First impressions can go a long way, and if the first impressions the Maple Leafs made on interim GM Cliff Fletcher are any indication, this team is going to be just fine. Vesa Toskala stopped 30 of 32 shots, and Mats Sundin played hero with the game-winning goal in the final 30 seconds. Sundin's monthly totals have been slipping all year, but the Fletcher era should be a good one for Captain Mats. He should finish the year with better than a point-per-game pace. Anton Stralman assisted on Chad Kilger's first-period marker. He's a talented young defenseman who will be a fantasy regular in a few years. It's still too early for him, though, even in keeper leagues. In between the Kilger and Sundin goals were three straight tallies by an Alexander. Ovechkin, Steen and Semin all reinforced their fantasy value with markers. Ovechkin's goal put him in the league lead; Steen is a good target as he consistently plays with Sundin now; and it still might be possible to get Semin on the cheap, though that is unlikely.
The league's current best team defeated the league's defending champion in a 2-1 battle. In a losing cause, Todd Bertuzzi continues to be a fantasy winner. Big Bert had an assist on the only Anaheim goal and racked up six penalty minutes. Bertuzzi's linemate Ryan Getzlaf recorded the other Ducks' assist to extend his scoring streak to 15 games. Love me the Getzlaf! People called me crazy when I said he would be a top-five centerman this season, but in reality he is top five overall. Three of the league's top five defenseman recorded a point in this game on goals by Brian Rafalski and Chris Pronger, and an assist by Nicklas Lidstrom. If your team is still struggling in the bottom half of your standings, suck it up and deal for an anchor defenseman like one of these three. A strong defenseman can really turn your season around in a fantasy league because he contributes consistently in multiple categories.
Roberto Luongo was just a little better than Manny Legace in the shootout as Vancouver edged St. Louis 4-3. The story of the game belongs to Mattias Ohlund, who recorded two power-play goals. It was Ohlund's third game back after missing a month of action, and this should serve as a reminder that he can still be a force on the power play and has the added bonus of triple-digit penalty minutes. Now that Sami Salo is finally back in his groove and has Ohlund back as a defense partner, the two could become quick hits in deeper fantasy leagues where they might be lurking on the wire. Henrik Sedin showed why he is the All-Star by recording two assists to Daniel's one. I'm just joking. For all we know they switch uniforms on a nightly basis to see if anyone notices.
The Thrashers called up scoring maniac Brett Sterling from the AHL to replace Ilya Kovalchuk during Kovy's one-game suspension for plowing Michal Rozsival into the boards. Sterling is dynamic enough that as soon as he catches on to the NHL pace, he is going to have an impact. That's why I am warning you that he is up, even if it's for just one game.
Sean Allen is a fantasy baseball and hockey analyst for ESPN.com. You can Email him here.