By Daniel Dobish on March 31, 2012
It’s a busy day in the National Hockey League as usual on a Saturday, with 12 total games. We had two matinee games featuring the Bruins-Islanders and Senators-Flyers, and they are already underway. There are still plenty of good fantasy options on the evening slate. The Jets-Lightning game might be one to watch for fantasy purposes, as that has the potential to be a high-scoring affair. The Ducks-Coyotes game might also be a fantasy fiesta.
Buffalo Sabres at Toronto Maple Leafs 7pm ET
Former Sabres C Tim Connolly is plying his trade with the Maple Leafs, and he has at least one point in three of the past four games. At $102K, he might be worth a look. Sabres C Cody Hodgson ($134K) has picked up three goals with seven points and a plus-1 rating over his past six games. C Derek Roy ($111K) is socreless over his past four games, averaging just 5.3 fantasy points per game during the span.
Montreal Canadiens at Washington Capitals 7pm ET
Capitals LW Alex Ovechkin ($219K) is doing his best to get his team into the postseason, as he has multi-point performances in four of his past six games. Ovie has managed nine goals with 12 points over his past nine games, playing perhaps his best hockey of the season. Caps C Brooks Laich ($105K) has no goals in seven straight games, and he is scoreless over his past three outings. Avoid. Canadiens LW Rene Bourque ($56K) snapped a lengthy scoreless drought with the team’s only goal Friday at N.Y. Rangers. He has averaged 7.8 fantasy points per game over his past four if you are looking for a deep, deep sleeper.
New Jersey Devils at Carolina Hurricanes 7pm ET
Devils LW Alexei Ponikarovsky ($105K) has managed a goal with three assists and a plus-2 rating over his past four games, averaging 14 fantasy points per game during the span. Hurricanes RW Jeff Skinner ($110K) has picked up 10 or more fantasy points in four of his past six games played. C Eric Staal ($163K) is on another hot streak, posting five goals over his past six games. He has managed five goals with 10 points over his past nine outings.
Winnipeg Jets at Tampa Bay Lightning 7pm ET
Jets RW Spencer Machacek ($150K) picked up an assist in Carolina Friday, giving him at least one point in six of his seven games since being recalled. Lightning LW Ryan Malone ($146K) had a hat trick in Thursday’s loss against New Jersey, giving him six goals with nine points over his past 10 games. He has at least 11 fantasy points in six of his past 10 games. Jets C Nik Antropov ($118K) had a goal in Raleigh Friday in his first-game back from a hip flexor injury. He has scored goals in each of his past four games played.
Columbus Blue Jackets at St. Louis Blues 8pm ET
Blue Jackets LW Rick Nash ($150K) is working on a four-game points streak, posting two goals with four assists and a plus-1 rating during the solid stretch. He is averaging 19 fantasy points per game during the span. Blues LW Alexander Steen ($128K) has 18 fantasy points in back-to-back games, posting a goal, assist and plus-3 rating during the stretch. The Blue Jackets TG ($178K) has back-to-back wins over the Red Wings and Panthers, two playoff contenders, and they have 65 fantasy points in the two-game stretch. Can they make it three in a row? It’s doubtful, but they did lose just 2-1 last time out against the Blues March 11.
Chicago Blackhawks at Nashville Predators 8pm ET
Blackhawks D Duncan Keith ($138K) is serving the fourth of a five-game suspension, so save your money. Predators D Shea Weber ($163K) has three goals with an assist over his past four games, including a 36-point fantasy effort against the Blackhawks last Sunday in Chicago. Predators RW Alexander Radulov ($121K) has a goal, assist and plus-1 rating for 24 fantasy points in Friday’s key road win in Detroit. He has two goals and five points in five games since returning from his Russian KHL team, but his 24 fantasy points Friday were his most yet.
Los Angeles Kings at Minnesota Wild 8pm ET
Kings C Mike Richards ($111K) snapped a four-game scoreless stretch with a goal and plus-1 rating in Edmonton Friday night. He might be a good purchase at this price level against another inferior opponent already out of the playoff hunt. Kings D Drew Doughty ($126K) has points in back-to-back games, and he has managed two goals with six assist and a plus-4 rating over his past nine. He has 11 or more fantasy points in six of those nine games. Wild C Kyle Brodziak ($156K) has done his best not to mail it in, popping in goals in each of his past two, while tallying five goals and 11 points with a plus-3 rating over his past 10 games.
Anaheim Ducks at Phoenix Coyotes 9pm ET
Ducks D Lubomir Visnovsky ($127K) had his three-game points streak halted Wednesday against San Jose, but he made up for the lack of scoring with six hits, a blocked shot, two PIM and a plus-1 rating. He has 14 or more fantasy points in four consecutive games, and five times in the past seven. Coyotes D Rostislav Klesla ($123K) is scoreless in six straight games, but he has been productive over the past five, averaging 12 fantasy points per contest. He has 14 hits, 18 blocked shots and 16 PIM with a plus-2 rating during those five games. It isn’t always about goals and assists, people. If you’re more comfortable with goals and assists, however, Coyotes LW Ray Whitney ($179K) has racked up plenty this season. He has managed two goals with 10 assists over his past nine.
Calgary Flames at Vancouver Canucks 10pm ET
Flames RW Jarome Iginla ($127K) accounted for the only goal in Friday’s 4-1 setback against the Stars. With it, he snapped a personal seven-game goal drought dating back to March 15. Despite the lack of goals, he still has three points while averaging 12.3 fantasy points per game over the past three outings. He is about to get hot again, so get in on the ground floor. Remember, from March 4-15, Iginla had seven goals with 11 points during a six-game goal-scoring streak. Canucks RW Jannik Hansen ($114K) has 11 or more fantasy points in five of his past eight appearances. He’ll chip in with an occasional assist, but his real value is in hits and plus/minus rating. Canucks LW Chris Higgins ($115K) has goals in back-to-back games, and four markers in the past four outings with a plus-4 rating.
Dallas Stars at San Jose Sharks 10:30pm ET
Stars RW Michael Ryder ($188K) has been tough to read lately. He has five goals with eight points over his past six games, but he followed up a 41-point fantasy performance Wednesday in Edmonton with a goose egg in Vancouver Friday. He is high-risk, high-reward, so be careful. All-Star LW Jamie Benn ($159K) has five points (4 G, 1 A) with a plus-2 rating over his past four games. Sharks LW Ryane Clowe ($130K) has at least two hits in four straight games, and he has averaged 11.3 fantasy points per game in his past three.
Posted in Daily Fantasy Hockey NHL |
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