Ross D. Franklin / AP

Once Alex Ovechkin gets more shots, his confidence will return, writes NHL Expert Kevin Dupont.

Q: Should Crosby and Malkin be playing on the same line?
— Rick Johnson from Harrisburg, Pa.
A: Sure is tempting, isn't it, Rick? But I like coach Michel Therrien's approach thus far, bringing the two superstars together when the offense is sputtering. In an 82-game regular season, sputters are a certainty, and the Crosby-Malkin combination has been the perfect pick-me-up in the past.

Malkin, strong and bold on his skates, is best in the middle, and in a sense, suiting him up as Crosby's left winger is a waste of his talents. Like most, if not all, NHL clubs, the Penguins have their shortcomings, and they could definitely use help at the wing. Remember, they lost both Marian Hossa (Detroit) and Ryan Malone (Tampa Bay) to free agency. They also lost Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen and Angelo Esposito to Atlanta with Ray Shero's bold move at last season's trade deadline to acquire Hossa.

Q: How’s the Sean Avery experiment working in Dallas?
— Mark from Janesville, Wis.
A: Avery is a strong cup of coffee, for sure, and at age 28, that's not going to change. As of Veteran's Day, the Stars stood a lackluster T12th in the West, which is a far cry from pre-season projections. To be honest, Mark, they've looked awful in the first quarter.

Very hard to assess team chemistry if you're not in the dressing room every day, and sometimes even then it can be difficult to decipher. Seems to me the Stars' biggest woes thus far have been in net, where 33-year-old mainstay Marty Turco went an uncharacteristic 4-6-2 in his first dozen games, with very weak save percentage (.858) and bloated save percentage (3.93). He is a top 'tender, and those numbers are AHL material, at best.

After a particularly rowdy game in Boston on Nov. 1, both Avery and long-time pest Steve Ott caused all sorts of havoc on the ice, which did little other than accelerate a loss (much to the delight of Boston fans). Ex-captain Mike Modano was very pointed with his comments after the game, and though some of it was open to interpretation, he sure seemed to express his dislike for the antics that night of Mssrs. Avery and Ott. Best to keep an eye on how that develops.

Right now, I'd say the experiment is volatile at best, and could possibly turn explosive. We in the media just love that, of course.

Q: Why the sluggish start to the season for the Red Wings’ Kris Draper?
— John from Glendale, Ariz.
A: Let's face it, John, at age 37, and four Cups on his resume with a very talented Detroit squad, Draper's role has been diminishing the last 2-3 years. As mid-November approached, he was still looking for his first point, and he also was carrying an uncharacteristic minus-6 rating. Certainly not the ''Drapes'' we've watched with the Winged Wheels for the last 14 seasons.

Draper has nearly another $3 million coming his way over the two seasons after 2008-'09. If not for the grit and intelligence he has shown on the ice throughout his career, I'd be thinking that the Wings might have to eat that deal after this season. But, keep in mind, the Wings can win without him contributing points, as long as he improves his play at even-strength and remains a solid penalty-killer. I'm not ready to write him off yet, and overall, guys with his experience are invaluable come playoff time--and no doubt, the Wings are in for a long haul in the next postseason.

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