This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the Rink
With two assists Sunday, Nicklas Backstrom moved to within one point of the NHL scoring lead with 71 points in 70 games. On the surface, it appears Backstrom is having a career season but he really isn't. He's just that good. In fact, the Swede might be the best player the casual hockey fan has never heard of. Fantasy players know just how good Backstrom is, however. The centerman has scored 565 points in 565 games -- he deserves long overdue recognition as one of the top forwards in the league.
Buffalo's Tyler Ennis has surprisingly good numbers against the Capitals. Washington held Ennis scoreless March 7, but the forward has totaled two goals and 11 points in 13 career contests versus the Caps.
Tampa Bay has limited the Canadiens to three goals in three games this season, with scores coming from Brendan Gallagher, Dale Weise and Max Pacioretty. Pacioretty didn't score in a March 7 matchup between the teams, but he has four goals and an assist in his other four most recent contests.
Way back on Oct. 13, Steven Stamkos potted a hat trick on 12 shots at home against Montreal. Stamkos has tallied one assist in his last four overall games, but that just means he's closer to a breakout.
Let's be honest, it's somewhat difficult finding a Toronto player worth recommending for Monday. Goalie James Reimer gave up six goals in his last start Friday in Calgary, but he's had success against Edmonton. Reimer has won all four of his career decisions versus the Oilers. He's given up just seven goals and has a shutout to his credit. David Booth has scored five goals and seven points in his last seven.
Edmonton's Jordan Eberle is playing some of his best hockey of the season. The forward has three goals and eight points in his last four games, and 11 points in his last eight. Eberle has also fared well against the Maple Leafs, collecting six goals and three assists in nine career tilts.
Arizona has totaled six goals in six March games. Shane Doan snapped a 14-game goalless streak Saturday. The team traded away most of its offense. He represents one of the team's best chances for offensive production and that's sad.
Whichever goalie starts for the Kings on Monday versus the Coyotes is a good fantasy bet. Obviously. Los Angeles has beaten Phoenix three straight times, with the last two wins coming in December. Goalie Martin Jones earned a 26-save shutout in the first game and Anze Kopitar had a three-assist night in a 4-2 LA win in the second tilt.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check our Projected Goalies Grid
Washington Capitals (Braden Holtby) at Buffalo Sabres (Anders Lindback), 7:00 PM
Montreal Canadiens (Carey Price) at Tampa Bay Lightning (Ben Bishop), 7:30 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs (Jonathan Bernier) at Edmonton Oilers (Ben Scrivens), 9:30 PM
Arizona Coyotes (Mike Smith) at Los Angeles Kings (Jonathan Quick), 10:30 PM
Injury News For Teams Playing Monday
Washington Capitals
Justin Peters, G - Peters suffered a lower-body injury during his relief appearance Friday against the Stars, Alex Prewitt of the Washington Post reports. (3/14/2015)
John Erskine, D - Erskine (neck) was able to get in a skate Thursday morning, Alex Prewitt of the Washington Post reports. (3/12/2015)
Brooks Orpik, D - Orpik (lower body) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bruins, Alex Prewitt of the Washington Post reports. (3/14/2015)
Jay Beagle, C - Beagle (upper body) won't play Sunday against the Bruins, Alex Prewitt of the Washington Post reports. (3/14/2015)
Edward Pasquale, G - Pasquale recently underwent an operation on his hip and is out indefinitely, Alex Prewitt of the Washington Post reports. (10/28/2014)
Dmitry Orlov, D - Coach Barry Trotz said Thursday that Orlov (wrist) would head out on a conditioning stint at AHL Hershey in the near future, Alex Prewitt of the Washington Post reports. (3/12/2015)
Michael Latta, C - Latta (upper body) is out for Sunday's game against the Bruins, CSN's Chuck Gormley reports. (3/15/2015)
Buffalo Sabres
Chad Johnson, G - Coach Ted Nolan indicated Friday that Johnson (lower body) will miss an extended period of time. (3/6/2015)
Mark Pysyk, D - Pysyk, who appeared to suffer a cardiac emergency while playing pickup basketball Feb. 28, returned to practice with AHL Rochester on Wednesday, the Buffalo News reports. (3/12/2015)
Zemgus Girgensons, C - Coach Ted Nolan wasn't optimistic when asked Thursday about Girgensons' (ankle) chances of returning this season, reports the Sabres' official site. "With that type of injury, you're hoping to see him, but realistically, I'm not too sure if we will," Nolan said. "It depends on the length of the injury, how [many] games we have left. If we have two, will you risk his rustiness getting hurt again?" (3/5/2015)
Jake McCabe, D - McCabe suffered a possible concussion Wednesday in the AHL and there is no timetable for his return, reports the Olean Times Herald. (3/6/2015)
Nathan Lieuwen, G - Lieuwen announced Thursday that he will "take significant time off" to recover from a concussion sustained last season, Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald reports. (1/8/2015)
Evander Kane, LW - Kane, who had been nagged by a shoulder injury all season before undergoing surgery last week, is looking forward to a fresh start with Buffalo, ESPN.com reports. (2/12/2015)
Cody McCormick, C - McCormick, who has only played 33 games this season due to blood clots, appears unlikely to return the rest of the way this season, The Buffalo News reports. (2/9/2015)
Josh Gorges, D - Gorges (lower body) was placed on injured reserve Sunday. (2/23/2015)
Patrick Kaleta, RW - Kaleta (lower body) took part in the Sabres' morning skate Saturday, Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald reports. (3/14/2015)
Zach Bogosian, D - Bogosian will not play in Saturday's game against the Rangers due to an undisclosed injury, Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News reports. (3/14/2015)
Montreal Canadiens
Torrey Mitchell, C - Mitchell (upper body) will not play Monday against the Lightning. (3/15/2015)
Alexei Emelin, D - Emelin (shoulder) will not play Saturday against the Islanders, Jessica Rusnak of TSN Radio 690 reports. (3/13/2015)
Tampa Bay Lightning
Ondrej Palat, LW - Palat (foot) is slated to be out two-to-three weeks, the Tampa Bay Times reports. (3/12/2015)
Cedric Paquette, C - Paquette (upper body) is slated to miss 10-to-14 days worth of action, the Tampa Bay Times reports. (3/12/2015)
Mattias Ohlund, D - Ohlund (knee) was placed on long-term injured reserve Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Times reports. (10/2/2013)
Braydon Coburn, D - Coburn (lower body) was placed on injured reserve Thursday, the NHL's official media site reports. (3/12/2015)
Michael Blunden, RW - Blunden is expected to require season-ending knee surgery, Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune reports. (2/4/2015)
Toronto Maple Leafs
Nathan Horton, RW - Horton (back) was traded to the Maple Leafs on Thursday in exchange for David Clarkson. (2/26/2015)
Stephane Robidas, D - Robidas (shoulder) underwent season-ending surgery Thursday. (3/12/2015)
Roman Polak, D - Polak will undergo season-ending hernia surgery, Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reports. (3/9/2015)
Peter Holland, C - Holland is dealing with a lower-body injury and will not play in Saturday's game against the Canucks. (3/14/2015)
Tim Erixon, D - Erixon (illness) will not play in Saturday's game against the Canucks, Paul Hendrick of Leafs TV reports. (3/14/2015)
Brad Ross, LW - Ross was suspended 20 games Wednesday for violating the AHL's Performance Enhancing Substances Program, James Mirtle of the Globe & Mail reports. (1/14/2015)
Tyler Biggs, RW - Biggs will require surgery to repair a partially torn Achilles tendon, Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun reports. (3/11/2015)
Edmonton Oilers
Iiro Pakarinen, RW - Pekarinen (knee) will be out until at least April, the Edmonton Journal reports. (3/9/2015)
Nikita Nikitin, D - Nikitin (shoulder) has been ruled out of Friday's game against the Blue Jackets, Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal reports. (3/13/2015)
Viktor Fasth, G - Fasth (knee) is being listed as out indefinitely. (2/18/2015)
Taylor Hall, LW - Hall will be out six weeks with a lower-leg injury, reports Rob Tychkowski of the Edmonton Sun. (2/10/2015)
Tyler Pitlick, RW - Pitlick (spleen) practiced in a non-contact capacity Monday. (3/2/2015)
Steve Pinizzotto, RW - Pinizzotto has cleared waivers, TSN's Darren Dreger reports. (12/30/2014)
Arizona Coyotes
Martin Hanzal, C - Hanzal underwent back surgery Tuesday, formally spelling ending his season, Craig Morgan of FOX Sports Arizona reports. (2/18/2015)
Mikkel Boedker, LW - Boedker (ruptured spleen) has been ruled out for the rest of the season. (3/1/2015)
Los Angeles Kings
Alec Martinez, D - Martinez (concussion) skated with the team at Saturday's morning session, Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider reports. (3/14/2015)
Slava Voynov, D - Voynov's upcoming trial for domestic battery charges has been delayed until April, the Los Angeles Times reports. (3/7/2015)
Tanner Pearson, LW - General manager Dean Lombardi indicated that Pearson (leg) returned to the ice last week, Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider reports. (3/6/2015)
Jarret Stoll, C - Stoll (upper-body injury) is still being evaluated in advance of Monday's game against the Coyotes, Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times reports. (3/15/2015)
Hot:
Jiri Hudler: Calgary has given fantasy owners plenty of pleasant surprises in 2014-15. Hudler is one such example. Around the All-Star break, I placed Hudler on a list of players I expected to cool off in the second half. It hasn't happened. At age 31 and in his 10th NHL season, Hudler hit the 60-point mark for the first time Friday with a goal and two assists. He now has five multipoint efforts in the Flames' last seven contests.
John Carlson: The Washington defender scored a power-play goal Sunday, his 11th goal of the campaign. He's already set a career-high with 47 points in 70 games. He also ranks third in the NHL with 175 blocks and entered Sunday's action with the fifteen-most shots among defensemen (158). Carlson never seems to get the fantasy love he deserves, but he fits Barry Trotz's system and will likely take on a bigger leadership role when Mike Green likely leaves after the season. It doesn't hurt playing on a team with Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, either.
Cold:
Patric Hornqvist: He's arguably been the Pens' most productive player the last couple weeks. He assisted on Pittsburgh's lone goal Sunday, but left late in regulation with an undisclosed injury. Coach Mike Johnston provided no update – it looked like a possible oblique muscle – but the team can ill-afford to lose Hornqvist heading into the stretch. He's scored eight goals and 12 points in the last 11 contests.
Chris Kunitz: It was revealed over the weekend that Kunitz has been dealing with an iron deficiency which has sapped him of his energy since last year's Olympics. Whatever the case, he has five points in his last 17 games and just one goal in his last 20. Now, with Patric Hornqvist seemingly set to miss action, the team might give him another shot as its net-front presence on the power play. Can he take advantage?
Recommended Pickup
Teemu Pulkkinen: The 23-year-old forward has goals in three of his last seven games. He also notched a pair of goals Sunday in Pittsburgh, including one on a blistering slap shot. Detroit's scoring is fairly spread out, so there's a chance Pulkkinen could grow cold and no one would really notice – see Tomas Jurco. Still, he's playing well right now and is likely available in a majority of leagues.
