Wow, being stuck in traffic blows. I came home tonight from Kingston to Toronto and there was a HUGE traffic jam on highway 401 (for those of you that know it) around Trenton. Absolutely brutal, kudos to all of you commuters and truck drivers on the boards who have to put up with that junk on a regular basis because I wouldn't be able to. Anyways, due to being stuck on the road I wasn't able to watch any of the games at all so relying on all boxscores for this one.

Studs

3) Old meets New - The question that was on most people's minds tonight: Who would come out on top between Ilya Bryzgalov and Mike Smith? Well both played a very solid game as Bryzgalov eventually came out on top going 30/31 (.968%), with Smith posting up a very solid 40/42 (.952). Unfortunately for Smith, Matt Read scored the game winner with only 19 seconds left in the game.

2) Backbone - The often underrated Niklas Backstrom improved on his already elite numbers so far this season, posting a 27 save shutout against the Colorado Avalanche. It will be very interesting to see how the goaltending situation in Minnesota shakes out as the season progresses.

1) Dill Pickles - Coming into tonight's game against the Red Wings, Marc-Edouard Vlasic had only one goal and three assists in 15 games. Well he just doubled those numbers in one night, while going plus-four with five shots on net in tonight's 5-3 win over Detroit. A frustrating fantasy own to say the least, as his scoring tends to come in bunches and he never did build on his successful 36 point season in 08/09.

Honourable Mentions

Vegan Predators - Tonight the Predators' top line feasted on the Toronto Maple Leafs, as all three of the Predators' top line contributed multi-point games. Mike Fisher posted his second two-assist game in a row, while Erat potted two goals with SK playing support chalking up three assists.

Slava Voynov - In his second game since being recalled, Voynov contributed with his second multi-point game of the season (1G, 1A).

Ondrej Pavelec - People seem to dump on this guy a ridiculous amount on these boards which I find insane. He is a very talented goaltender that just needs to find some consistency in his game, as he has shown flashes of both brilliance and mediocrity at times. Tonight he shut down OV and the rest of the Capitals making 31 saves on 32 shots for the victory (.969%, 1.00 GAA)

Duds

3) Quack Quack - The Ducks lost AGAIN tonight dropping their third straight game, and now sit with a terrible 6-9-4 record on the season, putting them in 13th place in the Western Conference. Someone needs to step up on that squad, as the top line clearly isn't getting it done. While Perry and Getzlaf hooked up for a powerplay goal tonight, both were also on the ice for three of the Kings' four even strength goals.

2) Falling Leaves - The Toronto Maple Leafs have been brought down to earth over the last week, as they have now dropped five of their last six games. While some of Leafs Nation is convinced that Ben Scrivens (18/21) is going to pull a James Reimer this year, I think it's becoming pretty evident that this team is in need of a veteran presence, which is something that Justin Goldman has been saying for weeks. Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul were each minus-four on the night, on the ice for every one of the Predators' goals.

1) Oilers' two-headed Midget - As of a couple of weeks ago, the Oilers' goaltending tandem of Devan Dubnyk and Nikolai Khabibulin looked virtually unstoppable, as each seemed to push the other to be better every night. Well tonight they both stunk up the stage. Despite the Ottawa Senators only managing to get 16 shots on net tonight, Khabibulin and Dubnyk let in a combined five goals, for a combined save percentage of .688%. Gross.

Dishonourable Mentions

Flower - Marc-Andre Fleury laid an egg tonight, posting up his worst statistical start of the season so far (14/17, .824%).

Craig Smith - For pulling his best Patrick Stefan impersonation, ripping a shot off the cross-bar on the empty-net opportunity. Goal lights went off and everything, boy that's embarrassing, remember that feeling next time kid.

The Red Wings - As 10 of their 18 players went minus-two on the night and their goalies combined for a 23/28 night (.821%)

Quick Hits

Blake Wheeler - Finally broke the seal and scored his first goal on the season. Took long enough (19 games if you haven't been following).

Baby got Backes - David Backes led by example tonight for the St.Louis Blues and posted a huge night on the stat sheet (2G, +2, 5 SOG, 8 FOW, 4 HIT, 1 BLK)

No givesies backsies! - It appears that for the time being, both the Columbus Blue Jackets and the St.Louis Blues are happy with the return they got on their trade last week. In three games so far for the BJ's, Nikita Nikitin has recorded three assists, with two being on the powerplay. Meanwhile Kris Russell appears to feel comfortable wearing the Blues' uniform as he now has two goals in three games.

1.00 GAA - Fantasy GMs saw a bit of a slow night in the offensive categories tonight as eight goalies only allowed one goal on the night. Great performances tonight from Dwayne Roloson (33/34, .971%), Tuukka Rask (30/31, .968%), Ilya Bryzgalov (30/31, .968%), Pekka Rinne, (38/39, .974%), JS Giguere (17/18, .944%), Jaroslav Halak (20/21, .952%), Ondrej Pavelec (31/32, .969%), and Curtis Sanford making his first start since January 10, 2009 (26/27, .963%)

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@B0ndon

Goalies: If I'm pickin em you best be sittin em!