The Tampa Bay Lightning have long been accused of being top-heavy in their talent, but now there are only a couple of top tier players, with a bunch of interesting pieces surrounding them. Top Picks: Its preposterous at how many more goals C Steven Stamkos scores than anyone else and his ability to score, and stay healthy (he hasnt missed a game in four seasons), makes him the safest first pick in most formats. Sidney Crosby might have a higher ceiling, but hes not nearly as reliable and Stamkos has obliterated the rest of the league when it comes to goals. In the last four years, Stamkos has scored 185 goals, 33 more than runner-up Alexander Ovechkin, who is another 23 ahead of third-place Corey Perry. Stamkos running mate, RW Martin St. Louis led the league in scoring last season and his 592 points since 2006-2007 ranks second, behind only Ovechkin. Hes 37-years-old, but still a top-tier option on right wing. Value Plays: RW Teddy Purcell has 152 points in the last three seasons, which ranks 48th, but his value is limited somewhat by his spot on the roster. If hes a second-line winger, playing with Valtteri Filppula, then its entirely different than if he were to find his way to playing with Stamkos and St. Louis. D Matt Carle gets overshadowed from time to time by higher-profile teammates, but hes productive. In the last four years, he has 135 points, which ranks 22nd. Thats not enough to make him fantasy gold, but easily reliable enough for a spot in many leagues. One year removed from a career-best 66-point season, C Valtteri Filppula still earned a big free agent contract from Tampa Bay after scoring 17 points in 41 games for the Red Wings last season, his 0.41 points per game his lowest since 2006-2007. He should have an opportunity to succeed in Tampa Bay, but his element of risk makes him a late-round pick for fantasy owners. Sleepers/Breakthrough: LW Alex Killorn had 19 points in 38 games for the Lightning as a rookie, following 38 points in 44 AHL games, so hes going to have a chance to play in Tampa Bays top six. Its too soon to suggest that hes going to be a big scorer, but hes worth monitoring. A six-time 20-goal scorer, LW Ryan Malone has been a useful fantasy player, particularly in leagues that count penalty minutes, but injuries have cost him 66 games over the last three seasons and it makes it difficult, if not, impossible to put stock in Malone on draft day. If he ends up playing significant minutes when healthy, thats another matter. While D Victor Hedman hasnt been a big scorer in his first four seasons, his production has increased each year and last years point totals (20 points in 44 games) would project to 37 over a full season, which would have to put him into fantasy consideration. Goaltending is a question mark for the Lightning, so whomever of Ben Bishop or Anders Lindback takes the No. 1 job and runs with it, that guy could hold value. Bishop had a .920 save percentage last season, but hes a 26-year-old with 45 career NHL games on his resume. Lindback was supposed to be the answer to the Lightnings goaltending problems last year, and it didnt work out, as he posted a .902 save percentage, but hes going to compete for playing time with Bishop. With uncertainty and unproven goalies, its hard to give either one much value until there is a clear leader for playing time. Rookies: LW Jonathan Drouin, the third pick in the 2013 Draft, had 105 points in 49 QMJHL games (and 35 more in 17 playoff games) last season, raising expectations that he can not only step into the NHL, but produce right away. If he should play with Stamkos and St. Louis, then he could put up big numbers right away. As it is, slotting him in as a No. 3 fantasy left winger, with obvious potential for more, seems a fair spot to start. In leagues that count hits or penalty minutes, D Radko Gudas is far more valuable than his name recognition. In 22 games with the Lightning last season, Gudas had 87 hits and 38 penalty minutes, numbers that could make a significant difference projected over a full season. Prospects like C Tyler Johnson, RW Richard Panik and RW Nikita Kucherov are intriguing, but its hard to have expectations if they arent projected to start the season in the NHL. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Theo Pinson Jersey . - Kobe Bryant and LeBron James traded hugs, big shots and verbal jabs all night with warmth and humour. Drazen Petrovic Nets Jersey . Knapp defeated American Alison Riske 6-3, 7-5 to secure Italys victory in the best-of-five series. She held a 5-2 lead in the second set, only to let Riske tie it at five. https://www.netsrookiesshop.com/Drazen-P...ion-Jersey/.com) - Willie Cauley-Stein and Karl-Anthony Towns each scored 12 points in the top-ranked Kentucky Wildcats 70-55 victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide. Brooklyn Nets Jerseys . Viewers in the Jets region can watch the game on TSN Jets at 6:30pm ct/7:30pm et. The game is also avialable on TSN Radio 1290 in Winnipeg at 7pm ct. Dzanan Musa Nets Jersey .Y. - Terry and Kim Pegula have no immediate plans to tinker with their new NFL team. ARLINGTON, Texas -- Yoenis Cespedes gave Oakland an early lead with his bat. He prevented what could have been a huge collapse with his arm. Cespedes hit a three-run homer in the first inning, then threw out Alex Rios at third base to end a big Texas comeback in the eighth as the Athletics survived a shaky night from the bullpen to extend their AL West lead with a 9-8 victory over the Rangers on Friday night. The Rangers trailed 9-2 when Elvis Andrus and Rios had two-run singles as part of six-run inning to close within one. Adrian Beltres third hit was a single to Cespedes in left field, and the Cuban star ended the threat by throwing out Rios trying to go from first to third, where the tag from Josh Donaldson arrived just about the same time as Rios foot. "It was a bang-bang play," Donaldson said. "Cespedes made a perfect throw and I was able to put a tag on it, and it ended up as an out." Rios said he was certain he would make it to third with the play happening in front of him. "And actually, I was correct," said Rios, who was ejected by Andy Fletcher for angrily arguing the call. "I believe I was safe on that call." The As handed the Rangers their fourth straight loss and moved 4 1/2 games ahead of Texas in the opener of the final series of the regular season between the past two AL West champions. Cespedes 23rd homer came off Derek Holland (9-9), who is winless in a career-high seven straight starts. Dan Straily (10-7) allowed two hits in 5 2-3 innings to win his fourth straight start and beat Texas for the second time in 11 days. The right-hander might have stayed around longer if he hadnt struggled with four walks and a hit batter. The bullpen was wild, too, and it almost cost the As the game. Brett Anderson walked Beltre and A.J. Pierzynski to start the eighth, and Ron Cook later gave Ian Kinsler a free pass with the bases loaded for Oaklands eighth walk. Andrus followed with a single to right field, and Rios singled to centre after a passed ball moved both runners into scoring position. The call against Rios set off several Rangers. First-basee umpire Joe West tossed Texas pitcher Matt Garza for complaining from the dugout in the top of the ninth.dddddddddddd "At that part of the game there were a lot of emotions," Rios said. "Were fired up and to have that rally killed like that, its disappointing." Sean Doolittle, who gave up Beltres hit in the eighth, allowed a double to Robinson Chirinos with two outs in the ninth but ended up striking out the side, getting Jurickson Profar looking for his second save in seven chances. "We usually lock those games down, but we didnt," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "We put ourselves in a position not to win, but we didnt lose." Donaldson homered and drove in three runs, and Brandon Moss hit his 27th for Oakland. Derek Norris had three hits. Hollands shortest outing of the season ended with no outs in the fourth after consecutive singles from Norris and Kurt Suzuki. The left-hander has been stuck on nine wins since Aug. 4 and is 0-3 with an 8.78 ERA in three starts in September. Holland gave up eight hits and six runs in three innings in his second loss to the As in 10 days. The Rangers dropped to 2-9 in September and fell a game behind Tampa Bay for the AL wild-card lead. Straily walked his first two batters with a 3-0 lead, and Kinsler and Andrus both scored to get Texas within 3-2. But the 24-year-old right-hander bounced back with five strong innings before losing his control again in the sixth. "Really what it came down to, we were in a fight and I wasnt bringing it," Straily said. "I was just missing. Instead of being super-aggressive, I was trying to hit spots." Beltre had both hits off Straily, driving in Kinsler with a single in the first before Pierzynski brought home Andrus on a sacrifice fly. Beltre had an infield hit in the sixth, and Straily didnt make it out of the inning after hitting Pierzynski with a pitch and walking Jim Adduci. NOTES: Every starter in the Oakland lineup had at least one hit and the As finished with 14 hits, just two nights after getting a season-high 22 in an 18-3 win over Minnesota. ' ' '