There are just over ten games remaining in the season for each team as the playoffs are just around the corner. As expected the standings are very tight in both of the East and West for the wildcard spots. Without question the last couple games of the season will determine many teams’ fates for a playoff berth versus a top contender or an early exit to the golf course.
Where does your Fantasy team fall in all of this?
If you are in a head to head league with ten people participating there is a very good chance this is the first week of playoffs and you will have your first matchup’s all set. Usually players who finished rank 7-10 are now done for the season and will play out the final weeks to determine their end of season rank; which is considered the consolation rounds. In many cases seed one and two will get a buy first round and prepare their teams for next week’s matchup. Whoever finished third will play against the rank six players and rank four will play versus the rank five.
The advantage to having a bye in the first round allows you to look ahead of everyone playing this week and prepare your roster accordingly…maybe you have a player or two who are not living up to your expectations and you can look for someone on the free agency who plays four games next week. Before you go through and pick any players, there is something I like to do ahead of time so I know what my roster looks like…
Go ahead and set your lineup now for your week ahead, whether it be this week, or next. You can get a good idea if your team is full on nights like Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday. There is no point in picking up a player off the free agency if you don’t have a spot for him on your roster. If you use a move, and say you only get three a week; you want to make sure the move was a good one and worthy. Some people like to save their roster moves until Sunday, and use all of them at once in order to go for it, do or die. This method can work but I find it’s best to save just one move for Sunday and get the most games you can get during the week. To each their own, whatever gets the job done.
Now that you can see your roster ahead; hopefully you don’t have to bench too many players and you also don’t have too many players that only have two games that week. It really does suck when lady luck doesn’t help your odds out by having all your players in on the same nights and off the same nights.
The injury bug can really put a damper on things come fantasy playoffs…myself; I just lost Hornqvist (not sure the extent of his injury yet) and Neal (he is considered DTD for now). Great, as if I hadn’t had enough injuries and mumps victims all season! Replace anyone on your roster with players who have decent fantasy value, but who also have three or four games that week. Likely you won’t be able to replace the production of your injured players, but hopefully you can pick a player to chip in a few points to help ease the pain.
Goalie stars are key this week and from here on out. Don’t simply just play your goalies every game; you want to use your brain and your fantasy hockey senses when slotting in your goaltenders. If you have wins, saves and shutouts as your only goalie categories, by all means; play your goalies every game. But, if you have save % and or goals against average you want to pick your goalie starts wisely. You can ruin your entire playoff week with one of your goalies starting and getting lit up and pulled out of net. Be smart about it by looking at their history versus that team and or their stats in the last ten games. Whatever research you do make sure you feel confident with your decision.
Games ahead this week:
(4) Arizona – Boston – Buffalo – Montreal – St. Louis – Vancouver
(3) Anaheim – Calgary – Carolina – Chicago – Columbus – Detroit – Edmonton – Florida – Los Angeles – Minnesota – New Jersey – New York Rangers – Ottawa – Philadelphia – Pittsburgh – San Jose – Tampa Bay – Toronto – Washington – Winnipeg
(2) Colorado – Dallas – Nashville – New York Islanders
HBSL:
Welcome to the Quarterfinals!
With only eight triumphant players left in each of the HockeyBuzz SuperLeague pools (Season Ticket and Free) we are entering the true do or die stage. Just like every other week you must win your matchup, so pick wisely and be sure to check injuries before you select your players….it only takes one bad pick to lose the week at this point in Fantasy. Maybe an idea would be to take a look at the prizes for each of the leagues, maybe which will help you make better player selections when picking your team this week!
Best of luck to everyone in this week; Quarterfinals have arrived!
Possible Free Agents: (this week)
(Boston) Reilly Smith – Sure he has 4 points in his last 10 games which is nothing great; but he will be playing four games this week and may add to his total of 36 points and +11 rating. Lately he has been with Bergeron and Marchand on Boston’s top line, but also gets ice time on the second power play unit.
Ryan Spooner or David Pastrnak – Both players should be available in your league if you need some help this week for two guys who will get decent playing time and again play 4 games this week. They have been alongside Lucic on Boston’s second/third line both whom which will get time on the powerplay.
(Montreal) P.A. Parenteau – It’s been an ugly season for Parenteau who came over from Colorado last year…he has only 16 points in 43 games as he has been injured a good chunk of this season. Could P.A. get his game back on track with the Canadiens down the final stretch? Maybe, as they play four games and he will get top 6 playing time alongside Galchenyuk and Plekanec as well as second line power play. Risky due to his play this season, but the opportunity is there for him to cash in.
(St. Louis) Jori Lehtera – Odds are someone has scooped up Lehtera at some point this season, but may have dropped him when he was hurt about a month ago. He would certainly be worth the pickup for this week especially as the Blues will play 4 games. Also, keep an eye out as Jake Allen may get a start or two this week.
(Vancouver) Zack Kassian – Sure Kassian isn’t known for his huge amount of production on top of his penalty minutes; but as of late, that’s been the case. He hasn’t been chipping in as much lately points wise, but he sure has racked up a large amount of penalty minutes that certainly has some worth in the wonderful world of Fantasy. He’s alongside the Sedin twins on the top line, and also manages to see some time standing in front of the net on the power play. Not a bad pickup if you are looking for penalty minutes with the chance of some points.
Best of luck to everyone in their Fantasy this week, be sure you have all your players in each night and remember to keep a close eye on the activity in your pool. You never know when someone drops a player they shouldn’t have!
Thanks for reading.