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| Mark Eaton has been sidelined since late December when he had surgery for a torn ACL, and though he hoped to possibly make it back for the playoffs, it doesn't appear that he will be able to play at any point in the second round, according to NHL.com. |
Our View: Eaton has been skating and does believe he would be able to return in the third round if the Penguins are able to defeat the Rangers.
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| Martin Biron wasn't great in the first round, but he did enough to backstop the Flyers into the second round. Biron posted a 2.67 GAA and .908 save percentage against the Capitals. |
Our View: Those numbers are worse than his regular season totals (2.59 GAA, .918 SV%), and facing a prolific offense like that of the Canadiens in the second round may not allow him to do much better than he did in the first round.
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| Michael Ryder failed to register a point for the Canadiens in the first round and he was only active for four of the seven games against the Bruins. |
Our View: Ryder scored 60 goals in 2005-06, but he slumped to just 14 goals this regular season, and those struggles have continued in the playoffs. We still have to think he will make his presence felt at some point, but at this juncture just getting back into the lineup may be a struggle.
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| After his worst regular season in 16 years (71 points) Jaromir Jagr has found his game in the playoffs as he currently leads the Rangers with eight points, one more than Scott Gomez. |
Our View: Well it's about time Jaromir. After costing many a fantasy squad a chance at a league title, the dormant Jagr has finally awakened in the NHL's second season and once again looks like the star he has been for over a decade. Now let's see how he fares facing his old team, the Penguins.
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| Everyone knows the Penguins count on Sidney Crosby (eight points in four games) and Evgeni Malkin (seven points), but the team has come to lean on Petr Sykora as a goal scorer, and with three tallies in the first round, he is currently the team leader in that category. |
Our View: Sykora scored 28 times on the season and was able to register 31 points in his last 31 contest playing mostly with Evgeni Malkin. Look for that duo to continue to be effective as the Pens take on the Rangers in the second round.
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| Dan Cleary was on his way to a breakout season with 20 goals, 41 points and a +21 before being injured (he played in 63 games), but since returning to the lineup he has failed to make an impact thus far in the playoffs with only one assist through six games. |
Our View: Cleary is the classic example of a secondary scorer that is needed in the playoffs for a team to have success. He will likely need to kick in a goal or two in the second round if the Wings are to defeat the Avalanche.
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| Jose Theodore finished the first round with some sterling numbers including a 1.88 GAA and .940 save percentage for the Avalanche. |
Our View: Remember back when he was nothing more than a backup to Peter Budaj at the start of the season? Theodore turned things around, claimed the starting role, and is now channeling the form he showed when he was an award winner in the past. Colorado has a tough matchup with the best team in the regular season (Detroit) but that doesn't mean that Theodore isn't primed for the challenge.
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| Stephane Robidas has been huge this playoff season with six points in six games for the Stars from the blueline helping to compensate for the loss of Sergei Zubov. |
Our View: With Zubov likely to play at some point in Round 2, Robidas could see his focus more on stopping Joe Thornton and the Sharks than on scoring points. Given that he scored just 26 points in the regular season, expecting this point production to continue certainly seems like a stretch no matter what role he fills.
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| Though he only scored 19 times for 40 points in the regular season, center Joe Pavelski has been huge thus far in the playoffs with three goals and seven points in the first round. |
Our View: With team's attention focused on Joe Thornton, Jonathan Cheechoo and Patrick Marleau, Pavelski just floats around the ice looking for a chance to strike, and in these playoffs he has been deadly for the Sharks. Look for him to continue to produce points as there are others on the squad that will continue to garner the attention.
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| Milan Michalek scored 24 goals for the Sharks this season in a disappointing follow up to last seasons total of 26, and he has all but vanished thus far in the playoffs as he was held pointless in seven games in the first round. |
Our View: Michalek had only seven shots on goal in the series, and despite spending ample time playing with Joe Thornton and Joanthan Cheechoo, he failed to show up on the scoresheet. The Sharks moved on, but unless Michalek starts scoring, it will be exceedingly difficult for the Sharks to keep winning.
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| Steve Sullivan hasn't played in a game since February 2007 because of an injured back, and the Predators are uncertain if he will be a part of their team moving forward, this according to the Tennesean. . "Right now we are kind of in nowhere land. I am big on having a plan and Sully is big on having a plan, and right now we have no concrete plan,'' GM David Poile said. |
Our View: Sullivan is about a point-per-game performer when healthy, but the question is will he ever be healthy? He is under contract for $3.2 million next season so the team needs to decide, soon, what to do with the high scoring winger.
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| Gary Roberts still is unsure about whether or not he will be able to return to action from a groin injury for Game 1 of the second round of the playoffs, this according to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. "I skated today and it was just OK," Roberts said. "At this point I am not 100 percent sure if I will play Friday or not." |
Our View: Roberts is a spiritual leader who contributes on offense and with physical play, kind of like Jeremy Roenick of the Sharks, and the Penguins could certainly use his veteran presence as they take on the Rangers.
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| Mike Modano is no longer the scoring threat that he once was, and in fact he has finally settled into the checking role the team wants him to fill, this according to the Dallas Morning News. "It's taken some time," Modano said. "But I think I understand things better now." |
Our View: With the acquisition of Brad Richards, Modano was pushed down to a third line role where his excellent skating still allows him to be a scoring threat in addition to being an excellent checker. He will play a big part if the Stars are to defeat the Sharks in the second round.
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| Pavel Datsyuk missed practice on Tuesday due to the flu, according to the Detroit News. |
Our View: Datsyuk is expected to return to practice on Wednesday and be ready to go for the start of the second round against the Avalanche.
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| Kirk Maltby went through a full-practice on Tuesday but still isn't sure if he will be able to return to action after missing the entire first round due to an injury hanstring, according to the Detroit News. |
Our View: The report also goes on to state that even if Maltby is healthy, he likely won't be in the lineup to start the second round as HC Mike Babcock wants to go with the lineup as it currently sits.
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| Rod Brind'Amour, out since surgery on February 15th because of a torn ACL, returned to the ice to skate on Monday, this according to the Charlotte News Observer. |
Our View: Brind'Amour participated in team drills and is looking to be at full-strength at the start of next season. He scored 51 points in 59 games this season before being injured and is the heart and soul of the team.
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| Peter Forsberg, for one, is very glad that the Avalanche have had some time off to rest their weary bodies as they head into the second round against the Red Wings, this according to NHL.com. "Rest is a weapon. Rest is great," Forsberg said. "I never mind rest." |
Our View: This second round matchup will be between two teams that have a history of excellent battles, ones that Forsberg was a part of. Look for him to rekindle the ghost of playoffs past in round two.
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| Nicklas Backstrom was named one of three finalists for the Calder Trophy awarded to the league's top rookie, this according to NHL.com. |
Our View: Backstrom and his mates are now sitting at home after falling to the Flyers in the first round, but Nicklas still had a special year with 55 assists and 69 points on the year. If he continues to play on a line with Alexander Ovechkin, a point-per-game season next year for Backstrom seems highly likely.
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| Jonathan Toews was named one of three finalists for the Calder Trophy awarded to the league's top rookie, this according to NHL.com. |
Our View: Toews and teammate Patrick Kane are both finalists for the award, and if not for an injury that limited him to just 64 games, Toews would likely have been the runaway winner this year given his 24 goals, 30 assists and +12 rating. The Blackhawks are finally moving in the right direction with these two horses in tow.
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| Patrick Kane was named one of three finalists for the Calder Trophy awarded to the league's top rookie, this according to NHL.com. |
Our View: Kane, the first pick in the '07 draft, led all rookies with 72 points this season on the strength of 21 goals and 51 assists and figures to be the front-runner for the award after a fine all-around season.
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| Christian Ehrhoff chipped in two assists in Tuesday's 5-3 win over Calgary. He racked up three assists over four games played in the series. |
Our View: He stepped up his game in the playoffs, as he only scored 22 points over 77 games in the regular season. Continue to pencil him into your playoff lineups while he is hot.
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| Sergei Zubov skated on Tuesday and is expected to return to full practice today, according to the Dallas Morning News. Coach Dave Tippett stated, "Zubov, who went to Germany in early April to have a procedure done to repair a nagging sports hernia injury, should play at some point in the Stars' second round playoff series. Whether he starts the series or not, time will tell. He's certainly making progress. Getting in a good workout like that, a scrimmage, is a positive sign."
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Our View: It sounds like Dallas will be getting their power-play captain back soon. He will also be a welcome addition back to fantasy lineups, as he scored 35 points over 46 games this season.
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| Philippe Boucher is still not close to returning to the Stars' lineup due to his injured hip, according to the Dallas Morning News. |
Our View: The enforcer is needed back on the ice for Dallas, as he scored 14 points over 37 games this season. Continue to set your lineups without him as part of your defense.
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