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As their team offense has sunk to a 28th-best 2.36 Goals per Game, you may be tempted to bench all Nashville Predators from your fantasy hockey rosters. While understandable, there are still some guys worth keeping in your lineup, and ahead of a busy weekend of NHL action, here's your regular update on the key Preds...
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His ice time is starting to creep up a little bit due to all the injuries the Preds are fighting through, but the results just aren't showing up. He still ends up spending too much time alongside pluggers on a checking line. Status: Caution (ice time)
He didn't travel with the team out west, so the earliest he's expected to play is next Thursday at St. Louis. Status: Out of the Lineup
He's getting all the prime opportunities and is putting shots on net, scoring at roughly a 30-goal pace. Don't expect many assists, however, given the team's overall lack of scoring. Status: Good To Go
After an encouraging start, the points have dried up with three straight scoreless games. Again, a good part of this is due to his workload, which involves taking on the other team's top forwards. A 40-point season is probably on the way here. Status: Caution
He's out "indefinitely" due to a concussion suffered in the second game of the season. Hopefully your hockey pool has an Injured Reserve where you can stash him, because he isn't likely to play for quite a while. Status: Out of the Lineup
Cal is still racking up some assists on the Preds' lone scoring line, but appears overly-hesitant to shoot the puck. Somebody tell him that a shot is like a "bank pass off the goalie" to Hornqvist, and perhaps he'll get there. Especially due to Lombardi's absence, however, he's a reliable offensive contributor. Status: Good To Go
Winless in his last three, Pekka faces the first major test of the 2010-11 season. There's no threat to his status as #1, but it will be interesting to see how he rebounds from a poor effort at Phoenix last night. Given the back-to-back games this weekend, it wouldn't be surprising to see Anders Lindback get one of those starts (most likely Anaheim on Sunday). Status: Good To Go
Sully is in the mix with O'Reilly and Hornqvist, and is getting his chances lately but not scoring. Sooner or later, those breakaways will start to pay off, so don't hesitate to use him. Status: Good To Go
He's in the same boat as Martin Erat, he won't play this weekend but we can hope for next Thursday at St. Louis. Status: Out of the Lineup
Suter's absence is dragging him down (-5 over the last 3 games), but he's still the main option on the blueline and the power play. Status: Good To Go
He got a season-high 18:40 of ice time Wednesday at Phoenix, and was promoted to the first power play unit where he set up nicely for a shot which led to a Patric Hornqvist goal. A healthy increase in offensive opportunities could make him a useful depth contributor to your fantasy hockey lineup. Status: Good To Go