This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around The Rink
Longtime ex-Sabres Derek Roy is on his fifth Western Conference squad in three years after spending eight years with Buffalo. Roy has scored three goals and 14 points in 28 career games against New Jersey. That doesn't sound like much, but options for Edmonton are pretty scarce and Roy knows the Devils. Corey Schneider shut out the Oilers in Edmonton on Nov. 21, and holds a career 6-2 record, 1.58 goals-against average and .937 save percentage with two shutouts vs. the Oilers. Schneider is also 8-2-1 in his last 11 decisions.
Drew Doughty jumps out as a good choice Monday against Columbus. Doughty, who netted his fifth goal of the year Saturday, has averaged a point per game versus the Blue Jackets with 21 points (4G, 17A) in 21 tilts. Marian Gaborik and Jeff Carter are ex-Jackets, albeit brief ones, for those looking to start players matching up against ex-teams. Let's go with defender Jack Johnson for Columbus on Monday. Picking Foligno or Johansen would be too easy. Johnson, a former Kings player, has two goals and four points in seven games against Los Angeles. He also has nine power-play points and 15 points overall in 25 home contests thus far in 2014-15.
Bo Horvat has points in four of five games, including an assist versus the Wild on Feb. 1. He was named the No. 2 star against Pittsburgh on Saturday after scoring his fifth goal. Horvat also took more draws than any of his fellow Canucks, going 13-9. Thomas Vanek scored against Vancouver last week and has eight points (3G, 5A) in eight contests against the Canucks. For whatever reason, he also dished out four hits in his most recent meeting with Vancouver – even though he hasn't totaled more than two in any other game this season.
Little Sam Gagner has 10 goals and 22 points in 27 career tilts versus the Blackhawks. Seems like a long time since we wondered how Dave Gagner's son would perform at the NHL level at a very young age. Interestingly, Gagner has 17 points in 27 road games while picking up just 10 points in 25 home games. Monday's contest will take place in Chicago, for whatever it's worth. Duncan Keith finished with an assist and a plus-3 rating against the Coyotes on Jan. 20. He also took a season-high five shots. Keith has been quiet recently – he's pointless in his last four – but that's all the more reason to expect a big game at home against Phoenix on Monday.
Jiri Hudler has 17 points (9G, 8A) in 32 career contests against the Sharks, but this year he's gone off with four goals and an assist against San Jose, scoring in three of four games. Matt Tennyson has never played Calgary before but he's got five points in his last six games. That's a nice pace for any blueliner other than say, Paul Coffey. Tennyson will inevitably cool off, but who's to say he can stay hot for one more game?
Hot
Chris Kunitz: His stock has fallen off this season. If a fellow owner is willing to include him as a throw-in, go for it. Kunitz is riding Sidney Crosby's coattails and the centerman looks to be getting hot once again. Kunitz tallied three assists two games ago and the line of Kunitz, Crosby and David Perron is set to do some serious damage down the stretch. The left winger is currently seeing less power-play time on the team's top unit, but is just one injury away from returning to the No. 1 unit. He looks like the Kunitz of old right now, not the Kunitz who is old.
David Desharnais: Desharnais apparently realized he was released from my fantasy squad one week ago and set out to prove me wrong – he's succeeding. After four months of malaise, the Canadien forward has strung together a four-game point streak which includes a goal and six assists. He's a streaky player and it wouldn't be surprising to see him maintain his success for an extended period. Remember, Desharnais started 2013-14 with one point in his first 19 games, only to finish with 51 points in his final 60. He's hot once again, along with surprising teammate Dale Weise.
Cold
Alex Stalock: What happened? Stalock was expected to threaten Antti Niemi for playing time in 2014-15. He has one win in his last four starts (and six appearances) since Dec. 11. Fantasy owners who drafted him based off recommendations of a possible platoon with Niemi have been disappointed. Stalock holds a 5-6-1 mark, 2.68 GAA and .903 save percentage. Of course, these are his already recorded numbers – he's one injury away from starting on a competitive San Jose squad – but so far, so bad.
Thomas Greiss: He's another backup netminder thought to have a preseason shot of unseating, or at least platooning with, the incumbent starter. Greiss has gotten worse and worse as the season has progressed. Greiss has made only 11 starts, going 5-3-3 with a 2.81 GAA and .909 save percentage. Pittsburgh has five back-to-back's the rest of the way, including two in the next three weeks of February. Greiss has to be better and will likely get that chance as the Pens don't want to wear starter Marc-Andre Fleury out before the playoffs.
Recommended Pickup
Blake Comeau: Although he's likely a forgotten player in many fantasy leagues, the Penguins are counting on Comeau to give them a gritty presence with scoring ability next to Evgeni Malkin. He's due back Wednesday after missing the last 20 games with a wrist injury. Comeau scored 11 goals and 19 points in 32 games before getting hurt. If he can recapture his early season luster – and that's a question mark considering wrist injuries aren't always easy to return from – then he'll make for a nice pickup. At the least, he's worth keeping an eye on as a player widely available.
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