This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the Rink
Ah, the magic of John Scott, All-Star captain. The day is near, good people! One day in the very near future (okay, Sunday), we will finally get to see what we've all been waiting for – Scott, recently acquired by the Montreal Canadiens, nonetheless remains the captain the Pacific Division squad for the 3-on-3 All-Star tourney. There's nothing better than this.
Hockey purists aren't happy, but are they ever? If they had it their way, the players still wouldn't be wearing helmets. Sure, the All-Star Game is supposed to be a showcase of the most skillful players in the league, but it's also supposed to be a fun time for the fans. If a huge number of fans want John Scott – and they most certainly do – well, this is an entertainment business as much as anything else.
I wonder what the Vegas odds are that Scott scores a goal.
But hey, first, there are some games that need playing. Let's take a look.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
Ducks (John Gibson) at Boston Bruins (Jonas Gustavsson), 7:00 PM
Devils (Cory Schneider) at Pittsburgh (Marc-Andre Fleury), 7:00 PM
Blackhawks (Corey Crawford) at Hurricanes (Eddie Lack), 7:30 PM
Blue Jackets (Joonas Korpisalo) at Canadiens (Ben Scrivens), 7:30 PM
Sabres (Robin Lehner) at Senators (Craig Anderson), 7:30 PM
Maple Leafs (James Reimer) at Panthers (Roberto Luongo), 7:30 PM
Coyotes (Anders Lindback) at Jets (Connor Hellebuyck), 8:00 PM
Predators (Pekka Rinne) at Canucks (Ryan Miller), 10:00 PM
Avalanche (Calvin Pickard) at Sharks (Martin Jones), 10:00 PM
For updates on projected goalies later in the day, check our Projected Goalies Grid.
Injury News for Teams Playing Tuesday
Anaheim Ducks
Clayton Stoner, D (hip) – No timeline for return from IR
Simon Despres, D (concussion) – Back with the team; could return Tuesday
Cam Fowler, D (knee) – Will return post-break
Boston Bruins
Adam McQuaid, D (upper body) – Return to action not imminent
New Jersey Devils
Jon Merrill, D (upper body) – Week-to-week
Adam Larsson, D (illness) – Planning to play Tuesday, but check back
Sergey Kalinin, LW (illness) – Didn't play Saturday; likely back Tuesday
Patrik Elias, LW (knee) – No timetable following surgery
Jiri Tlusty, LW (upper body) – Out 3-to-4 months
David Schlemko, D (illness) – Didn't play Monday, but plans to go Tuesday
John Moore, D (lower body) – Hit IR late last week
Pittsburgh Penguins
Nick Bonino, C (hand) – Out at least until mid-February
Chris Kunitz, LW (lower body) – Game-time call Tuesday
Beau Bennett, RW (undisclosed) – Won't play Tuesday
David Warsofsky, D (concussion) – Not likely to return Tuesday
Chicago Blackhawks
Marcus Kruger, C (wrist) – Out for several months yet
Jiri Sekac, RW (illness) – Not playing Tuesday
Carolina Hurricanes
Brett Pesce, D (lower body) – Didn't practice Monday, but could still go Tuesday
Cam Ward, G (concussion) – Skated before practice Monday
James Wisniewski, D (knee) – Out several months more
Riley Nash, C (illness) – Could return Tuesday
Columbus Blue Jackets
David Clarkson, RW (upper body) – Out indefinitely
Curtis McElhinney, G (ankle) – Return doesn't seem impending
David Savard, D (oblique) – Out another three weeks
Sergei Bobrovsky, G (groin) – No timetable, but injury not major
Paul Bittner, LW (hip) – Out indefinitely
Montreal Canadiens
Daniel Carr, LW (lower body) – Left Monday's game
Tom Gilbert, D (lower body) – In the day-to-day category
Paul Byron, C (lower body) – Hit IR last week
Carey Price, G (leg) – Could be out another three weeks
Buffalo Sabres
Josh Gorges, D (upper body) – Couldn't go Monday; Tuesday unclear
Jamie McGinn, LW (face) – Expected to be fine after puck to face Monday
Tyler Ennis, LW (upper body) – Lingering on IR; no clear timeline
Nicolas Deslauriers, LW (lower body) – Out a few more weeks
Sam Reinhart, C (upper body) – Should be back post-break
Cody McCormick, C (blood clots) – No timetable still
Ottawa Senators
Milan Michalek, LW (finger) -- Out indefinitely
Clarke MacArthur, LW (concussion) – Skated earlier this month, but progress is slow
Marc Methot, D (undisclosed) – Game-time decision Tuesday
Kyle Turris, C (ankle) – Has missed three straight; Tuesday status unclear
Toronto Maple Leafs
Stephane Robidas, D (knee) – No timetable
James van Riemsdyk, LW (foot) – Hit IR Monday; out 6-to-8 weeks
Nick Spaling, C (upper body) – Will return Tuesday
Florida Panthers
Willie Mitchell, D (undisclosed) – Could be ready to return after All-Star break
Dave Bolland, C (lower body) – Will sit out through All-Star break
Arizona Coyotes
Mike Smith, G (lower body) – Skating, but not close to returning
Nicklas Grossmann, D (illness) – Scratched Monday; likely game-time call Tuesday
Winnipeg Jets
Bryan Little, C (undisclosed) – Left practice Monday; iffy for Tuesday
Ondrej Pavelec, G (knee) – Skating, but not taking shots
Mathieu Perreault, C (lower body) – Won't play Tuesday
Mark Scheifele, C (lower body) – Should be back shortly post-break
Adam Lowry, LW (upper body) – Placed on IR last weekend; no updates
Nashville Predators
Colin Wilson, LW (lower body) – Skating before practice
Gabriel Bourque, LW (upper body) – Practicing, but no update on return
Vancouver Canucks
Henrik Sedin, C (undisclosed) – Expected to return to practice following All-Star break
Dan Hamhuis, D (face) – Hopes to return shortly after All-Star break
Brandon Sutter, C (abdomen) – Expected back in Tuesday
Colorado Avalanche
Brad Stuart, D (back) – No news since failed return to skating
Jack Skille, RW (back) – Expected to play Tuesday
Reto Berra, G (ankle) – Skated Monday
Jesse Winchester, LW (concussion) – Might not play at all this year
Ben Street, C (chest) – Remains on IR, no timeline
San Jose Sharks
Raffi Torres, LW (knee) – Knocked out of action by minor setback
Hot
Pavel Datsyuk, C, DET – With all the young stars establishing themselves across the league, the 37-year-old Datsyuk's been sort of a forgotten man in fantasy circles even after returning from the ankle issue that kept him out for the season's first month. That's partly because he's underperformed relative to expectations – with just six goals and 24 points through 34 games, this hasn't been your dad's Datsyuk. But his production's been on the rise lately -- over the Wings' last seven games, Datsyuk has racked up a goal, seven assists and a plus-5 rating. His shooting percentage (just 7.8) is due to normalize as well, and the assist-heavy warming trend may mean that the buy-low window hasn't closed on The Magic Man.
Jakub Voracek, RW, PHI – Speaking of slow starters, Voracek's early struggles were well documented, but he's since been on a campaign to reestablish himself as one of the most productive players in the league. The Czech winger's hot streak actually extends way back into December – over his last 17 games, he's racked up five goals, 14 assists and a plus-7 rating. What's not to like?
Cold
Mark Stone, RW, OTT – What's happened here? After breaking out for 26 goals, 64 points and a plus-21 rating, it looked like he was set to keep it up, and indeed, he was actually scoring at a higher rate than last year as of the end of December. But lately, nothing is going right for Stone, as the 23-year-old has gone seven consecutive games without a point and is minus-8 in that span; taking it back further, he's got two points and a minus-13 rating in his last 13 contests. He also had a stretch of three consecutive games without a shot on goal in that span as the Sens went on a West Coast road swing. But the guy is too good for this – send in a lowball trade offer and see if you can get a bite. It should help when Kyle Turris (ankle) gets back in the lineup – he's missed three straight and had himself been slumping.
Recommended Pickup
Jakob Silfverberg, RW, ANA – I've long considered Silf one of the most talented young players in the league, but after a promising 2014-15, his start to this season would test the patience of any fantasy owner – the slick Swede had just six points and a minus-10 rating in the season's first 39 games. Ouch. Things have gotten dramatically better recently, though, as Silfverberg has exploded for nine points (three goals, six assists) and a plus-5 rating over the last six games, and he's seeing much-increased ice time (including power-play time) accordingly. Scoop him up before the rest of your league gets wise.
