A Roto-Look Ahead – Week 13
Tom Reeve
2008-12-24
As my first round defeat in my NFL pool recently taught me it is never too early to think about the playoffs. In a head to head format chances are come the last month of the NHL season are playoff time and your weekly roster decisions will mean a lot more. So why not put yourself in the best possible position by acquiring players who are on teams with better final schedules.
If your playoffs cover the last five weeks of the season starting Monday March 9 then you might want to see if you can grab a Sharks, Senators, Flyers, Canucks or Blackhawks. They all play 18 games which is three more then Penguins, Hurricanes, Ducks, Capitals or Bruins. Three games is not the biggest difference but every point could make the difference.
On a week by week basis a few note to keep in the back of your mind:
March 9 to March 15 – The Anaheim only plays two games where all other teams play three or four.
March 16 to March 22 – The Bruins and Flames play only two games.
March 23 to March 29 – The Penguins, Coyotes, Capitals and Bruins have two game weeks.
March 30 to April 5 – The Red Wings, Hurricanes, and Avalanche are your two game teams
April 6 to April 12 – The Ducks play only two games.
Injury Replacements
Looking at a team's schedule may help your chances of finding a good injury replacement. Here are some of the high and low ratings for teams over a two, three and four week period starting December 26. The rating is shown in brackets.
Two weeks
High ratings: Panthers (8.39), Devils (8.29), Thrashers (8.09),
Low ratings: Sharks (5.16), Rangers (5.15), Blues (4.83)
Three weeks
High ratings: Canucks (11.44), Oilers (10.97)
Low ratings: Flames (8.66), Blues (8.63), Rangers (8.10)
Four weeks
High ratings: Devils (14.93), Ducks (14.40)
Low ratings: Blues (11.19), Rangers (10.85)
Friday, December 26, 2008 to Thursday, January 1, 2009 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Washington 4.42 – four games BUF, TOR, BUF, TB | ||||||
Buffalo 4.40 – four games WAS, NYI, WAS, TOR | ||||||
Toronto 4.40 – four games NYI, WAS, ATL, BUF | ||||||
Florida 4.29 – four games TB, TB, MTL, NYI | ||||||
Boston 4.19 – four games CAR, ATL, PIT, PIT | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
NY Rangers 2.21 – two games NJ, NYI | ||||||
Philadelphia 2.66 – three road games CHI, CBJ, VAN | ||||||
St. Louis 2.73 – three home games SJ, ANA, NJ | ||||||
Dallas 2.73 – three home games ANA, SJ, NJ | ||||||
Minnesota 2.74 – three games CHI, CGY, SJ | ||||||
Saturday, December 27, 2008 to Friday January 2, 2009 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Anaheim 4.39 – four games DAL, STL, CBJ, PHI | ||||||
Colorado 4.21 – four games DET, NAS, PHX, CBJ | ||||||
Vancouver 4.19 – four games OTT, PHI, NAS, ATL | ||||||
Boston 4.19 – four games CAR, ATL, PIT, PIT | ||||||
New Jersey 3.99 – four games NYR, STL, DAL, MTL | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Los Angeles 2.00 – two games PHX, CBJ | ||||||
NY Rangers 2.21 – two games NJ, NYI | ||||||
Pittsburgh 2.55 – three games MTL, BOS, BOS | ||||||
Philadelphia 2.66 – three games CBJ, VAN, ANA | ||||||
Dallas 2.73 – three games ANA, SJ, NJ | ||||||
Sunday, December 28, 2008 to Saturday January 3, 2009 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Washington 4.31 – four games TOR, BUF, TB, NYR | ||||||
Edmonton 4.21 – four games NAS, OTT, CGY, DAL | ||||||
Toronto 4.21 – four games WAS, ATL, BUF, OTT | ||||||
Vancouver 4.19 – four games OTT, PHI, NAS, ATL | ||||||
Boston 4.19 – four games ATL, PIT, PIT, BUF | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Los Angeles 2.21 – two games CBJ, PHI | ||||||
NY Rangers 2.21 – two games NYI, WAS | ||||||
Phoenix 2.31 – two games COL, NYI | ||||||
Detroit 2.56 – three games CHI, CHI, MIN | ||||||
Pittsburgh 2.65 – three games BOS, BOS, FLA | ||||||
Monday, December 29, 2008 to Sunday January 4, 2009 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Vancouver 4.51 – four games PHI, NAS, ATL, DAL | ||||||
Atlanta 4.29 – four games TOR, CAR, VAN, TB | ||||||
Tampa Bay 4.19 – four games MTL, WAS, CAR, ATL | ||||||
New Jersey 4.08 – four games STL, DAL, MTL, OTT | ||||||
Montreal 3.90 – four games FLA, TB, NJ, FLA | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Los Angeles 2.21 – two home games CBJ, PHI | ||||||
NY Rangers 2.21 – two games NYI, WAS | ||||||
Detroit 2.56 – three games CHI, CHI, MIN | ||||||
Pittsburgh 2.65 – three games BOS, BOS, FLA | ||||||
Philadelphia 2.66 – three games VAN, ANA, LA | ||||||
Tuesday, December 30, 2008 to Monday January 5, 2009 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Vancouver 4.51 – four games PHI, NAS, ATL, DAL | ||||||
Atlanta 4.29 – four games TOR, CAR, VAN, TB | ||||||
Tampa Bay 4.19 – four games MTL, WAS, CAR, ATL | ||||||
Edmonton 4.42 – four games OTT, CGY, DAL, NYI | ||||||
New Jersey 4.08 – four games STL, DAL, MTL, OTT | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Los Angeles 1.16 – ONE games PHI | ||||||
Nashville 2.00 – two games VAN, CGY | ||||||
NY Rangers 2.00 – two games WAS, PIT | ||||||
San Jose 2.02 – two games MIN, NYI | ||||||
Detroit 2.56 – three games CHI, CHI, MIN | ||||||
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 to Tuesday January 6, 2009 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Carolina 4.41 – four games ATL, STL, TB, NJ | ||||||
Anaheim 4.31 – four home games CBJ, PHI, PHX, LA | ||||||
Phoenix 4.11 – four games COL, NYI, ANA, CHI | ||||||
Atlanta 4.10 – four games CAR, VAN, TB, PIT | ||||||
Florida 4.09 – four road games NYI, PIT, MTL, TOR | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Montreal 1.91 – two games NJ, FLA | ||||||
NY Rangers 2.00 – two games WAS, PIT | ||||||
Los Angeles 2.01 – two games PHI, ANA | ||||||
St. Louis 2.10 – two games CAR, CBJ | ||||||
Detroit 2.67 – three games CHI, MIN, CBJ | ||||||
Thursday, January 1, 2009 to Wednesday January 7, 2009 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Vancouver 4.30 – four games NAS, ATL, DAL, EDM | ||||||
Pittsburgh 3.93 – four games BOS, FLA, NYR, ATL | ||||||
Edmonton 3.47 – three home games DAL, NYI, VAN | ||||||
Anaheim 3.26 – three games PHI, PHX, LA | ||||||
Washington 3.26 – three games TB, NYR, PHI | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Dallas 1.81 – two games EDM, VAN | ||||||
Los Angeles 2.01 – two games PHI, ANA | ||||||
St. Louis 2.10 – two games CAR, CBJ | ||||||
San Jose 2.21 – two games NYI, CGY | ||||||
Calgary 2.65 – three games NAS, CHI, SJ | ||||||
Friday, January 2, 2009 to Thursday, January 8, 2009 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Phoenix 4.22 – four games NYI, ANA, CHI, TB | ||||||
Anaheim 4.21 – four games PHI, PHX, LA, LA | ||||||
New Jersey 4.20 – four games MTL, OTT, CAR, ATL | ||||||
Pittsburgh 4.12 – four games FLA, NYR, ATL, NAS | ||||||
Florida 4.10 – four games PIT, MTL, TOR, CAR | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Buffalo 1.71 – two games BOS, OTT | ||||||
St. Louis 2.10 – two games CAR, CBJ | ||||||
Washington 2.10 – two games NYR, PHI | ||||||
San Jose 2.21 – two games NYI, CGY | ||||||
Boston 2.84 – three games BUF, MIN, OTT | ||||||
Saturday, January 3, 2009 to Friday January 9, 2009 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Edmonton 4.31 – four home games DAL, NYI, VAN, SJ | ||||||
Anaheim 4.21 – four games PHX, LA, LA, TB | ||||||
Pittsburgh 4.12 – four games FLA, NYR, ATL, NAS | ||||||
Florida 4.10 – four games PIT, MTL, TOR, CAR | ||||||
Tampa Bay 4.10 – four games CAR, ATL, PHX, ANA | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
St. Louis 1.91 – two games CBJ, VAN | ||||||
Buffalo 2.65 – three games BOS, OTT, NYR | ||||||
NY Islanders – three games SJ, EDM, CGY | ||||||
Colorado 2.74 – three games MIN, NAS, CHI | ||||||
Philadelphia 2.74 three games LA, WAS, MIN | ||||||
Sunday, January 4, 2009 to Saturday January 10, 2009 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Florida 4.41 – four games MTL, TOR, CAR, ATL | ||||||
Phoenix 4.22 – four games ANA, CHI, TB, DAL | ||||||
Montreal 4.22 – four games FLA, NYR, TOR, WAS | ||||||
Anaheim 4.21 – four games PHX, LA, LA, TB | ||||||
Vancouver 4.21 – four games DAL, EDM, STL, SJ | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
St. Louis 0.86 – ONE game on the road in VAN | ||||||
NY Islanders 1.90 – two games EDM, CGY | ||||||
Carolina 2.66 – three games NJ, FLA, STL | ||||||
Los Angeles 2.75 – three games ANA, ANA, NJ | ||||||
San Jose 2.76 – three games CGY, EDM, VAN |