Author: Chris Meaney FNTSY Senior Analyst
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about half the league.
No team has fewer than three games, so if you want to get the best of your opponent you’re going to have to look at nights when there are few games on the schedule.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday are very important days this week. You’ll notice below that there are five games on Sunday (the most important day of the week perhaps, as it’s the last day of your matchup) and five of the 10 teams playing Sunday also played Saturday.
You may need a goalie stream Sunday, so keep it in mind when using your adds for the week, as you may want to save one for the weekend. Something I also noticed was that the Anaheim Ducks play Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
DUCKS TO CATCH
Jake Guentzel’s ownership numbers are far too low. Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire
Rickard Rakell has 31 goals and is owned in fewer than 50 percent of leagues.
Patrick Eaves has 27 shots and three goals in 10 games since joining the Ducks.
Nick Ritchie can help you out with those grit categories; 24 hits in his last seven contests and a penalty in five straight games including a five minute major.
Week 22 Schedule
Monday – five games
BOS @ TOR
Ryan Spooner has two points and five shots in two games since returning from an injury. One of those points came on the power play. Stream Spooner Monday and keep him on the roster for Tuesday’s game against the Senators.
BUF @ DET
The Red Wings have 10 goals in their last two games and the soft schedule continues Monday against the Sabres.
Tomas Tatar has three goals and five points in his last two games and a total of 10 points in his last nine. Detroit plays Tuesday as well.
Justin Abdelkader is a solid grit option who has three points in his last four games with two of them coming on the power play.
ARI @ NSH
This is a great matchup for the Predators and as you’ll see below, they are a team you should have on your radar during the Fantasy Hockey Playoffs.
Ryan Ellis can provide power play points, shots and blocks.
Mike Fisher hits all categories including faceoffs, but the points are lacking of late. Calle Jarnkrok is getting more and more ice time as he continues to click with James Neal.
SJ @ DAL
Patrick Marleau is the only borderline 50 percent owned Sharks player I would stream. I’d actually roster him with two games against the Stars this week.
LA @ EDM
After a matchup with the Kings and Ducks, the Oilers close out the week with back-to-back games against the Avalanche.
Nobody has been dropped and added more times than Patrick Maroon. Now he’s on the up-and-up again after three goals, five shots, 10 hits, seven penalty minutes and a plus four rating over his last three games. Still playing with Conor McDavid people.
Oscar Klefbom may have been dropped and he’s another solid option for this week.
Kings only have three games this week and are not a high scoring team.
Wednesday – three games
TOR @ CBJ
The Blue Jackets only play three games this week and one of them are against the Capitals, but matchups against the Maple Leafs and Flyers are pretty juicy.
Boone Jenner and Brandon Dubinksky are category stuffers.
Last 8 Games:
Dubinsky: 2 G, 4 A, +7, 15 PIM, 1 PPP, 15 SOG, 19 HIT, 8 BLK, 77 FOW
Jenner: 4 G, 1 A, + 6, 4 PIM, 1 SHP, 23 SOG, 11 HIT, 12 BLK, 3 GWG
David Savard can provide hits, shots and blocks if you’re lacking in those departments.
Last 12 games: 25 SOG, 24 HIT, 27 BLK
Savard also has two goals and five points over that span with increased ice time due to the injury to Ryan Murphy (broken hand) who is expected to miss four weeks or so.
NYI @ NYR
Nothing here really excites me, but both teams play four games this week. For those on a bye and play with hits and blocks, keep an eye on Johnny Boychuk who has been out for a few games and has most likely been dropped. He could be a sneaky add if you’re on a bye this week and you’re looking ahead.
EDM @ ANH
Few Oilers and Ducks plays above.
Friday – four games
NYI @ PIT
I’m sure by now Jake Guentzel is owned across most competitive formats. His three assists on Sunday give him eight points in his last five games and 13 over his last 12. Even still, his ownership in Yahoo! leagues sits at 20 percent as of Sunday afternoon. ESPN shows 34 percent, but even that is far too low.
I feel like a broken record here with him and Conor Sheary, but both have been solid for quite some time and both will win people Fantasy Hockey Championships. Book it!
TB @ DET
Brayden Point has three goals, five points and 12 shots on goal over his last four games. He’ll lose his spot playing on the top line with Nikita Kucherov if Tyler Johnson (knee) returns.
Johnson has missed the past five games and if you don’t hear any positive news by Monday, I’d roster Point for Tuesday’s game against the Coyotes and go from there.
SJ @ DAL
See Marleau from above…
WIN @ ANH
Quack, Quack, Quack Mr. Ducksworth.
Sunday – five games – *Five teams in bold also play Saturday.
MIN @ DET
The Wild also play Saturday against the Canucks and both are great matchups for Minnesota. Games where they should walk away with wins. Devan Dubnyk started both games this weekend, I don’t expect him to start both this coming weekend. Darcy Kuemper will get one of those games, likely this one in Detroit.
PHI @ PIT
The Flyers play Saturday against the Blue Jackets, but they are not a team who has a goalie you should be looking to steam. Mark Streit and Shayne Gostisbehere are good plays here among others who should be owned.
NYR @ ANH
It’s a tough back-to-back set for the Rangers as they go Kings then Ducks. There are stronger stream options than what New York has to offer. We could see the return of Henrik Lundqvist (hip) this weekend. The Rangers are expecting the veteran to return during the California road trip.
DAL @ NJ
The Devils play Hurricanes on Saturday, but it doesn’t matter because they can’t score.
VAN @ WPG
Markus Granlund is a decent deep league add as the Canucks play Saturday in Minnesota and Sunday in Winnipeg. Talking 14 teams with deep bench. Granlund has four goals over the past couple weeks and he has 14 shots in his last thee games.
This is one of four games for the Jets and I still like Mathieu Perreault who has three points in his last two games. He also shots the puck and throws his body around.
PEOPLE ON BYE WEEK (Week 23)
The Nashville Predators and the Carolina Hurricanes play five games during Week 23 of the Fantasy Hockey Season. No team is scheduled to play three games.
Nashville Predators (@NYI, @ BOS, vs TOR, vs MIN, @ STL)
Playing Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday is huge. It gives you a chance to start the week strong and finish the same way.
It means Juuse Saros could play two games during the week.
Guys I’d roster and in this order.
Viktor Arvidsson
James Neal
Ryan Ellis
Calle Jarnkrok
Mike Fisher
Carolina Hurricanes (vs DET, vs DET, vs CBJ, vs DAL, @ PIT)
That’s correct, the Hurricanes play back-to-back nights at home against the Red Wings to start the week. Like the Predators they play Monday, Tuesday, Satuday and Sunday.
Include the Stars and the Hurricanes have three solid matchups.
Guys I’d roster and in this order.
Justin Faulk
Jeff Skinner
Sebastian Aho
Jaccob Slavin
Teuvo Teravainen
Victor Rask
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