With just under two weeks of regular season action remaining, finding points for your fantasy team has never been more important.  On that note, I have uncovered three journeymen playing like guys whose journey may be at an end, and one rookie that deserves a shot.  

Keep an eye out for a couple of pathetically cheap drug and sex jokes to keep you interested.  

Wade Dubielewicz | G
New York Islanders

Following yet another season ending hip surgery to starter and owner of one of the NHL's worst contracts, Rick DiPietro, Wade Dubielewicz should start the majority of the last six Islanders games.  

As Greg Logan of Newsday reports, while Dubielewicz does not have an opportunity to repeat last season's heroic stretch catapulting the Islanders to the playoffs with four straight wins, he still has plenty of motivation.  Despite having the nickname DubieIt is the green kind that does not smell like a lazy hippy as he reports,

"Without Ricky's injury, you don't get that kind of opportunity," Dubielewicz said. "You don't really want it to come in this situation, but a guy my stature and my status; you've got to take what you get. I just want to show the brass and the guys on the team that I can play at this level, not only in a backup role, but a more prominent role."

Keeping in mind that he is playing for a job, I would be willing to say Wade has as much, if not more motivation to play well down the stretch than any goalie in the NHL.  Sure, there are guys playing to get their teams into the playoffs; but any goalie playing for a team with playoff dreams still alive is definitely a starter.  Starters have the luxury of not worrying about getting paid.

While playing your heart out to garner an invite to the posts season dance for your team is nice, it pales in comparison with the desire to put food on your family's table.  

Dubliewicz is a free agent at the end of the season and clearly realizes this is an invaluable opportunity to showcase his talent not only for the Islanders, but for the entire NHL.  Do not count on him letting it slip through his fingers.  

He is having a solid year for a backup with a 2.77 GAA and .911 save percentage.  He has been playing his best lately, though, including a Friday start against the Devils where he only one goal on thirty-five shots against one of the NHL's best teams.  

If you have a hole in net on your fantasy squad, pick up a Dubie that you do not even need to light to make you happy.  

Brett McLean | C
Florida Panthers

Despite being the 242nd overall pick in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, I chose to include McLean in this week's sleepers column.  You're probably asking why I would stake my carefully crafted reputation on a guy whose best NHL season statistically was a paltry 40 points?

Good question reader.  Like any faux-would-be-philosopher, I will respond with another question: what have you done for me lately?

With regards to the good Mr. McLean, the answer is a $hit ton.  

A member of the recently created top line, along with Olli Jokinen and Rostislav Olesz, Brett has 11 points in his last seven games.  All of which were Panthers wins.  

With the pressure set to grow each night for the Panthers as they challenge for the playoffs, look for McLean to keep on doing what he's been doing.  

Henrik Tallinder | D
Buffalo Sabres

While many thought the Buffalo Sabres were throwing in the towel on the 2007-08 season following the trade of defenseman Brian Campbell, GM Darcy Regier once again proved why he is one the best in the business.  He astutely realized he was actually making his team better by trading one of the NHL's top offensive defenseman; he was creating room for Tallinder to shine.  

The wisdom of trading a blue liner who has been amongst the NHL's best averaging 45 points per season the last three years, giving an opportunity to a guy who has never had more than 21 points any year of his NHL career is not for mere mortals like you and I to understand.  

The proof is in the pudding.  With seven points in his last six games, Henrik is once again proving Regier's prescience.

I am of the type that defers to people who are obviously wiser than I ... in the very times that is true, and I recommend you do the same in this instance.  Tallinder should be a free agent in most leagues and would be an excellent addition to your future league champion fantasy team.  

Benoit Pouliot | LW
Minnesota Wild

This pick is more of a hunch than the previous three absolute stone cold locks, but depending on your situation, Benoit could be a solid gamble for your roster.

Despite having easily the sleaziest personal team photo in all of sports and the intelligence level of a SportsCenter anchor or caveman, seen on display in this eloquent use of the English language,

"All the teams keep on winning, it's pretty scary to watch, but if we keep winning there shouldn't be a problem"

There is a reason Benoit was the 4th overall choice of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.  In 2005-06, playing for Sudbury of the OHL, he scored 35 goals and dished out 30 assists in just 51 games.  

It took him a while, but he finally scored his first two NHL goals Saturday against the Flames.  

They say you can't know how to "score" until you've actually "scored" with a member of the opposite sex, and I the same logic applies to scoring on ice.  Look for Benoit to pick up a few points in the Wild's final six games.  

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Écrit près Charlie Danoff -- Homepage