Wednesday's Daily Dosage - Elliott, Butler, Kulikov...

Brian Elliott didn't post another shutout last night but he was as close as you can get as he stopped 21 of 22 to post the win over Detroit.  He improved his stellar numbers to 1.43 & .947 (top two in the league in both).  This is a beauty of a battle for the net in St.Louis.  In Hitchcock's four games in charge the Blues have allowed an average of 23 shots against, so he has them playing Hitch-Hockey already.

Pekka Rinne stopped 39 of 40 to beat the Caps last night and I wasn't fully aware of how good he's been lately as he his now 6-0-2, 1.97 & .938 over his last eight starts.

Bobby Butler with two sweet goals last night, this kid has some finish.  Those were his first goals of the year and he only played eight minutes last night night so I'm not too excited about him.  He's really only going to be valuable if he lands on Spezza's line and that looks unlikely right now.

Dmitry Kulikov with a goal, yes a goal(!), last night... this was his first of the year and keeps his stretch of fine form alive where he has 1+10=11 & plus-6 in his last 11 games.  Someone who is writing this post who shall remain nameless predicted he would be this year's top breakout dman and so far he is just that (although Nick Leddy is close).

Jason Garrison had his seventh goal of the season last night and he now leads all dmen.  He was also a plus-3 and had four shots to boot.

It totally figures that after dropping Stephen Weiss on Saturday cause he wasn't offering enough peripherals, he pops off for 20 PIMs on Sunday and is 1+2=3 with a plus-6 last night.... stupid, stupid, stupid. 

Scott Clemmensen with his first start of the year and he made it memorable with a 25 save shutout of Dallas.  This guy has some talent (more than the typical journeyman backup) and he could push Theodore a little but JT has been impressive himself this year so I wouldn't go starting a controversy yet.

This is the last updates on the Panthers, I swear... Kris Versteeg with a 3-pointer last night just five days after his 4-pointer... so he's digging his L1 role.

Another assist for Kevin Shattenkirk and he has 1+4=5 & plus-4 during a four game point streak that perfectly coincides with Hitchcock's hiring.

Martin Erat with two points last night and he has 3+4=7 in eight games since returning from his UBI.

James Neal with 1+2=3 last night and he has 4+7=11 during a seven game point streak and has only failed to register a point in three of his 18 games so far.

Matt Moulson scored last night and now has 3+2=5 during a four game point streak.

Mark Letestu had a goal on six shots last night for the CBJs, so that's goals in two of his three games with his new club.

Cal Clutterbuck picked up the sweet 10 minute misconduct to go along with the GWG, four shots & two hits last night.

Kyle Okposo & Derick Brassard were your notable healthy scratches from last night.

Probably just a rumour started by Eklund but the Leafs have reportedly made contact with Marty Turco... imply whatever from this you wish.

Casey Wellman, Dustin Jeffrey & Frederic St-Denis have been called up from the AHL.  Wellman is one to keep an eye on as he is currently tied for 2nd in the AHL in goals with 10 in 15 games.

Mikko Koskinen has officially left the Islanders and is returning to Finland.

Reports say Nikita Filatov will be returning to the KHL soon... I can believe that.