Looking Ahead – Week 24
Dave Poleck
2011-03-18
A tough decision can be made easier with these charts showing you the best five and worst five schedules for upcoming seven-day periods. Some of you used them last year but for the benefit of new readers here is a refresher. The number next to the team indicates the ‘multiplier’ to use on a player’s point-per-game pace to give you an idea how many points to expect for that week.
With fantasy playoffs either just beginning or on the verge of Round 2, being aware of how often your guys play can be a key advantage over your opponent. Be sure to take a look back at the spread done during Week 19 that outlines team' matchups during the fantasy playoffs this year.
If you're starting your playoffs this coming Monday, you can't really be a fan of the Best Bets section. Ottawa and Florida lead the way and the other three teams have extremely tough schedules. Philly plays Washington, Pittsburgh and Boston; Pittsburgh plays the aforementioned Flyers, as well as Detroit and New Jersey; and the Bruins face Broduer, Lundqvist, Price and yes of course, the Flyers.
How bad have the Colorado Avalanche been lately? If you answered they're 6-22-3 in the new year, allowing 3.90 goals per game, you would have been correct. So why not take advantage of their defensive deficiencies? Unfortunately, the only teams to play them twice over their remaining games are Edmonton and Dallas. If your pool goes right to the end of the season, you might want to look at picking up some Stars; they have a back to back with the Avs for game 80 and 81.
The mother of all Cinderella story run that the Devils have been has almost come crashing down in the past two weeks with not one, but two losses to the lowly Senators. After facing the Caps at home tonight, they go on a four game road trip against the likes of Columbus, Boston, Pittsburgh and Buffalo. The good news for them is that they play nine of their remaining 12 games against Eastern Conference playoff teams.
The top two seeds in the West are pretty much locked up, and the Kings loss to the Blues Thursday will go a long way in helping San Jose win the Pacific. The rest of the West is completely insane. Although they're holding onto the 8th seed, Calgary's 73 games played so far puts them behind the eight ball. Their 15-15-5 road record will be put to the test this week as they head to Anaheim, LA, San Jose and Edmonton. However, they do have some winnable games down the stretch with six of their remaining nine against non playoff teams.
Nashville on the other hand, with only eight losses at home all year, still have eight more home games to go and games against Edmonton, Colorado, St. Louis, Columbus and Atlanta.
Although in 10th place, two points behind Calgary and one behind Nashville, the Ducks are in control of their destiny now as they've only played 70 games. Much like the Devils, they have a lot of opportunities to make up ground on the teams ahead of them with 10 of their remaining 12 against Western playoff teams (three of which are against LA).
Friday March 18 to Thursday March 24, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
NY Islanders 4.37 – @CAR, @FLA, @TB, ATL | ||||||
Columbus 4.22 – @MIN, NJ, @COL, @PHX | ||||||
Nashville 4.11 – DET, @BUF, EDM, ANA | ||||||
Anaheim 4.00 – @LA, CGY, @DAL, @NAS | ||||||
Montreal 3.93 – @NYR, @MIN, BUF, @BOS | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Dallas 1.81 – PHI, ANA | ||||||
Washington 1.89 – @NJ, @PHI | ||||||
Vancouver 2.00 – PHX, @DET | ||||||
Chicago 2.05 – @PHX, FLA | ||||||
Carolina 2.12 – NYI, OTT | ||||||
Saturday March 19 to Friday March 25, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Columbus 4.22 – @MIN, NJ, @COL, @PHX | ||||||
Florida 4.16 – NYI, @NYR, @CHI, @BUF | ||||||
Nashville 4.11 – DET, @BUF, EDM, ANA | ||||||
Ottawa 4.04 – TB, @CAR, @NYR, WAS | ||||||
Anaheim 4.00 – @LA, CGY, @DAL, @NAS | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Dallas 1.81 – PHI, ANA | ||||||
Chicago 2.05 – @PHX, FLA | ||||||
Washington 2.10 – @PHI, @OTT | ||||||
Vancouver 2.21 – @DET, @ATL | ||||||
Carolina 2.22 – OTT, @TB | ||||||
Sunday March 20 to Saturday March 26, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Calgary 4.33 – @ANA, @LA, @SJ, @EDM | ||||||
Nashville 4.11 – @BUF, EDM, ANA, DAL | ||||||
New Jersey 4.10 – @CBJ, @BOS, @PIT, @BOS | ||||||
Anaheim 4.00 – CGY, @DAL, @NAS, @CHI | ||||||
NY Rangers 3.93 – @PIT, FLA, OTT, @BOS | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Dallas 1.90 – ANA, @NAS | ||||||
Atlanta 2.05 – @NYI, VAN | ||||||
Vancouver 2.21 – @DET, @ATL | ||||||
Boston 2.60 – NJ, MON, NYR | ||||||
Detroit 2.90 – PIT, VAN, TOR | ||||||
Monday March 21 to Sunday March 27, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Ottawa 4.14 – @CAR, @NYR, WAS, @ATL | ||||||
Florida 4.03 – @NYR, @CHI, @BUF, @PIT | ||||||
Philadelphia 3.85 – WAS, PIT, @NYI, BOS | ||||||
Pittsburgh 3.85 – @DET, @PHI, NJ, FLA | ||||||
Boston 3.54 – NJ, NYR, MON, @PHI | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Dallas 1.90 – ANA, @NAS | ||||||
Chicago 1.95 – FLA, ANA | ||||||
Minnesota 2.04 – TOR, STL | ||||||
Buffalo 2.80 – @MON, FLA, NJ | ||||||
Detroit 2.80 – PIT, VAN, TOR | ||||||
Tuesday March 22 to Monday March 28, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Colorado 4.23 – CBJ, TOR, @LA, @ANA | ||||||
Anaheim 4.19 – @DAL, @NAS, @CHI, COL | ||||||
Ottawa 4.14 – @CAR, @NYR, WAS, @ATL | ||||||
Florida 4.03 – @NYR, @CHI, @BUF, @PIT | ||||||
Philadelphia 3.85 – WAS, PIT, @NYI, BOS | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Dallas 1.90 – ANA, @NAS | ||||||
Los Angeles 2.00 – SJ, COL | ||||||
Minnesota 2.04 – TOR, STL | ||||||
Calgary 2.23 – SJ, EDM | ||||||
Buffalo 2.80 – @MON, FLA, NJ | ||||||
Wednesday March 23 to Tuesday March 29, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Vancouver 4.31 – @DET, @ATL, @CBJ, @NAS | ||||||
Ottawa 4.26 – @NYR, WAS, @ATL, @TB | ||||||
Florida 4.20 – @CHI, @BUF, @PIT, @CBJ | ||||||
Anaheim 4.19 – @DAL, @NAS, @CHI, COL | ||||||
Atlanta 4.04 – @NYI, VAN, OTT, @MON | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
NY Islanders 1.90 – ATL, PHI | ||||||
NY Rangers 1.99 – OTT, @BOS | ||||||
New Jersey 2.00 – @PIT, @BUF | ||||||
Minnesota 2.00 – STL, @STL | ||||||
Calgary 2.23 – SJ, @EDM | ||||||
Thursday March 24 to Wednesday March 30, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Ottawa 4.26 – @NYR, WAS, @ATL, @TB | ||||||
St. Louis 4.21 – EDM, @MIN, MIN, @DET | ||||||
Anaheim 4.19 – @NAS, @CHI, COL, @CGY | ||||||
Carolina 4.14 – @TB, TB, @WAS, MON | ||||||
Atlanta 4.04 – @NYI, VAN, OTT, @MON | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Dallas 2.00 – @NAS, @PHX | ||||||
Minnesota 2.00 – STL, @STL | ||||||
San Jose 2.10 – @LA, @PHX | ||||||
Calgary 2.23 – @EDM, ANA | ||||||
Nashville 2.76 – ANA, DAL, VAN | ||||||
Friday March 25 to Thursday March 31, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Ottawa 4.48 – WAS, @ATL, @TB, @FLA | ||||||
Vancouver 4.21 – @ATL, @CBJ, @NAS, LA | ||||||
Florida 4.20 – @BUF, @PIT, @CBJ, OTT | ||||||
Carolina 4.14 – @TB, TB, @WAS, MON | ||||||
Washington 4.10 – @OTT, @MON, CAR, CBJ | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Phoenix 1.81 – SJ, DAL | ||||||
San Jose 2.00 – @PHX, DAL | ||||||
Calgary 2.23 – @EDM, ANA | ||||||
NY Islander 2.69 – PHI, @NJ, NYR | ||||||
Columbus 2.90 – VAN, FLA, @WAS | ||||||
Saturday March 26 to Friday April 1, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Ottawa 4.52 – @ATL, @TB, @FLA, TOR | ||||||
Vancouver 4.21 – @CBJ, @NAS, LA, CBJ | ||||||
Pittsburgh 4.12 – FLA, PHI, @TB, @FLA | ||||||
Boston 4.03 – @PHI, CHI, TOR, ATL | ||||||
Florida 4.00 – @PIT, @CBJ, OTT, PIT | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
San Jose 2.00 – @PHX, DAL | ||||||
NY Islander 2.69 – PHI, @NJ, NYR | ||||||
Atlanta 2.94 – OTT, @MON, @PHI | ||||||
Dallas 2.94 – @NAS, @PHX, @SJ | ||||||
Washington 2.94 – @MON, CAR, CBJ | ||||||
Sunday March 27 to Saturday April 2, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Calgary 4.33 – @ANA, @LA, @SJ, @EDM | ||||||
Nashville 4.11 – @BUF, EDM, ANA, DAL | ||||||
New Jersey 4.10 – @CBJ, @BOS, @PIT, @BOS | ||||||
Anaheim 4.00 – CGY, @DAL, @NAS, @CHI | ||||||
NY Rangers 3.93 – @PIT, FLA, OTT, @BOS | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
San Jose 1.90 – DAL, ANA | ||||||
Calgary 2.00 – ANA, @STL | ||||||
Phoenix 2.09 – DAL, COL | ||||||
NY Rangers 2.24 – @BUF, @NYI | ||||||
NY Islanders 2.78 – @NJ, NYR, CAR |