The Matchup: Theo Fleury vs. Ziggy Palffy

The Question: Who is more dangerous on offense right now?

Theo Fleury

Ziggy Palffy

Two potential 50-goal scorers
Sure, both Ziggy Palffy and Theo Fleury are known to be legitimate NHL goal scorers. It's not surprising that they would be near the top of the league in scoring, but it is surprising that they are first and second in the league. They have each taken the next step and produced consistently all season long.

Palffy is probably the bigger surprise of the two. The Kings' winger is a reluctant star. He doesn't like to talk about himself. Last month in ESPN The Magazine, he talked about how he doesn't like to discuss his private life. He will answer any questions about hockey, but that's about it. He just plays the game and goes home.

On the ice, Palffy is much like Joe Sakic. It doesn't matter who Palffy plays with. He can make plays himself because he has great speed and moves. Somebody just needs to get him the puck once in a while, and he'll make something happen. Some of the Kings players have told me they never realized how good Palffy was at so many parts of the game. He is much more than a scorer. His passing and playmaking ability are equal to his scoring. Along the boards, he's efficient. He can hang onto the puck in traffic, and he's not afraid of it. Palffy will walk out and make a play on a regular basis.

In order to score, Palffy doesn't need more than one or two chances. If he misses on the first chance, he might score on the second one. He scores all different kinds of goals. Some players are only good from the blue line in. But Palffy also likes to attack with the puck and carry the puck going through the neutral zone, where he can use his moves.

When Palffy comes toward a defenseman, he sometimes goes to his back hand, flipping the puck over the defenseman's stick and tries to beat him with speed. Palffy makes logical plays and doesn't overhandle the puck all the time, stick-handling the puck at 100 mph like many European players do. He often leaves the puck alone on breakaways with the goaltender. He'll come in with just the momentum of the puck and won't be touching the puck, so it leaves the goaltender guessing until the last second. Will he shoot it, or shoot high or low, or will he make a move? If there's room, he'll do the same thing against defensemen.

Fleury, meanwhile, has gotten back to the level he's played at most of his career. He deserves credit for regaining his total game -- the feisty, aggressive, chip-on-the-shoulder kind of play that defines who he is as a hockey player. After taking a lot of abuse last season, his first in New York, this is the best start of Fleury's career, one that has included one 50-goal and three 40-goal seasons. Fleury is the poster boy for how important confidence is for a goal scorer. He showed last season what happens when the confidence is gone. This season, he has it back and is determined not to lose it. He got into excellent shape and went out and executed from the start, enjoying some early success. It snowballed from there.

Players have to deal with Fleury on a lot of different levels. He will run players, even though, at 5-foot-6, he is smaller than anyone else in the league. Fleury likes to be in the middle, stirring the pot. Fleury brings an almost out-of-control game, flying in and out and getting physical. Once Fleury steps into the picture, nothing is the same. That's when he's at his best.

Given good health, Fleury and Palffy should keep up the scoring pace and be 50-goal scorers. But any nagging injuries will cut into their production. Their scoring could taper off in the second half because the checking gets much tighter, and there's more at stake. Teams won't allow Fleury and Palffy to get too many chances.

It's hard to say which player is more dangerous. With both players, danger comes in several different forms. Fleury may be more physical than Palffy, but neither player needs more than two chances to score a goal. This is pretty much a dead heat.

Brian Engblom is a color commentator and analyst for ESPN's NHL coverage. He played 11 seasons in the NHL.