A Roto-Look Ahead – Week 21
Tom Reeve
2009-02-20
Home Stretch
After the trade deadline on March 4 there are still 22% of the games left to play. All NHL teams play between 17 and 20 games. The top schedules belong to the Senators (20.25), Flyers (20.13), Canadiens (19.94), Blackhawks (19.78), and Wild (19.74) who all play 20 games (ratings shown in brackets). At the other end of the schedule the Hurricanes (16.90), Penguins (16.95), Predators (16.97), Ducks (16.97), and Blue Jackets (17.23) have the worst combination of fewer games, tougher opponents and road games. The Blackhawks lead the homes games category with 13 after the trade deadline followed by Panthers, Flyers, and Canadiens with 11.
For those fantasy owners looking for those 'big games' from their offensive stars you might want to hedge your bets to the defensively weaker teams. This season those 'favourable opponents' have emerged as the Leafs, Thrashers and Islanders. The Capitals and Canadiens get to play these three teams six times after the trade deadline. Tampa gets five shots at them. The western conference teams largely miss out on these defensively weaker opponents playing zero to two games against them.
Playoff Rounds
There was question in the forums about the upcoming fantasy playoffs. Forum contributor old_mosely is looking at a first round bye and wants to know where to get the best bang for his buck for round two and three. The time period is Week 25 (March 23 to March 29) and Week 26 (March 30 to April 12).
Week 25 and Week 26:
For the whole three week period the best teams are Flyers (11.25), Canucks (10.88), Blackhawks (10.80), Flames (10.58), and Panthers (10.46). The worst are the Penguins (8.06) and Hurricanes (7.86).
Week 25:
Best – Blue Jackets (4.21), Red Wings (4.20), Ducks (4.15)
Worst – Bruins (2.16), Penguins (2.08), Coyotes (1.92).
Week 26:
Best – Blackhawks (7.95), Flyers (7.45), Devils (7.27), Bruins (7.18)
Worst – Blue Jackets (5.52), Predators (5.38),and Hurricanes (5.14)
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 February 20, 2009. The rating is shown in brackets.
Two weeks
High ratings: Capitals (8.66), Bruins (7.13)
Low ratings: Canadiens (4.82), Coyotes (4.69)
Three weeks
High ratings: Capitals (11.63), Hurricanes (11.21), Maple Leafs (11.21)
Low ratings: Ducks (8.36), Canucks (7.94)
Four weeks
High ratings: Capitals (15.77), Maple Leafs (14.20)
Low ratings: Sabres (11.34), Ducks (11.27)
Friday, February 20, 2009 to Thursday, February 26, 2009 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Washington 4.62 – four home games COL, PIT, PHI, ATL | ||||||
NY Rangers 4.40 – four games BUF, TOR, TOR, FLA | ||||||
San Jose 4.30 – four games ATL, DAL, DET, OTT | ||||||
Carolina 4.21 – four games TB, COL, OTT, BUF | ||||||
Boston 4.10 – four games FLA, TB, FLA, ANA | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Montreal 2.00 – two games OTT, VAN | ||||||
Vancouver 2.00 – two games TOR, MTL | ||||||
Calgary 2.00 – two games EDM, CBJ | ||||||
New Jersey 2.19 – two games NYI, COL | ||||||
Florida 2.46 – three games BOS, BOS, NYR | ||||||
Saturday, February 21, 2009 to Friday February 27, 2009 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
NY Rangers 4.40 – four games BUF, TOR, TOR, FLA | ||||||
San Jose 4.30 – four games ATL, DAL, DET, OTT | ||||||
Pittsburgh 4.11 – four games PHI, WAS, NYI, CHI | ||||||
Boston 4.10 – four games FLA, TB, FLA, ANA | ||||||
Chicago 4.09 – four games DAL, MIN, NAS, PIT | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
New Jersey 2.19 – two games NYI, COL | ||||||
Florida 2.46 – three games BOS, BOS, NYR | ||||||
Detroit 2.55 – three games MIN, SJ, LA | ||||||
Tampa Bay 2.65 – three games BOS, EDM, VAN | ||||||
Anaheim 2.66 – three games CBJ, BUF, BOS | ||||||
Sunday, February 22, 2009 to Saturday February 28, 2009 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
NY Rangers 4.50 – four games TOR, TOR, FLA, COL | ||||||
Washington 4.33 – four games PIT, PHI, ATL, BOS | ||||||
Boston 4.20 – four games TB, FLA, ANA, WAS | ||||||
Carolina 4.19 – four games COL, OTT, BUF, ATL | ||||||
San Jose 3.88 – four games DAL, DET, OTT, MTL | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Calgary 1.89 – two games CBJ, MIN | ||||||
Columbus 1.90 – two games CGY, EDM | ||||||
Vancouver 2.01 – two games MTL, TB | ||||||
New Jersey 2.10 – two games COL, FLA | ||||||
Florida 2.47 – two games BOS, NYR, NJ | ||||||
Monday, February 23, 2009 to Sunday March 1, 2009 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Dallas 4.14 – four home games SJ, STL, ANA, PIT | ||||||
Washington 4.04 – four games PHI, ATL, BOS, FLA | ||||||
San Jose 3.88 – four games DAL, DET, OTT, MTL | ||||||
Philadelphia 3.86 – four games WAS, LA, MTL, NJ | ||||||
Los Angeles 3.51 – four road games MIN, PHI, DET, CHI | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Anaheim 2.65 – three road games BUF, BOS, DAL | ||||||
Detroit 2.84 – three games SJ, LA, NAS | ||||||
Colorado 2.87 – three games ATL, NJ, NYR | ||||||
Montreal 2.90 – three games VAN, PHI, SJ | ||||||
Columbus 2.92 – three games CGY, EDM, VAN | ||||||
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 to Monday March 2, 2009 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
NY Islanders 4.44 – four games PIT, TOR, BUF, COL | ||||||
Colorado 3.97 – four games ATL, NJ, NYR, NYI | ||||||
Philadelphia 3.86 – four games WAS, LA, MTL, NJ | ||||||
Washington 4.04 – four games PHI, ATL, BOS, FLA | ||||||
Los Angeles 3.51 – four games MIN, PHI, DET, CHI | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Anaheim 2.65 – three road games BUF, BOS, DAL | ||||||
Detroit 2.84 – three games SJ, LA, NAS | ||||||
San Jose 2.87 – three games DET, OTT, MTL | ||||||
Montreal 2.90 – three games VAN, PHI, SJ | ||||||
Columbus 2.92 – three games CGY, EDM, VAN | ||||||
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 to Tuesday March 3, 2009 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
NY Islanders 4.44 – four games PIT, TOR, BUF, COL | ||||||
New Jersey 4.36 – four games COL, FLA, PHI, TOR | ||||||
Pittsburgh 4.10 – four games NYI, CHI, DAL, TB | ||||||
Dallas 4.06 – four games STL, ANA, PIT, SJ | ||||||
Washington 4.05 – four games ATL, BOS, FLA, CAR | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Montreal 1.85 – two games PHI, SJ | ||||||
Phoenix 2.02 – two games NAS, STL | ||||||
Buffalo 2.06 – two games CAR, NYI | ||||||
Anaheim 2.58 – two games BOS, DAL, CHI | ||||||
Edmonton 2.76 – three games CBJ, MIN, NAS | ||||||
Thursday, February 26, 2009 to Wednesday March 4, 2009 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Colorado 4.36 – four games COL, FLA, PHI, TOR | ||||||
Dallas 4.06 – four games STL, ANA, PIT, SJ | ||||||
Washington 4.05 – four games ATL, BOS, FLA, CAR | ||||||
Detroit 3.96 – four games LA, NAS, STL, COL | ||||||
Colorado 3.89 – four games NJ, NYR, NYI, DET | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Phoenix 2.02 – two games NAS, STL | ||||||
NY Rangers 2.10 – two games FLA, COL | ||||||
Anaheim 2.58 – three games BOS, DAL, CHI | ||||||
Philadelphia 2.64 – three games MTL, NJ, BOS | ||||||
Los Angeles 2.70 – three games DET, CHI, CBJ | ||||||
Friday, February 27, 2009 to Thursday, March 5, 2009 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Washington 4.11 – four games BOS, FLA, CAR, TOR | ||||||
Florida 4.00 – four games NJ, WAS, ATL, PIT | ||||||
Detroit 3.96 – four games LA, NAS, STL, COL | ||||||
Dallas 3.88 – four games ANA, PIT, SJ, LA | ||||||
Calgary 3.87 – four games MIN, TB, OTT, PHI | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Anaheim 1.84 – two games DAL, CHI | ||||||
Phoenix 1.84 – two games STL, STL | ||||||
Atlanta 2.04 – two games CAR, FLA | ||||||
St. Louis 2.06 – two games PHX, DET | ||||||
Carolina 2.08 – two games ATL, WAS | ||||||
Saturday, February 28, 2009 to Friday March 6, 2009 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Dallas 4.82 – FIVE games ANA, PIT, SJ, LA, ANA | ||||||
Washington 4.11 – four games STL, FLA, CAR, TOR | ||||||
Florida 4.00 – four games NJ, WAS, ATL, PIT | ||||||
Calgary 3.98 – four games TB, OTT, PHI, CAR | ||||||
Ottawa 3.50 – three home games TOR, CGY, EDM | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Vancouver 1.84 – two games CBJ, MIN | ||||||
Chicago 2.06 – two games LA, ANA | ||||||
NY Rangers 2.22 – two games COL, NYI | ||||||
Philadelphia 2.62 – three games NJ, BOS, CGY | ||||||
Edmonton 2.68 – three games MIN, NAS, OTT | ||||||
Sunday, March 1, 2009 to Saturday March 7, 2009 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Florida 4.29 – four games WAS, ATL, PIT, STL | ||||||
Tampa Bay 4.24 – four games CGY, PIT, STL, CAR | ||||||
Calgary 3.98 – four games TB, OTT, PHI, CAR | ||||||
Columbus 3.86 – four games VAN, LA, NAS, DET | ||||||
Dallas 3.78 – four games PIT, SJ, LA, ANA | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
NY Rangers 1.10 – ONE games NYI | ||||||
Phoenix 1.64 – two road games BOS, BUF | ||||||
Anaheim 1.95 – two games CHI, DAL | ||||||
Montreal 2.05 – two games BUF, ATL | ||||||
Atlanta 2.07 – two games FLA, MTL |