Defenseman on the Rise

Alex Goligoski’s stock has risen greatly with the news of Gonchar’s injury. Goligoski had been making his way on to the fantasy radar even before Gonchar got hurt.

With Gonchar in the lineup, Alex Goligoski saw over 20 minutes of ice time a night and is among the league’s top scoring defenseman with 7 points (2goals, 5 assists) in 9 games.

Pittsburgh will have to rely on some of their young defenseman to quarter back the power play unit in the 4-6 week absence of Gonchar.

Kris Letang and Goligoski will be asked to burden the responsibility of more production from the blue line in Pittsburgh. Goligoski has a great opportunity to add to his offense of numbers via the power play.

With Gonchar being the center piece of the Penguins’ power play, none of Goligoski’s 9 points this season have come by way the power play.

Finally Producing?

Letang has mustered up two goal games twice in the last six games. That's not the only upside here. The Penguins are finally winning games at home and there is still no Gonchar on the blue line for Pittsburgh. On Saturday, Pittsburgh sent down their leading scorer on the blue line, rookie Alex Goligoski. 

Pittsburgh will host the best the Western Conference has to offer in Detroit and San Jose. If they even split this series look for a playoff push and solid numbers from their young blueliner who will be quarterbacking the point on a powerplay unit that has started to produce after the all-star break.