Looking Ahead: Week 14

Bob Fisher

2013-12-27

KrisVerseeg


Five players to pick up for Week 14…


Here are some teams to target and avoid for the next week or two, several players to target that may be available in your league as well as teams that play a light schedule.

 

San Jose Sharks = Target

 

Games: 7 (2H/5A)

Favorable Matchups:

    – @ Phoenix

        > 6th worst defensive team

        > 6th worst PK

        > 5th most shots allowed per game

    – vs. Edmonton

        > Worst defensive team

        > 9th most shots allowed per game

        > 30 goals allowed in last eight games (3.75 GAA)

    – @ Nashville

        > 9th worst defensive team

        > 14 goals allowed in the past three games (4.67 GAA)

        > The starting Nashville goaltender has been pulled in the last three games

 

The Sharks are fourth in the league in goals scored per game right now.  With their upcoming schedule, there is no reason why they can't remain at or improve upon that number.  The slate of games starts with a visit to Phoenix where the normally defensive-minded Coyotes have revamped their game and prefer 4-3 contests over 2-1 ones.  Next up is a home-and-home with the Ducks, which should be a couple of great games to watch.  Sprinkle in a visit from the Oilers, who are always good for allowing a decent number of goals, and then stops in Colorado, Chicago and Nashville and you should see the big guns of San Jose continue to post their stellar numbers.

 


Carolina Hurricanes = Consider

 

Games: 7 (3H/4A)

Favorable Matchups:

    – @ Washington

        > 7th worst defensive team

        > 2nd most shots allowed per game

        > 19 goals against in the past five games (3.80 GAA)

    – @ NY Islanders

        > 2nd worst defensive team

        > Worst PK

        > Evgeni Nabokov has the "best" stats on the team: 2.93 GAA / .901 SV% / 1 SHO

    – vs. Nashville

        > See above

 

The Canes haven't exactly been a hotbed for fantasy stats this season.  Most of the team has been a giant disappointment, actually.  Eric Staal and Jeff Skinner have been leading the way over the past month (and pretty much the whole season) with Jordan Staal struggling to make his $6M cap hit look somewhat justified.  Don't even bring up Alex Semin.  I wouldn't expect Carolina to light up the scoresheet, but they should have some decent totals over the next two weeks with stops in Toronto, Washington, Long Island and Buffalo as well as a visit from Nashville (in addition to Pittsburgh and Montreal).

 

Toronto Maple Leafs = Beware

 

Games: 5 (4H/1A)

Unfavorable Matchups:

    – @ Detroit

        > 8th best PK

        > Game is in Ann Arbor at University of Michigan Stadium

        > Huge national event, should be played more like a playoff game

    – vs. NY Rangers

        > 6th best PK

        > 10th fewest shots allowed per game

        > Cam Talbot: 1.60 GAA (2nd) / .938 SV% (3rd) / 2 SHO (9th)

 

The Leafs are one of three teams to only play five games over the span of the next 13 days.  Included in those five games is the Winter Classic, which is traditionally low-scoring.  There have been five Winter Classics and they average 4.8 goals per game (boosted thanks to ten goals by Detroit/Chicago in 2009).  A lot of the Maple Leafs have been struggling lately with only eight goals scored in the past five games (1.60 GPG).  While I don't see that poor of a goals for trend continuing, it won't be that much better with only five games between now and January 8th.

 

Florida Panthers = Avoid

 

Games: 5 (4H/1A)

Unfavorable Matchups:

    – vs. Montreal

        > 3rd best defensive team

        > 4th best PK

        > Carey Price: 2.10 GAA (8th) / .932 SV% (6th) / 2 SHO (9th)

    – vs. NY Rangers

        > See above

    – @ Montreal

        > See above

 

There isn't much to write home about when it comes to the Panthers' offensive prowess.  In fact, Sidney Crosby has more points than Tomas Fleischmann, Scottie Upshall and Aleksander Barkov combined (Florida's top three point-getters).  While the Panthers will be playing four straight home games, they include Detroit, Montreal, the Rangers and Nashville, followed by a visit to Montreal.  If you're relying on Florida players to lead your fantasy team, you're already in trouble.

 

 

Possible Pickups

Here's a list of some players, owned in less than 30% of Yahoo leagues, to target for the upcoming Monday to Sunday schedule.

 

Carolina: Nathan Gerbe (8%) – Three points in his past four, including eight shots playing alongside Jordan Staal and Semin on Carolina's second line.  He also averages the fourth most ice time per game among Hurricane forwards, and fifth on the team on the PP.

 

San Jose: Tommy Wingels (28%) – Gets the lucky assignment of skating with Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau at even strength.  Number five on the team in overall ice time behind the big four (Marleau, Couture, Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton).

 

Nashville: Craig Smith (5%) – Five points in his past three games, including four goals and averaging five shots per game.  Currently on Nashville's top line with David Legwand and Nick Spaling.  Ride him while he's hot!

 

Philadelphia: Michael Raffl (2%) – Seven points, +5, nine hits and 12 shots in his last eight games.  His linemates are decent too: Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek.  He's replaced Scott Hartnell as the third wheel on that top unit.

 

Chicago: Kris Versteeg (18%) – Nine points in his last ten.  Getting traded back to Chicago was the best thing to happen to Versteeg.  Anyone on a regular line with Patrick Kane is worth considering.

 

 

Light Day Targets

Want to know what teams to target based on their schedule landing on light days for the upcoming Monday to Sunday schedule?

 

Week: Monday, December 30 through Sunday, January 5

 

Monday: 8 teams

Tuesday: 22 teams

Wednesday: 4 teams

Thursday: 20 teams

Friday: 8 teams

Saturday: 24 teams

Sunday: 10 teams

 

Life is back to normal with the Christmas Holiday over now and we're seeing the typical Tuesday / Thursday / Saturday schedule.  Wednesday is light due to the Winter Classic with only two games that day.

 

So what teams have a good schedule for the light days?

 

 

Mon

Tues

Wed

Thur

Fri

Sat

Sun

Vancouver Canucks

X

 

X

 

 

X

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X

Chicago Blackhawks

X

 

 

X

X

 

X

Tampa Bay Lightning

 

 

X

 

X

 

X

Edmonton Oilers

 

X

 

X

X

 

X

 

Friday, December 27 to Thursday, January 2

Best Bets

Boston (4.51) – 4 Games: OTW, @OTW, NYI, NSH

San Jose (4.31) – 4 Games: @PHX, ANH, @ANH, EDM

Phoenix (4.26) – 4 Games: SJ, @ANH, EDM, CBJ

Minnesota (4.20) – 4 Games: @WPG, NYI, STL, BUF

Colorado (4.15) – 4 Games: @CHI, WPG, CBJ, PHI

Steer Clear

Tampa Bay (2.80) – 3 Games: MTL, NYR, @VAN

Pittsburgh (2.85) – 3 Games: @CAR, @CBJ, @NJ

Florida (2.99) – 3 Games: DET, MTL, NYR

NY Rangers (2.99) – 3 Games: @WSH, @TB, @FLA

New Jersey (3.04) – 3 Games: CBJ, @NYI, PIT

Saturday, December 28 to Friday, January 3

Best Bets

Anaheim (4.32) – 4 Games: PHX, @SJ, SJ, EDM

Philadelphia (3.99) – 4 Games: @EDM, @VAN, @CGY, @COL

Edmonton (3.95) – 4 Games: PHI, @PHX, @SJ, @ANH

Montreal (3.90) – 4 Games: @TB, @FLA, @CAR, @DAL

Tampa Bay (3.89) – 4 Games: MTL, NYR, @VAN, @CGY

Steer Clear

Toronto (2.00) – 2 Games: CAR, @DET

Dallas (2.68) – 3 Games: STL, LA, MTL

Nashville (2.70) – 3 Games: LA, DET, @BOS

NY Rangers (2.76) – 3 Games: @TB, @FLA, @PIT

Columbus (2.84) – 3 Games: PIT, @COL, @PHX

Sunday, December 29 to Saturday, January 4

Best Bets

Minnesota (4.36) – 4 Games: NYI, STL, BUF, WSH

Colorado (4.20) – 4 Games: WPG, CBJ, PHI, SJ

Montreal (4.20) – 4 Games: @FLA, @CAR, @DAL, OTW

San Jose (4.16) – 4 Games: ANH, @ANH, EDM, @COL

Buffalo (4.11) – 4 Games: WSH, @WPG, @MIN, NJ

Steer Clear

Chicago (2.88) – 3 Games: LA, @NYI, @NJ

New Jersey (2.89) – 3 Games: PIT, CHI, @BUF

Edmonton (2.90) – 3 Games: @PHX, @SJ, @ANH

Calgary (2.94) – 3 Games: VAN, PHI, TB

Nashville (2.95) – 3 Games: DET, @BOS, @FLA

Monday, December 30 to Sunday, January 5

Best Bets

Carolina (4.13) – 4 Games: MTL, @WSH, @NYI, NSH

San Jose (4.06) – 4 Games: @ANH, EDM, @COL, @CHI

Nashville (3.90) – 4 Games: DET, @BOS, @FLA, @CAR

Philadelphia (3.90) – 4 Games: @VAN, @CGY, @COL, @PHX

Chicago (3.88) – 4 Games: LA, @NYI, @NJ, SJ

Steer Clear

Calgary (2.00) – 2 Games: PHI, TB

Toronto (2.00) – 2 Games: @DET, NYR

Florida (2.15) – 2 Games: NYR, NSH

Dallas (2.78) – 3 Games: LA, MTL, DET

St. Louis (2.79) – 3 Games: @MIN, LA, CBJ

Tuesday, December 31 to Monday, January 6

Best Bets

Montreal (4.31) – 4 Games: @CAR, @DAL, OTW, FLA

Colorado (4.31) – 4 Games: CBJ, PHI, SJ, CGY

Carolina (4.13) – 4 Games: MTL, @WSH, @NYI, NSH

San Jose (4.06) – 4 Games: @ANH, EDM, @COL, @CHI

NY Islanders (4.01) – 4 Games: @BOS, CHI, CAR, DAL

Steer Clear

Ottawa (1.91) – 2 Games: WPG, @MTL

Washington (1.95) – 2 Games: CAR, @MIN

Toronto (2.00) – 2 Games: @DET, NYR

Detroit (2.05) – 2 Games: TOR, @DAL

Vancouver (2.66) – 3 Games: TB, @LA, @ANH

Wednesday, January 1 to Tuesday, January 7

Best Bets

Carolina (4.19) – 4 Games: @WSH, @NYI, NSH, @BUF

NY Islanders (4.15) – 4 Games: CHI, CAR, DAL, @TOR

San Jose (4.11) – 4 Games: EDM, @COL, @CHI, @NSH

Tampa Bay (4.09) – 4 Games: @VAN, @CGY, @EDM, @WPG

Nashville (3.85) – 4 Games: @BOS, @FLA, @CAR, SJ

Steer Clear

Florida (1.91) – 2 Games: NSH, @MTL

Ottawa (1.91) – 2 Games: WPG, @MTL

Washington (1.95) – 2 Games: CAR, @MIN

Detroit (2.05) – 2 Games: TOR, @DAL

Los Angeles (2.80) – 3 Games: @STL, VAN, MIN

Thursday, January 2 to Wednesday, January 8

Best Bets

Colorado (4.41) – 4 Games: PHI, SJ, CGY, OTW

Montreal (4.31) – 4 Games: @DAL, OTW, FLA, @PHI

Carolina (4.19) – 4 Games: @WSH, @NYI, NSH, @BUF

NY Islanders (4.15) – 4 Games: CHI, CAR, DAL, @TOR

San Jose (4.11) – 4 Games: EDM, @COL, @CHI, @NSH

Steer Clear

Detroit (1.00) – 1 Games: @DAL

Florida (1.91) – 2 Games: NSH, @MTL

Washington (1.95) – 2 Games: CAR, @MIN

Toronto (2.26) – 2 Games: NYR, NYI

Vancouver (2.60) – 3 Games: @LA, @ANH, PIT

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UPCOMING GAMES

Nov 07 - 19:11 NYR vs BUF
Nov 07 - 19:11 CAR vs PIT
Nov 07 - 19:11 OTT vs NYI
Nov 07 - 19:11 FLA vs NSH
Nov 07 - 19:11 BOS vs CGY
Nov 07 - 19:11 N.J vs MTL
Nov 07 - 19:11 T.B vs PHI
Nov 07 - 20:11 DAL vs CHI
Nov 07 - 20:11 STL vs UTA
Nov 07 - 20:11 WPG vs COL
Nov 07 - 22:11 L.A vs VAN
Nov 07 - 22:11 S.J vs MIN

Starting Goalies

Top Skater Views

  Players Team
TIMOTHY LILJEGREN S.J
PAVEL DOROFEYEV VGK
ALIAKSEI PROTAS WSH
CONNOR MCMICHAEL WSH
WYATT JOHNSTON DAL

Top Goalie Profile Views

  Players Team
CAM TALBOT DET
LOGAN THOMPSON WSH
PETR MRAZEK CHI
ALEXANDAR GEORGIEV COL
STUART SKINNER EDM

LINE COMBOS

  Frequency STL Players
14.6 BRAYDEN SCHENN BRANDON SAAD JORDAN KYROU
12.7 ALEXANDRE TEXIER JAKE NEIGHBOURS PAVEL BUCHNEVICH
12.3 NATHAN WALKER ALEXEY TOROPCHENKO RADEK FAKSA

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