Ovechkin takes the goal-scoring lead, Carter leads the Kings, lineup news, Fantasy tips and more in Scott Cullen’s Statistically Speaking. HEROES Alex Ovechkin – Scored a pair of goals in Washington’s 4-0 win over Pittsburgh. With 13 goals in the past 13 games, Ovechkin now has 29 goals on the season to lead the league. He’s a little behind last season’s 51-goal pace, but this surge has put Ovechkin back at the top of the goal-scoring race. While Ovechkin’s shots on goal totals are down, a little, he has seen a massive jump in power play shot attempts. His 13 power-play goals leads the league and 16 even-strength goals is tied for seventh. OVECHKIN SHOOTING YEAR G/GP SOG/GP SH% 5-on5 SA/60 5-on4 SA/60 2007-08 0.79 5.44 14.6% 26.5 31.7 2008-09 0.71 6.68 10.6% 30.3 44.4 2009-10 0.69 5.11 13.6% 27.8 38.4 2010-11 0.41 4.65 8.7% 23.2 35.5 2011-12 0.49 3.88 12.5% 21.3 32.1 2012-13 0.67 4.58 14.5% 21.8 40.7 2013-14 0.65 4.95 13.2% 24.1 39.1 2014-15 0.60 4.79 12.6% 22.6 51.1 Ovechkin’s playmaking centre, Nicklas Backstrom assisted on both of Ovechkin’s goals. Since 2008-2009, Backstrom’s second season, the Capitals rank third and fourth in points per game, behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Jeff Carter – The Kings centre was a force in a 4-3 win over Chicago, scoring two goals and assisting on another. Even with two goals, Carter has 0.29 goals per game (14 in 48 games) this season, his lowest goal-scoring rate since 2006-2007, his second season in the league. Braden Holtby – Washington’s goaltender delivered a 27-save shutout in a 4-0 win against Pittsburgh. His .922 save percentage ranks sixth in the league, yet not good enough to be one of nine goaltenders named to the All-Star game, apparently. ZEROES Saad, Toews, Hossa – They weren’t terrible, but all Chicago’s first line of Brandon Saad, Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa were under 46% possession and were on for two goals against in a 4-3 loss at Los Angeles. For most lines, that’s not particularly notable. For one of the best two-way lines in hockey, it stands out that they got the worst of it, particularly when facing the line of Jeff Carter, Dwight King and Tyler Toffoli. Adam Henrique – The New Jersey forward failed to generate a shot attempt in 19:57 of ice time and was crushed in shot attempts (3 for, 13 against, 18.8%) at even strength in a 2-1 shootout win over Toronto. Nick Shore – The Kings rookie forward didn’t play much, 6:11 total, against Chicago, but was on for two Blackhawks goals against and not great possession stats (3 shot attempts for, 6 against, 33.3%) despite starting two-thirds of his shifts in the offensive zone; a small-sample tough night. LINEUP NEED TO KNOW Sidney Crosby – Returned to the Pittsburgh lineup after missing his mandated one game after the All-Star break. He played 19:42, struggling in the faceoff circle (7 wins, 17 losses, 29.2%) in a 4-0 loss to Washington. Tyler Toffoli – The Kings winger returned to the lineup, for his first game since January 8, after a bout of mono, and scored a goal and an assist in a 4-3 win against Chicago. Adam Larsson – New Jersey’s lone regulation goal-scorer in the win over Toronto, the 22-year-old defenceman is seeing much different usage under the new regime. In January, Larsson has six points (1 G, 5 A) in nine games, while averaging 23:37 of ice time per game. He had been averaging 16:35 per game in 21 games through the end of December. Andre Burakovsky – The Capitals rookie winger had four points (2 G, 2 A) during a three-game point streak, playing on the top line with Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, yet was a healthy scratch for Wednesday’s game against Pittsburgh. Jake Gardiner – The Maple Leafs defenceman logged 26:49 at New Jersey, his second straight game over 25 minutes and most in a single game since February 23, 2012. The absence of Dion Phaneuf is going to open up lots of playing time on the Toronto blueline. Petter Granberg – Speaking of Toronto defencemen getting a chance while Phaneuf is out, the 2010 fourth-round pick played his first game of the season (second of his career) for the Maple Leafs at New Jersey. Granberg had seven points (1 G, 6 A) and was even in 28 AHL games before getting called up. SHORT SHIFTS Capitals D Mike Green had a goal and an assist in the 4-0 win over Pittsburgh; he has 17 points (2 G, 15 A) in his past 18 games…Blackhawks RW Patrick Kane recorded a goal and an assist in a 4-3 loss at Los Angeles, giving him 27 points (11 G, 16 A) in his past 20 games…Blackhawks LW Patrick Sharp also had a goal and an assist, and has five points (1 G, 4 A) in the past four games…Kings C Anze Kopitar had a pair of assists in the win; he has 13 points (3 G, 10 A) in the past nine games…Devils RW Martin Havlat had a strong possession game (13 shot attempts for, 2 against, 86.7%) against Toronto...Devils G Cory Schneider stopped 29 of 30 shots in a 2-1 shootout win vs. Toronto, while Maple Leafs G Jonathan Bernier had 22 saves on 23 shots. FANTASY FOCUS There are 11 games on the schedule tonight, so here are half a dozen players to consider for your lineup: Mikhail Grabovski – 15 points (7 G, 8 A) in 39 games is not a great output, despite his stellar possession stats, but getting a shot to play with John Tavares and Josh Bailey on the Isles’ top line is a good opportunity. Michael Del Zotto – Injuries have given him a better opportunity and Del Zotto has five points (2 G, 3 A) during a four-game point streak and has played more than 20 minutes in eight straight games. Riley Sheahan – While he does have five points, all assists, in the past five games, the Red Wings centre has scored one goal in the past 18 games and has just 21 shots on goal in that time. Nevertheless, he’s a two-way centre with some offensive upside. Brad Boyes – The veteran winger has five points (3 G, 2 A) in the past seven games and has a good opportunity, skating with promising young linemates Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau. Seth Jones – Taking advantage of more minutes in Ryan Ellis’ absence, Jones has five points (1 G, 4 A) in the past five games and has played more than 20 minutes in each of the past seven games. Mikael Backlund – He has never had a 40-point season in the NHL and probably won’t get there this year, either, due to injuries, but the Flames centre has eight points (5 G, 3 A) in his past eight games. Much of the data included comes from www.war-on-ice.com, www.puckalytics.com, www.hockeystats.ca and www.naturalstattrick.com Scott Cullen can be reached at scott.cullen@bellmedia.ca Discount Shoes For Sale . Felix Pie had an RBI double earlier in the inning, as Baltimore rallied for three runs to overcome a 3-2 deficit. J.J. Hardy had two hits and Matt Wieters chipped in with an RBI double for the Orioles, who pushed their winning streak to three games. China Shoes 2020 . 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The Toronto Blue Jays star won his second consecutive Hank Aaron Award as the most outstanding offensive performer in the AL on Monday after votes by fans and a panel of Hall of Famers were tallied.HOUSTON - When Indianapolis raced to a big lead over the Houston Texans in the first quarter, Colts coach Chuck Pagano was worried theyd let up.They did, but that early lead was so big that they were still able to hold on for a 33-28 victory Thursday night.Youre going up and down on the sideline screaming at everybody: Dont take your foot off the gas, Pagano said. Next thing you know, just like that (its close). Its never over in this league.The Colts (4-2) led 24-0 after one quarter, but allowed Houston (3-3) to cut it to 33-28 early in the fourth quarter on J.J. Watts fumble return for a touchdown.You give a team a 24-point lead right out the gate, youre going to have a difficult time, Watt said.The Texans had two opportunities to take the lead late, but the Colts recovered fumbles by Andre Johnson and Ryan Fitzpatrick in the last five minutes.You can finally start to see the type of defence that we envisioned a long time ago to go out there and do that week in and week out, Pagano said.Luck finished with 370 yards passing and three touchdowns for his fourth straight 300-yard passing game and T.Y. Hilton had a career-high 223 yards receiving with a touchdown to give Indy first place in the AFC South.We realized with the recent history of Thursday night games, teams who are going on the road are struggling, and we didnt want to do that, Luck said. We were lucky enough to get off on that fast start. It takes focus, and you almost have to trick yourself into it.The Texans were driving with less than five minutes remaining when Johnson a€” called for pass interference two plays earlier a€” caught a 13-yard pass and fumbled.Watt knocked down Lucks pass on third down on Indys next drive to give Houston one last chance. But Bjoern Werner sacked Fitzpatrick and stripped the ball and DQwell Jackson recovered.I was trying to make a play ... just poor ball security, Fitzpatrick said.Fitzpatrick threw for 212 yards and a touchdown and Arian Foster had 109 yards rushing with two scores for Houston.Indianapolis led by 12 when Luck fumbled and Watt recovered it and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown. It was Watts third touchdown this season. He also has scored on an interception return and a reception.Foster had a 34-yard run before Johnson grabbed a 26-yard recepttion to get Houston down to the 2 in the third quarter.dddddddddddd Foster ran wide before cutting back inside and into the end zone untouched on the next play to get the Texans to 27-21.The Texans were within six points in the third quarter when Luck, who was under heavy pressure, threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Hilton. The 2-point conversion failed, leaving Indianapolis up 33-21.After a dreadful first quarter where Houston managed just 2 yards, the Texans offence finally got going in the second quarter. They kicked a field goal on fourth-and-5, but the Colts got a penalty to give Houston a new set of downs.They took advantage of the opportunity when Fitzpatrick found Johnson in the corner of the end zone and he managed to get both feet in bounds for a 4-yard touchdown two plays later to cut the lead to 24-7. It was the first touchdown of the season for Johnson.Houston got the ball back when Jared Crick tipped a pass by Luck that was intercepted by Justin Tuggle.The Texans got to 24-14 when Foster scored on a 12-yard run.The Colts added field goal to make it 27-14.Luck found Hilton on a 40-yard pass early in the first quarter, but Indys offence stalled after that and the Colts settled for a field goal to make it 3-0.Trent Richardson had a 5-yard touchdown run on a two-play drive that included a 49-yard pass to Hilton.The play was originally ruled a touchdown after Hilton recovered from a fall seemingly untouched by defender Kareem Jackson and reached the end zone. The play was reviewed and the call reversed, with Hilton ruled down by contact at the 5.The Colts pushed the lead to 17-0 when Ahmad Bradshaw scored on a 5-yard pass from Luck with about seven minutes left in the first quarter.The Texans had to punt again after Fitzpatrick was sacked by Werner for an 8-yard loss on third down after Bradshaws score.Luck capped a long drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Coby Fleener at the end of the first quarter to extend the lead to 24-0.NOTES: Johnson finished with 99 yards receiving to give him 13,080 career yards receiving, making him the 15th player in NFL history to reach 13,000. ... Houstons Shane Lechler set a franchise record with a 71-yard punt in the third quarter.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '