Patrik is coming back (Friday)," Lemaire said. "I think our team will be similar. Nieder is a big part of this team. Patrik will help to sustain what we were doing."

The Devils have won three straight and six of their last seven.

Also from New Jersey, fantasy owners of Martin Brodeur will need alternate plans for Friday's home game against the Islanders. Backup goalie Yann Danis (1-0-0, 1.00 GAA, 2 percent) will make his second start of the season [link to Morreale's story when published]. Danis played for the Islanders last season. "It's definitely going to add something a little special," he said. "I can't think about it. I'm going to try to approach it like any game."

The weekend landscape of games is littered with players whose status is questionable at best, making for some tough active lineup choices.

The Hurricanes could be without forwards Ray Whitney (14, 4-4-8, 81 percent) and Tuomo Ruutu (11, 2-4-6, 47 percent), who both missed Thursday's practice due to upper-body ailments, according to the Raleigh News and Observer. They each are listed as day-to-day.

Chicago captain Jonathan Toews (concussion) practiced for the second day in a row Thursday. Toews (9, 1-4-5, 92 percent) and Ben Eager (concussion) (2, 0-0-0, 1 percent) are questionable for Friday's game at Colorado, reports the Chicago Tribune.

Avalanche rookie Matt Duchene (16, 2-5-7, 17 percent) did not practice Thursday and is questionable for the Chicago game with a shoulder injury, according to the Denver Post. Coach Joe Sacco called the ailment a sore shoulder.

Stars forward James Neal (15, 9-8-17, 75 percent) has a sore groin, did not practice Thursday, and is questionable to play against Vancouver on Friday. His status will be updated following Friday's morning skate, reports the Dallas Morning News.

Flyers defenseman Matt Carle (12, 2-10-12, 82 percent) was too sick to practice Thursday, but made the trip to Buffalo and could play Friday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Andy McDonald (upper-body injury) (12, 4-3-7, 29 percent) of the Blues did practice Thursday, but was not allowed to participate in contact drills, states the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. His status for the weekend is undetermined.

Friday's Philadelphia-Buffalo contest will be interesting. The Flyers average 3.67 goals per game, best in the League, while the Sabres are the stingiest at permitting only 2.00 goals per game, thanks mostly due to the stellar goaltending of Ryan Miller (9-1-1, 1.69 GAA, 94 percent), who will be opposed by Ray Emery (7-3-1, 2.42 GAA, 88 percent). Philadelphia has not lost in Buffalo since Dec. 21, 2007.

Kevin Bieksa, the Canucks' hard-shooting defenseman, is taking his booming shot to the right wing on a line with Alexandre Burrows and Henrik Sedin, states the Vancouver Province. The depth chart on the Canucks' Web site confirms the move, as Bieksa (17, 1-6-7, 90 percent) is filling in for Steve Bernier, out with the flu. "I'll approach it the way I did last game -- just move the puck and make sure there's a high forward," said Bieksa, who played two periods on the wing with Kyle Wellwood and Tanner Glass against the Rangers on Tuesday. "I can actually turn over the puck now and not get in trouble for it."

Ducks forward Teemu Selanne (14, 8-1-9, 73 percent) is a frustrating fantasy player, and here's why: On Thursday he scored in a game for the fifth time this season, recording 2 goals in a win against Nashville. In those five games, Selanne has three two-goal games and two one-goal games. Fantasy owners in head-to-head leagues probably would like to see Selanne score more consistently, spreading his production around rather than getting hot in bunches. Also, how can a guy among the all-time leaders in three-goal games not finish the job when so close? If your league awards bonus points for hat tricks, you have to be frustrated.

Kings center Anze Kopitar (16, 13-13-26, 95 percent) also recorded his third two-goal game Thursday, but one of them included a third goal for a hat trick, and he has scored one goal in six other games to run his season total to 13. That's a consistently productive fantasy player.

Asked by the Globe and Mail to name his goaltending plan for the weekend -- back-to-back games at Carolina on Friday and home Saturday against Detroit -- Toronto coach Ron Wilson would not announce what he intends to do with Jonas Gustavsson (1-2-3, 2.98 GAA, 26 percent) and Vesa Toskala (0-2-2, 5.13 GAA, 28 percent).

Can David Laliberte make it three-for-three Friday when the Flyers visit Buffalo? The rookie right wing has scored a goal in each of his first two career NHL games, and also has an assist and a plus-4 rating. Laliberte (2, 2-1-3, 1 percent) currently is playing on the team's top line, with Jeff Carter and James van Riemsdyk, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. With Simon Gagne and Daniel Briere out, the 6-foot-1, 194-pounder looks like a keeper for the Flyers, and a solid gamble in fantasy leagues.

The latest word on Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo and his injured ribs are that the team expects him to play next Tuesday at St. Louis. He is taking shots in practice. Luongo (6-6-0, 2.79 GAA, 97 percent) has been sidelined since Oct. 27.

Oilers defenseman Sheldon Souray (3, 0-0-0, 77 percent) is making progress in his recovery from a concussion suffered Oct. 8. "As far as I know he's getting closer," coach Pat Quinn told the Edmonton Sun. "Apparently they did a test the other day and I had heard he's scheduled to skate. Not with us, by himself, but that's a first step.

"The test he did three or four days ago, apparently the numbers are more near normal, or at normal, so we're at the point where he can start workouts."

Concussed Panthers left wing David Booth (9, 2-1-3, 60 percent) told the South Florida Sun Sentinel he expects to start exercising in the next day or two, though doctors won't allow him to do anything more strenuous than about 10 minutes on a bike. He was knocked out of a game Oct. 24 at Philadelphia. "You start to get anxious when you haven't done anything for so long," Booth said. "This is the longest I've ever gone without doing anything. I don't like it, but it is part of the process and you have to stick with the program."

Is your fantasy team ravaged by injuries? Have a bushel of underperforming skaters? If you're in need of a flier, a shot-in-the-arm pickup, then look no further than Peter Forsberg, who is playing for Sweden in the Karjala Cup in Finland this weekend. "Yes, we have interest in Forsberg," Rangers GM Glen Sather told the New York Post. "From the reports we've been getting, the foot is much better than it was a year ago.

"We'll scout him at the tournament and see what, if anything, develops. But I've always liked Peter and I've always been interested in finding a way to bring him to New York, if possible."

Flyers GM Paul Holmgren also mentioned his squad would keep an eye on Forsberg in the tournament. "If Peter is healthy and interested in returning to the NHL who wouldn't have interest? But that's putting the cart before the horse," he told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "We don't know if he's healthy. We'll see how it plays out and then cross that bridge."

A year after taking a chance on a big-name Swede -- Mats Sundin -- the Canucks might be looking at Forsberg. "First of all, he needs to find out if he can still play," GM Mike Gillis told the Vancouver Sun. "If he can, we're definitely interested. I've known his agent, Don Baizley, for a long time, and I think we'd be on his short list if Peter decides he wants to play."

Daily Ovi update -- Alex Ovechkin (14, 14-9-23, 99 percent), listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury, skated for the first time since the injury Thursday in Sunrise, Fla., and said he would miss the Capitals' next two games -- both against the Panthers [link to http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=505078]. "I'm a little sore,'" Ovechkin told the Miami Herald. "I feel a little bit better, but there's still pain. ... I don't want to disturb my injury. Without the stick, it was better. It's only been a few days, and it doesn't get better right away."

Programming note -- the Fantasy Forecast will not publish Monday, Nov. 9. However, Top Picks will be posted on the main fantasy page. There is only one game on Monday's docket, the Kings visiting the Blackhawks.

FRIDAY'S PROJECTED GOALIES:

N.Y. Islanders (Dwayne Roloson) at New Jersey (Yann Danis), 7 p.m. ET
Toronto (Jonas Gustavsson or Vesa Toskala) at Carolina (Cam Ward), 7 p.m. ET
Philadelphia (Ray Emery) at Buffalo (Ryan Miller), 7:30 p.m. ET
Washington (Jose Theodore) at Florida (Tomas Vokoun), 7:30 p.m. ET (RDS)
Vancouver (Andrew Raycroft) at Dallas (Marty Turco), 8:30 p.m. ET
Chicago (Cristobal Huet) at Colorado (Craig Anderson), 9 p.m. ET

RECENT INJURIES:

Rob Blake, D, San Jose: Placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.
Donald Brashear, LW, N.Y. Rangers: Is day-to-day with a wrist 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: Is day-to-day with a shoulder injury.
Kristian Huselius, LW, Columbus: Placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.
Tyler Kennedy, RW, Pittsburgh: Is day-to-day with an undisclosed 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.
Andy McDonald, C, St. Louis: Is day-to-day with a head injury.
Milan Michalek, LW, Ottawa: Is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Rob Niedermayer, C, New Jersey: Is day-to-day with an upper-body 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.
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 defenseman Shane O'Brien of the Vancouver Canucks for one game.
Boston Bruins: Signed G Tuukka Rask to a two-year contract extension through the 2011-12 season. Reassigned G Kevin Regan to Providence (AHL).
Carolina Hurricanes: Recalled F Zach Boychuk from Albany (AHL).
Chicago Blackhawks: Recalled LW Bryan Bickell from Rockford (AHL).
Colorado Avalanche: Assigned F Brian Willsie to Lake Erie (AHL). Assigned D Tom Preissing to Lake Erie (AHL) on a conditioning assignment.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Placed LW Kristian Huselius on injured reserve, retroactive to Nov. 3; recalled LW Alexandre Picard from Syracuse (AHL).
Montreal Canadiens: Claimed D Jay Leach off waivers from the New Jersey Devils.
Ottawa Senators: Recalled C Jesse Winchester from a two-week conditioning assignment at Binghamton (AHL).
Phoenix Coyotes: Recalled D David Schlemko from San Antonio (AHL).
St. Louis Blues: Recalled F Lars Eller on emergency basis from Peoria (AHL).
San Jose Sharks: Placed D Rob Blake on injured reserve. Recalled D Derek Joslin and D Joe Callahan from Worcester (AHL).
Tampa Bay Lightning: Recalled F Ryan Craig from Norfolk (AHL).
Vancouver Canucks: Assigned C Mario Bliznak to Manitoba (AHL).

NHL.COM EXPERTS LEAGUE:

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

E-MAIL OF THE DAY:

What are your feelings about Tomas Vokoun and the Panthers? I've landed Vokoun on my team and I don't know if I should hold on to him or not. Word is that he's a slow starter, but Florida hasn't been doing well in general. I didn't take into account that the departure of Jay Bouwmeester was going to affect the Panthers like this. They've got some injuries to deal with. I just don't know what to do. I traded Mikael Samuelsson, Jaroslav Spacek and Ryan Miller for Marian Gaborik, Rob Blake and Vokoun. I was having a deficiency at right wing so I got Gaborik. I was getting ready to drop Spacek and just wheeled Blake into the deal. Of course, Gaborik got some sort of injury. I could have held off on the trade I made but didn't realize how bad it would affect my goaltending. Any advice on Vokoun would be appreciated.
-- Vin

Tell you what -- if you can figure out Vokoun before I do, you get my job!

How Jekyll and Hyde can you get? He defeated the Blackhawks in Helsinki in the opening game, then lost his next eight appearances (seven in regulation), then breaks out of the funk with back-to-back shutouts of the Blues in St. Louis and the Hurricanes at home. If you didn't have Vokoun in the starting lineup for both those games I wouldn't have blamed you.

Yes, slows starts are not uncommon for the Czech. Last season Vokoun lost 10 of his first 15. The season before that, he began 7-8-0. Mind you, these are his years with the Panthers. When with Nashville, Vokoun thrived in a system that I don't want to call defensive, but not possessing a wide array of offensive players, the Predators didn't exactly play run and gun. In Vokoun's last season with Nashville (2006-07), he was fifth in the NHL in save percentage (.920) and was a 25-game winner for the fourth straight season. Things were looking up.

Even with Bouwmeester around for Vokoun's first two seasons with Florida, his combined record in 2007-08 and 2008-09 was 56-52-14, so I'm not convinced Bouwmeester's departure is playing a big role in Vokoun's inconsistency this season.

I really have no qualms about your three-for-three deal. I think you did fine landing Gaborik, and Miller was a big price to pay no doubt, but in two of three spots in the trade you upgraded, so well done.

Vokoun's trade value now is low, and you can't cut him -- never cut a starting goalie -- so you have no choice but to hold on, ride Vokoun during his hot stretches and be prepared to go with a backup goalie when he has losing lapses again. Sorry Vin, I'm sure that answer is no big revelation.

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