By Garrett Rees
Mid-Week Lite version for Week 7.
WEEKLY BREAKDOWN
Here is the weekly breakdown for this upcoming week, March 4 – March 10:
- 5 GAMES: NJD
- 4 GAMES: ANA, CBJ, CHI, COL, DET, EDM, FLA, LAK, MON, NYI, NYR, PHI, PHX, PIT, SJS, STL, TBL, TOR, WAS, WPG
- 3 GAMES: BOS, BUF, CAR, CGY, MIN, NAS, VAN
- 2 GAMES: DAL, OTT
Very busy week during Week 7 and yes, our first five gamer of the season! More than 2/3rds of the league are playing at least four games so there are going to be tons of options. Hopefully your team isn’t filled with Dallas and Ottawa players. Here’s how the week breaks down per day:
- MON – 4 games
- TUES – 11 games
- WED – 4 games
- THU – 11 games
- FRI – 5 game
- SAT – 10 games
- SUN – 10 games
Turns out that Week 7 is almost identical to Week 6 but contains even more games on Wed., Thurs., Sat., and Sun. Monday will see games of ANA@PHX, NAS@LAK, NJD@TOR, and TBL@PIT and Wednesday will have PHX@ANA, SJS@CGY, COL@CHI, and OTT@TOR so target these teams if you are in need of some help via the waiver-wire on what are again the slowest of days. Like Week 6, you should have zero problems finding active players to fill your roster on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, or Sunday.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
These teams are playing all of their games on the road so be aware that fatigue may play a factor in their play:
BUF, DAL, EDM, MON, OTT, STL, WPG
HOME COOKING
These teams are playing all of their games at home this week so they should be rested and practicing:
CAR, LAK
B2B: BACKUPS TO SEE ACTION?
All of these teams are scheduled to play in back-to-back games this upcoming week, so there are good chances that these teams’ respective backup/alternate goaltenders could see some action:
CBJ, CGY, CHI, COL, DET, EDM, FLA, LAK, MIN, MON, NAS, NJDx2, NYI, NYR, PHI, PHX, PIT, SJSx2, STL, TBL, TOR, WAS, WPG
STRONG SCHEDULES
Now let’s take a look at a couple of the most favorable matchups of the week:
New Jersey Devils – Opponents: @TOR+TBL, BUF, @CAR+WPG – There’s no way a team that’s playing five games in one weak isn’t going to be on here. The players could definitely get warn down but five opportunities for your Devils to earn you points is too good to pass up.
Chicago Blackhawks – Opponents: MIN+COL, @COL, EDM – The record setting team can’t be beat and will be playing some beatable teams during Week 7. You know the drill already.
Anaheim Ducks – Opponents: @PHX, PHX, CGY, STL – Four games during the week with three of them on the three slowest nights can’t be too bad. Also, they have played only one game so far this season versus each of their three opponents but they have scored a total of 15 goals in those three games so the potential for points is definitely there.
WEAK SCHEDULES
…And the least favorable matchups of the week:
Dallas Stars – Opponents: @LOS, @PHX – Two games on two of the busiest nights during a week with a ton of games is no bueno. Get them in your lineup if you need them during Week 7 but this week’s schedule doesn’t look very hot.
Ottawa Senators – Opponents: @TOR, @NYR – While they are only playing two games, they are playing these games on some slower nights of the week. Get them out there on those two days if you need them but other than that you’re going to be out of luck with your Sens.
Minnesota Wild – Opponents: @CHI, @NAS-VAN – One of the lower scoring teams in the league will be playing three of the better defensive teams in the West. All three of these games will be on the busier nights of the week to boot. Be careful when starting your Wild in Week 7.
Good luck out there, everyone. Hit me up on Twitter @G_Rees with any questions or comments.
