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Heading out of the lockout and into the new NHL season, fantasy owners looked at the Buffalo Sabres and saw a team that would be on the outside looking in come playoff time. 

They saw a young team with inconsistent or unproven goaltending, led by the likes of Daniel Briere, J.P. Dumont, Chris Drury and newcomer Thomas Vanek. 

Three weeks away from the midpoint of the season, and poolies are looking at the Sabres in a whole new light. 

Currently with the second most points in the Eastern Conference, the top two scorers on the team are currently Ales Kotalik and Tim Connolly. The latter is having an impressive comeback year, while the former is having a breakout year. 

Kotalik, after starting the year with just two points in his first six games, has picked up the offense and compiled 23 points in 27 games since, and will take a very real shot at potting 40 goals this year. The 26-year-old is one point shy of his output of two years ago, and he's played in half the games! 

Connolly, on the other hand, hadn't played an NHL game in two and a half years after suffering from the effects of post concussion syndrome. Prior to the injury, the 24-year-old had only missed three NHL games in four seasons. He's back, he's healthy and he's finally showing everybody the potential they saw in him when he was an 18-year-old NHL rookie. 

With Briere and Dumont missing significant time due to injury, Connolly and Kotalik have been the offensive catalysts. Connolly has 20 points in his last 20 games. B

esides these two players, and Briere, Vanek and Drury, the Sabres have also had significant help from a few other sources. Maxim Afinogenov (ten points in his last 10 games), Derek Roy (five points in his last four games), Teppo Numminen (20 assists), and the big reason for their winning ways: goaltender Martin Biron (13 straight wins).

Meanwhile...

...Mike Van Ryn was pointless in five games heading into Sunday's action. The 26-year-old has 55 point potential, and now that the Panthers are starting to become healthy again – he could achieve that this season, although it's a bit of a longshot. He got on the board twice in Sunday's game against the Capitals.

...Toronto's Jeff O'Neill is pointless in seven games. Toronto mixes and matches their lines too often for poolies to get comfortable with their players. 

...After being a healthy scratch for three of his first four games in Anaheim, Francois Beauchemin has eight points in his last nine games. The 25-year-old defenseman was part of the Mighty Ducks' return for Sergei Fedorov. He showed some offensive promise in his junior years in the QMJHL, but has shown little since. He's under everybody's radar in your hockey pool, and may be worth a temporary pickup in deeper leagues.

Dec. 12, 2005 - Shark Outlook Upgraded to 'Buy'
Dec. 05, 2005 - Rejoice Over Recent Movement
Nov. 28, 2005 - The Most Underrated Fantasy Player
Nov. 21, 2005 - Chemistry in Chicago
Nov. 14, 2005 - Thrashers the Net
Nov. 07, 2005 - King of the L.A. blueline
Oct. 31, 2005 - October's Best and Worst Fantasy Players
Oct. 24, 2005 - Wild About Scoring
Oct. 17, 2005 - Striking Gold – Thanks to Linemates
Oct. 10, 2005 - A Surprise Fantasy Asset
Oct. 03, 2005 - Last of the Late Picks to Put You Over the Top
Sept. 26, 2005 - More Late Picks to Put You Over the Top
Sept. 19, 2005 - Late Picks to Make or Break Your Pool Team

Dobber's Fantasy Tips exclusively appear Monday's at TheFourthPeriod.com.
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