This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the Rink
All in all, I'm in favor of 3-on-3 overtime, which the AHL is testing out on the NHL's behalf as a potential replacement for the current overtime/shootout system.
I'm just going to lay this right out there: I like the shootout. I do. It's fun, it's tense, it's good entertainment – even if it's not actually hockey. But 3-on-3 play, with all that wide-open ice, has to be just as fun, just as tense, just as entertaining as the shootout. And it has the added bonus of actually being hockey.
For me, the best part of changing to this proposed system – a seven-minute overtime with approximately three minutes of 4-on-4, then 3-on-3 for the rest – would be the return of game-winning goals. So many games go to shootouts now, and you don't get a goal or a GWG for scoring the shootout winner. The NHLPA may have its complaints here, but the fantasy community will be happy to see a little uptick in scoring – especially considering the ridiculous stats goalies are putting up these days.
Anyway, it's Tuesday time.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
Senators (Robin Lehner) at Devils (Cory Schneider), 7:00 PM
Panthers (Al Montoya) at Islanders (Jaroslav Halak), 7:00 PM
Kings (Jonathan Quick) at Capitals (Braden Holtby), 7:00 PM
Coyotes (Mike Smith) at Blue Jackets (Curtis McElhinney), 7:00 PM
Sabres (Jhonas Enroth) at Canadiens (Carey Price), 7:30 PM
Lightning (Ben Bishop) at Blues (Brian Elliott), 8:00 PM
Maple Leafs (Jonathan Bernier) at Predators (Carter Hutton), 8:00 PM
Blackhawks (Corey Crawford) at Wild (Devan Dubnyk), 8:00 PM
Avalanche (Semyon Varlamov) at Stars (Kari Lehtonen), 8:30 PM
Jets (Ondrej Pavelec) at Canucks (Ryan Miller), 10:00 PM
Hurricanes (Cam Ward) at Ducks (Frederik Andersen), 10:00 PM
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check out our Projected Goalies Grid.
Injury News For Teams Playing Tuesday
Ottawa Senators
Zack Smith, C (wrist) – Skating, but no word on return date
Alex Chiasson, RW (undisclosed) – Didn't go Saturday; Tuesday status uncertain
Craig Anderson, G (hand) – Resumed skating Saturday morning, and could return Tuesday
New Jersey Devils
Ryane Clowe, LW (concussion) – Doesn't look optimistic for a return this year
Bryce Salvador, D (lower body) – Remains out with a back injury
Stephen Gionta, C (hand) – Expected off the ice another week or two
Damon Severson, D (ankle) – Having X-ray on Tuesday, but still has no timetable
New York Islanders
Eric Boulton, LW (lower body) – On IR, but never plays anyway
Kyle Okposo, RW (upper body) – Remains out into March
Casey Cizikas, C (foot) – Didn't practice Monday
Los Angeles Kings
Slava Voynov, D (suspension) – Pleaded not guilty last week
Tanner Pearson, LW (leg) – Not expected to be available for playoffs, but not ruled out
Washington Capitals
Nate Schmidt, D (shoulder) – Out about another 3-5 weeks
Dmitry Orlov, D (wrist) – Situation remains uncertain, with second surgery still possible
Arizona Coyotes
Martin Hanzal, C (upper body) – Not making progress as hoped; day-to-day
Mikkel Boedker, LW (ruptured spleen) – Back with team, but still out a matter of weeks
Joe Vitale, C (upper body) – Skating, but won't play Tuesday
Columbus Blue Jackets
Jeremy Morin, LW (upper body) – Hasn't played since requiring hospitalization last week
Matt Calvert, LW (illness) – Unlikely for Tuesday's game against the Coyotes
Sergei Bobrovsky, G (groin) – Remains on IR, with return coming at end of month at best
Brian Gibbons, C (knee) – Skating on his own after practice
Boone Jenner, LW (back) – No recent updates on healing of stress fracture
Nathan Horton, RW (back) – Hasn't given up on playing again
Buffalo Sabres
Marcus Foligno, LW (hand) – Making progress, but no timetable
Mikhail Grigorenko, C (lower body) – Injured in AHL over weekend
Cody McCormick, C (blood clot) – Likely out for the year
Michal Neuvirth, G (lower body) – Week-to-week
Montreal Canadiens
Lars Eller, C (lower body) – Wants to play Tuesday, but decision coming after morning skate
P.A. Parenteau, RW (concussion) – Remains out with no set return date
Tampa Bay Lightning
Matt Carle, D (hip) – Placed on IR Saturday
Radko Gudas, D (knee) – Remains on IR
St. Louis Blues
Patrik Berglund, C (upper body) – Didn't play Sunday
Kevin Shattenkirk, D (abdomen) – Having surgery in the next 7-10 days
Chris Porter, LW (ankle) – Out of his cast
Jori Lehtera, C (undisclosed) – Couldn't play over weekend
Toronto Maple Leafs
Dion Phaneuf, D (hand) – Out at least the rest of this week
Stephane Robidas, D (upper body) – Has missed seven straight
Nashville Predators
Pekka Rinne, G (knee) – Back with team for morning skate, but out at least a couple more weeks
Ryan Ellis, D (lower body) – Out about another week
Chicago Blackhawks
Kris Versteeg, RW (hand) – Not expected to play on current road trip
Trevor van Riemsdyk, D (knee) – Expected to resume skating this week
Minnesota Wild
Justin Fontaine, RW (groin) – Couldn't go Sunday
Keith Ballard, D (concussion) – Weighing retirement
Colorado Avalanche
Alex Tanguay, LW (hand) – Looked fine at practice Monday; likely for Tuesday
Erik Johnson, D (knee) – Still 2-6 weeks away – a funny range
Jamie McGinn, LW (back) – Officially done for the year
Jesse Winchester, LW (concussion) – Could be shut down for the year
Patrick Bordeleau, LW (knee) – Out another 3-5 weeks
Borna Rendulic, RW (leg) – Could be out until March
Dallas Stars
Valeri Nichushkin, LW (hip) – Skating lightly
Patrik Nemeth, D (arm) – Hopeful for March return
Rich Peverley, C (chest) – No timetable
Erik Cole, RW (upper body) – Didn't go Saturday; Tuesday uncertain
Winnipeg Jets
Jay Harrison, D (upper body) – Sat out Monday and seems unlikely for Tuesday
Matt Halischuk, RW (lower body) – "Out a while"
Grant Clitsome, D (upper body) – Lingering on IR; out indefinitely
Vancouver Canucks
Brad Richardson, C (ankle) – Unlikely for Tuesday
Kevin Bieksa, D (hand) – Hit IR last week; out another 5-7 weeks
Anaheim Ducks
Stefan Noesen, C (Achilles) – Skating, but no word on return
Hot
Mike Green, D, WAS – Green's seeing a funny kind of offensive surge lately. His point totals from the last seven games are neatly symmetrical: 2, 0, 2, 0, 2, 0, 2. It's not exactly consistent, but it adds up to eight points over the last seven contests as Green continues to reward fantasy owners who took a risk by drafting his oft-broken body. Sure, his ice time is way down overall, and he's missed a few games (of course), but Green has bounced back to being one of the better fantasy assets on the blue line.
Joe Thornton, C, SJ – It's been a strange season for Thorny, who's seen his goal-scoring skyrocket surprisingly while experiencing some cold pockets that've limited his season assist total. But he's been absolutely on fire lately, as he's now riding a six-game point streak in which he's racked up 10 points. And you can go back further, even including his cool exit from the All-Star break, to find that Thornton has 21 points in his last 18 games. Age: just a number.
Cold
Sidney Crosby, C, PIT – The All-Star break and the time surrounding it have not been kind to the NHL's top player, who has just one point (an assist) over his last five games dating back to before the break. It's not that Crosby's been particularly bad, but this is not the first time he's fallen into noteworthy doldrums this year. He's always jumped out of it, but it's certainly been a year of reduced dominance from his usual. That said, the guy still has 52 points in 46 games, and his career-low shooting percentage implies that more pucks will start finding twine soon.
Steven Stamkos, C, TB – Might as well throw another one of the tippity-top players in the game here, as Stammer's managed just two points of his own (a goal and an assist) over the last five. There's reason for a hair more concern here – although Stammer's still scoring aplenty and is practically a lock to clear 40 goals, 2014-15 is the first season since his rookie year that he's averaged under a point per game. And he hasn't been shooting much lately, either. Stamkos hasn't exceeded four shots on goal in a game in any of his last six; for comparison, he took four or more shots in six of the nine games preceding this little skid.
Recommended Pickup
Cedric Paquette, C, TB – Known primarily for his toughness and grinding play, Paquette lately has been strutting his stuff as a scorer – he's found the net in three consecutive games, with five goals in that span thanks to a Jan. 29 hat trick against Detroit. And he's actually got points in four straight – that's terrific under-the-radar productivity from a guy who can also help your fantasy team in PIM and hits. Playing for the Lightning will keep his plus-minus stable, and though his ice time fluctuates, he's skated more than 15 minutes in five of the last 10 games. Shallow leaguers won't be strongly interested, but those in deeper formats can find a use for Paquette's grit and scoring touch. And with 51 points over a 75-game AHL career, the 21-year-old has considerably more upside to realize yet.
