Based on some of the quotes in the Associated Press game story, it certainly sounds like Jason Arnott returned less than 100 percent from his concussion. On getting back to play in Saturday's contest against Columbus, Arnott said: "I talked it over with my wife and she kind of hinted against it. But I wanted to get back and help the team as much as I can." Yeah, you heard him. Against the advice of his wife, Arnott laced 'em up for his Predators. He says he was uneasy about returning from a concussion suffered March 10, but pushed himself after watching his team lose ground in the playoff hunt Friday.
Arnott had no illusions about how dangerous the move could have been. "I was very uncomfortable," Arnott said. "To come back after a concussion is tough. You definitely don't want to put yourself in a situation where you are going to be out for the rest of the year, most of the summer and maybe even next year. But we have lost so many guys. I made the decision to come back and try to give us a boost." So yeah, Arnott certainly showed a nice mix of risk management and fortitude that we could all learn a bit from. A bit of reckless abandon, sure, but he saw the chips were down and jumped into the fray to try and turn things back toward a positive outcome for his team. You see where I'm going with this yet?
It doesn't mean you have to return from a concussion, but fantasy owners could certainly benefit from adopting Arnott's base attitude for returning when he did: You have to do what you have to do to win. This is the final week of the season, and if you want to make any kind of major impact on the standings or outcome in your league, it is time for bold action. I remember, and I am sure you do as well, who won first place in the fantasy league you pay the most attention to over the years, but I'll bet you don't remember who came in second. But whether you are fighting for first place or sixth, this is it. You might as well use all the tricks you have at your disposal to make a push. Some teams have as many as five games left, so there is room for some movement.
Oh yeah, how did Arnott do? He scored two goals and assisted on another as the Predators topped Columbus 5-4 in a shootout to help Nashville cling to the final playoff spot in the East. Now it's your turn.
Ice Chips
With Arnott back, you can forget about last week's recommendation of Cal O'Reilly. Though I will point out that he ran a four-game point streak. … Turns out at least one more of my gut calls from last week's Open Ice is paying some dividends. Brian Boyle scored two goals to pace the Kings to a 6-1 victory Saturday night. Justin Williams also had his first noteworthy game as a King, with three points. Consider either player if you are desperate, but make sure you are actually at the end of your rope, as L.A. takes on four playoff-bound teams this week fighting for position (Flames, Oilers, Canucks, Sharks). … Jonas Hiller remains a strong play for those fantasy owners in search of goaltending over the final week. It will be a very tricky decision for coach Randy Carlyle when it comes to whom he starts in net in the Ducks' final two games (after Sunday's bout with San Jose). Anaheim plays Dallas on Friday and Phoenix on Saturday and may need all four points to make the postseason. One might think Jean-Sebastien Giguere would get the call, but Hiller has won seven straight starts after Saturday's 5-2 victory over the Sharks and should be considered. Watch the headlines if you need to squeeze out those starts, as Hiller would make them good ones if he gets the call. … Marty Turco owners need to look elsewhere to get in a few extra starts (something they should have been doing since November). Turco has a lower-body injury, and the Stars were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs Saturday night. Here's betting he doesn't push himself to get back. Matt Climie won his debut in net for Dallas on Saturday on a callup from the ECHL, where he led the league in goals-against average. He might be a cheap spot start Tuesday at Minnesota or Thursday at Colorado. … Matt Lashoff continues to lead the Lightning in ice time of late, and he had another assist in Friday's contest, his seventh in nine games. … Let's try not to get too cute with Craig Anderson again. He's a decent backup goalie who is due for some hot streaks but is not someone to ride into the postseason. After his team lost to Atlanta on Friday, look for Tomas Vokoun to settle back between the pipes for the Panthers, and it will be his performance, good or bad, that determines Florida's playoff fate. I'd use him only Thursday against the Thrashers, as games against Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Washington look dangerous. … David Krejci is seemingly out of what you might call a two-month slump. He has eight points in his past five games, a pace not seen for him since his ridiculous scoring pace in December and January. … Sabres winger Clarke MacArthur has goals in two straight contests and five in his past seven. … Playing on the Canucks' third line (the line of misfit wingers), Kyle Wellwood has a goal in two straight.
