Looking Ahead 2014: Week 12
steve laidlaw
2014-12-19

Looking Ahead at the most favourable schedules for Week 12.
More than a third of the NHL season is in the books, so let's take a look at a handful players who have exceeded expectations and failed to meet expectations thus far.
Anze Kopitar, C, Los Angeles – There are a two key reasons why one of the game's top two-way centers is currently sporting statistics fantasy hockey owners would normally expect from a middling second-liner. Both reasons can be summed up in two words: bad luck. Los Angeles goalies Jonathan Quick and Martin Jones have registered save percentages of .939 and .931 at even strength, respectively, so far this season. However, those two goalies sport a combined save percentage of .895 while Kopitar is on the ice during the 2014-15 season. This explains why he is a minus-six through 29 games. Los Angeles's No. 1 center is also struggling to turn power-play opportunities into points. Kopitar has totaled no fewer than 12 assists in any of his eight professional campaigns prior to the 2014-15 season. He's on pace for about three this year. Expect some positive regression for the talented veteran center, who is simply too good to be held down for much longer. 60 or 65 points for the year is still well within reach.