By Daniel Dobish on March 10, 2012
As usual, it is a busy night in the National Hockey League. It’s time for Don Cherry in his wacky suits, Hockey Night in Canada, and all of the things that make watching hockey great on the weekend. If you have never lived in Canada, or have never had the Center Ice package to see CBC’s broadcast, you are definitely missing out. Anyway, let’s get down to business.
Philadelphia Flyers at Toronto Maple Leafs 7pm ET
Maple Leafs D Dion Phaneuf has gone without a goal in eight games dating back to Feb. 18, but that hasn’t made him irrelevant for fantasy purposes. He has six assists with 22 hits and nine PIM during the span. He has 12 or more fantasy points in six of his past nine outings. At $149, he is a good buy. Flyers D Andrej Meszaros (lower body injury) is dealing with injury, and should be avoided at $144K despite an impressive recent FPPG. Flyers LW Scott Hartnell ($180K) has managed six goals and 10 points over his past 10 games. Maple Leafs C Mikhail Grabovski ($128K) is working on a five-game points streak (3 G, 4 A).
Buffalo Sabres at Ottawa Senators 7pm ET
Senators D Erik Karlsson ($186K) has a high salary, but not because of what he has done lately. He has just one goal and no assists with a minus-1 rating over his past four games. With just 7.5 fantasy points per game during the span, he is way overpriced. The Sens recalled LW Rob Klinkhammer from the AHL, and he has been throwing his weight around in three games since. He is averaging 10.3 fantasy points per game, mostly due to his 13 hits and plus-2 rating during the span. He also has an assist. At $114K, he might be worth a look due to his physicality. Sabres D Tyler Myers ($117K) has 12 or more fantasy points in four of the past five games, and six of his past 10.
New Jersey Devils at New York Islanders 7pm ET
Devils RW Ilya Kovalchuk is on a tear again. He shredded the Islanders for a hat trick Thursday, and he has four goals, an assist and a plus-2 rating over his past two outings. At $185K, he is worth a look since he is on a hot streak again. Devils C Dainius Zubrus is scoreless in each of his past two games against the Islanders, totaling just seven fantasy points in those games. Avoid him at $105K. Islanders LW Matt Moulson ($130K) is scoreless with a minus-2 rating and just two total fantasy points in his past two outings against the Devils. Avoid. Islanders LW P.A. Parenteau ($132K) is on a skid, going scoreless in four straight games. During the span, he has a minus-3 rating and is averaging just 1.3 fantasy points per game.
Carolina Hurricanes at Tampa Bay Lightning 7pm ET
Hurricanes C Eric Staal ($221K) saw his 12-game points streak dry up in Buffalo Wednesday, but he still has seven goals and 21 points over the past 13 games. Lightning RW Teddy Purcell ($190K) has been equally hot, picking up at least one point in 11 consecutive games. He has seven goals with 15 assists during the impressive run. Hurricanes LW Jussi Jokinen ($116K) has managed 10 or more fantasy points in four of his past six games.
Columbus Blue Jackets at St. Louis Blues 8pm ET
Blues RW David Backes ($188K) has 15 or more fantasy points in four of his past seven outings, posting four goals with an assist during the span. He rarely has a negative night thanks to his team’s overall performance and his hitting ability, which keeps him in the plus for fantasy points. Backes has dished out 30 hits over his past 10 games. Blue Jackets D Jack Johnson ($135K) has points in three straight games, picking up at least 19 fantasy points in each outing. He also has a plus-6 rating during the span. Blues D Kevin Shattenkirk ($167K) has two goals with nine points and a plus-4 rating over his past six games.
Detroit Red Wings at Nashville Predators 8pm ET
Red Wings C Valtteri Filppula has managed five goals and 11 points with a plus-5 rating over his past six games. However, he was scoreless with just three fantasy points in the last meeting with Nashville Feb. 17. Still, he is worth a look at $173K since he has been so hot. Red Wings C Pavel Datsyuk (knee) remains sidelined indefinitely due to an arthroscopy, so avoid him and his $136K tag. Predators C Mike Fisher ($142K) has points in three straight games, posting at least 14 fantasy points in each. However, he was scoreless with just five fantasy points last time out against the Red Wings Feb. 17.
Anaheim Ducks at Dallas Stars 8pm ET
Stars LW Loui Eriksson ($185K) has 14 or more fantasy points in five of his past seven games, posting four goals, nine points and a plus-7 rating during the impressive span. Ducks LW Bobby Ryan ($138K) is averaging 15.2 fantasy points per game over his past six outings. He has three goals with five points, 21 SOG and 14 PIM during the solid stretch. Stars LW Jamie Benn is working on a four-game points streak since his return from a knee ailment. He has three goals, five points and a plus-5 rating during the span, totaling at least 15 fantasy points in each outing. At $166K, he is definitely a recommended play.
San Jose Sharks at Phoenix Coyotes 8pm ET
Sharks C Patrick Marleau snapped a four-game scoreless skid last time out at Dallas, but he is still too inconsistent lately to shell out $145K. Coyotes LW Shane Doan has at least 11 fantasy points in six of his past nine games. While he has no goals over his past six games, he has managed three assists over the past four, and he squeezed off 10 shots Tuesday against Columbus. Doan also has 29 hits over the past 10 games to endear himself to fantasy owners. As his been the case during his career, Coyotes RW Radim Vrbata ($113K) has followed up a hot stretch with an ice cold run. He has no goals in eight games, and just three assists during the span. He is averaging just eight fantasy points over his past six outings, so avoid him at this salary level.
Montreal Canadiens at Vancouver Canucks 10pm ET
Canadiens D P.K. Subban has played well on his team’s road trip, picking up two goals, six points and eight hits with four blocked shots over the past four games. He has averaged 18.2 fantasy points over his past six outings, making him a decent play at $171K. C Tomas Plekanec has followed up a four-game scoreless skid with points in each of his past two outings. He has 27 total fantasy points in the past two games, making him worth a look at $106K. Canucks D Kevin Bieksa ($148K) is working on a four-game points streak. While he has no goals in nine straight games, he still has managed at least 14 fantasy points in five in a row.
Posted in Daily Fantasy Hockey NHL |
Follow Us!