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Robert Luongo recorded his forth shutout of the season last night and his second in as many games. Fantasy hockey owners are finally getting a consistent return on Luongo, in a year that started off somewhat shaky. He will have his spells of bad games, but he is currently in a groove right now and can single-handedly change the dynamic of a fantasy hockey league. Full steam ahead with Roberto Luongo. He’s simply the best in the business now that Brodeur is out.

Hockey’s most irritable defenseman, Chris Pronger, scored the game-winner tonight against the Los Angeles Kings. The goal came in the first minute of overtime and snapped over 60 minutes of shutout hockey between the two teams. Pronger now owns 12 points in 14 games this year and looks to be back on track to his normal nasty self. Last year Pronger saw a dip in all his offensive categories, with the exception to SOG and PIM’s. His goal tonight was his 4th of the season and his 7th point in his last 4 games. Look for Pronger to pick up his pre 2007-08 play and be a top tier fantasy hockey defender from here on out. Pronger’s fantasy hockey value dipped this season, after coming off a sub-par season last year, but consider him a legitimate Norris Trophy candidate, that is, if he could pry it from Lidstrom’s hands. Full steam ahead for this tree-trunk of a man.

The surgery heard around the fantasy hockey world! Fantasy hockey stud and the best goalie hands down, Martin Brodeur, will have surgery on his elbow. He is expected to miss up to 4 months and will not be back until February at the earliest. This is horrible news for New Jersey Devils fans and those who drafted Martin Brodeur. The severity of his injury wasn’t made known until today and the news of this happening has caused a fantasy hockey panic. Jersey is a good defensive team, but Kevin Weekes is not even the red-headed stepbrother of Broduer. Deep league participants pick Weekes up, because he looks to get the bulk of the starts. Pray for him not to be Kevin Weekes though. Proceed with extreme caution.

A defensive staring contest was brewing and the only question to ask is, “who was going to draw first”. Remember staring contests? What were the true rules of a good ole’ fashion staring contest? Did you have to crack a smile or make a facial expression to lose? Nostalgia aside, it will be interesting to see which goalie loses the staring contest tonight between New Jersey Devils backup and Buffalo Sabre Ryan Miller. You like how I tied the staring contest reference into the hockey match-up? This game had all the signs of a defensive gem, but Martin Brodeur has an elbow injury that will keep him out of the lineup tonight. Martin Brodeur has been nothing short of brilliant this year, and is tied for the league lead in shutouts. He also maintains a 6-2 record, with a GAA of 2.16 and save % of .916. He’s simply the greatest goalie to ever play in the NHL. Don’t try to argue another goalie, because it will prove your IQ is below that of normal intelligence. Not to be out done by Brodeur, Ryan Miller is off to his best start of his career compiling the best GAA in the league at 1.82 and a save % of .936, which is good for 3 best in the NHL. He also holds a record of 6-1 (best winning percentage) and he doesn’t even go 170 pounds. Yes, he’s listed at 175, but we all know he weighed himself with his gear on. Too bad this one handicapped by an injury. Gambling degenerates, lay your dinero on the Sabres tonight.

Fantasy Hockey Outlook: A defensive masterpiece was brewing tonight, but look for the Sabres to capitalize on the Brodeurs absence. Each team has only allowed 25 goals this season, but the Sabres have out-scored the Devils 36 to 31 in total goals this year. Miller will come away with the victory tonight  in a 4-1 victory. Why 4-1, because that 4th came on an empty netter. Too bad we won’t see Marty tonight, but it is a long season and the Devils are smart to keep their star out until he’s 100%.

Okay, so if you bet on the Sabres to win, as we predicted, then you would’ve made some money. Don’t know what the line was, but a Devils lineup with an absent Brodeur, is a highly beatable lineup, especially with the run Ryan Miller is on. Miller gets his 2nd shutout of the year, improves to 7-1 and catapults himself into fantasy hockey folklore. Miller will have a period of correction shortly, but ride him to the promised land. Q Springsteen song…

2 nights after Buffalo Sabre goalie Ryan Miller gave up a season high 5 goals, Ryan Miller stopped all 29 shots by the Washington Capitals. This was Miller’s first shutout of the season and his 7th of his young career. For fantasy hockey owners, Miller has been nothing short of brilliant this year on a very good Buffalo Sabres team. He owns a goals against average of under 2.0 and a save percentage of over .930. His win tonight gives him a record of 6-1-1 and he is a must start in all fantasy hockey leagues. Think of Miller as solid number one goalie option this year and years to come.