Dose: Hammond Eggs

Earlier this week, I made a point to bring attention to the injury and news updates sections. That seems to be a good table-setter for this week, as Mathieu Perreault’s potential season-ending injury is another reminder to stay abreast of the during-the-day details.

I’m going to plop it right here, just to keep things warm:

For a full list of injuries and suspensions, click here. Go to Rotoworld's NHL page for breaking hockey news and more.

What a weird year for Perreault, eh? He’s had a breakout season when things on his body weren’t breaking, but ultimately the latter situation won out.

News updates also provide bonus laughs here and there, like Edmonton and Winnipeg being no-trade list no-brainers and the Philadelphia Flyers locking up mediocre defensemen.

Naturally, it’s also wise to just check Rotoworld NHL in general, as the Dose is far from the only column worth following. Anyway, let’s Dose away …

Don't forget, for everything NHL, check out Rotoworld's up to the minute coverage on Player News, as well as follow@Rotoworld_HK and @cyclelikesedins on Twitter.

RED WINGS 3, BLACKHAWKS 2 (SO)

-- The Red Wings have been mixing up their top lines enough that it's kind of dizzying at this point, really. Is Mike Babcock just bored or something?

(Hey, it's a long season.)

-- Three different players recorded their 26th assist of the season in this one: Marian Hossa, Pavel Datsyuk and Duncan Keith. Keith's been streaky, but right now that run is hot, as he has three helpers in his past four games.

-- Seems like all systems go for Kris Versteeg, who has two goals in three contests. His existence basically makes life worse of Patrick Sharp owners, although he tends to find ways to make things happen more often than not.

-- Brandon Saad stretched his point streak to four games (two goals including one last night, three assists). He should easily set career-highs in goals (18 now, 19 last season), points (40 now, 47 in 2013-14) and other categories. His contract negotiations should be rather fascinating, even as an RFA.

-- Looks like all is well for Jimmy Howard, as he finally got a win after returning from his month-long injury sabbatical.

SENATORS 4, CANADIENS 2

-- After allowing two goals on five shots in mop-up duty on Feb. 16 in his second NHL appearance, Andrew Hammond finally got a decision - and his first win - on Wednesday.

Want to know a little more about the guy? OK. He's undrafted and 27 years old, with unremarkable (but adequate) size. In 25 games with the AHL's Binghamton Senators this season, he's 7-13-2 with a .898 save percentage.

He's an experienced goalie at the NCAA level as he played for Bowling Green State University.

Good on him for getting a tough win - 42 out of 44 saves doesn't exactly scream "protecting an inexperienced goalie" - but I wouldn't get TOO excited from a fantasy standpoint. Maybe give him the FanDuel nod if you like his matchup until he proves himself incompetent, though.

-- Owners held their breath when P.K. Subban seemed gimpy blocking a shot, but he returned to action. Obviously keep an eye out for updates, though.

-- Alexei Emelin didn't return from his issue, which likely isn't a cause for consternation for any but the most hardcore fantasy nuts.

(Not judging. Too much.)

-- Milan Michalek stars in "Reanimator: Hockey Winger Edition." OK, we aren't seeing a gore-fest in Ottawa, but he's shown serious life since 2015 began. After scoring nine points in his first 32 games, Michalek has 13 in 19. Not setting the world on fire, but when you throw in 17 PIM, he's at least benefiting the few, the aforementioned hardcore fantasy nuts quite well.

LIGHTNING 4, DUCKS 1

-- Quite an impressive road run for Tampa Bay so far. While the Kings edged them 3-2 on Monday, they beat San Jose and Anaheim by a combined score of 9-3. In general, it seems like their offense might just be West-proof.

-- Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov collected their 22nd goals of the season in succession as Tampa Bay rattled off four goals in a second period they dominated (20-5 shots). It really says a lot that Steve Stamkos and his 31 goals almost kinda sorta gets lost in the shuffle because that emergent line just keeps getting it done.

-- Remarkable work from Anton Stralman. With Wednesday's goal and an assist, he now has five points in his past four games and 28 in 60 contests overall (not to mention a purdy +22 rating). Many stat-leaning folks were excited about his signing from a possession standpoint, but his impact has been obvious even by simpler terms. He's just six points away from matching the career-high 34 points he put up with Columbus in 2009-10 and has already hit 20+ points for just the second time in his career. At 28, the Lightning got a quality defenseman with some prime years remaining.

That grumbling you heard is the rest of the East, as the Lightning just seem smarter than everyone else.

KINGS 4, AVALANCHE 1

-- Make sure your fallout shelter is well-stocked with bottled water and beans ... the Kings are now in the West's top eight after winning six in a row.

It's not like Los Angeles is sneaking up on anyone after doing this sort of thing twice, but I bet there were still some teams that were rooting for them to go from champs to playoff onlookers in 2014-15.

Naturally, there's still some time for things to change, but the Kings certainly have the edge.

-- Dwight King is really running with his beneficial assignment alongside Jeff Carter and Tyler Toffoli. He's now on a five-game point streak with three goals and five assists, even while only getting sporadic TOI. He even had seven SOG on Feb. 14.

King is owned in just three percent of leagues, and his long-term value is iffy, but he's worth owning in quite a few formats. For now.

-- Jonathan Quick varlamov’d the Avalanche, as he stopped 42 out of 43 shots while the Kings only fired 25 SOG on Semyon Varlamov.

-- Usually, the Kings' MVP is Anze Kopitar, but it's hard to argue with Drew Doughty, who's leading the league in average ice time (or at least head-to-head with Ryan Suter). He already has 35 points this season, the best pace he's enjoyed in a long time (he had 37 in all of 2013-14). I wouldn't be surprised if his Norris hype swells with his team's standings points.

OILERS 4, BRUINS 3 (SO)

-- Boston remains in the bottom wild card spot in the East, but coughing up chances to soak up points against weak opponents will only make things more difficult. If I were Panthers GM Dale Tallon, I'd a) make sure my fax machine is up and running and b) try to grab an impact player or two to catch the so-so Bruins.

-- Zdeno Chara remains a difference-maker possession-wise, but you can really see age catching up to him the most in his declining offensive numbers. It probably doesn't help that Boston's attack is sputtering for the most part, though.

-- One obvious bright spot is the continued growth of young'uns Torey Krug (29 points, three in four games) and Dougie Hamilton (32 points, five in as many contests).

The burning question: if you were to splice their names together like Brangelina and other annoying celebrity couple mash-ups, would it be "Krougie" or "Torgie"? These are the kind of important debates that surface from the DD.

-- Tuukka Rask's .920 save percentage argues that he's really not that far behind his normal work. Still, with five straight losses and six defeats in seven games, that thought provides little comfort for owners who spent a first or second-round pick on the Finn.

WILD 3, FLAMES 2 (OT)

-- Man, that Mikko Koivu fake-out move for the overtime winner was pretty sweet.

It represents his ninth goal and 35th point of the 2014-15 season, with things picking up recently (four points in four games). Saku's kid brother hasn't really flourished as Minnesota added big names as some hoped, but his oft-cited* low shooting percentage indicates he could have a slightly stronger final two months.

(His career mark isn't that high at just 8.5, too, so don't expect an enormous jump in puck luck.)

-- Devan Dubnyk is now 11-2-1 with four shutouts during his time with Minnesota, sporting a .9326 save percentage. His overall numbers this season aren't too shabby, either: 20-7-3, .924 save percentage, 2.27 GAA and five shutouts.

Minnesota's in an awfully interesting position in net in the future, as Dubnyk is a pending UFA while Niklas Backstrom and Darcy Kuemper only have one year remaining on their deals.

-- Johnny Gaudreau - Sean Monahan - Jiri Hudler continue to be the West's version of the Lightning's Johnson line, as they keep getting a goal or so per game. In this case, Jiri Hudler got his 19th tally while Monahan snagged his 20th assist of the season.

-- Mikael Backlund went cold for a while, but he now has an assist in two straight games. I doubt Calgary stays in the Pacific's second spot like they're located today, but this group can't be dismissed as a wild card hopeful any longer (even if I think they'd be the easiest out in the West by a considerable margin).

* - In the Dose, at least.