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Despite falling to 0-2-1 against perennial doormats Chicago with Saturday’s loss, the Nashville Predators have used these past two weeks to create some separation between themselves and the Detroit Red Wings atop the division. Nashville has used a fantastic offense to go 10-2-2 since the start of November, even though they’ve lost star goaltender Tomas Vokoun for the next few weeks…. The Wings, on the other hand, have been in a bit of a freefall, winning just four of their last ten. While the goaltending has held up, the offense has been suspect, and hasn’t produced more than three goals in any of their twelve contests since November 4…. The Chicago Blackhawks became the second team in the division to fire their coach this season last week, but they’re suddenly catching fire, which is fantastic news for their (?) playoff hopes considering that they’ll be getting their most dynamic offensive player back in the next couple of weeks…. The Blues and Blue Jackets continue to be bottom-feeding teams, though the Jackets have actually won two of five since new coach Ken Hitchcock took the helm. All three of their losses were by one goal, so they’re not embarrassing themselves like they were early in the year either.

Nashville Predators

Hot: Alexander Radulov (4 G, 2 A, 3 GWG in Last Five), Paul Kariya (2 G, 5 A During Five Game Point Streak), Martin Erat (2 G, 8 A, +4 in Last Ten), Kimmo Timonen (2 G, 4 A in Last Four), Scott Hartnell (5 G, 3 A in Last Five), Chris Mason (5-1-1, 2.83 GAA, .918 Sv. % Since November 1)

Cold: None

Injuries: Tomas Vokoun (4-6 Weeks – Torn Ligament In Thumb), Jason Arnott (3-5 Weeks – Knee Surgery), Scottie Upshall (Indefinite – Strained Groin)

Ordinarily, the loss of Vokoun for the next month and a half would be the biggest news in Nashville. However, since Chris Mason showed last season that he’s a more than adequate backup who can handle the number one role for a short while, there’s bigger news. What’s bigger than losing an All-Star caliber goalie for six weeks? Rad!

Alexander Radulov returned to the lineup two weeks ago when Jason Arnott hit the IR, and he’s already showing us just why he had so many keeper owners salivating. Radulov, who had 61 goals and 91 assists in 62 games in the QMJHL last season, is already fitting right in on one of the deepest offensive teams in the league. Through twelve NHL games, the twenty-year old Russian prodigy has netted six goals (three of them game-winners!) and notched a pair of assists already. Considering that he’s generally seeing between six and ten minutes of ice-time a night, Radulov has been astonishingly efficient. While Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin figures to turn into a player comparable to phenom Sidney Crosby of last year’s rookie class, Radulov is this year’s Ovechkin… a winger who can fly, has amazing stickhandling skills, has a great scoring touch, and even plays pretty well in his own zone.

While Radulov has burst onto the scene (and something tells me he might not be headed back down this time…..) in Arnott’s absence, he hasn’t exactly had to carry his mates. Paul Kariya, Steve Sullivan, and Martin Erat continue to produce at a point-a-game pace for the Preds, while power forward Scott Hartnell has finally gotten it going of late. Hartnell was a colossal disappointment early this season, actually going seven games without a point from October 28 through November 15. However, he’s found the net five times in the past four games, and is even finding a little more time to set up his linemates on the ice. He’s done it all while keeping a strong +6 rating so far, and even spends his fair share of time in the box.

Next Five: at Phoenix, at Anaheim, at Los Angeles, at San Jose, vs. Edmonton

Enter the four-game West Coast swing for the Preds, who will run into a couple of cupcakes (Phoenix & L.A.) surrounding games with three of the other top four teams in the conference. You have to play your Predators’ skaters no matter what right now, as they’re rolling offensively. However, when they head to Anaheim and San Jose, they’ll be facing two top five defenses. Mason would appear to be a pretty safe start for most of these games, though you may consider benching him against the Ducks (2^nd in GF/G).

Detroit Red Wings

Hot: Nicklas Lidstrom (4 G, 4 A, +9 in Last Ten), Robert Lang (1 G, 6 A in Last Six), Mathieu Schneider (2 G, 1 A During Three-Game Point Streak), Daniel Cleary (5 G, 5 A, +5 in Last Ten), Mikael Samuelsson (1 G, 2 A in Last Two), Dominik Hasek (2-0-1, 0.97 GAA, .950 Sv. % in Last Three), Henrik Zetterberg (Point in Nine of Last Twelve)

Cold: Pavel Datsyuk (0 G in Last Fifteen), Tomas Holmstrom (Six Game Scoreless Streak), Nicklas Kronwall (0 G, 1 A in Last Ten)

Injuries: Jason Williams (D2D – Charley Horse [Played Sat.]), Chris Osgood (2-3 Weeks – Hand)

Though the Wings have a handful of guys who are producing at or above their career averages, it’s clear that they’re missing the consistent production that they always got out of The Captain and Brendan Shanahan. It seems that they can’t get both of their stars up front (Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg) to heat up at the same time, which is leading to either the defensemen (Lidstrom and Schneider) having to carry the team offensively, or (more so) no scoring at all. As stated above, the Wings haven’t scored more than three goals once since a 4-1 win over Columbus on November 4.

The Wings do continue to have one of the better scoring defenses in hockey, which is largely due to an amazing veteran defensive core and partially due to the steady play of Dominik Hasek. Though Hasek has been sitting a little more often lately, the rest has improved his game. Hasek was already having a stellar November (he finished 6-1-2 with a 1.76 GAA and .913 Sv. % in the month), but has been particularly brilliant in his last three games, allowing just three goals on sixty shots.

Daniel Cleary continues to emerge as a potential fantasy threat the rest of the way, and is scoring no matter who the Wings line him up with. Although he cooled off for three games after a brilliant stretch in the beginning of November saw the journeyman notch ten points in just seven games, he scored twice in Friday’s 3-0 win over Minnesota, and added another assist in Saturday’s loss to the Sharks.

If the Wings could only get Pavel Datsyuk going, they might be ready to make a deep run into the playoffs. However, Datsyuk is living up to the criticism that he usually receives, and has looked soft lately. He hasn’t scored a goal in over a month, and it’s starting to look like he may not be ready to take that next step and become a franchise center.

Next Five: at St. Louis, vs. St. Louis, vs. Toronto, vs. Ottawa, at Chicago

Speaking of goal-scoring, the Wings will be right here in St. Louis Tuesday to take on the Blues in a game where St. Louis will retire Brett Hull’s jersey. Thankfully for the Wings, playing the Blues nowadays means one thing. You’re probably going to win. Though it’s an intense rivalry, don’t be shocked if the Red Wings finally put four on the board for the first time in a month Tuesday night. They won’t face a single elite defense in their upcoming stretch, which could bode well for some of the slumping players up front. Toronto and Ottawa can put the puck in the net, though, and when they host the Sens, they may be playing the hottest team in hockey.

Chicago Blackhawks

Hot: Jeff Hamilton (4 G, 1 A in Last Two… Hat Trick and an Assist Saturday), Mikael Holmqvist (2 G, 1 A in Last Four), Patrick Sharp (3 A in Last Two), Tony Salmelainen (3 G, 1 A During Four Game Point Streak), Tuomo Ruutu (5 G, 1 A in Last Seven), Nikolai Khabibulin (3-0-0, 2.00 GAA, .925 Sv. % in Last Three)

Cold: Radim Vrbata (0 G, 1 A in Last Five), Bryan Smolinski (0 G, 1 A in Last Six)

Injuries: Martin Havlat (1 Week – Sprained Ankle), Michal Handzus (Season – Torn ACL), Karl Stewart (D2D – Flu), Rene Bourque (2-4 Weeks – Neck), Patrick Lalime (1-2 Months – Back Surgery)

The Hawks have caught fire, winning six of their last ten, largely due to the fine play of Nikolai Khabibulin between the pipes. They’ve also had some unexpected contributions, particularly those from minor league journeyman Jeff Hamilton in Saturday’s thrilling 4-3 comeback win over Nashville.

Hamilton, 29, had played in all of fourteen NHL games entering play this season, but seems to have finally found a home after earning a spot with the club in the preseason. He’d found his way into consistent ice-time, and was producing moderately, with two goals and six assists through twenty games. However, after scoring once in Friday’s 5-2 win over the Blues, Hamilton willed the ‘Hawks to a come from behind win, scoring in the final minute of regulation and the first minute of overtime to notch his first career hat-trick. Either the rest of the league really missed something in Hamilton or he’s going to fade fast. He did have a strong effort in a trial with the Islanders last season, finishing with two goals and six assists in thirteen games. Don’t go running out to grab Hamilton right away, but if you’re looking for a little extra scoring pop and have a flex (i.e., day to day pickup) spot you use on your roster, pick him up while he’s hot.

As for a couple of more kids that are lighting it up lately for the ‘Hawks, you needn’t look much further than their Finnish connection. Tony Salmelainen had just one point in his first thirteen games this season, but looks like a man possessed now that fellow Finn Tuomo Ruutu is finally looking like he’s at 100%. Since ending his scoring drought, Salmelainen has notched a point in four straight games. Three of them were goals.

Ruutu isn’t exactly doing much to improve his reputation as a playmaker, but he is still finding his way onto the scoresheet. While he’s different from most pivots in that he has more of a scorer’s mentality than most, Ruutu can still be extremely effective up front as a power center. He’s scored a goal in five of his last seven games, and added an assist to go with all of those goals in Saturday’s win.

After a horrific 2005-06 campaign, Nikolai Khabibulin has looked a lot more like the guy that backstopped the Lightning to a Stanley Cup in 2003-04 than the hack that he was last season. Khabibulin has capped off a strong (if injury-riddled) first two months with a pair of wins on back to back nights to start December. He seems to be seeing the puck better this season, and he’s getting significantly better defense in front of him from the Blackhawks’ developing defensemen.

Martin Havlat resumed practicing with the club Thursday, and is expected to be back in the lineup as early as next week. Havlat should be immediately returned to your lineup as soon as he’s healthy. With the ‘Hawks playing this well without him, they could be a scary matchup for any opponent the rest of the way. Havlat had thirteen points in seven games before hitting the IR.

Next Five: at Minnesota, vs. Phoenix, at Minnesota, vs. Edmonton, at St. Louis

As if the ‘Hawks weren’t hot enough, they have a very favorable schedule for the next couple of weeks. Though Minnesota remains near the top of the Northwest, they’ve won just two of their last ten, and the ‘Hawks will match up with them twice next week. The Coyotes and Blues currently rank thirteenth and fourteenth in the Western Conference, and are both very beatable. If anything, they may have to try and win a couple of low-scoring contests against the Wild, and they won’t have an easy time with the Oilers. Don’t be surprised if the ‘Hawks charge their way above .500 in the next two weeks… especially with a healthy Martin Havlat.

St. Louis Blues

Hot: Keith Tkachuk (2 G, 1 A in Last Two), Bill Guerin (3 G in Last Two), Doug Weight (3 A, 2 PPP in Last Two), Barrett Jackman (3 A, 9 PIM, +4 in Last Six)

Cold: Lee Stempniak (0 G, 2 A, -5 in Last Nine), Martin Ruckinsky (0 G, 3 A, -6 in Last Nine), Peter Cajanek (Scoreless in Last Four), Radek Dvorak (Scoreless, -9 in Last Nine), Bryce Salvador (0 G, 1 A, -8 in Last Nine), Christian Backman (Scoreless in Last Nine)

Injuries: Christian Backman (D2D – Flu), Curtis Sanford (Indefinitely – Leg/Groin Injury), Vladimir Orszagh (Indefinitely – Knee Surgery)

The Blues are currently on a four-game skid, though they’ve seen some nice contributions from the top line in the past week. Keith Tkachuk, Doug Weight, and Bill Guerin look like they’ll continue to warrant fantasy attention, despite the fact that they may be about it up front. Despite their age, Tkachuk and Guerin are both still going to the net hard, and reaping the benefits of late. Weight should continue to pile up assists as long as he continues to play with either or both of them.

After a strong rookie showing and a good start this season for Lee Stempniak, he’s been a ghost lately. On a team that tried to plug most of their holes from last season by adding a handful of veterans (equally as disappointing Martin Rucinsky and Radek Dvorak included), Stempniak and Jay McClement were the two young forwards who looked like they may develop into useful NHL players. McClement has done nothing to further his development, and has just five points all year. Stempniak hasn’t found the net since October 12, and the Blues desperately need to get him going.

The blue line got a much-needed boost when Jay McKee returned to the lineup in Thursday’s 5-4 loss to the Predators. McKee, a solid stalwart in his own zone with Buffalo for the past few seasons, has been a bit snakebitten so far this season. After missing the first six games recovering from knee surgery, McKee managed all of one shift in October before breaking a bone in his hand and missing more than a month with that injury. His return should be a calming presence for Barrett Jackman, who has been the lone defenseman that the Blues have who seems to play well in his own zone. Jackman leads St. Louis with a +5 rating, though he’s not reaching his fantasy potential because he’s playing more disciplined hockey than he has in the past. Jackman has just 15 PIM in fourteen games this season.

Next Five: vs. Detroit, at Detroit, vs. Columbus, vs. Chicago, at Colorado

They’ll start the stretch off with a home and home against the rival Wings, and will (once again) be retiring Brett Hull’s jersey in Tuesday’s home game. The Blues may come out a little more fired up than usual in their next two, and need to keep their intensity up for a very winnable game against the Jackets on Saturday. Goals should be hard to come by against the Wings and the surprising Blackhawks. If you have Tkachuk, Guerin, or Weight, keep them in the lineup. If you’re holding anyone else on the Blues, it’s likely you’re in trouble anyway.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Hot: Anson Carter (2 G, 3 A in Last Five), Dan Fritsche (1 G, 2 A Saturday)

Cold: David Vyborny (Scoreless in Last Five), Rick Nash (1 G, 0 A in Last Seven), Ron Hainsey (2 G, 2 A, -9 in Last Month), Adam Foote (0 G, 3 A, -14 in Last Month), Manny Malhotra (Scoreless, -4 in Last Nine)

Injuries: Fredrik Modin (1-2 Weeks – Foot), Duvie Westcott (4-6 Weeks – Broken Finger), Bryan Berard (2 Months – Back Surgery)

Though the Jackets maintain ownership of the worst record in hockey, they’ve looked a lot better in the past week. Not coincidentally, the transformation seemed to occur the minute that Ken Hitchcock was hired as their new head coach. In five games with Hitch behind the bench, the Jackets have gone a modest 2-3-0, but all three of their losses have come by only a goal, and they actually shut out a legitimate contender with a 4-0 win in Edmonton Saturday night.

Though they can’t seem to get any of their lines to consistently produce, Hitchcock does seem to have stumbled into some magic in his first couple of weeks with the team. In just his second game, he set Nikolai Zherdev, Anson Carter, and Sergei Fedorov on the same line, and got the three to produce for more points than they had all season. Saturday, he again got fantastic production out of Carter, though his fine play was complemented by youngster Dan Fritsche, who went off with a goal and two assists. The young guns are starting to pick up the pace, as both Alexander Svitov and Gilbert Brule found the net as well. Curiously, Zherdev, who figures to be one of the centerpieces that the Jackets plan to build around, was absent from the lineup. I’ve heard nothing of an injury to this point, but will keep you posted if I hear anything.

Unfortunately for Hitchcock, the damage seems to have been done to this team already. The Jackets have some nice up-and-comers, including a handful along the blue line in Duvie Westcott, Ron Hainsey, and Rostislav Klesla. However, Westcott is out for the better part of six weeks with a broken hand, while Hainsey seems to be stuck in quicksand after starting the year -11 under the previous regime. Klesla has failed to develop into the offensive defenseman that so many thought he might become when he first came up, but he has improved in his own zone. That should continue under Hitchcock, who runs a very tight ship in the defensive zone.

Pascal LeClaire continues to look solid, if unspectacular, between the pipes, while (32-year-old) rookie Fredrik Norrena recorded his first career shutout in Saturday’s 4-0 win in Edmonton. LeClaire has allowed just nine goals in his last four games, but they were all losses.

Next Five: at Colorado, at St. Louis, vs. Ottawa, at Dallas, at Phoenix

A couple of winnable games are on the horizon, including a matchup in St. Louis, who the Jackets beat last week, Thursday. The Avs have been up and down all season, but aren’t particularly overwhelming on either end of the ice. The Sens and Stars both have fine defenses, and the Sens have been lighting it up lately. Start your skaters against the Avs, Blues, and ‘Yotes, but keep them on the bench (barring Nash getting red hot) for their matchups with Ottawa and Dallas. LeClaire should get the call against St. Louis and Phoenix, and may be worth a pickup from the wire for those starts if he’s in your FA pool.