ESPN Fantasy Hockey Blog

Posted by Victoria Matiash

The "P" word is often bandied about in the realm of fantasy sports, but no more so than at the start of a new season. When should you, or when should you not, start to panic?

Some unexpected early underachievers will cause many of us to consider pulling the shute prematurely, and there's no better example this season than Marty Turco. Six games in, the Stars' No. 1 has a 2-3 record, with a 4.12 goals-against average and .830 save percentage. Pretty putrid numbers, especially by Turco's above-average standards.

But before drastic measures are taken, first, a deep breath is needed. Second, a look to recent history. Martin Brodeur started out last season in wretched fashion, and many were up in arms, proclaiming the perennial all-star was finally washed up. But after starting out 2-6 with an .863 save percentage, Brodeur quickly returned to his old ways and put in one of the top fantasy performances of the year. Those who panicked and dumped the New Jersey netminder early were undoubtedly regretting it.

Furthermore, Dallas is a better team than it has been to this point. Flashy start aside, Fabian Brunnstrom remains brand new and continues to find his NHL legs. The recently formed second line of Loui Eriksson, Mike Ribeiro and Sean Avery is still getting to know one another, and chemistry takes time. And remember, the Stars are missing their best two-way player in Jere Lehtinen and No. 1 defenseman in Sergei Zubov. Lehtinen remains listed as day-to-day because of a sore groin and will hopefully be back shortly. Following hip surgery, Zubov is scheduled to make his return to the lineup in early November (eligible to return Nov. 1).

So don't write off Turco or the rest of the Stars yet. Hope is certainly hovering on the horizon, and it's a mighty long season.

Ice Chips

Sergei Kostitsyn was held pointless in his brother's place alongside Alexei Kovalev and Tomas Plekanec while the Canadiens beat Florida 3-1. Montreal doesn't play again until Saturday, and Andrei Kostitsyn is expected to be back in the lineup by then. … Canadiens' backup Jaroslav Halak stopped 35 of 36 shots to record his second win of the season after allowing only a single goal in his first victory. With a shot at starting at least 25 percent of the team's games in place of No. 1 Carey Price, Halak is a solid asset in deeper leagues as a third goaltender. … Coach Michel Therrien is likely not done mucking about with his lines in Pittsburgh. Although Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby assisted on Miroslav Satan's goal Monday -- the Penguins' only score in regulation -- the top line of Crosby, Malkin and Pascal Dupuis was relatively impotent in the 2-1 shootout victory over Boston. Don't put too much fantasy stock in Dupuis quite yet. … Boston's Patrice Bergeron might not have a goal yet this season (four assists), but that won't last much longer. Bergeron registered seven shots against Pittsburgh and had several good chances. He'll start scoring in bunches, just you watch. … Paul Stastny, Ryan Smyth and Milan Hejduk make up one of the most productive lines in the league. The three combined for another six points in Colorado's 4-3 win over L.A., bringing their collective total to 24 in six games. Stastny leads the trio with 10, but Hejduk's production is perhaps the nicest surprise, with eight points thus far. … After missing two games because of a sore groin, Henrik Zetterberg is due back in the Red Wings' lineup against St. Louis on Wednesday.