Looking ahead at five players to target in Week 15…

 

* This article was written prior to the NHL games on Thursday, January 2^nd, 2014

 

Here are some teams to target and avoid for the next week or two, several players to target that may be available in your league as well as teams that play a light schedule in the upcoming week.

 

Nashville Predators = Target

 

Games: 7 (5H/2A)

Favorable Matchups:

    – @ Florida

        > 5^th worst defensive team

        > 2^nd worst PK

        > 17 goals allowed in last five games (3.40 GAA)

    – @ Carolina

        > 10^th worst defensive team

        > 9^th worst PK

        > 9^th most shots allowed per game

        > 24 goals allowed in last six games (4.00 GAA)

    – vs. Ottawa

        > 4^th worst defensive team

        > 8^th worst PK

        > 4^th most shots allowed per game

 

The Predators have been burying the puck in the past two games, netting nine combined goals against Los Angeles and Detroit.  Mike Fisher and Craig Smith have been leading the way for the Preds with Patric Hornqvist, Colin Wilson, Shea Weber and Seth Jones chipping in as well.  They finish up their current road trip with visits to two weak defensive clubs in the Panthers and Hurricanes then they return home for five straight.  Included in those five visitors are Ottawa and Calgary, so while it's not usual to look to Nashville for offense, you're likely to see it for the next week or two.

 

Colorado Avalanche = Consider

 

Games: 6 (4H/2A)

Favorable Matchups:

    – vs. Calgary

        > 3^rd worst defensive team

        > 18 goals allowed in last six games (3.00 GAA)

        > Karri Ramo: 2.79 GAA (35^th) / .904 SV% (38^th) / 0 SHO (42^nd)

        > Reto Berra: 2.92 GAA (39^th) / .903 SV% (40^th) / 0 SHO (42^nd)

    – vs. Ottawa

        > See above

    – vs. NY Islanders

        > 2^nd worst defensive team

        > Worst PK

        > 44 goals allowed in 14 December games (3.14 GAA)

 

The Avalanche are not playing nearly as well as they were to start the season, both offensively and defensively.  While still in the top ten for goals scored per game, they have dropped out of the top ten for goals allowed.  Their power play and penalty kill are middle of the pack, but they are still a playoff team.  This home stand is just what they need to get the wheels back on the track.  Visits from Calgary, Ottawa and the Islanders will help the likes of Matt Duchene, Ryan O'Reilly, Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon continue their strong offensive seasons.

 

Detroit Red Wings = Beware

 

Games: 4 (0H/4A)

Unfavorable Matchups:

    – @ San Jose

        > 10^th best defensive team

        > 10^th fewest shots allowed per game

        > Shutout Detroit 1-0 in a shootout win in October, at the Joe

    – @ Los Angeles

        > Best defensive team

        > 8^th best PK

        > 6^th fewest shots allowed per game

    – @ Anaheim

        > 9^th best defensive team

        > 7^th fewest shots allowed per game

        > Beat Detroit 5-2 a couple weeks ago, at the Joe

 

The Wings lost a demoralizing game against Toronto in the Winter Classic.  But the Wings losing in overtime or a shootout is nothing new since they've lost in extra time ten times already this season.  Now after letting down a majority of 105,000 fans with that loss, what do the Red Wings get to do?  Go on the road for the next three weeks.  First stop: Dallas.  Then comes the dreaded West Coast swing through San Jose, Los Angeles and Anaheim.  Included in the schedule are a couple long (4-day and 3-day) breaks.  Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Daniel Alfredsson and Niklas Kronwall have been about the only worthwhile owns on the Red Wings' roster so far this season and that will continue with this road trip.

 

Ottawa Senators = Avoid

 

Games: 4 (0H/4A)

Unfavorable Matchups:

    – @ Montreal

        > 3^rd best defensive team

        > 4^th best PK

        > Carey Price is top ten in games played, wins, saves, SV%, GAA and shutouts

    – @ Minnesota

        > 4^th fewest shots allowed per game

        > Josh Harding: 1.65 GAA (1^st) / .933 SV% (5^th) / 3 SHO (2^nd)

 

The Sens' upcoming opponents aren't that daunting, but the lack of games is what's concerning.  Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, Tuesday.  That's their schedule.  Montreal is probably the most formidable foe from a fantasy standpoint, followed by Minnesota.  Colorado has been mortal lately.  Nashville seems to be lost without Pekka Rinne.  So there are a couple of games in which your Ottawa players may pop a few points, but in those weekly leagues, only getting two starts may not be worth it.

 

 

Possible Pickups

Here's a list of some players, owned in less than 30% of Yahoo leagues, to target for the upcoming Monday to Sunday schedule.

 

Colorado: Jamie McGinn (2%) – 2 G / +1 / 5 PIM / 8 hits / 9 shots in the past four games.  Looks like he's one of the winners of the P.A. Parenteau injury as he slides up to play with Matt Duchene and Ryan O'Reilly in all situations.

 

Nashville: Mike Fisher (6%)­ – Coming off two consecutive three point games.  Like I mentioned above, Nashville is a good team to ride for the next week or two.  Ride Fisher until he slows down, because history says he will.

 

New Jersey: Adam Henrique (8%) – Four points in his past three games, along with a plus four.  The return of Ryane Clowe appears to have helped Henrique.  The injury to Patrik Elias should keep him out for a few games and Henrique should be one of the benefactors, mainly on the powerplay.

 

Toronto: Tyler Bozak (27%) – Dating back to before his injury, Bozak is on a six-game point streak with nine points and a bunch of faceoff wins (if your league tracks those).  He's centering Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk and still manages some PP time.  Was the hero of the Winter Classic with Toronto's second goal and the game winner in the shootout.

 

NY Rangers: Chris Kreider (26%) – Five points in his past six games.  He has the best two linemates he could have in New York with Derek Stepan and Rick Nash.  That's at even strength and on the powerplay.

 

 

Light Day Targets

Want to know what teams to target based on their schedule landing on light days for the upcoming Monday to Sunday schedule?

 

Week: Monday, January 6^th through Sunday, January 12^th

 

Monday: 8 teams

Tuesday: 20 teams

Wednesday: 6 teams

Thursday: 18 teams

Friday: 12 teams

Saturday: 20 teams

Sunday: 14 teams

 

Ho-hum, more of the usual.  Expect that to continue now that the Christmas and New Year Holidays are out of the way.  The next schedule hiccup should be the Olympics, but until then, I'd expect most weeks to be like this week.

 

We do have a slightly heavier weekend with four consecutive days of double digit teams in action (that's what I like to see, NHL!).

 

So what teams have a good schedule for the light days?

 

	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thur	Fri	Sat	Sun
New York Rangers	X		X		X	📢 advertisement:	X
Colorado Avalanche	X		X		X	X
Dallas Stars	X			X	X		X
New York Islanders	X	X			X		X
Philadelphia Flyers		X	X			X	X

 

Friday, January 3 to Thursday, January 9

Best Bets

Tampa Bay (4.29) – 4 Games: @CGY, @EDM, @WPG, WSH

Carolina (4.25) – 4 Games: @NYI, NSH, @BUF, TOR

New Jersey (4.10) – 4 Games: CHI, @BUF, PHI, DAL

Anaheim (4.09) – 4 Games: EDM, VAN, BOS, @NSH

Nashville (4.04) – 4 Games: @FLA, @CAR, SJ, ANH

Steer Clear

Ottawa (1.76) – 2 Games: @MTL, @COL

Columbus (1.81) – 2 Games: @STL, @NYR

Washington (1.81) – 2 Games: @MIN, @TB

Detroit (1.85) – 2 Games: @DAL, @SJ

Vancouver (2.61) – 3 Games: @LA, @ANH, PIT

Saturday, January 4 to Friday, January 10

Best Bets

Carolina (5.25) – 5 Games: @NYI, NSH, @BUF, TOR, @CBJ

Colorado (4.62) – 4 Games: SJ, CGY, OTW, NYI

Toronto (4.25) – 4 Games: NYR, NYI, @CAR, @WSH

St. Louis (4.14) – 4 Games: CBJ, @EDM, @CGY, @VAN

NY Rangers (4.05) – 4 Games: @TOR, CBJ, @CHI, DAL

Steer Clear

Ottawa (1.76) – 2 Games: @MTL, @COL

Detroit (1.85) – 2 Games: @DAL, @SJ

Chicago (2.05) – 2 Games: SJ, NYR

Winnipeg (2.61) – 3 Games: @BOS, @PIT, TB

Boston (2.71) – 3 Games: WPG, @ANH, @LA

Sunday, January 5 to Saturday, January 11

Best Bets

Colorado (4.57) – 4 Games: CGY, OTW, NYI, @MIN

Nashville (4.20) – 4 Games: @CAR, SJ, ANH, OTW

Carolina (4.15) – 4 Games: NSH, @BUF, TOR, @CBJ

Tampa Bay (4.14) – 4 Games: @EDM, @WPG, WSH, @PHI

Pittsburgh (4.09) – 4 Games: WPG, @VAN, @EDM, @CGY

Steer Clear

Detroit (1.66) – 2 Games: @SJ, @LA

Washington (1.91) – 2 Games: @TB, TOR

Ottawa (2.00) – 2 Games: @COL, @NSH

Buffalo (2.26) – 2 Games: CAR, FLA

Boston (2.57) – 3 Games: @ANH, @LA, @SJ

Monday, January 6 to Sunday, January 12

Best Bets

Colorado (4.57) – 4 Games: CGY, OTW, NYI, @MIN

Nashville (4.25) – 4 Games: SJ, ANH, OTW, MIN

New Jersey (4.21) – 4 Games: PHI, DAL, FLA, @TOR

Toronto (4.20) – 4 Games: NYI, @CAR, @WSH, NJ

NY Rangers (4.15) – 4 Games: CBJ, @CHI, DAL, PHI

Steer Clear

Vancouver (1.89) – 2 Games: PIT, STL

Ottawa (2.00) – 2 Games: @COL, @NSH

Winnipeg (2.05) – 2 Games: TB, CBJ

Boston (2.57) – 3 Games: @ANH, @LA, @SJ

Detroit (2.57) – 3 Games: @SJ, @LA, @ANH

Tuesday, January 7 to Monday, January 13

Best Bets

Nashville (4.25) – 4 Games: SJ, ANH, OTW, MIN

Phoenix (4.21) – 4 Games: CGY, MIN, ANH, @WPG

New Jersey (4.21) – 4 Games: PHI, DAL, FLA, @TOR

Carolina (4.21) – 4 Games: @BUF, TOR, @CBJ, CGY

Toronto (4.20) – 4 Games: NYI, @CAR, @WSH, NJ

Steer Clear

Florida (1.85) – 2 Games: @BUF, @NJ

Ottawa (2.00) – 2 Games: @COL, @NSH

Montreal (2.00) – 2 Games: @PHI, CHI

Boston (2.57) – 3 Games: @ANH, @LA, @SJ

Detroit (2.57) – 3 Games: @SJ, @LA, @ANH

Wednesday, January 8 to Tuesday, January 14

Best Bets

Nashville (4.46) – 4 Games: ANH, OTW, MIN, CGY

Minnesota (4.35) – 4 Games: @PHX, COL, @NSH, OTW

Dallas (4.32) – 4 Games: @NJ, @NYR, NYI, EDM

Colorado (4.32) – 4 Games: OTW, NYI, @MIN, @CHI

Chicago (4.17) – 4 Games: NYR, @MTL, EDM, COL

Steer Clear

Vancouver (1.71) – 2 Games: STL, @LA

Pittsburgh (2.23) – 2 Games: @EDM, @CGY

Winnipeg (2.26) – 2 Games: CBJ, PHX

Detroit (2.57) – 3 Games: @SJ, @LA, @ANH

Boston (2.71) – 3 Games: @LA, @SJ, TOR

Thursday, January 9 to Wednesday, January 15

Best Bets

Toronto (4.85) – 5 Games: @CAR, @WSH, NJ, @BOS, BUF

Washington (4.81) – 5 Games: @TB, TOR, BUF, SJ, @PIT

Nashville (4.46) – 4 Games: ANH, OTW, MIN, CGY

Minnesota (4.35) – 4 Games: @PHX, COL, @NSH, OTW

Dallas (4.32) – 4 Games: @NJ, @NYR, NYI, EDM

Steer Clear

Ottawa (2.00) – 2 Games: @NSH, @MIN

Montreal (2.05) – 2 Games: CHI, NJ

Winnipeg (2.26) – 2 Games: CBJ, PHX

Detroit (2.57) – 3 Games: @SJ, @LA, @ANH

Vancouver (2.61) – 3 Games: STL, @LA, @ANH