Rumors, moves, injuries and newsmakers...

Sundin steps up once again; Lidstrom returns; Young guns in Edmonton heat up; Belanger has broken foot; Holmstrom out of Detroit lineup; Nash sets career high; and more...

HAPPY HOME 
Back on February 23, when Mats Sundin stated that he loved playing for the Maple Leafs, that he did not want to go anywhere and that would not waive his no-trade clause, it caused uproar in Leaf Nation. The prevailing thought was that the captain and long-time superstar would bring a great return in a trade, thus giving the team a jumpstart on its massive rebuild.

All is quite in Leafland now, as Sundin has points in all eight games since that announcement: seven goals and 14 points. He has also given winger Jason Blake a kick-start, as the veteran has seven points in his last eight games. Countryman Alex Steen has also been rolling, putting up eight points during that span.

What's more, the team has been winning. New Jersey Devils aside, who had Toronto's number in two games this past week, the Buds have been nearly perfect. The team has gone 5-2-1 since the Sundin announcement. Everything seems to be falling into place in March for the Leafs and this for the third straight season, as they try for another run at the postseason. To get in, they have to pretty much run the table in their final 12 contests, though. They kick-off the final leg of their season against the Flyers on Tuesday in Game 1 of a home-and-home set.

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BACKWARDS 
Washington rookie Nicklas Backstrom had eight points and was a plus-9 in four games heading into Sunday and he scored again in the game against Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, it was in his own net and it gave the Penguins the winning goal with 28 seconds left. INTEL: A small setback for the youngster, who has 49 points in his last 48 games. He sits one point behind Chicago's Patrick Kane in the rookie-scoring race with 58 points.

MALKIN IN THE MIDDLE 
Pittsburgh sophomore Evgeni Malkin picked up three assists to lead the Pens to a 4-2 win over the Capitals on Sunday. Sidney Crosby scored twice in the much-hyped annual battle he has with Alexander Ovechkin, whoch was nationally televised across the United States. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 36 of 38 shots for the win. INTEL: It was yet another three-point game for Malkin, who has collected 10 of those in his last 31 games. Malkin now posts 92 points, which is already seven more than his rookie campaign and just three behind NHL scoring leader Ovechkin.

HOLMSTROM AT HOME 
The Red Wings beat the Predators 4-3 despite the absence of their top front-of-the-net power-play guy, Tomas Holmstrom, who missed the contest with a groin injury. INTEL: Holmstrom was having a career season at 34 years old when he was derailed by a knee injury in mid-December. This latest injury could nag at him for the rest of the season and his production will suffer even if he does get back into the lineup soon.

IS IT NIK? OR NICK? 
Niklas Kronwall was enjoying a very productive run while Brian Rafalski and Nicklas Lidstrom were on the shelf, but questions arose in the fantasy world if he would continue producing when they returned. Lidstrom was back in the lineup Sunday and picked up two points, but so did Kronwall. INTEL: It was Kronwall's third two-point effort in four games and if he can stay healthy he will become another solid offensive weapon on the Detroit blueline, as the 27-year-old enters his prime.

SHEPPARD-ING IN THE YOUNGSTER 
Minnesota Wild pivot Eric Belanger has a broken toe and will be out of the lineup indefinitely. The Wild recalled journeyman Steve Kelly to take Belanger's spot on the roster. INTEL: Minnesota is thin up the middle as it is. Pavol Demitra is out of position there and after him is Mikko Koivu. This is a prime opportunity for rookie James Sheppard to log more ice time and show what he can do. He played 16 minutes in the 3-2 OT loss to San Jose on Sunday.

MISSING RICHARDS 
The Lightning have dubiously run their record to 1-5-1 since they moved Brad Richards, but nobody misses him more than Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis. Despite each picking up a point in Sunday's 5-3 loss, both players have had a miserable time of things. INTEL: Both stars are a minus-10 in seven games and they have a combined total of five points.

NASH IS DASHING 
With two assists on Sunday, Columbus forward Rick Nash has set a career high with 58 points. INTEL: The left winger is steadily improving and could be a 50-goal and 90-point man in about three or four years, without or without a bonafide No. 1 center.

ADAMS RETURNS 
Checking-line center Kevyn Adams returned to the Chicago lineup after missing 54 games with a knee injury. He played just 7:25 and was a minus-1 in the 6-5 loss to Edmonton Sunday. INTEL: Adams has never held fantasy value and he never will, but the Hawks need him because they have been decimated by injuries.

YOUNG GUNS 
Edmonton youngsters Andrew Cogliano, Sam Gagner and Robert Nilsson each picked up a pair of points to lead the team to a 6-5 overtime win over the Blackhawks. INTEL: Cogliano has nine points in his last seven games, Gagner has 21 in his last 21, and Nilsson has 10 in his last 10. All three have the potential to produce at a-point-per-game pace and are showing it.

THEODORE HOOKED 
Finally, Colorado has consistent goaltending from Jose Theodore, but they gave him the hook after giving up three goals on 21 shots after two periods on Sunday. INTEL: Theodore started his ninth straight game and 15th of the club's last 16. He was also starting his second game in 24 hours, so the team may have been a little greedy trying to get more out of him. He'll bounce back.
HERE WE GO AGAIN 
Peter Forsberg missed Sunday's game against the Stars due to a groin injury sustained on Saturday. INTEL: Forsberg is one of the more injury-prone players in the league and if you expected a healthy run right through to the playoffs from the superstar, you were probably getting a little ahead of yourself.

DON'T PANIC ABOUT PLEKANEC 
Montreal forward Tomas Plekanec, having a monster breakout season for Montreal with 63 points in 69 games, missed Sunday's contest with the flu. INTEL: The Habs have a busy week ahead, playing Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday so, hopefully, Plekanec is back in shape in a couple of days. He should easily clear 70 points this season.