The final day of Week 3 is upon us fantasy hockey fans. It was another strange week as they all have been so far this hockey season. If it all goes right, we are probably around two weeks away from one of the biggest fantasy impacts of the young year. However, that is for another time. Today we look back at a pivotal Saturday Night and look ahead to a Sunday that does have four games.
What did we learn from last night? Well there was quite a bit of information to be digested. Quickly it is time to get into it and get out. First up, we take a look at the best of last night.
SATURDAY’S BEST………
Josh Harding, G, Minnesota Wild — Harding has so much potential but always seems to get hurt just when it looks like he is on the verge of something special. His 36 save shutout of the Detroit Red Wings last night was impressive but his poise in net showed Minnesota that they do have a successor in net IF ONLY he can stay healthy. Harding may just get more looks but not on the level like he did a couple years back where the 1B was close to becoming the 1A. However, he is fantasy viable in very deep leagues where the occasional start can make the difference.
Jason Spezza, C, Ottawa Senators — There is this feeling that Spezza is playing for a trade at least according to some but other than Phil Kessel, no one is hotter production wise than Spezza in the NHL right now. When you keep racking up multi point efforts on a bad team, you get noticed. Yes Ottawa is 6-5 at the moment but they are a bad team. Spezza is a fine fantasy player and will keep getting the time and the points for Ottawa. Really what other options are there?
Alex Edler, D, Vancouver Canucks — Edler had a great night last night in late action with two goals and an assist in a 7-4 victory over the Washington Capitals. Edler played over 21:00 and had six shots on goal as well. He has had a bit of an uneven start to the season but maybe this effort will jump start things. He clearly is a better option than Kevin Bieksa for fanatsy defense options as far as the Canucks go. Edler is a good start for Week 4.
SCHEDULE TIME
Sunday, October 30, 2011 |
|||||
| Teams | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaheim | at | Columbus | 6:30 PM | Gameday | ||
| Toronto | at | Ottawa | 7:30 PM | Gameday | ||
| Los Angeles | at | Colorado | 8:00 PM | Gameday | ||
| St. Louis | at | Edmonton | 8:00 PM | Gameday | ||
A few more games tonight in the NHL than the last few Sundays. We get a bonus as Phil Kessel and Jason Spezza square off as well. Speaking of those to keep our eye on, let’s go!
KEEP YOUR EYE ON……
Jason Spezza Vs. Phil Kessel — Nothing like a good battle between two of the top scorers in the NHL on a Sunday Night with two teams that score and can be scored upon as well. Kessel has 18 points on ten goals and eight assists while Spezza has seven goals and eight assists for 15 points. If you want to see a good solid battle of two top lines then this one truly is for you. Daniel Alfredsson took a shot to his head yesterday so keep an eye out to see if he plays.
Steve Mason, G, Columbus Blue Jackets — Everything dictates not to play him but one may want to take a stab on a Sunday evening where maybe a win steals you a much needed category. Sometimes taking a risk can help steal a week that looked hopeless on a normal early season Sunday. Columbus is playing for their lives at 1-9-1 and Anaheim does not always scare teams when they are on the road early on in the year.
Taylor Hall, F, Edmonton Oilers — Between him and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the Oilers are a young team on the rise and are entertaining to watch. The quirky thing is their top six gets most of the production which helps fantasy owners make easy choices. St. Louis will be starting Jaroslav Halak tonight and that may be music to Edmonton’s ears. It could be a good night for the Oil and do not forget a guy like Corey Potter who has four points in his last four mostly playing D with the top line fantasy fans.
Good luck fantasy owners and tomorrow evening we will have the Week 3 recap on The Hockey Writers and more here.
