Rumors, moves, injuries and newsmakers...

Sabres scoring in spades; Hasek returns, but is chased; Okposo to make debut; Christensen leaves game; Corvo sticks it to former team; Laich on a roll; and more...

GOALS-A-PLENTY 
It's almost as if the Pittsburgh Penguins showed them how it's done. The Buffalo Sabres were manhandled by the Pens last week by a 7-3 count and responded with 13 goals in the next two games, including a 6-2 win over a desperate Toronto team on Saturday.

Prior to the two-game offensive outburst, the Sabres had won just two out of 10 contests and their backs were against the postseason-elimination wall. They failed to take advantage of back-to-back Philadelphia losses and they allowed the rest of the pack to close in behind them. Now, with the Flyers still on their heels, the Sabres have pulled up their hockey socks and made life miserable for opposing goaltenders.

Jason Pominville and Derek Roy have led the offense with five and four points respectively in those two games. Those two, along with Thomas Vanek will likely be the only Sabres to finish with greater than 60 points this year after boasting seven players who accomplished the feat last campaign.

But despite the presence of skilled forward Tim Connolly on the shelf with a chronic hip injury, and Vanek still struggling (pointless in three contests), the team has found its stride just in time. Youngsters Drew Stafford, three points in his last two games, and Daniel Paille, five in his last three, have picked it up. With some weak defensive teams up ahead of them--the Sbares play Tampa Bay on Wednesday, Toronto on Friday and then back-to-back against the struggling Sens--this offense should continue rolling.

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TAPPING ALEXANDER'S SHOULDER 
Alexander Ovechkin woke up Sunday morning with 99 points and a comfortable six-point lead in the NHL scoring race. With 14 points in his last six games, he is certainly on a big enough roll to win this year's Art Ross. But not so fast; Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin picked up four points in a 7-1 thrashing of the Flyers Sunday to give him 97 points, while Ovechkin was pointless against the Bruins. INTEL: This race is certainly no gimme for GR8 and will come down to the final weekend.

OKPOSO DEBUT 
Winger Kyle Okposo is expected to make his NHL debut for the Islanders on Tuesday. The team announced that he will be in the lineup to face the Maple Leafs. INTEL: The seventh overall draft pick in 2006 is the top prospect in the organization and his 24 points in 29 AHL games indicate that he is ready for a look. He will likely be a regular next season, barring a weak camp.

HASEK'S BACK 
Veteran goaltender Dominik Hasek returned to the Detroit lineup Sunday after missing two games with a sore back. He was yanked after giving up four goals on 10 shots. INTEL: Chris Osgood came on in relief and pulled ahead of Hasek for the GAA lead in the league. Despite this, the Red Wings will continue to ride their future Hall-of-Famer into the postseason and give him the bulk, if not all, of the starts.

CAPTAIN NASH 
With two points in Sunday's 4-3 win over Detroit, Rick Nash has 15 points in his last 14 games. INTEL: The win gave Columbus a franchise record 75 points, while the 23-year-old Nash cleared 60 points for the first time in his career. Clearly, both Nash and Columbus are on the upswing and will make huge strides in 2008-09.

MR. BROOKS 
The Capitals are finding offense from an unexpected source, as checking forward Brooks Laich has 11 points in his last 10 games, including an assist in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Bruins. INTEL: Laich won't bring the type of offense that Peter Bondra, the player he was traded from Ottawa for, gave them, but he does have intriguing upside

CORVO, EAVES SENS THEIR REGRETS 
Joe Corvo potted the first hat trick of his career against the team that traded him a month ago as the 'Canes beat up the Senators 5-1. Ironically, Patrick Eaves, who was also part of the trade, scored his first goal in a Carolina uniform. INTEL: Corvo has collected 15 points in 15 games for Carolina, who desperately needed a quarterback for their power play before acquiring him. The defenseman could flourish next season, so make sure he is high on your draft lists.

CHRISTENSEN LEAVES GAME 
Atlanta pivot Erik Christensen left Sunday's contest in the third period with a sprained knee. INTEL: The 24-year-old has four points in 10 games since being traded by the Penguins at the deadline. He does have some upside as a second-line player, but you'll probably have to wait until next season to see for sure. He is listed as day-to-day.

BAD PICKUP? 
Ottawa rearguard Mike Commodore is pointless with 20 penalty minutes and is a minus-8 in 17 games since being acquired from the Hurricanes. INTEL: Commodore was a decent depth option in rotisserie leagues while in Carolina. However, in Ottawa, his value is not only zilch, but it's less than nil because he is actually hurting your plus/minus category.

FOPPA TO RETURN 
Colorado's injury-prone superstar, Peter Forsberg, practiced Sunday and is expected to return to the Monday when the Avs play the Wild. INTEL: After playing three games following his return, Foppa missed the last four with a groin injury. He's a 50-50 risk to miss a game on any given day, so own him at your own risk.