Crashing the net: Preds' Geoffrion off to start worthy of his name

Blake Geoffrion, Predators

In 11 games as an NHL player, Blake has scored six goals while posting a plus-6 rating. That's some pretty good stuff for the 2006 second-round draft pick with the famous hockey name. He upped the offensive ante on Sunday when he scored on all three shots he took against the Sabres for a hat trick. His future is bright, and right now he is producing enough offense to help those in deep leagues.

Joe Pavelski, Sharks

A scoring change took away Pavelski's hat-trick, but don't feel to sorry for him. Little Joe has scored at least two points in four-straight games, tallying three goals while handing out eight assists. He's also taken at least four shots on net in six-straight contests. He's rounding into perfect form just in time for the playoffs.

Teemu Selanne, Ducks

The Finnish Flash is now tied for 30th in league history with 1,327 points (with Pierre Turgeon), 49th in assists with 699 and he's tied for eighth with 232 power-play goals (Dino Ciccarelli). Selanne has only one goal in seven games, but he still has handed out six assists over the same time, which is just slightly behind his season-long rate (he has 67 points in 63 games). Just 22 goals from 650, the question is, will he return for another season to make a run at that mark?

Johan Franzen, Red Wings

Not only is he dealing with a slightly strained groin, The Mule hasn't been able to score of late. His numbers are solid -- 27 goals and 24 assists in 69 games -- but since he scored an amazing five goals on Feb. 2 Franzen has lit the lamp one time in 20 games. Think about that. He scored five times as many goals in one game as he has in the last quarter of the NHL season.

Ryan Smyth, Kings

First the good. Smyth has his customary 20 goals (it's the 11th time in his career that he has hit that plateau despite constantly being in and out of the lineup with injuries -- something he has actually avoided this year given that he has appeared in all 72 of the Kings' games). Now the bad. He's been brutal in March with two points in nine games. He's also been saddled with a minus-8 rating for the month. Moreover, Smyth hasn't scored a goal since Feb. 23, a stretch of 12 games, and going back to the start of February he has one goal in 22 games. Yikes.

R.J. Umberger, Blue Jackets

In each of his three years with the Blue Jackets, Umberger has recorded at least 21 goals and 46 points, so his 21 scores and 51 points this season are exactly what one would expect. He's also been a plus-5 performer this season, a strong total for a guy who recorded a minus-26 mark the past two years. Still, his point production has dried up of late. Umberger hasn't scored a goal in six games, has just one in 12 games, and just two in 20 contests. It's not like he has been dishing the puck off for scores either as he has just three helpers in 11 March games. Umberger has given you solid production this season, but he's clearly limping to the finish line in the point-producing column.

Martin Brodeur, Devils

Johan Hedberg was 7-1-1 with a 1.43 GAA in February holding down the fort while Brodeur was out of action due to injury. So much for that miraculous run as Hedberg hasn't seen the ice since Feb. 25. Why? Because Brodeur remembered that he wasn't Bob Essensa but an all-time great. Since Feb. 27 Brodeur is 8-3 and has he allowed more than two goals only once in that time. In fact, over his last 14 appearances he is 11-3 with a GAA of 1.55 (he also has a .924 save percentage). With his recent run of awesomeness -- yes I just used that word -- Brodeur has dumped his GAA down to 2.45 for the year. Welcome back Mr. Brodeur.

Ray Emery, Ducks

Dan Ellis is 6-2 for the Ducks since he was added to help cover the gaping hole in net with Jonas Hiller out with a case of vertigo. However, Ellis has allowed eight goals in his last two outings, which has opened the door for Emery to get some work in net. Back in the NHL now that his body is healed after hip surgery, Emery has allowed two goals on 72 shots, leading to a 0.87 GAA and .972 save percentage with the Ducks. He's clearly moving into the lead in net for the Ducks. However, there is one caveat -- Hiller appears, finally, to be moving in the right direction. There is no established date for his return, but reports seem to suggest that it could happen by the middle of next week. When he returns both Ellis and Emery figure to be nothing other than Hiller's caddy.

Braden Holtby, Capitals

The NHL's First Star of the week ending March 14 after going 4-0 with a 1.05 GAA, Holtby has been sent to the minors since Semyon Varlamov is healthy enough to play in net. Michal Neuvirth is also back, and after his 33-save shutout against the Devils, the Caps made the decision to send Holtby down. Even if the Caps are right and he is their third best goalie, you have to question the wisdom of demoting the NHL's reigning player of the week don't you?

Tim Thomas, Bruins

Thomas leads the NHL in GAA (2.08) and save percentage (.937), so he has clearly been an elite option, and probably the leader for the Vezina trophy. However, his play has slumped of late as he has won just one of four starts, allowing a total of 14 goals leading to a 3.62 GAA. Again, it's completely unfair to throw Thomas under the bus given how spectacular he has been this season, but it should still be pointed out that after posting a 1.81 GAA prior to the All-Star break that he has added a full goal to that mark since (2.88). Damn the regression gods.

* Five teams play four games this week: Boston, Florida, Ottawa, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

* Three teams play only two games this week: Chicago, Dallas and Minnesota

Ray Flowers can be heard daily on Sirius/XM Radio on The Fantasy Drive, 5-8 PM Eastern, on Sirius 211 and XM 147. Ray's baseball analysis can be found at BaseballGuys.com and his minute to minute musings can be located at the BaseballGuys' Twitter account. To e-mail Ray a question for next week's piece, drop him a line atfantasyfandom@yahoo.com.