Fantasy Forecast for Friday, Nov. 13

THURSDAY'S ROUNDUP:

Vesa Toskala, Toronto's projected No. 1 goalie at the start of the season who has played only once in the last 11 games, will start Friday at Chicago, reports the Toronto Star.

"You want Vesa to play well. I don't want to have to be worrying that we only have one goalie capable of winning," said coach Ron Wilson. "I know Vesa can play well. I think he's more than ready."

Toskala (5, 0-2-2, 5.13 GAA, owned in 26 percent of all Yahoo! leagues) went down with a knee injury Oct. 13, and by the time he came back rookie Jonas Gustavsson (9, 3-3-3, 2.77 GAA, 37 percent) was playing too well to come out of the lineup. Toskala last started Oct. 31, a 5-4 shootout loss at Montreal.

The paper points out that Toskala has a penchant for giving up early goals. In four starts he has been scored on at 11:05, 1:17, 3:20 and 16:00 of the first period. The Blackhawks have scored the first goal in eight of their 10 games at United Center.

"When you play in Chicago, you've got to weather the storm in the first five minutes," said Wilson. "They get all fired up from the crowd, they feed off that energy. If you can play well in the first five minutes, it settles into a game. But you can find yourself down quick and it's hard to get back into it. Essentially, you've got to take the crowd out by having a good start yourself."

Ilya Kovalchuk's return from a broken foot was a rousing success as the Atlanta Thrashers captain had a goal and 2 assists in a road win at Madison Square Garden. "I feel pretty good," Kovalchuk told NHL.com after playing his first game since Oct. 24. "Our team played very well without me, but I think when we're together we're a little better."

Other fantasy-useful players who returned to active duty Thursday included Henrik Lundqvist, James Neal, Dominic Moore, Radek Dvorak, J.P. Dumont, Brian Rolston, Donald Brashear, Danny Briere, Victor Hedman and Jannik Hansen.

The hottest goalie in the League right now is Tomas Vokoun (13, 4-8-1, 2.73 GAA, 77 percent) of the Panthers, with three shutouts in his last four games. His latest gem was a 40-save 1-0 shootout win at Boston on Thursday in which he matched reigning Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas save for save. In the last four games Vokoun has stopped 127 of 130 shots.

The Minnesota Wild are playing the second of back-to-back games Friday at Washington, and with Niklas Backstrom (16, 7-8-1, 2.60 GAA, 96 percent) playing Thursday, it's backup Josh Harding (3, 0-2-0, 4.71 GAA, 2 percent) making his first start since Oct. 16. According to the Washington Post, the Capitals are going with Semyon Varlamov (8, 6-1-0, 2.90 GAA, 68 percent).

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports that Penguins star Evgeni Malkin may return to the lineup as early as Saturday for a home game against Boston. Malkin (12, 4-10-14, 99 percent), who has sat out the last seven games with a shoulder injury, practiced hard for the second straight day Thursday. "It was my second time practicing hard and it feels good," Malkin said. "It was a good rest. I feel stronger now. I feel awesome. I won't play tonight (Thursday) but maybe next game."

Since twin brother Daniel went down with a broken foot Oct. 7, Henrik Sedin (20, 9-11-20, 93 percent) has fared well despite not having his usual left wing. Henrik has scored 6 goals and 14 points, and has recorded at least one point in 10 of 16 games since Daniel left the lineup.

The Columbus Dispatch reports the Blue Jackets will start backup goalie Mathieu Garon (6, 2-1-0, 2.83 GAA, 5 percent) on Friday at home against Anaheim.

The Boston Globe reports Milan Lucic participated in a morning skate for the first time Thursday since breaking his right index finger Oct. 16. The Bruins left wing has missed the last 12 games. Lucic (6, 0-3-3, 47 percent) is planning to practice again Friday and is targeting a return to action Nov. 19 at Atlanta. Coach Claude Julien said Lucic is at least a week to 10 days away from being considered for game duty. "It's a step in the right direction,'' Julien said of the skate. "We'll see how everything develops and go from there.'' Also, center Marc Savard (broken left foot) (7, 4-3-7, 91 percent) is scheduled to shed his walking boot next week.

Blackhawks star Marian Hossa no longer is untouchable in practice -- a good sign his return is imminent. The Daily Herald reports Hossa participated in some light hitting in Thursday's practice. "It was my first try to see how the shoulder is -- a few battles in the corner -- and it felt pretty comfortable," said Hossa (88 percent), who plans to continue the light hitting this week before beginning full contact next week. He's projected to play his first game as early as Nov. 19.

Bruins director of player personnel Scott Bradley returned from the Karjala Cup tournament in Finland and had this to say about Peter Forsberg and the possibility of him returning to the NHL. "You can tell he's still got game," he told the Boston Herald. "He looked pretty good. Health is always going to be the issue with him. But he has the desire to come back over here and play.

"Every team was there watching him. I'm sure he's going to get a lot of interest."

Daily Ovi update -- Alex Ovechkin (14, 14-9-23, 99 percent), listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury, is hoping to play early next week. According to the Washington Post, Ovechkin practiced with the Capitals on Thursday for the first time since suffering what the newspaper called a left shoulder strain Nov. 1. "(Thursday) was the first day that I could really see that he was shooting to score," goaltender Jose Theodore said. "Before, he was just shooting just to be out there and shoot. It wasn't up to par. I don't think he's there yet, compared to his usual shot. But if he keeps improving like that, hopefully it won't be long."

FRIDAY'S PROJECTED GOALIES:

Minnesota (Josh Harding) at Washington (Semyon Varlamov), 7 p.m. ET
N.Y. Islanders (Martin Biron) at Carolina (Manny Legace), 7 p.m. ET
Anaheim (Jonas Hiller) at Columbus (Mathieu Garon), 7 p.m. ET
Calgary (Miikka Kiprusoff) at Buffalo (Ryan Miller), 7:30 p.m. ET
Los Angeles (Jonathan Quick) at Atlanta (Ondrej Pavelec), 7:30 p.m. ET
Toronto (Vesa Toskala) at Chicago (Cristobal Huet), 8:30 p.m. ET (RIS)

RECENT INJURIES:

Fabian Brunnstrom, LW, Dallas: Is day-to-day with a shoulder injury.
Chris Drury, C, N.Y. Rangers: Is out indefinitely with a concussion.
Brandon Dubinsky, C, N.Y. Rangers: Will miss three weeks with a broken right hand.
Denis Grebeshkov, D, Edmonton: Is day-to-day with a knee injury.
Milan Hejduk, RW, Colorado: Is day-to-day with a back injury.
Chuck Kobasew, RW, Minnesota: Is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Saku Koivu, C, Anaheim: Is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Mike Komisarek, D, Toronto: Placed on injured reserve and will miss about three weeks with a quadriceps injury.
Jere Lehtinen, RW, Dallas: Is day-to-day with a groin injury.
Kris Letang, D, Pittsburgh: Will miss two weeks with a shoulder contusion.
John-Michael Liles, D, Colorado: Placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.
Henrik Lundqvist, G, N.Y. Rangers: Is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Robert Nilsson, RW, Edmonton: Is day-to-day with a head injury.
Petr Sykora, RW, Minnesota: Is out indefinitely with a concussion.
Raffi Torres, LW, Columbus: Placed on injured reserve with a facial injury.
Cam Ward, G, Carolina: Placed on injured reserve with a leg injury.
Jason Williams, C, Detroit: Is out up to two months with a fractured right fibula.

TRANSACTIONS:

NHL: Suspended Vancouver Canucks forward Darcy Hordichuk for one game.
Buffalo Sabres: Reassigned G Jhonas Enroth to Portland (AHL).
Chicago Blackhawks: Placed C Dave Bolland on injured reserve.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Activated LW Kristian Huselius off injured reserve. Placed LW Raffi Torres on injured reserve.
Detroit Red Wings: Recalled G Daniel Larsson from Grand Rapids (AHL).
Edmonton Oilers: Reassigned C Ryan O'Marra to Springfield (AHL).
Minnesota Wild: Recalled LW Robbie Earl from Houston (AHL) under emergency conditions.
Nashville Predators: Reassigned F Dave Scatchard to Milwaukee (AHL).
New York Rangers: Recalled F P.A. Parenteau from Hartford (AHL). Reassigned F Dane Byers to Hartford (AHL).
Pittsburgh Penguins: Recalled D Ben Lovejoy from Wilkes- Barre/Scranton (AHL).
St. Louis Blues: Reassigned F Lars Eller to Peoria (AHL).
Toronto Maple Leafs: Recalled D Carl Gunnarsson from Toronto (AHL). Reassigned F Jay Rosehill to Toronto (AHL) on a conditioning assignment. Placed D Mike Komisarek on injured reserve.

NHL.COM EXPERTS LEAGUE:

Week 6 results through Nov. 12
Rocky Trottier 6, Skoula Hard Knocks 2 (3 ties)
The Birdcage 5, Clown Shoes 4 (2 ties)
Hempstead Slowpokes 6, Ovi's Heroes 3 (2 ties)
Hammerhead United 8, Big Skillets O'BKLYN 1 (2 ties)
Philly Cheesestakes 6, Code Monkeys 4 (1 tie)
Out on a Dan Hinote 6, No Shanahan-igans 3 (2 ties)

E-MAIL OF THE DAY:

Good afternoon,
I'm a rookie playing fantasy hockey and am looking for some good advice.  I'm presently sitting fourth of 10 in a standard roto league. I am terribly lacking in shots on goal (ninth), goals (eighth), power-play goals (10th) and assists (fifth). I'm very solid in goal (Martin Brodeur, Henrik Lundquist, Ray Emery) and have a good defense anchored by Chris Pronger, Jay Bouwmeester and Drew Doughty, but have a big drag to my plus-minus with Joni Pitkanen. At what point do you cut bait on a guy like him or Victor Hedman, neither of whom are producing other than penalty minutes and average time on ice? I was considering dropping them, or even Lubomir Visnovsky, and adding Paul Martin (who I dropped) as he's nearing a return from injury, or perhaps grabbing Filip Kuba, Tyler Myers, Tobias Enstrom or Erik Johnson on the blue line. 

As I wait for Daniel Sedin to return, I'm watching reports closely and am poised to pounce on Simon Gagne or Milan Lucic when they're nearing return or could add Steven Reinprecht, Wojtek Wolski, David Perron, Tomas Fleischmann or Mike Fisher from the waiver wire now. I could cut any of Kristian Huselius, Claude Giroux, Rich Peverley or Drew Stafford if this is a true upgrade that will help me in the areas I lack up front.

Without a true working knowledge of these players, it's difficult to judge their present and future value in light of those immediately available/worth waiting for. Any thoughts you have would be appreciated. Thanks.
-- Greg

Here's how I recommend you fix your team:

Defense -- Drop Pitkanen and Hedman and add Erik Johnson and Enstrom. Do not cut Visnovsky.

Forwards -- Let go of Giroux and Huselius and pick up Fleischmann and Fisher.
I believe these are the players that can best help your team make up the deficiencies in the categories you mentioned.

Pitkanen is a good player, but the whole Carolina mess devalues the entire roster, and it's a shame. I try to avoid rookie defensemen as much as possible, and while some like Doughty prove me wrong at times, let Hedman go and revisit him at your draft in a year or two. Johnson and Enstrom are a combined 3-20-23 with a plus-4, 16 penalty minutes and 55 shots. As of now, only Enstrom has a power-play goal, but I expect Johnson to eventually get his share of man-advantage goals. Martin and Kuba are more power-play quarterback assist types, and Myers is another rookie, but one doing far better than Hedman.

You can't cut Peverley, and though Stafford is sort of pedestrian for fantasy, he has 3 power-play goals. Huselius is a pretty good goal scorer, but doesn't have the power-play track record you seek. At this point I'm really not sure just how good Fleischmann is or will be, but he's so hot right now and it seems anybody the Caps throws out there scores. Fisher is doing more than I could have expected points-wise with a plus-2 and 4 power-play goals. If not for the man-advantage production I would have told you to take Perron. Forget about Gagne -- those hernia surgeries are too tough to come back from effectively, at least for this season, and Lucic is more valuable to the Bruins for his overall game than he'll ever be in fantasy.

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