April 23, 2013
Dobber Sports
2013-04-23
Breaking: Evgeni Malkin will be back in the lineup tonight. Kris Letang as well.
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My Playoff Draft List is uploaded and ready for your download. Those of you who miss my Ultimate Fantasy Pack, I have a similar offer for you – if you buy the Keeper League Pack and the Playoff List at the same time, use coupon code ULTIMATE and get $3 off. That means that you can get the Prospects Report, the Fantasy Guide, the Preseason Draft List and the Interactive Playoff Draft List for $22.49
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In my Hockey News article yesterda (found here), I dispense some basic advice for your playoff draft, as well as review some interesting stats from the last two postseasons.
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It’s looking as though the third pick this summer, likely Jonathan Drouin, will go to Tampa Bay, Nashville or Carolina. I like Drouin better than Nathan MacKinnon in terms of fantasy hockey (not real hockey)… but if he goes to Nashville my interest in him slips a tad – from “extremely high” to “zero”. If Nashville drafts him, and I pick third overall in my keeper league, then I’d trade the pick and drop down in the draft.
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Big points had by all last night if you owned a few Winnipeg Jets. Assuming your players include Gagnon, Meech, Wright and Stuart, that is. (don’t you hate that?)
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Jhonas Enroth played for the fifth time in six games. Wow, is Ryan Miller ever gone this summer. Gone! Shame on the Buffalo fans who booed him on the weekend though. Not after what he’s done for this team.
As for Enroth – no, he won’t be the starter next year. The Sabres will bring someone in, like a Mike Smith or a trade that brings in Roberto Luongo or Jonas Hiller. I don’t think Enroth would be terrible, but I don’t think he’s ready and if the Sabres don’t look elsewhere, then it makes a statement that they are rebuilding in a big way. And I get the impression that this is more of a re-tool than a rebuild.
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Mikhail Grigorenko got into the lineup and played 15:18, his second most of the season.
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Tomas Vokoun picked up his 300th win in his 700th game Monday. His backup was Frozen Four star Eric Hartzell, who many believe should have won the Hobey Baker. Before you get too excited – Brad Thiessen was also a free agent signed out of college after starring at that level.
Matt Cooke kept his nose clean last night, declining a fight with Chris Neil, and drawing a penalty later. He let Steve MacIntyre take care of the rough stuff.
MacIntyre got into the lineup at the expense of Beau Bennett. The rookie Bennett had to sit, because he only had points in four of his last five games – next time he should make sure that he gets points in all five of the games, not just a measly four of them.
A couple of fights, including Bortuzzo vs. Smith, and Neil yammering with MacIntyre and Orpik:
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Chris Kunitz has 10 points in his last 17 games. Sidney Crosby has missed nine games now.
In the nine games that Crosby has missed, Kunitz has five points – and Pascal Dupuis has 11. Didn’t see that coming, did ya?
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Jimmy Howard picked up his second shutout in four games. In the month of April, he has not allowed more than three goals in a game, giving the Wings a fighting chance. The offense just hasn’t been there.
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It was a tough loss for the Coyotes, who are literally on the brink now. With Dallas playing both Columbus and Detroit, one of those three teams are guaranteed to finish ahead of Phoenix even if the Coyotes win all three of their games. That leaves just Minnesota, who can clinch with an overtime loss.
Not to point fingers, but Keith Yandle has just one point in his last eight games. During crunch time. Okay, so I’m pointing fingers.
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I’ve seen enough of Sami Vatanen now to be convinced that he will be a regular with the Ducks next year and pick up at least 30 points. I’ve said all along that he could be another Tobias Enstrom. I just needed to see if there was any Philip Larsen in him – which would scare me away.
If you need strictly penalty minutes (or hits), consider Ben Lovejoy. He has 15 PIM in his last five games, with five of those as minor penalties. He also has 72 hits in just 33 games. Won’t help in any other category though.
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Sam Gagner is pointless in his last six games. In fact, he’s been held off the scoresheet 12 times in his last 16 games. Mr. Consistency, he’s not.
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Dave Bolland left last night’s contest with a groin injury.
Zack Kassian‘s goal last night was just his second point in 21 games, taking ‘slump’ to a whole new level.
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AHL player of the week last week was Nashville prospect (I can see half of my readers skipping to the next blurb after reading the words “Nashville prospect”, but bear with me) Magnus Hellberg. It’s okay to like a goalie prospect for Nashville. It’s the forwards who have little (fantasy) hope.
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Ridiculous Pavelec save last night:
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Steve Ott vs. Andrew Ladd:
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The twins with some magic. Love the pass, love the deke: