Hemsky leading the charge; Unlikely linemates for Nash; McLean clicks nicely with Jokinen; Conklin missing the spotlight; Boston goaltending picture gets cloudy; and more...

KEEPER CORNER  Dubinsky Photos: Getty Images A LOT OF fantasy leagues rely on more than just points. Other categories come into play such as plus/minus and penalty minutes. Here are some young guns with potential to give value in several categories...   Milan Lucic, LW Boston Bruins Daniel Carcillo, LW  Phoenix Coyotes Alexandre Burrows, W  Vancouver Canucks Brandon Dubinsky, C New York Rangers David Clarkson, RW  New Jersey Devils Jack Johnson, D Los Angeles Kings Steve Downie, RW Philadelphia Flyers Torrey Mitchell, C/RW  San Jose Sharks

 STOCK Watch 

MANNY MALHOTRA HAS already established himself as a 25- to 30-point player so by no means does this latest twist make him fantasy worthy in the long term. However, he has recently lined up on the top line with Rick Nash and Dan Fritsche and the three of them have hit it off. Malhotra has six points in the last three contests while Fritsche has five in the last six. Both players make solid temporary additions to your fantasy lineups. And who knows? Perhaps the run will continue for the final three weeks of the season.  

ALL HE NEEDED was a chance. Florida Panthers winger Brett McLean finally has one and it only took his new team 40 games or so to give it to him. Moved to the top line to try things with star center Olli Jokinen, the two hit it off immediately. Once Rostislav Olesz returned from his injury, the line was complete. McLean has five straight two-point games and he has 22 points in his last 20 contests. His career high is 40 points in the NHL but the 29-year-old was a prolific junior scorer and his chemistry with Jokinen bodes well for a career season in 2008-09, provided the chemistry remains.  
THERE WAS A time, during his stint with the Washington Capitals, when Jeff Halpern was relied upon heavily for his offense. He cleared 40 points on three occasions for the Caps and it appears that in Tampa Bay, he is again being looked upon--at least for secondary offense. Since joining the Lightning at the deadline, Halpern has 12 points in 11 games and is getting first-line minutes as well as decent power-play time.  

IT LOOKS LIKE Ty Conklin needs to be in the spotlight. Everybody knows what a stellar performance he gave while Marc-Andre Fleury was sidelined with a high ankle sprain. His numbers were, in many categories, the best in the league. However, Fleury didn't even have to start a game to interrupt things. Just his mere presence as a backup started a downward spiral for Conklin, who has gone 2-3-1 since Fleury was recalled fro his conditioning stint in the AHL. Twice in those games Conklin has given up five goals--something he had never done this year prior to that.  

WITH MATS SUNDIN and Nik Antropov on the sidelines, somebody had to step up for the Leafs. It is looking like that somebody is Alexander Steen. The 24-year-old has nine points in his last six games and 13 in his last 12. With Sundin and Antropov out, Steen has found himself on the first line and will likely continue to see this much responsibility even when his teammates return.

 SLEEPING Giant 

Ales Hemsky, Edmonton Oilers  
He has been battling injuries all season and despite the fact that he is still just 24, fantasy leaguers are undervaluing Hemsky (pictured, top) because this is his second straight season of inferior numbers when compared to his 77 points from 2005-06. Hemsky has 12 points in his last 10 contests and the Oilers are surging. As long one happens, so will the other. So expect a huge finish and close to 75 points when the dust settles. Could next season be the big breakout for Hemsky?

 INJURY Update 

THE BOSTON GOALTENDING PICTURE just got a little cloudier as Manny Fernandez has been cleared for full practice. Fernandez, acquired in the off-season to be Boston's starter, has been on the shelf since October 30 after undergoing knee surgery. Alex Auld has played in seven of the last nine games for the B's but Tim Thomas has started two of the last three and has played the most games of all the Boston goaltenders. The team is fighting to hold their playoff spot so it will be interesting to see how this pans out.