Open Ice: The Phil Factor

Sean Allen looks at the difference a single player can make on an team, using Phil Kessel and Ryan Smyth as the positive and negative examples of the rule.

Thursday, November 26

...scorer Lawrence Westbrook. We end the night north of the border, where the Canucks host the Los Angeles Kings. Yesterday's Results Back to the drawing board for Streakers after a blah 43 percent record...

NHL Forecaster: Holiday traffic

The Chicago Blackhawks hit the road, heading west for the Thanksgiving week, but don't fret. In his Week 8 NHL Forecaster, Sean Allen says the Hawks will feast upon weak opponents.

Open Ice: Miller, Smyth for real

Sean Allen takes a look at some of the top players on the Player Rater and determines if their performance will continue as it has, or if they are due for a fall.

NHL Forecaster: The perfect storm

There's hope yet for the reeling Carolina Hurricanes, says Sean Allen. Their slow start and the expected return of Evgeni Malkin are the topics of Week 7 of the NHL season.

Front Line: Stars shine

Sean Allen takes a closer look at the teams that are scoring more than expected, like the Dallas Stars, and adjusts their forwards accordingly in his weekly news and rankings feature.

...James Neal #18 and Loui Eriksson #21 of the Dallas Stars celebrate a goal against the Los Angeles Kings on October 22, 2009 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California

Forecaster: Ducks mighty once more

Sean Allen looks at Week 6 of the fantasy hockey season with an eye to the best offensive and defensive matchups of the period.

Front Line: Ranking the injured

Ranking the injured, and players returning from injury, can be tricky business. Sean Allen reveals his methods as he introduces the convalescing Phil Kessel to the rankings.

NHL Forecaster: Stalking their prey

Sean Allen previews Week 5 of the NHL season, suggesting fantasy owners exploit favorable matchups for goaltenders Cristobal Huet and Pekka Rinne.

In The Crease: Luongo injury fallout

Tim Kavanagh looks at the fallout of Roberto Luongo's short-term absence from the Canucks in his weekly roundup and rankings of fantasy hockey goaltenders.

Front Line: Let your sleepers lie

Sean Allen ponders the question of how long you should wait on your sleepers before deciding this isn't their year and running the risk of watching them live up to their potential on someone else's roster. Plus, weekly forward news, notes and rankings.

Open Ice: Boosting your plus/minus

Sean Allen lays out a strategy owners can use to boost their plus/minus using widely available players and without exceeding games-played limits.

Front Line: Ascending Kings

Sean Allen revises his preseason opinions on certain players based on the on-ice action to date. Among his latest conclusions: The LA Kings are better than advertised, and the St. Louis Blues are not.

Los Angeles Kings' Anze Kopitar of Slovenia, from left, Justin Williams and Ryan Smyth (94) celebrate following a goal...