Lots of love for the Central, with the Blues blowing up offensively, Kane climbing the scoring list and Nashville’s defence continuing to provide offence. Cheap NHL Jerseys China . Lineup news, Fantasy and more in Scott Cullen’s Statistically Speaking. HEROES St. Louis Blues – After rolling the San Jose Sharks for seven goals, for the second time in a week, the Blues have a bunch of players on hot streaks. C David Backes has nine points (5 G, 4 A) in the past five games; RW T.J. Oshie has 13 points (6 G, 7 A) during a seven-game point streak; LW Jaden Schwartz has 10 points (4 G, 6 A) during a six-game point streak; C Paul Stastny has 10 points (2 G, 8 A) in the past seven games; LW Alexander Steen has 11 points (3 G, 8 A) during a five-game point streak. The Blues have nine players – tied with Chicago for the most – with at least 20 points this season. Colorado, with eight, is the only other team ahead of a group of nine teams tied with seven. Patrick Kane – Chicago’s high-scoring winger had a goal and two assists in a 4-2 win at Minnesota, his fourth three-point game in the past 10. He has 19 points (8 G, 11 A) in his past 13 games, moving into a five-way tie for third in league scoring, with 45 points. Kane’s centre, Brad Richards, recorded three assists and has six points (2 G, 4 A) in his past five games. Josi & Weber – Continued point production from Nashville’s top defence tandem. Roman Josi had a pair of assists in a 3-2 overtime win vs. Dallas, giving him 12 points (4 G, 8 A) in the past 10 games. Shea Weber scored a pair of goals, including the overtime winner, and had nine shot attempts (5 SOG) in a 3-2 win against Dallas; he has 13 points (4 G, 9 A) in the past 13 games. ZEROES Johnny Oduya – The Blackhawks blueliner was crushed (4 shot attempts for, 26 against, 13.3%) in possession terms against Minnesota. Seth Helgeson – The Devils rookie defenceman was buried in the defensive zone (2 shot attempts for, 22 against, 8.3%) against Boston. Goalies: Craig Anderson – Yanked from the Senators net after giving up three goals on nine shots in a 5-2 loss at Colorado. Antti Niemi – San Jose’s goalie surrendered five goals on 21 shots before getting pulled in a 7-2 loss at St. Louis. Jhonas Enroth – Buffalo goaltender gave up five goals on 31 shots in a 5-2 loss at Carolina. LINEUP NEED TO KNOW Jason Zucker – In Zach Parise’s absence from the Wild lineup, Zucker played a career-high 21:42 and scored a goal – his team-leading 15th – in a 4-2 loss to Chicago. Dustin Byfuglien – Played 29:18 in Winnipeg’s 4-1 loss to Arizona Thursday. It was the second straight game, and third time this season, that Byfuglien has played more than 29 minutes in a game. Teuvo Teravainen – After four shots on goal, and no points, in 20:57 of ice time in his first two NHL games, the 20-year-old Blackhawks rookie was a healthy scratch against Minnesota Thursday. Colton Sceviour – The Stars winger, who had seven points (3 G, 4 A) in his previous 11 games, but was scoreless, with two shots on goal in the past two, was a healthy scratch at Nashville. The Stars opened the game with Brett Ritchie skating alongside Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, but the blender got put to use in the second half of the game, as Seguin moved to a line with Jason Spezza and Erik Cole, while Cody Eakin moved up to play the middle with Benn and Ritchie. Daniel Paille – Moved up the depth chart to play the wing with Patrice Bergeron and Milan Lucic against New Jersey, while rookie David Pastrnak, in his first game since playing (1 G, 6 A, 5 GP) for the Czech Republic at the World Juniors, skated alongside David Krejci and Brad Marchand. Phil Varone – Playing his second game this season since getting called up from the AHL, the Sabres centre scored both Buffalo goals in a 5-2 loss at Carolina. Varone had 29 points (8 G, 21 A) and was minus-3 in 35 AHL games before getting called up. Jordan Schroeder – Playing his first game with the Wild since November 13, Schroeder had seven shots on goal in 9:49 of ice time against Chicago. Schroeder had 24 points (10 G, 14 A) and was minus-4 in 28 AHL games. Jonathon Blum – Making his first appearance for the Wild since November 11, the blueliner didn’t play much (7:24) against Chicago, but had solid possession stats (9 shot attempts for, 2 against, 81.8%). He had 16 points (4 G, 12 A) and was minus-11 in 29 AHL games before getting recalled. SHORT SHIFTS Bruins LW Milan Lucic scored a pair of goals in a 3-0 win over New Jersey; he had one goal in his previous 16 games…Capitals D Mike Green assisted on both of Washington’s goals in a 3-2 loss at Philadelphia; he has 11 points (1 G, 10 A) in the past 10 games…Blackhawks LW Bryan Bickell scored a pair of goals in a 4-2 win at Minnesota, and has five points (4 G, 1 A) in the past five games…Wild RW Jason Pominville put up a goal and an assist in the 4-2 loss to Chicago, giving him 14 points (3 G, 11 A) in the past 12 games…Sharks C Logan Couture had a goal and an assist in a 7-2 loss to St. Louis; he has seven points (2 G, 5 A) in the past six games…Panthers LW Jonathan Huberdeau had two goals and an assist in a 3-1 win at Vancouver, and has seven points (3 G, 4 A) in the past six games…Rangers D Dan Boyle had a goal and an assist in a 4-3 win at Los Angeles, giving him seven points (2 G, 5 A) in the past seven games…Rangers C Derick Brassard picked up a pair of assists at Los Angeles, and has nine points (3 G, 6 A) in the past seven games…Kings LW Dustin Brown had a couple of assists in the loss, giving him five assists in the past five games. Bruins RW Reilly Smith (17 shot attempts for, 3 against, 85.0%) and defencemen Torey Krug (20 for, 4 against, 83.3%) and Kevan Miller (18 for, 4 against, 81.8%) had strong possession stats against New Jersey…Sharks rookie LW Barclay Goodrow had 30% possession (9 shot attempts for, 21 against) and was on for three even-strength goals against in the 7-2 loss to St. Louis…Predators D Ryan Ellis controlled play (14 shot attempts for, 2 against) in a 3-2 overtime win against Dallas…Rangers D John Moore had another superb possession game (79.0%) in limited ice time at Los Angeles; in the last four games that Moore has dressed, he’s been on for 75.3% (70 for, 23 against) of shot attempts during 5-on-5 play. Blackhawks G Corey Crawford stopped 42 of 44 shots in a 4-2 win at Minnesota…Devils G Cory Schneider stopped 40 of 42 shots in the loss to Boston, and has a .932 save percentage over his past nine starts…Avalanche G Semyon Varlamov stopped 36 of 38 shots in a 5-2 win over Ottawa; since returning from injury, Varlamov has a .943 save percentage in seven games…Coyotes G Mike Smith turned aside 34 of 35 shots in a 4-1 win over Winnipeg…Panthers G Roberto Luongo stopped 32 of 33 shots he faced in his return to Vancouver. FIRSTS Miikka Salomaki – Making his NHL debut for Nashville, the 21-year-old winger scored a goal against Dallas and delivered a game-high seven hits. A second-round pick in 2011, Salomaki had 16 points (5 G, 11 A) and was plus-13 in 29 AHL games before getting promoted. FANTASY FOCUS Five games on the NHL schedule tonight; here are some players to consider for your lineup: Aleksander Barkov – The second-year Panthers centre is starting to produce a little offence, with three points (1 G, 2 A) in the past four games. Adam Larsson – Playing bigger minutes (24:17) this month and has two assists in the past three games. Brandon Dubinsky – The Columbus centre has seven points (2 G, 5 A) in the past five games and is averaging 19:27 of ice time per game. Anton Lander – Let’s not get carried away over a player with 10 points in 98 career NHL games, but Lander does have points in back-to-back games and, with 83 points (27 G, 56 A) in 75 AHL games since the start of last season, he’s shown some ability to contribute offensively and could be worth keeping on your radar. 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 Wholesale NHL Jerseys . NORRIS COLE (Heat): Its funny, you watch a guy play and now really produce and it just jumps off the page at you - why? You put a young player with potential in a winning environment where there is veteran leadership, outstanding coaching and management and a way that things are done and its a wonderful environment for growth, improvement in a climate of constant accountability and expectation of achievement/production. Discount Hockey Jerseys . "Youre not really spending time to sit back and analyze what your competitions doing and things like that," Anthopoulos said. "Youre so focused on what were trying to get done." Ultimately, while the landscape around them changed with trades both major and minor, the Blue Jays did nothing before Thursdays non-waiver deadline. http://www.cheapnhljerseysusa.com/ . -- Zach Johnson is like most players at the World Challenge, not sure whether hes still playing in 2013 or if hes in the middle of the new wraparound season that officially started in October.MANCHESTER, England -- Ashley Cole was left out of the England World Cup squad on Sunday, prompting the veteran Chelsea defender to announce his retirement from international duty. England coach Roy Hodgson said omitting the 33-year-old Cole was part of his plan to "look to the future," making it likely Luke Shaw will be the backup to Leighton Baines at left back in Brazil despite only making his international debut in March. Ahead of Mondays public squad announcement, Hodgson rang the players who were not among the 23 players being taken to Brazil. "I got the call from Roy and agree England team should be about the young players," Cole wrote on his Twitter account. "I think it best I retire from England team now ... like me or not, trust me its hurt me to stop playing for my country." After making his England debt in 2001, Cole went on to win 107 caps, the last coming in the 1-0 friendly win over Denmark in March. "Among many difficult decisions Ive had to make for my squad, not selecting Ashley was one of the hardest," Hodgson said. "Hes been an incredible competitor for England, to amass over a century of caps is a truly staggering achievement and he deserves enormous credit for the desire and brilliance which has shone through over the years he has represented his country. "There are few players who can be considered among the very best in the world, but Ashley in his prime was the best left back without question." Cole, who fell out of contention for England after losing his starting spot at Chelsea this season, endorsed Baines of Everton and Southampton teennager Shaw. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys. "Baines and Shaw are great players, proved this season, and are the future of this country, it was a pleasure to get 107 caps," Cole tweeted. Before England opens the World Cup against Italy on June 14, Hodgsons side has friendlies against Peru at Wembley Stadium, and Ecuador and Honduras in Miami. "We have a great manager and team and I wish them only success," Cole said. "I will be supporting them like a true fan." Hodgsons intention to take younger players in Brazil could see Chelsea teammate Frank Lampard also miss out on the World Cup despite 103 international appearances. The 20-year-old Everton midfielder Ross Barkley is being tipped as another youngster to make the squad as Hodgson blends a dynamic team to make an impact in Brazil. There was encouraging news for Hodgson on Sunday over midfielder Jack Wilshere, who returned to action for Arsenal after spending two months on the sidelines since fracturing his left foot in Englands friendly win over Denmark in March. "He can play now, so it shows you that there is no problem for him to be available for England," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said after Sundays 2-0 win at Norwich. Another Arsenal midfielder, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, should also be fit for the World Cup despite being out for three weeks with a groin injury, according to Wenger. "He should reintegrate into the squad on Wednesday in normal training," said Wenger, whose side plays Hull in the FA Cup final on Saturday. "He will be available for Roy to pick him. I wouldnt be surprised if he was picked." ' ' '