There is no live column today as we go over the games tonight live on the show. However, we will start unveiling some of our classic Fantasy Hockey ONE’s from the past nine months. Here is today’s edition……from February 16th.
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Welcome to a Hump Day Edition of the Fantasy Hockey ONE here on The Program. So what is going on here is the basic question? Well, it came time for a different way to get your hockey information served for breakfast. This is served differently than most columns out there. We deliberately want this to be easy to digest so you can get the info and get out so to speak. The beautiful Kylie Minogue as always shows us the way with her version of “The One”.
Now it is time to get started but first it may be time to look back a bit and see what was cooking yesterday.
A Look Back
1. Pekka Rinne (Nashville Predators) — It was almost unfair to see Nashville lose in overtime tonight more because of how Rinne played than anything else. He was stellar in net stopping 48 of 50 shots in net. Now it was not only the amount of saves but just the sheer volume of quality saves that he made last night against San Jose that caught our eye. Look out world, Pekka Rinne really is the franchise player in Nashville, especially fantasy wise.
2. James Van Riemsdyk (Philadelphia Flyers) — Any player that gets a Gordie Howe hat trick gets some major notice. The “Grim Riemer” is no exception to the rule especally on a night where offensive performances were a bit uneven. He had several chances to add to his scoring total on the night but nonetheless played the all around game that the Middletown, NJ native is capable of. Going forward, if he is used right, he is a solid fantasy asset to have come stretch time for GM’s out there.
3. Phil Kessel (Toronto Maple Leafs) — Two goals scored does not sound like much to most but these two goals were so much significant for the Maple Leafs Forward who really has taken it on the chin in just about every way this season. It is how he scored the two goals tonight that was symbolic of his potential fantasy future. Now this may not seem like a watershed moment but at some point Phil Kessel has to score more consistently and maybe tonight is a springboard. Considering what a rocket his second goal was, Keseel really does have something to build on. The ever growing question for fantasy owners is can he follow this up?
Schedule Time
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2011 |
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| Teams | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | at | Buffalo | 7:00 PM | ||
| Carolina | at | New Jersey | 7:00 PM | ||
| Los Angeles | at | Columbus | 7:00 PM | ||
| Philadelphia | at | Florida | 7:30 PM | ||
| Minnesota | at | Chicago | 8:00 PM | ||
| Pittsburgh | at | Colorado | 9:00 PM | ||
| Dallas | at | Calgary | 9:30 PM | ||
| Washington | at | Anaheim | 10:00 PM | ||
The schedule is a nice and polished one with eight games and just a good old fashioned game with heavy fantasy and playoff implications as New Jersey and Carolina do battle again at the Prudential Center. With so much on the line, this gets our Fantasy Game Of The Night attention and fantasy GM’s should take note.
FANTASY GAME OF THE NIGHT
New Jersey and Carolina tussle again and again there is much more on the line for New Jersey as literally every single game is near life and death from here on out. Johan Hedberg was very good against San Jose on Friday Night stopping 31 of 32 shots and though shaky at times, has looked every bit like he did last year for the Atlanta Thrashers. One knows what to expect from Cam Ward so we could be in for another goaltending clinic and a tight one as these two teams face off again on Saturday as well.
Carolina comes in with a 27-22-8 and a respectable .500 record on the road. Yes their -7 goal differential is a bit of a concern to fantasy owners especially for +/- purposes but more importantly they get the services of Jussi Jokinen back after missing two weeks with an injury. Jokinen is notably streaky but can catch fire in a second. His 7 power play goals are second on the team but his performances against New Jersey is what put him in the spotlight over even a guy like Eric Staal (who has 56 pts in 57 games),
New Jersey counters with an improved attack and timely goal scoring, both staples for every Devils team since the mid 1990’s. Sure they have some pretty good defense and solid goaltending but this is not your mom and pop’s Los Diablos. Their 12-1-2 stretch has only gotten them some respectability and saved some face. In order to make the playoffs and become fantasy relevant for owners in the process, they have to keep on this roll. If Ilya Kovalchuk (12 points in his last 9) keeps scoring, then look out. Clearly Kovalchuk has figured it out again in New Jersey and he is not the only one.
Brian Rolston and Patrik Elias are both scoring along with timely contributions by Jason Arnott as well as the younger players. Yes Carolina has rookie sensation Jeff Skinner (45 points in 57 games) but more importantly both teams have that secondary scoring ability. The team that gets its scoring from that source is the team that you want to hitch your wagon on for players from the fantasy perspective.
New Jersey will be without the services of Anton Volchenkov who is still serving a three game suspension from a hit on Zach Boychuk last Wednesday. The Devils will be forced to play a bit more wide open which is more to Carolina’s liking. Expect a bit higher of a scoring game with the Hurricanes potentially coming out of this with a 4-3 win in OT or a SO. Key fantasy performances by Jussi Jokinen and Eric Staal for the Canes while Patrik Elias and Mattias Tedenby will spearhead the attack from the Devils. We spologize but do not expect quite as much from the goaltending in this one though Cam Ward will be clutch late in the game when he needs to be.
OUR BEST BETS
1. Mattias Tedenby (New Jersey) — When this kid learns how to play a bit better defensively, his hands and skill are very much like Michael Grabner’s. He really has that kind of potential to surprise and amaze. The two goals against the Hurricanes are no fluke and Tedenby has the wheels to drive that D nuts!
2. Jonas Hiller (Anaheim) — He had an easy performance against Edmonton but now will face a stern test against the Capitals. Hiller will not only be up to the challenge but will surpass it at home ice where he is a nice 15-7-1 with a 2.46 GAA and .922 save percentage. Toss in the three shutouts and add in that Hiller has a way of stoning Alexander Ovechkin and you have the makings for Washington to be below .500 in the new year when all is said and done on this one.
3. Tomas Vokoun (Florida)— Vokoun has had it tough as fantasy owners know with few wins lately and. The 2,52 GAA and .922 save percentage with five shutouts is great but the guy only has 19 wins for a team which had higher hopes at the start of the season. If Vokoun does have a weadkness is that the giving up of goals in bunches is alarming. That being said, this netminder has the ability to know that
WHAT TO AVOID
1. David Booth — Something just screams stay away. It sounds crazy and who knows if we are right here but the hunch says bad game tonight for San Jpse.
2. Martin Havlat — He did not do much last night and expect about the same even though this is against his forner team, I just think that Havlat is due for a few more games of struggling before he turns it around yet again. That is the Havlat M.O.
3. Brad Ricahrds — Richards will likely be out again which means more fantasy scrambling for owners of Dallas players. James Neal and Loui Eriksson have to step up without Richards but I just do not think that these two can deliver the goods enough unless Brad Richards is feeding them the puck. The swoon contines.
The ONE will keep it rocking every morning on The Program. We want people to keep asking the tough fantasy questions and yes Twitter will be used along with the blog to answer any and all of the craziest and profound nuts and bolts information out there. Do not forget that Chris Kelly was traded to Boston for a 2011 2nd round pick. It will be interesting to see what happens with Kelly in Boston. He affs grit, and creates spacing on the Power Play. Enjoy the Hump Day!
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Enjoy your Sunday everyone……..
