Looking Ahead – Week 11
Dave Poleck
2010-12-17
A tough decision can be made easier with these charts showing you the best five and worst five schedules for upcoming seven-day periods. Some of you used them last year but for the benefit of new readers here is a refresher. The number next to the team indicates the ‘multiplier’ to use on a player’s point-per-game pace to give you an idea how many points to expect for that week.
Coming off a Thursday night win at home against the Bruins, Montreal starts out on a seven game road trip over the next 15 days. The stretch begins Sunday in Colorado, followed up by visits to Dallas, Carolina, Long Island, Washington, Tampa and Florida. The Habs are only 7-6 on the road thus far, and with the Bruins having two games in hand on them, I wouldn't be surprised if we had a new Northeast Division leader by the time 2011 rolls around.
Another team looking to improve on their road record is the Anaheim Ducks. In a trip that started with a win in Washington on Wednesday, followed handing the Islanders their second win in 22 games, the Ducks are off to Carolina, Boston, Buffalo, LA and Phoenix. They currently sit sixth in the West, but have played as many as six more games than some of the teams behind them. Even Chicago, who is in 12th, is only three points behind them with two games in hand. Yikes.
The Rangers and Flyers have been smoking as of late, both going 6-2 in the month of December. However, both teams only play seven games over the next 21 days going into the first week of January. For Philly, much of this has to do with hosting Florida this Monday and then not playing until Tuesday, December 28 in Vancouver. They are in the Steer Clear section for the next seven days in a row, including an ugly zero game week if you're in a Tuesday to Monday league.
The Rangers have a five and four day break coming up, but should feel comfort in the fact that they play Tampa Bay twice, New Jersey, Long Island, Florida and Carolina in their next seven.
Friday December 17 to Thursday December 23, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Buffalo 4.29 – four games @FLA, @TB, ANA, FLA | ||||||
Calgary 4.20 – four games MIN, @MIN, @CBJ, @DAL | ||||||
New Jersey 4.14 – four games NAS, @ATL, @WAS, NYI | ||||||
Los Angeles 4.10 – four games @NAS, @COL, @CHI, EDM | ||||||
Tampa Bay 4.06 – four games BUF, CAR, @NYI, @NYR | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Philadelphia 1.88 – two games NYR, FLA | ||||||
Toronto 1.99 – two games @VAN, ATL | ||||||
Edmonton 2.04 – two games @SJ, @LA | ||||||
NYR 2.07 – two games @PHI, TB | ||||||
Chicago 2.62 – three games DET, LA, NAS | ||||||
Saturday December 18 to Friday December 24, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Calgary 4.20 – four games MIN, @MIN, @CBJ, @DAL | ||||||
Los Angeles 4.10 – four games @NAS, @COL, @CHI, EDM | ||||||
Tampa Bay 4.06 – four games BUF, CAR, @NYI, @NYR | ||||||
Vancouver 4.06 – four games TOR, @STL, @DET, @CBJ | ||||||
St. Louis 3.84 – four games SJ, VAN, @ATL, DET | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Chicago 1.75 – two games LA, NAS | ||||||
Philadelphia 1.88 – two games NYR, FLA | ||||||
Ottawa 1.90 – two games WAS, @NAS | ||||||
Toronto 1.99 – two games @VAN, ATL | ||||||
Edmonton 2.04 – two games @SJ, @LA | ||||||
Sunday December 19 to Saturday December 25, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Montreal 3.35 – three games @COL, @DAL, @CAR | ||||||
Calgary 3.25 – three games @MIN, @CBJ, @DAL | ||||||
Tampa Bay 3.22 – three games CAR, @NYI, @NYR | ||||||
Los Angeles 3.15 – three games @CHI, @COL, EDM | ||||||
Florida 3.02 – three games @PHI, @PIT, @BUF | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Philadelphia 1.00 – one games FLA | ||||||
Toronto 1.04 – one game ATL | ||||||
NY Rangers 1.06 – one game TB | ||||||
Columbus 1.71 – two games CAL, VAN | ||||||
Chicago 1.75 – two games LA, NAS | ||||||
Monday December 20 to Sunday December 26, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Tampa Bay 4.28 – four games CAR, @NYI, @NYR, @ATL | ||||||
Vancouver 4.13 – four games @STL, @DET, @CBJ, EDM | ||||||
Atlanta 4.02 – four games @TOR, STL, @BOS, TB | ||||||
Pittsburgh 3.94 – four games PHO, FLA, @WAS, @OTT | ||||||
St. Louis – 3.74 – four games VAN, @ATL, DET, NAS | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Philadelphia 1.00 – one games FLA | ||||||
NY Rangers 1.06 – one game TB | ||||||
Colorado 1.75 – two games LA, MIN | ||||||
Chicago 1.85 – two games NAS, CBJ | ||||||
Ottawa 1.90 – two games @NAS, PIT | ||||||
Tuesday December 21 to Monday December 27, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Los Angeles 4.39 – four games @COL, EDM, ANA, @SJ | ||||||
Detroit 3.90 – four games VAN, @STL, @MIN, @COL | ||||||
NY Islanders 3.90 – four games TB, @NJ, MON, @NYR | ||||||
Columbus 3.71 – four games CAL, VAN, @CHI, MIN | ||||||
Montreal 3.39 – three games @DAL, @CAR, @NYI | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Philadelphia 0.00 – zero games | ||||||
Toronto 0.95 – one game @NJ | ||||||
Chicago 1.81 – two games NAS, CBJ | ||||||
Carolina 1.86 – two games MON, PIT | ||||||
Ottawa 1.90 – two games @NAS, PIT | ||||||
Wednesday December 22 to Tuesday December 28, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Pittsburgh 4.16 – four games FLA, @WAS, @OTT, ATL | ||||||
Tampa Bay 4.14 – four games @NYI, @NYR, @ATL, BOS | ||||||
Vancouver 4.10 – four games @DET, @CBJ, EDM, PHI | ||||||
Nashville 4.00 – four games @CHI, OTT, @STL, DAL | ||||||
Detroit 3.90 – four games VAN, @STL, @MIN, @COL | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Philadelphia 0.90 – one games @VAN | ||||||
San Jose 1.72 – two games PHO, LA | ||||||
Colorado 1.75 – two games MIN, DET | ||||||
Toronto 1.90 – two games @NJ, CAR | ||||||
Anaheim 1.90 – two games @LA, @PHO | ||||||
Thursday December 23 to Wednesday December 29, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Pittsburgh 4.36 – four games @WAS, @OTT, ATL, @NYI | ||||||
Detroit 4.19 – four games @STL, @MIN, @COL, @DAL | ||||||
Los Angeles – four games EDM, ANA, @SJ, @PHO | ||||||
Carolina 4.14 – four games MON, WAS, @TOR, OTT | ||||||
Phoenix 4.11 – four games @SJ, @DAL, ANA, LA | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Philadelphia 0.90 – one games @VAN | ||||||
Colorado 1.75 – two games MIN, DET | ||||||
Florida 1.75 – two games @BUF, BOS | ||||||
Chicago 1.90 – two games CBJ, @STL | ||||||
Toronto 1.90 – two games @NJ, CAR | ||||||
Friday December 24 to Thursday December 30, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Los Angeles 3.90 – four games ANA, @SJ, @PHO, PHI | ||||||
Boston 3.43 – three games @FLA, @TB, @ATL | ||||||
Montreal 3.41 – three games @NYI, @WAS, @TB | ||||||
Pittsburgh 3.31 – three games @OTT, ATL, @NYI | ||||||
Detroit 3.25 – three games @MIN, @COL, @DAL | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Florida 0.82 – one game BOS | ||||||
Calgary 0.84 – one game BUF | ||||||
St. Louis 1.81 – two games NAS, CHI | ||||||
Anaheim 1.90 – two games @LA, @PHO | ||||||
Ottawa 1.92 – two games PIT, CAR | ||||||
Saturday December 25 to Friday December 31, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Montreal 4.51 – four games @NYI, @WAS, @TB, @FLA | ||||||
Detroit 4.32 – four games @MIN, @COL, @DAL, NYI | ||||||
Columbus 4.08 – four games @CHI, MIN, @TOR, OTT | ||||||
Phoenix 4.01 – four games @DAL, ANA, LA, @STL | ||||||
Los Angeles 3.90 – four games ANA, @SJ, @PHO, PHI | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Florida 1.73 – two games BOS, MON | ||||||
Calgary 1.89 – two games BUF, COL | ||||||
Washington 1.96 – two games @CAR, MON | ||||||
NY Rangers 2.02 – two games NYI, @NJ | ||||||
Buffalo 2.33 – two games @CAL, @EDM | ||||||
Sunday December 26 to Saturday January 1, 2010 | ||||||
Best Bets | ||||||
Los Angeles 4.85 – five games ANA, @SJ, @PHO, PHI, SJ | ||||||
Montreal 4.51 – four games @NYI, @WAS, @TB, @FLA | ||||||
Boston 4.36 – four games @FLA, @TB, @ATL, @BUF | ||||||
Detroit 4.32 – four games @MIN, @COL, @DAL, NYI | ||||||
Pittsburgh 4.26 – four games @OTT, ATL, @NYI, WAS | ||||||
Steer Clear | ||||||
Florida 1.73 – two games BOS, MON | ||||||
St. Louis 2.63 – three games NAS, CHI, PHO | ||||||
Anaheim 2.82 – three games @LA, @PHO, PHI | ||||||
Chicago 2.85 – three games CBJ, @STL, SJ | ||||||
Nashville 2.93 – three games @STL, DAL, @MIN |