Looking Ahead 2014: Week 10
steve laidlaw
2014-12-05
Looking ahead at the best schedules in the NHL for Week 10.
There are no guarantees in fantasy hockey, but a pair of tried and true strategies will always pay off in the long haul:
- Bet on the best combination of talent and opportunity to achieve the desired level of production you are looking for from your roster. Talent means nothing without opportunity, and vice-versa.
- Focus on the process by which you make roster decisions, as opposed to the results they yield. Long-term success is not attainable without the knowledge of why you were successful in the short term.
With that in mind, let's take a look ahead at some teams and players to target or avoid in the coming week or so:
Love 'Em (These squads are the best bet to produce for fantasy owners)
San Jose – With five games between Saturday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 13, the Sharks shouldbe able to provide quality production for fantasy owners in need of help. Two of those five will come against the Edmonton Oilers, who are one of the worst teams in hockey through the season's first two months. Simply stated, no squad has an easier slate of matchups in the next several days than San Jose.
Chicago – While four of the team's next five games come on the road, the Blackhawks are scheduled to play a whopping seven times between Friday, Dec. 5 and Tuesday, Dec. 16. Blessed with three 20-point scorers, Chicago should continue to pile up counting stats over the course of the next week to 10 days.
Leave 'Em (These squads will leave fantasy owners sorely disappointed for the immediate future)
New York Rangers 1.99 – two games – PIT and VAN
Boston 2.00 – two games – CHI and OTT
Montreal 2.05 – two games – VAN and LAK
Arizona 2.15- two games – NSH and MIN
Dallas 2.31 – two games – WPG and NJD
Monday, December 8 to Sunday, December 14
Best Bets
Los Angeles 4.13 – four games – BUF, OTT, MTL and TOR
Chicago 4.11 – four games – NJD, BOS, NYI and CGY
Toronto 4.10 – four games – CGY, DETx2 and LAK
Calgary 3.80 – four games – TOR, BUF, PIT and CHI
New Jersey 3.79 – four games – CAR, CHI, PHI and DAL
Steer Clear
Vancouver 2.00 – two games – MTL and NYR
Ottawa 1.75 – two games – LAK and BOS
Montreal 2.05- three games – VAN and LAK
Boston 2.00 – two games – CHI and OTT
Arizona 2.15 – two games – NSH and MIN
Tuesday, December 9 to Monday, December 15
Best Bets
Los Angeles 4.13- four games – BUF, OTT, MTL and TOR
Toronto 4.10 – four games – CGY, DETx2 and LAK
Tampa Bay 3.96 – four games – WASx2, CAR and PIT
Chicago 4.11 – four games – NJD, BOS, NYI and CGY
New York Islanders 3.81 – four games – MIN, STL, CHI and NJD
Steer Clear
Ottawa 1.75 – two games – LAK and BOS
Carolina 1.90 – two games – both on road
Boston 2.00 – two games – CHI and OTT
Vancouver 2.00 – two games – MTL and NYR
St. Louis 2.01 – two games – NYI and COL
Wednesday, December 10 to Tuesday, December 16
Best Bets
Detroit 4.31 – four games – three at home
Anaheim 4.14 – four games – EDMx2, WPG and TOR
Chicago – 4.11 – four games – BOS, NYI, CGY and MIN
Tampa Bay 3.86 – four games – CAR, WAS, PIT and PHI
Edmonton 3.84 – four games – ANAx2, NYR and ARI
Steer Clear
Vancouver 1.00 – one game – NYR
Dallas 1.16 – one game – NJD
Ottawa 1.75 – two games – LAK and BOS
Montreal 2.00 – two games – LAK and CAR
Colorado 2.05 – two games – WPG and STL
Thursday, December 11 to Wednesday, December 17
Best Bets
Chicago 4.11 – four games – BOS, NYI, CGY and MIN
New Jersey 4.00 – four games – PHI, DAL, NYI and OTT
Boston – 3.94 – four games – CHI, OTT, NSH and MIN
Tampa Bay 3.86 – four games – CAR, WAS, PIT and PHI
Los Angeles 3.80 – four games – OTT, MTL, TOR and STL
Steer Clear
Montreal 2.00 – two games – LAK and CAR
Colorado 2.05- two games – WPG and STL
Vancouver 2.05 – two games – NYR and DAL
San Jose 2.15 – two games – MIN and NSH
Dallas 2.20 – two games – NJD and VAN
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