Welcome back in, everyone! If you're league is like mine currently is, then you understand how crucial these next two weeks are. I've found myself scoreboard watching the clubs behind me, and if you're doing the same, then a win for you and a loss for them all but gets you a playoff spot. Let's see if we can't make that happen here this week!

The Immediate Fix (Grab this guy and use him for the next several days)

Marcus Hogberg, G, New York Islanders (Rostered in 1% of ESPN leagues, 7% Fantrax, 2% Yahoo) – The Islanders present a unique situation for us next week as their only games on the schedule will be a back-to-back on Monday and Tuesday, and a back-to-back over the weekend. Ilya Sorokin can't start all four, let's get some Isles exposure in net.

Right now, Marcus Hogberg is on IR but there's a real possibility that he comes off that list on Saturday, moving Jakub Skarek off the roster. If that happens, then there are two starts in net for you next week (four if you roster Sorokin). Playing the goaltending roulette wheel in fantasy can be maddening as sometimes coaches don't announce who is starting or if you're a select couple teams out west, the beat writers don't travel with the club on the road to give us a clue who is in the starter's net for morning skate. A sure thing in net is great, and Hogberg may be able to offer us just that.

Hogberg got regular starts earlier in the season, and although he didn't have the most promising start to the year, his stats improved before he ended up on IR. Would like to thank him for his heroics in that start against the Sharks, my DFS bankroll thanks you, Marcus. Just looking at the Islanders schedule, my guess would be that Hogberg starts in the Monday contest against the Rangers, and Saturday against the Sharks. Two reasons, the first being the Monday start coming after a Saturday game will give Sorokin more rest. Second being those two clubs are the "easier" option as compared to Winnipeg and Anaheim. As much as I plug GoaliePost (excellent resource), sometimes it's nice to not have to sweat out a start which Hogberg may provide next week.  

The Building Block (Buy now, sit back and enjoy the production)

Mason Lohrei, D, Boston Bruins (Rostered in 9% of ESPN leagues, 45% Fantrax, 12% Yahoo) – These roster numbers are way too low here across all platforms, Mason Lohrei might be a move that can benefit your team going into the playoff push.

One of my rules in fantasy is that I try not to get too attached to a player or players based on what I saw from the prior season's playoff. Perfect example would be me taking Lars Eller late in my draft the season following the Capitals Cup run. I told myself that I wasn't going to do the same thing with Lohrei as I thought he looked great for Boston and stayed away at the beginning of the season. It ended up being for the best, as Lohrei got off to a slow start to the season but now he finds himself playing better and in a larger role.

With Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm shelved with injuries, Lohrei has come in and stepped up in a real way, with four points in his last three games with increased ice time from around 19 minutes up to 23 since the Four Nations break. I was convinced in mid-November that this was going to be his power play to run, and if this is the audition for next season, then that may very well be his role on the club in the future. For now, finding a defenseman this late in the fantasy season that is more than a rental is hard to do, Lohrei provides an option that is widely available and will have a larger role for this B's club given their injuries on defense.

The Odd Man Out (His short-term value is cause for concern)

Tony DeAngelo, D, New York Islanders (Rostered in 27% of ESPN leagues, 52% Fantrax, 26% Yahoo) – Noah Dobson was activated off IR which, odds are, will move Tony DeAngelo off the top power play unit for the Islanders eventually. This is why we have an odd man out category.      

I am shocked that Dobson is back as quickly as he is, given the severity of his injury. I happened to be watching that game, and, in the moment, I thought we had lost him for the season. I currently roster Dobson and was very surprised to see him active, which means that Tony DeAngelo will likely move off the top power play group. The roster numbers on ESPN immediately reflected Dobson's activation as well, with his roster percentage going down a full ten percent in just a day. DeAngelo still has some value to him but in smaller leagues, looking to fill his spot may be the play.

The Anchors (They’ll do nothing but disappoint even over the long haul)

Joel Farabee, LW, Calgary Flames (Rostered in 45% of ESPN leagues, 43%, Fantrax, 37% Yahoo) – When the Flames traded for Joel Farabee, he was put onto the Flames top line with Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri. I watched each of his first three games and in-between winning money on that line in DFS and that group passing the eye test, I was extremely encouraged. Fast forward to today, the situation for him has changed.

Right now, Joel Farabee is skating with another Flyers alum, Morgan Frost, on the Flames third line. Calgary this season has tried to get three scoring lines up and rolling which is fine, but for Farabee and fantasy's sake, we want to see him up on the top line and of course with full power play correlation. I wish that the top line as previously constructed remained intact as I really thought that there was something there, but the coach makes the decisions, and I just write about how I agree or disagree with them. This one…going to lean disagree coach Ward! All in all though, I'm higher on this Flames team than most, next couple of weeks are going to be telling for this squad.

Love ‘Em (These squads are sure to pay dividends in the coming days)

This period runs through February28^th– March 9^th

Buffalo Sabres – If there's ever going to be a time for Buffalo, it's now. There's some good and bad upcoming for this club, the good is that they start the week against the Habs and Sharks. Bad is that they end the week on a Florida road trip. Still, there's maybe five points to be had for this Buffalo club in the next week.

Philadelphia Flyers – The Flyers will be on home ice all next week but what's funny to me is their home opponents will be Calgary, Winnipeg, Seattle, and New Jersey. This would be like asking ChatGPT to give me four random hockey teams.

New York Islanders – As mentioned earlier, I do like the way the Isles schedule pans out for them next week, they're a Love 'Em.  

Leave ‘Em (These squads will leave fantasy owners sorely disappointed in the short term)

Utah Hockey Club – The only club that will play in two games next week is Utah, that alone makes them a Leave 'Em.

Pittsburgh Penguins – Pittsburgh is in real trouble here and would not be the least bit surprised if somehow, they end up with a high pick. For a team struggling like they are their next five games are a gauntlet with matchups against Boston, Toronto, Colorado, Vegas, and Minnesota. That's a list of five clubs in a row who can maybe make a deep playoff run. Yikes.

St. Louis Blues – Two games on the road against the Kings is what does it for me with this club. They're a stay-away for now.  

*For continued fantasy news and notes, follow me on Twitter @ndySanz.