The Reaper paid a visit to the Ottawa Senators this past week.
Only it was grinning Capital Alex Ovechkin wielding his scythe-like stick to take apart the Sens with a four-goal, one-assist performance in the Caps' 8-6 win on Dec. 29.
Little wonder, then, that he is this week's Fantasy Focus Player of the Week.
In four games between Dec. 26 and Jan. 1, he put away five goals and assisted on four others to boost his season totals to 30 goals and 20 assists in 40 games. He is second only to Ilya Kovalchuk (32) in overall goals.
His production also propelled suddenly hot Washington to three wins and one overtime loss.
While Ovechkin lit it up during the holidays, quite a few other NHLers also celebrated in style. In direct contrast, others played like the turkey they ate.
Here are the week's Hot and Not fantasy players.
Hot
Nikolai Zherdev, Columbus - The hot-shot Russian lived up to his hype, logging two goals and five assists in four games. The Jackets took three of four to climb up the Western Conference standings.
Ladislav Nagy and Alex Frolov, LA - This less-than-dynamic duo had nine points and seven points, respectively, as the Kings also triumphed in three of four attempts. Each had a five-point night in a 9-2 pasting of Chicago on New Year's Day.
Jaromir Jagr, New York Rangers - It looks like Jagr is having fun playing again. His dismal year got better with four goals and three assists in three games, all wins.
Milan Michalek, San Jose - He resurrected his miserable season by notching seven points (three goals) and going plus-7 in four games.
Brian Rafalski, Detroit - The hottest defenseman of the week enjoyed a great stretch, scoring two and assisting on three others in four games.
Ty Conklin, Pittsburgh ,and Evgeni Nabokov, San Jose - Conklin has been superb in a sub-in role, winning five straight games, including a shutout. Nabokov is making a case for a Vezina, winning four straight and posting a shutout.
Not
Thomas Vanek, Buffalo - Completely invisible last week, with no points in four games and a minus-3 rating. So much for that big contract.
Michael Ryder, Montreal - Playing his way out of Montreal. He finally lit the lamp after 14 games without a goal, this one against lowly Florida on Dec. 28, and has just one in 16 contests.
Andrew Raycroft, Toronto - Raycroft stunk out the joint when he had the chance (Vesa Toskala is injured) and let in 13 goals in three games. He was yanked in favor of back-up Scott Clemmensen during a 6-1 loss to the Rangers, and hasn't returned.
Martin Gerber, Ottawa - He started his week with two wins, and then went lame against Washington in back-to-back games. He was beaten seven times by the Caps on Dec. 29 in an 8-6 loss, then was victimized for three goals on eight shots (and pulled in favor of Ray Emery) in a 6-3 drubbing.