NHL Skinny: Moving boxes

GOALIE HOT SEAT CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS RED HOT 1st Chair: Patrick Lalime 2nd Chair: Nikolai Khabibulin Skinny: Coach Denis Savard was true to his word and kept playing Lalime as long as he won. The streak reached four games (5 total goals allowed) before San Jose snapped things Tuesday. Lalime was beaten twice on the power play and once on a shorthanded breakaway. Not exactly his fault. The way these things generally play out, however, Khabibulin gets the next start. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING RED HOT 1st Chair: Johan Holmqvist 2nd Chair: Karri Ramo Skinny: With back-to-back shutouts and four straight wins, Holmqvist earned the NHL's second star for the week and at least temporarily derailed Tampa's plan to see if Ramo can carry the load next year. I'll say this about roller coasters, and Holmqvist is one of 'em: They don't climb forever. OTTAWA SENATORS RED HOT 1st Chair: Martin Gerber 2nd Chair: Ray Emery Skinny: The folks at the Ottawa Citizen expect to see Gerber in net Thursday after Emery allowed five goals on 40 shots in a Tuesday loss in Florida. We're definitely in win-and-stay-in territory here, so Gerber has a shot to exit the All-Star break as the No. 1. Emery, by the way, missed practice Wednesday to have an MRI on his wrist. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS RED HOT 1st Chair: Antero Niittymaki 2nd Chair: Martin Biron Skinny: Niittymaki had an impressive run (6-0-1, 1.85 GAA, .948 save pct.) come to an end when he allowed five goals on 20 shots against New Jersey Tuesday. Oh well, the Flyers always lose to the Devils. Biron has won back-to-back starts despite mediocre supporting figures. If you're carrying both goalies, it's Biron's turn Thursday. MINNESOTA WILD RED HOT 1st Chair: Niklas Backstrom 2nd Chair: Josh Harding Skinny: Backstrom was stripped of some momentum when he was forced to sit in Calgary Tuesday with a groin injury. It shouldn't be considered too serious, though, as he dressed to back up Harding, who lost his second straight start. Best guess is we're in for a typical Wild rotation the rest of the way. CAROLINA HURRICANES HOT 1st Chair: Cam Ward 2nd Chair: John Grahame Skinny: Grahame is back, having cleared waivers and swapped addresses with Michael Leighton, who is back in Albany. If you're a Ward owner looking for insurance, a similar transaction is advised. NASHVILLE PREDATORS HOT 1st Chair: Chris Mason 2nd Chair: Dan Ellis Skinny: Mason is 4-1-1 in January with two shutouts and a 1.32 goals-against average. Ellis is 3-1-1 with a 1.97 GAA and a shutout of his own in 2008. It's a rare occasion when both Nashville netminders are in the good graces of fantasy owners at the same time. ATLANTA THRASHERS LUKEWARM 1st Chair: Kari Lehtonen 2nd Chair: Johan Hedberg Skinny: I didn't see Tuesday's 4-0 loss to the Rangers, but the Atlanta Journal Constitution beat writer who did declared Lehtonen the better goalie – that night, anyway – despite Henrik Lundqvist's shutout. Could have been worse, it seems, like maybe the last time Hedberg started and the Thrashers lost 10-1.

This week's Skinny comes to you a day late and a few elements short. When it comes to moving employees around, Yahoo! is the Michel Therrien of the dot-com world. Penguins can't get too comfortable with linemates, Yahoo! employees can't get too attached to a cubicle. So yet another cube move – this one involving a new building and trading a view of Los Angeles' beautiful Getty Center for one of a pole – and a handful of meetings got in the way of things.

I'd say I'll be back with a full production next week, but with only two full days of games between now and my next scheduled transmission, I'm not sure there will be enough news to fill a column next week. Let's call it a game-time decision and get on with the mini-Skinny …

One-timers: The Chicago Tribune reports that Jonathan Toews is still three weeks away from returning from a sprained knee. … Blue Jackets center Andrew Murray has three goals on six shots in seven career games. … Dan Boyle may return to the Tampa Bay lineup Thursday against Ottawa, according to the Tampa Tribune. … Nashville right wing J.P. Dumont now has a 13-game point streak.

BARGAIN BIN: Top player available in 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues
Jose Theodore, G, Col – Theodore (34 percent owned) is expected to make his 10th straight start Thursday against Minnesota. Peter Budaj (86 percent owned) hasn't started a game for Colorado since Jan. 2. In his nine January starts, Theodore is 5-3-1 with a 1.86 goals against and a .932 save percentage. Colorado is a long way from healthy, but when they do get some pieces back, it looks like it'll be Theodore backstopping the playoff run.

MARKET MOVERS: Charting player values
Shea Weber, D, Nas – He's been a disappointment coming off a 17-goal, 40-point season, but the frequently dinged defenseman is showing signs of life. In his last three games, Weber has a fight, two goals, an assist and a plus-4 rating.

Sean Avery, LW, NYR – The Rangers featured a top line of Avery, Scott Gomez and Jaromir Jagr for Tuesday's game against Atlanta. Avery responded with a goal, his second in three games.

Cory Murphy, D, Fla – Murphy was back and quarterbacking the Florida power play Tuesday. He missed more than two months with a shoulder injury after opening the season with 11 points in 19 games. He's owned in about 10 percent of leagues.

Tomas Fleischmann , RW, Was – Fleischmann has five points (1 goal, 4 assists) in four games since Michael Nylander opted for the surgery route. Boyd Gordon, for what it's worth, has eight points in nine games and is getting a shot at second-line duty.

David Booth, LW, Fla – He's on his second go-around on my roster in a league configured for three starters at each wing plus the center position. Booth continues to be a good story with four goals and two assists over his last six games. He's nearing his career-high for goals in a season at any level, established as a freshman at Michigan State.

Peter Mueller, C, Pho – His seven-game point streak includes four goals, seven assists and five points on the power-play.

Nicklas Backstrom, C, Was – He was holding steady at about 46-percent ownership after Saturday's four-assist game against Florida. Those numbers are only calculated once a week, however, so it's a safe assumption that there was a spike after he backed it up with four more assists against the Penguins Tuesday.

Daniel Carcillo, RW, Pho – He's set to begin an AHL rehab assignment, then join the Coyotes after the All-Star break. Now that Aaron Voros has faded, Carcillo, Sean Avery and Steve Downie remain your best points-PIM options among widely available players.

Chris Campoli, D, NYI – He's lost for the season, in case you haven't heard.

Erik Johnson, D, Stl – It seemed like his press box days were over when St. Louis shuffled some pieces around, but Johnson was a healthy scratch Wednesday. Since recording three assists on Jan. 8, he's gone six games without a point.

Yahoo! Friends and Family League
Bada Byng maintains his lead and adds a third goalie to the fold, claiming Josh Harding via waivers to complement Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Martin Brodeur. Hard to match that trio in goals-against and save percentage. Team Romig remains 2.5 points behind after parting ways with Kari Ramo and Dustin Byfuglien, two Skinny favorites who have fallen on hard times.

Matt Romig is a Yahoo! Sports fantasy expert and NHL analyst. Send Matt a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.

Updated on Thursday, Jan 24, 2008 5:06 pm, EST

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