Five players to target in Week 25…

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 in the upcoming week.

Anaheim Ducks = Target

Games: 8 (4H/4A)

Favorable Matchups:

    – @ Edmonton x 2

        > 3^rd worst defensive team

        > 6^th most shots allowed per game

        > 16 goals allowed in past three games (5.33 GAA)

    – vs. Edmonton

        > See above

That's really all you need to see.  The Ducks face the Oilers three times over the next ten days.  Over the next two weeks, Anaheim is one of only three teams to play eight games.  In addition, they face the Canucks twice and the Jets and Predators once apiece.  So their next seven games are against non-playoff teams, some of which are vulnerable to letting in goals in bunches.  Expect much of the same from Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry.  While Mathieu Perreault , Nick Bonino and Teemu Selanne should provide damn good secondary scoring numbers.

Ottawa Senators = Consider

Games: 7 (5H/2A)

Favorable Matchups:

    – vs. NY Islanders

        > Worst defensive team

        > 2^nd worst penalty kill

        > 45 goals allowed in 13 games since John Tavares' injury (3.46 GAA)

    – @ NY Islanders

        > See above

Much like the Ducks, the Senators are here because they will attempt to feast on the same team multiple times over the coming weeks.  The Islanders are the worst defensive team in the league right now and have nothing to play for, really.  Coupled with that, Ottawa has games against Calgary and Carolina to help boost their offensive totals.  It's not like Ottawa is playing for much either, so we could see some wide open games.

Nashville Predators = Beware

Games: 5 (1H/4A)

Unfavorable Matchups:

    – @ Anaheim

        > 6^th best defensive team

        > 8^th fewest shots allowed per game

        > 11 goals allowed in past five games (2.20 GAA)

    – @ San Jose

        > 4^th best defensive team

        > 7^th best penalty kill

        > 5^th fewest shots allowed per game

Last week the Predators were a "Consider" team and they put up six on Calgary, two on Chicago, four on Colorado and six on Buffalo (18 goals in four games = 4.5 goals per game).  That's a pretty solid hit for me.  Now I'm leaning the other way.  Just one game at home between now and April 10^th, including stops in Anaheim and San Jose.  I don't see that 4.5 goals/game continuing.

Vancouver Canucks = Avoid

Games: 4 (4H/0A)

Unfavorable Matchups:

    – vs. Anaheim x 2

        > See above

    – vs. NY Rangers

        > 5^th best defensive team

        > 6^th best penalty kill

        > 19 goals allowed in past 11 games (1.73 GAA)

    – vs. Los Angeles

        > 2^nd best defensive team

        > 3^rd fewest shots allowed per game

        > Nine goals allowed on current five-game winning streak (1.80 GAA)

The Canucks have the fewest games of any NHL team between now and April 9^th.  All four of their games over that period are against top defensive clubs that are in the playoffs.  Vancouver has gone on a nice little run; winning three of their past four and keeping their playoff hopes alive.  This upcoming schedule will see to it they don't make the postseason, especially because they've played more games than any of the teams they are chasing or tied with (Dallas).

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.

Anaheim: Mathieu Perreault (7%) – Currently on six-game point streak, four of which are goals.  Six penalty minutes, +3, 17 hits and 13 shots on goal over the same span.

NY Islanders: Andres Lee (5%) – Nine points in his past ten while being a +5 on a crappy Islander team.  Another impressive stat: 35 shots.

New Jersey: Adam Henrique (26%) – Patrik Elias seems to be the only Devil still producing and he's dragging Henrique to four points in his past four with a +3, 2 PIMs and 6 hits.

Columbus: Boone Jenner (2%) – Centering two of Columbus' most gifted offensive players in Ryan Johansen and Nathan Horton.  He's recently held onto that spot on the powerplay (which is a good sign).

Florida: Scottie Upshall (4%) – Not much to cheer about in Florida, but Upshall does lead the team in points, plus/minus and game-winners. 

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, March 31^st through Sunday, April 6^th

Monday: 8 teams

Tuesday: 22 teams

Wednesday: 8 teams

Thursday: 18 teams

Friday: 14 teams

Saturday: 22 teams

Sunday: 12 teams

Different week, same schedule.

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