NHL Skinny: Positive changes

GOALIE HOT SEAT ATLANTA THRASHERS RED HOT 1st Chair: Johan Hedberg 2nd Chair: Kari Lehtonen, Ondrej Pavelec Skinny: Lehtonen is off to Chicago (AHL) for a conditioning assignment. Coach/GM Don Waddell says he wants to see him get three starts, which, depending on whether he takes a night off, has him ready to join Atlanta in the Dec. 4-8 range. OK, then what? Pavelec has cooled off, but Hedberg has won four of five and has a 2.17 goals-against in six November starts. Atlanta has had no problem with playing Hedberg over Lehtonen in the past. OTTAWA SENATORS RED HOT 1st Chair: Martin Gerber 2nd Chair: Ray Emery Skinny: Ottawa coach John Paddock had some harsh words for Gerber after pulling him from Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Flyers. "I didn't like the goals, it's that simple," he said. "Those kinds of saves have to be made." Paddock did add that he wasn't overly concerned, but at the same time said it's too soon to name a starter for Wednesday's game. This could be Emery's opening. EDMONTON OILERS RED HOT 1st Chair: Dwayne Roloson 2nd Chair: Mathieu Garon Skinny: Almost a month between wins for Roloson, who finally got back in the left column with a 38-save effort Saturday. Garon had started the previous three games, losing two. Roloson probably did enough to earn the start Monday against Columbus. DETROIT RED WINGS RED HOT 1st Chair: Chris Osgood 2nd Chair: Dominik Hasek Skinny: Hasek lost his third straight start Thursday, but came away encouraged. "I felt like I at least made a few saves," Hasek told the Detroit News. Really? Is that how bad things have gotten? Osgood's numbers are superhuman. Hasek is still Hasek, so he'll get his chances until health and rust can no longer be trotted out as excuses. DALLAS STARS HOT 1st Chair: Marty Turco 2nd Chair: Mike Smith Skinny: If you own Turco, you pretty much have to own Smith, who has started four of five, winning all four. Since Turco is universally owned and Smith remains a free agent in about 80 percent of leagues, some of you aren't doing your jobs. This is not unusual – Turco was given a few "time outs" last year, too – but you have to be prepared for a new No. 1 here. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS WARM 1st Chair: Marc-Andre Fleury 2nd Chair: Dany Sabourin Skinny: Fleury got an early start on the Thanksgiving buffet after giving up two goals in ten minutes and getting the hook in Ottawa. Two nights later the home cooking was more agreeable, as Fleury blanked Atlanta for his second shutout. Nice rebound, but the reality is it was only Fleury's second win in November. Sabourin will continue to get his share of work until someone develops some consistency. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS WARM 1st Chair: Nikolai Khabibulin 2nd Chair: Patrick Lalime Skinny: Nice run of three straight starts for Khabibulin, who posted save percentages of .929, .968 and .935 while Chicago grabbed five of six possible points. Goalie coach Stephane Waite says Khabibulin is in "his comfort zone." Lalime's start Sunday was scheduled. Blackhawks coach Denis Savard doesn't believe in keeping his goalies guessing. NASHVILLE PREDATORS LUKEWARM 1st Chair: Chris Mason 2nd Chair: Dan Ellis Skinny: This is Mason's job, but if you're looking for a spot start, Preds coach Barry Trotz says Ellis will get some work during a three-game trip that begins Thursday. Just when that work will come remains to be seen.

A holiday in Maui for a hockey fan means no Center Ice package, final scores before noon and sports bar waiters who think a Canuck is a topper for the house special Mai Tai. In other words, things might be a little thin this week. I haven't seen a stick swung in anger in almost a week, but in mere hours I'm on a plane back to the hockey hotbed of Southern California, where as long as there isn't a Div. II angling tournament or a Lakers-Blazers replay on, you can always find a saloon keeper willing to turn one of the 17-inch TVs to watch some pucks. Here's what I was able to gather from the box score and blog world over the past few days:

WEEKEND UPDATE: Need-to-know info from the past few days
Things to do Tuesday: If I'm Wayne Gretzky, I sweat profusely. OK, the Great One is probably secure, but isn't it amazing what coaching-front office shakeups have done this year? Atlanta rebounded to become a playoff contender before Bob Hartley finished cleaning his desk. The Stars have won five straight since their big front-office re-org. And now Washington has scored nine goals in two games since Bruce Boudreau took over behind the bench and instructed his Caps to – get this – shoot more.

So what's the fantasy impact? Well, clearly some guys respond in a new system. In Washington, upgrade defenseman Tom Poti (3 points in 2 games) and Mike Green (goals in back-to-back games). Poti, a two-time 40-point scorer, is owned in 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues. Green is likely a free agent in yours. Rookie Nicklas Backstrom (5 points in 2 games) and vet Michael Nylander (3 points Saturday) have also been energized. In Atlanta, it's not too late to grab Tobias Enstrom (9 points in 11 Nov. games) in about 35 percent of leagues and possible long-term No. 1 goalie Johan Hedberg (2.17 GAA this month) is a free agent in more than half of leagues. As for the Stars, I'd kick the tires on backup goalie Mike Smith (starter in 4 of 5).

Forget what I said about: After getting called out for his lack of production on the road, Colorado's Paul Stastny went out and scored three points in two road games, then returned home to get left off the scoresheet.

One-timers: Chicago winger Martin Havlat is due to return Wednesday against Tampa Bay. … Columbus center Michael Peca returned to the lineup Friday and registered a two-point night and a game-winning goal. … Florida defenseman Cory Murphy (35 percent owned – should be closer to 100) is targeting a Wednesday return from a shoulder injury. … Ilya Bryzgalov is still available in about 30 percent of Yahoo! leagues.

BARGAIN BIN: Top player available in 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues
Jamie Langenbrunner, RW, NJ – Suddenly, New Jersey is winning again, much to the relief of Martin Brodeur owners. A big boost has come from Langenbrunner, who since making his season debut Nov. 14 has two goals and six assists in six games. Four of his six points have come on the power play.

MARKET MOVERS: Charting player values
Todd Bertuzzi, RW, Ana – Three points in three games upon his return from a concussion. There's always an injury risk here, but at 82 percent availability, big Bert is a decent short-term investment at right wing.

Glen Murray, RW, Bos – Murray finally found his scoring touch with a four-game point streak that included three of his four goals on this season and three helpers. The streak ended Saturday, however.

Matthew Lombardi, C, Cal – The Flames have been experimenting some with Lombardi on the top line with Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay. Nothing spectacular resulted, but Lombardi does have a couple of recent multi-point games and seven points overall in his last nine.

Nikolai Zherdev, RW, Cls – He's streaking again with points in five straight games (2 goals, 5 assists). Just make sure you bench him in time to avoid the worst of his inevitable cold streak.

Daniel Cleary, RW, Det – He'll score in pockets, as he displayed last year with a pair of seven-game point streaks in the span of five weeks. Nothing quite so phenomenal yet this year, but he does have six goals and nine points in 10 November games.

David Booth, LW, Fla – The endless search for left wing scoring depth brings us to this former Michigan State star who has five goals and three assists in his last 10 games. Booth carries a three-game point streak out of the weekend.

Shea Weber, D, Nas – A holdover from last week, Weber put together a three-game point streak that was finally snapped Saturday. He'll score at a point for every two games pace, which deserves better than 65 percent ownership in Yahoo! leagues. Get him if you can.

Colby Armstrong, RW, Pit – He's getting some time with Sidney Crosby, which everyone does in Michel Therrien's system. Three points in two games isn't bad, it's just hard not to assume the coach will juggle lines again soon.

Radim Vrbata, RW, Pho – Consider this his third flash of promise. He broke in with Colorado with 18 goals in 52 games as a rookie. Then there was 34 points in 45 games with the Blackhawks in 2005-06. Just a snapshot here, but five points in his last two games is something. Right?

Ladislav Nagy, LW, LA – This is what you get with Nagy. He was a healthy scratch Sunday after playing only six minutes Saturday. He'll be up again, no doubt, but trying to figure out his cycles is laborious.

Yahoo! Friends and Family League
I somehow survived vacation without losing too much ground. Ryan from the Fantasy Hockey Caf is back in front, thanks to big weeks from Sergei Gonchar (5 points, 3 PPP), and scofflaw Daniel Carcillo (3 points, 20 PIM). Recent additions include Marco Sturm, Chuck Kobasew, Patrick Sharp and Mathieu Garon.

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 Tuesday, Nov 27, 2007 2:47 am, EST

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