Wednesday's Daily Dosage - Carter, Niemi, Downie...

Is Jeff Carter finally coming around or is he just motivated to get a ticket out of Ohio?... a hat-trick on six shots last night and he has 5+3=8 & 35 shots over his last nine games.

Giving up three goals on 11 shots (against the CBJs) and getting pulled in the 1st period may be rock bottom for Antti Niemi but he's been on a downward slope for a while going 5-7-2, 2.93 & .898 over his last 15 games.

2A last night for Derek Roy to extend his point streak to four games (2+5=7). Lining up with Jason Pominville lately has been the catalyst for him, much better than playing with stiffs like Stafford & Leino, as Pommer has 6+8=14 & 31 shots over his last nine games.

Interesting 3-way trade yesterday as the Avs added Steve Downie while Kyle Quincey ended up with Detroit (via Tampa). Not sure I like this trade from a fantasy perspective for the parties involved. Whoever Downie plays with in Colorado, it's a downgrade from lining up with Stamkos. Sure he may see more ice-time (15:30/gm this year) and quality PP opps but I think he'll be in tough to find a better situation than he had in Tampa. I think this move downright blows for Quincey as he goes from playing 22 minutes a night & on the PP to the 3rd pairing for Detroit. Maybe next year, if Brad Stuart moves on, he'll be thankful for the move but I think this really hurts his fantasy value for this season. As for residual impact, hopefully this means more quality ice-time for Brett Connolly in Tampa so we can see what he can do and Stefan Elliott has been recalled by the Avs and should see decent PP minutes going forward.

Dustin Byfuglien has been a monster lately with multi-point efforts in five of the last seven games (3+8=11 & 26 shots).

Things had been quiet for a few games but you knew Sam Gagner had a few aftershocks in him... 1+2=3, plus-3 & six shots last night. He has value as long as he sticks with Hall & Eberle.

Bobby Ryan may be slowly thawing out as he has 2+4=6 over his last six games. I took him late in the 1st round of a league this year, so this guy owes me.

A goal and seven PIMs last night for David Clarkson and the kid has busted through his ceiling with 23 goals so far on the back of 7+4=11 & 41 shots over his last 11 games.

Radim Vrbata has done less streaking this year or maybe it's just that his hot streaks are longer as had 2+1=3 last night and has 8+6=14, plus-8 & 36 shots with points in 10 of his last 11.

Five assists in a game last week but it seems that Claude Giroux was getting bored of playing setup man as he put 10 shots on goal last night and finished with 1+1=2. G, Stammer & Geno are starting to pull away from the field so it looks like we'll have a three horse race for the Art Ross.

Wayne Simmonds has at least a goal in seven of his last 10 games (9+3=12).

My boy Logan Couture has points in 12 of his last 14 for a hefty 9+10=19 during the span. He is running away with the team lead in goals and might end up leading them in points as well.

Jonas Gustavsson was just horrid last night, ECHL-level goaltending, as he was beaten four times on 32 shots. He is 0-2-2, 3.68 & .881 over his last six outings.

Pierre McGuire thinks Jimmy Hayes could become unstoppable. He did play well last night (1+1=2, plus-2 & three shots in 12 minutes) but methinks Pierre is jumping the gun once again. Let's see him do it consistently over an extended stretch before wetting our pants over this guy.

Trio of points for Teddy Purcell and he has one or more in seven of his last eight games (2+9=11).

Ryan Ellis was a scratch last night for Nashville... he has Hal Gill to blame.

PHX has recalled David Rundblad, he has 6+4=10 in 15 AHL games so far but is an ugly minus-10.

The Hurricanes have sent Mike Murphy back down, so they're confident that Cam Ward is ready to go.