Fantasy Hockey

Kopitar had a goal and an assist in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Predators. The points snapped a five-game scoring drought.

Kopitar has been a massive fantasy disappointment this season. Heading into Saturday, he'd put up just six points in 17 games. We hope this is a sign of greatness to come, but we're not holding our breath, either.

Eichel picked up two assists in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Wild.

He also added five shots, two PIM, one hit, one blocked shot and a plus-1 rating to his ledger. Eichel has only one goal in his last 13 games, but his 16 assists over that stretch is keeping anyone with fantasy shares in the 22-year-old happy. His track record suggests the goals will come -- he's potted at least 24 in three straight seasons to begin his NHL career -- and his 5.0 percent shooting is due to some serious positive regression.

Malkin picked up two assists in Saturday's 6-4 loss to Ottawa.

He has 25 points in 18 games, which is an amazing pace. But Malkin has now gone seven games without a goal, which is a surprise for such a prolific goal scorer. The Pens are scuffling right now, but the best is still delivering. You know what to do.

Couturier scored a power-play goal and an even-strength assist in Saturday's 6-5 overtime loss to the Lightning.

He also chipped in five shots and three hits. The 25-year-old center has been on fire lately, scoring five goals and 11 points in his last nine games, and with James van Riemsdyk back in the lineup and adding another sniper to the Flyers' power-play unit, Couturier could be filling up the scoresheet on a regular basis for a while.

Duchene had two goals and an assist in a 6-4 victory over the Penguins on Saturday night.

The assist was his 500th point in the NHL. "I think 500 is a big one," Duchene said after the game. "I feel lucky to have played this game as much as I have already and play in this League. I wake up every day and I love what I do." Duchene has eight goals and 16 assists in 20 games, which put him on pace to deliver his first-ever 100-point season. He's pricing himself out of a new contract with the Sens. Watch for a trade at the deadline.

Point scored two goals, one on the power play, in Saturday's 6-5 overtime win over the Flyers.

That's now five goals in the last two games and 14 in 20 contests on the season for Point, who seems intent on proving that his 32-goal breakout in 2017-18 was no fluke. He's already set a new career high with six power-play tallies, and while his 28.0 percent shooting will eventually cool down, the 22-year-old's spot in the top six on a potent Tampa offense should allow him to remain productive even when he isn't lighting the lamp quite so easily.

Jarnkrok scored his first NHL hat trick Saturday in a 5-3 win over the Kings.

Jarnkrok scored a goal in every situation -- on the power play, while shorthanded and at even strength. He'd gotten off to a slow start this season (one point in nine games), but now has seven points (five goals, two assists) in his last eight games. Jarnkrok has not scored more than 35 points in any season. He's the model of consistency, but his fantasy value is limited to deep leagues. Nice night, though.

Pominville scored the game-winner with only 90 second left in the third period and added an assist in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Wild.

The veteran forward had only one point (an assist) in his prior five games, but Pominville shook off his mini-slump in strong fashion Saturday. He now has nine goals and 17 points in 20 games on the season, and skating alongside Jack Eichel has him potentially on track for his first 30-goal campaign since 2013-14, and his first 70-point season since his first stint with the Sabres back in 2011-12.

Kessel's two assists Saturday in a 6-4 loss to Ottawa extended his current point streak to four games and seven points (two goals, five assists).

The Pens may be in a major slump right now, but Kessel keeps putting up points. And his 23 points in 18 games put him on track for a 100-point season. Phil really is a thrill. He's just that good.

Stone scored twice Saturday in a 6-4 win over Pittsburgh.

One of the goals came shorthanded. Stone has 23 points in 20 games and is on pace to obliterate his previous career best of 64 points. He's an automatic activation right now.

Van Riemsdyk scored a goal and two assists in Saturday's 6-5 overtime loss to the Lightning.

He got the Flyers on the board in the first period with a power-play tally, then helped set up two of their four third-period goals (including Travis Konecky's own power-play marker) as the team rallied from a 5-1 deficit in the final 10 minutes, only for the comeback to falter in OT. A lower-body injury has limited van Riemsdyk to only four games so far this season, but this performance suggests he's completely healthy now and ready to be a force for Philly with the man advantage.

Konecky scored two goals, one on the power play, in Saturday's 6-5 overtime loss to the Lightning.

He also supplied a team-high eight shots, two blocked shots and two PIM. Konecky's tally with the man advantage in the third period kicked off a furious four-goal rally that forced overtime, and while the 21-year-old only has five goals and 10 points in 20 games so far, five of those points (three goals, two assists) have come in the last seven games.

Josi set up two goals in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Kings.

He has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in his last nine games and is starting to look like the Josi of old. His slow start is gone. Make sure you have him active.

Dahlin scored a goal and an assist while adding three shots and a plus-2 rating in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Wild.

The teenage sensation now has one goal and five points in his last four games as he begins to adjust to the speed of play in the NHL. Dahlin isn't going to be challenging for the Norris Trophy any time soon, but the Sabres must still be thrilled with what the first overall pick in the 2018 draft has delivered to begin his rookie season -- two goals and 10 points in 20 games, with 29 shots, 23 shots, 15 blocked shots and a sparkling plus-6 rating.

Van Riemsdyk recorded his fourth point of the season with an assist in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Blue Jackets.

Unfortunately, with the arrival of Calvin de Haan this year, van Riemsdyk has seen his average ice time drop from 17:03 to 15:39 currently. Furthermore, the 27-year-old blueliner was a regular in the Canes' lineup last year, playing in 79 of 82 games, but he's already been a healthy scratch three times this season, and it's not even December yet. While it's nice to see him get the occasional point, TVR's fantasy value remains confined to ultra-deep leagues due to his relative lack of scoring and diminished playing time.

Gunnarsson (upper body) won't play in Saturday's game versus the Sharks, Tom Timmermann of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Gunnarsson's pointless through seven games since returning from a hip injury, so his absence won't shake up the fantasy realm. Jordan Schmaltz will enter the lineup in his place, and Gunnarsson will look to lose his injury tag by Monday's game versus the Kings.

Coyotes President of Hockey Operations John Chayka thinks Demers (knee) could return this season, Craig Morgan of The Athletic reports.

The odds of a return remain long but the Coyotes list Demers as "out indefinitely" instead of out for the year. Morgan adds that Demers may work with HPSports' Bill Knowles, who helped teammate Jakob Chychrun expedite his return from a torn ACL last campaign.

Chara (knee) is specifically dealing with a left MCL injury and he'll be checked out again in four weeks, Matt Porter of The Boston Globe reports.

The towering blueliner reportedly could be shelved for up to six weeks, so don't be surprised if he gets placed on injured reserve. Boston's really hurting on the blue line, with four of its defenders on IR and two more trending in that direction.

Petersen made 38 saves in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Predators. He allowed four goals.

Petersen is the first Kings goalie to start his first two NHL games on back-to-back days since 1967. Unfortunately, getting the call against the efficient and powerful Preds was a tough one. The kid has played solid hockey so far and he'll see more ice time with so many of the Kings' goalies out with injuries. Take a chance. What do you have to lose at this point?

Dubnyk stopped 26 of 29 shots in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Sabres.

The veteran netminder has made at least 25 saves in five straight starts, but his .912 save percentage over that stretch is well off his usual pace. Dubnyk has been one of the top fantasy goalies in the league ever since arriving in Minnesota in 2014-15, but three straight seasons with 60-plus appearances might have taken its toll on the 32-year-old. Backup Alex Stalock has only seen action four times so far this season, but the Wild may begin to turn to him more often going forward in an effort to keep Dubnyk a little fresher.

Rinne made 25 saves in a 5-3 win over the Kings on Saturday night.

Rinne doesn't have many games where his in-hame save percentage is below .900, but Saturday was one (.893). And that stung daily leaguers. Rinne has been absolutely dominant at 36. Keep trotting him into your blue paint. He'll deliver.

Ullmark stopped 37 of 39 shots in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Wild.

The 37 saves were a new season high for the 25-year-old, who improved his record in limited action to 4-0-1. Ullmark hasn't been as consistent as his record suggests and isn't a threat to Carter Hutton's starting job at the moment, but his .922 save percentage should give Sabres coach Phil Housley some confidence in using Ullmark when he needs to.

Pickard stopped 20 of 26 shots in Saturday's 6-5 overtime loss to the Lightning.

The 26-year-old coughed up six goals in a game for the second time this season, and it took a four-goal rally by the Flyers over the final 10 minutes of regulation to even salvage a point out of Pickard's performance. Despite his 3-1-2 record, the netminder has a woeful .852 save percentage on the season, and it's only the inability of Brian Elliott (lower body) and Michal Neuwirth (undisclosed) to stay healthy that's keeping Pickard in the NHL right now.

DeSmith replaced starter Matt Murray after one period of play Saturday and allowed three goals on 15 shots in a 6-4 loss to the Senators.

The Penguins couldn't get their stuff together all night long, so neither goaltender really stood a chance. DeSmith's fantasy value is limited right now, but there's always a chance Murray misses time to injury. And DeSmith will be the top dog in that situation. Keep him rostered for now. Just in case.