Who's hot in the NHL?

October 23, 4:02 PMNHL ExaminerChris Morgan

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the NHL Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Is Dustin Penner actually good? Could it be so? (Getty Images)

Before I get to which players are having particularly good stretches of play recently, I'd like to mention that Jonathan Toews has missed two straight practices after taking a huge hit that, if you saw the replay, clearly left him dazed. When will the injuries end!?

Anyway, I'm not exactly sure how to proceed with this week's who's hot article. I believe in having a reasonable sample size whenever you are making a sports observation, and I'm not exactly sure what to go with for that. No team has played more than 10 games, so should I just continue on using all the games? Should I go with five games? The decisions I must make!

There is also the simple fact that, based on the information at my disposal, I can either do the season up to the point I am at, the past month, or the past week. For the time being, I suppose I'll go with the past week. However, if you know of any hockey statistics website where I can refine my search better, please let me know.

Anze Kopitar remains on fire. He scored a hat trick last night, and has four goals and five points in the past week. He's tied for the league lead in points with 16. We may be witnessing the birth of a new superstar. There are players who've been better this past week, however, including one I am still surprised by. I thought Dustin Penner was going to be one of those ridiculous free agent signings that never pan out. You see them moreso in the NBA than the NHL, but I thought for sure Penner was going to be a decent player at best. However, if that's the case, explain his seven points in the past week and his 14 on the season. I think I am going to have to become a believer. If you can get Penner in your fantasy league, I can't believe I'm saying this, but go ahead and pick him up.

Other players who've had good weeks include Matt Moulson of the Islanders (pass), Mikael Samuelsson (maybe worth picking up), Ryan Vesce (intriguing since he's on the Sharks, but I'd wait on him for now), J.P. Dumont (back from injury and tallied five points last night), and Tim Connolly (I have a soft spot for Connolly. I'll mention him pretty much every chance I can).

OK, with goaltenders I'm still going with the full season's stats. I'm not going to judge a goalie's play on two starts. Ilya Bryzgalov continues to play great. He's played seven games, and has a 1.26 GAA. Ryan Miller is right behind him with a 1.66 GAA through six starts, but we all knew Miller was a great goalie already, right? Marty Turco might be bouncing back. He has a 2.35 GAA and a .911 SV% through seven starts. He only has two wins due to three OTLs, but that should (might?) balance itself out. The one thing that Turco won't bring you this season likely is the crazy amount of starts. They said before the season they want him starting less games, but that could mean better play when he is out there.

A couple players who are still struggling this season... David Perron, who scored 50 points last season, has zero points through seven games this year. Ryane Clowe only has one assist through 10 games. Todd White, who had a big year with the Thrashers last season, only has a point as well through seven games. Yes, I am just looking through the bottom of the scoring list.

As for goalies, here are three names for you: Carey Price, Tomas Vokoun, and Pekka Rinne. Price is struggling yet again, and in six games he has a 3.36 GAA and a .886 SV%. Jaroslav Halak has started getting games again. Eventually, the Habs might have to cut the tether on Price. Vokoun, meanwhile, has a 3.68 GAA and a .904 SV%. Not a good save percentage there, but it still says to me that his lousy GAA is at least partially to blame on bad defense. Rinne, however, has a 3.79 GAA and a .882 SV% through five starts. Last season, after I had Marty Brodeur and Roberto Luongo get hurt on me, I relied on Steve Mason and Pekka Rinne. Suddenly, Rinne looks awful. Will he turn it around? I have no idea. I don't know if the Predators will even give him a chance. Vesa Toskala hasn't made any starts since last time around, so nothing new to report on him.

That's all for this week, hopefully it can help out your fantasy teams or at the very least was interesting.