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Joe Thornton is gone from the picture, and somehow the Bruins have found a way to crawl back into playoff contention. 

The average age of the 'new' number one line in Boston is just over 23 years old, yet they are producing and at the same time they are preventing hockey fans from ruling them out of a playoff berth. 

Patrice Bergeron (20), Brad Boyes (23) and Marco Sturm (27) have found their chemistry, and the result has been goals – and lots of them. 

The Boston Bruins have won five of their last seven games, and have taken 11 of a possible 14 points to put themselves within two points of the final playoff spot. During those seven games Boyes has managed three goals and eight points, Bergeron has garnered three goals and 12 points, and Sturm has chipped in six goals and eight points. That accounts for more than fifty percent of Boston's 23 goals in that span. 

Yes, therein lies the Bruins' weakness. Depth. They have finally found a line (post-Thornton) that can produce some nice numbers, but having two third lines and a fourth will see to it that this streak is unsustainable. 

They have a tough road ahead, facing the mighty Senators next game, followed by back-to-back games against Montreal, before they face the surprising Carolina Hurricanes. 

From a keeper league standpoint, this top line will be in place for a couple of years, and all three of these players will contribute 70 points consistently.

Meanwhile...

...Somehow Columbus forward David Vyborny has managed to tally seven points in his last three games without linemate and fellow Czech countryman Jaroslav Balastik's help. Balastik is pointless in seven games. They are both a victim of a weak team. Vyborny should prove to be a steady 60-point player. If Balastik becomes more comfortable with the North American game he should exceed that number. We will see next year.

...Dallas rearguard Sergei Zubov has 16 points in January – a span of 14 games. The 35-year-old is on pace for his best offensive numbers since 1994.

...The Nashville Predators are hoping center Mike Sillinger continues playing well after they acquired him from St. Louis on Sunday. He is already just three points away from having his career high point totals for a season, and he had eight goals and 11 points during a seven game point streak as a member of the Blues. Sillinger should continue his solid play in Nashville is should be worth a pickup in keeper leagues.

...Boston's Brad Stuart has six points in seven games. This surge in offense from the 26-year-old rearguard is related to newfound chemistry of the aforementioned Bergeron-Boyes-Sturm line.

Jan. 23, 2006 - High-Flying Canucks
Jan. 16, 2006 - Home Sweet Home
Jan. 09, 2006 - He's Baaack!
Jan. 02, 2006 - Young Pens Get Their Shot
Dec. 19, 2005 - The 'New' Sabres
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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