This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the Rink
This is the last night of NHL action before the league takes a break for their All-Star Game festivities. The All-Star Draft is now a thing of the past, at least for now. Given the nature of things, expect another 50 tweaks of the process over the next decade or so. They are still doing the Skills Competition in the same way they always do, though. While I tend to kind of like the All-Star Game, and I know as a serious hockey fan I'm supposed to hate it and think it's dumb, but, increasingly, the Skills Competition does nothing for me.
The thing is, by and large, the Skills Competition is not visually dynamic. Do I like knowing who the fastest skater is, or who has the hardest shot? Kind of, but watching dudes skate around a rink, or blast pucks into an empty net, isn't that exciting. The breakaway challenge is a little too gimmicky, worth a laugh or two, maybe, but not much more. It's the poor man's dunk contest. The only interesting thing is the shootout that ends the completion. However, this year, with the 3-on-3 format for the games, I imagine we will be seeing plenty of breakaways during the games.
So, this year, I probably will only pop in periodically to see what's going on with the Skills Competition, if that. I'm not going to say they should cancel it, because I am sure some people enjoy it and I am not solipsistic enough to think something should be nixed just because I don't like it. I'll probably just wait for the All-Star Game. That should be fun. However, I will ask one favor; put John Scott in the fastest skater competition. If they are going to continue with this farce, they might as well go all-in.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
Maple Leafs (Jonathan Bernier*) at Lightning (Ben Bishop), 7:00 PM
Flyers (Steve Mason) at Capitals (Braden Holtby), 8:00 PM
Predators (Carter Hutton) at Flames (Karri Ramo), 9:30 PM
Avalanche (Semyon Varlamov) at Kings (Jonathan Quick), 10:30 PM
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check out our Projected Goalies Grid.
Injury News For Teams Playing Wednesday
Maple Leafs
Stephane Robidas, D (knee) – No timetable for return
James van Riemsdyk, LW (foot) – On injured reserve
Lightning
Joel Vermin, RW (hand) – A couple weeks from returning
Flyers
Sean Couturier, C (lower-body) – Day-to-day
Michal Neuvirth, G (lower-body) – Day-to-day
Capitals
Jay Beagle, C (hand) – On injured reserve
John Carlson, D (lower-body) – Practiced Tuesday, slim chance of playing Wednesday
Brooks Orpik, D (lower-body) – Skating, may return after All-Star break
Predators
Gabriel Bourque, LW (upper-body) – No timetable for return
Colin Wilson, LW (lower-body) – On injured reserve
Flames
Michael Ferland, LW (upper-body) – On injured reserve
Avalanche
Reto Berra, G (ankle) – On injured reserve
Ben Street, C (chest) – On injured reserve
Brad Stuart, D (back) – No timetable for return
Semyon Varlamov, G (personal) – Day-to-day, expected to play
Jesse Winchester, LW (concussion) – On injured reserve
Kings
Kyle Clifford, LW (upper-body) – No timetable for return
Matt Greene, D (shoulder) – Out for season
Milan Lucic, LW (suspension) – Eligible to return
Hot
David Perron, LW, ANA – The move to Anaheim has done wonders for Perron. With a goal and an assist in a big win over the Bruins, Perron now has a point in all four games he's played with the Ducks. He was struggling before the move, and you don't want to put too much on four games, but a lot of times a hot streak feels like random chance. There are tangible changes for Perron, though, that could be a sign of something real.
Cam Atkinson, RW, CLM – Atkinson lit the lamp and added a helper Tuesday, making this an excellent week for him. On Monday, he had a hat trick, and he has six points in his last four games. Atkinson may not be a big name, but he has 17 goals on the season now. He could potentially, threaten to score 30 goals this season. That would be surprising, and also potentially very valuable to a fantasy owner.
Cold
Jared Spurgeon, D, MIN – Spurgeon has gotten some good publicity this year, and he has 20 points as a defenseman, which is nothing to sneeze at, but he has 20 points because he was playing quite well before a recent bad jag. He's playing truly a ton of minutes, but he only has two points, both assists, in his last 10 games. He's also a minus-4 in his last five games. The excitement for Spurgeon earlier this year was justified, but perhaps there is now equal reason to curb your enthusiasm.
Tomas Plekanec, C, MTL – We've got plenty of people lining up to complain about various Canadiens players, but Plekanec is high up that list. To his credit, he's taking a bunch of shots, he has 17 shots in goal in his last five games. What he doesn't have in those five games, though, is any points, and he only has one goal in his last 10 contests. However, as previously mentioned, he's taking a lot of shots, and eventually a few are going to go in. Plekanec may be cold, but he doesn't seem likely to stay cold.
Recommended Pickup
Danny DeKeyser, D, DET – With Niklas Kronwall out, somebody has to step up, and DeKeyser seems to be the man tasked with shouldering that load. On the year, he has six goals and eight assists, which is OK, but four of those points have come in his last six games. He's playing well over 20 minutes a night most nights now, is plus-11, and is a good puck mover with some offensive skill. When Kronwall returns, DeKeyser's numbers could take a dip, but, for now, he could really help you out after the All-Star break ends.
