Though it appeared to be a slow night on the fantasy hockey landscape, in some ways it really was not. Reality dictates that the fantasy playoffs really are a different animal and even if you are in rotisserie or points leagues, the last three to four weeks are still not quite the same. Sometimes the weirdest occurrences will just happen. That team you built up all year takes a few days off and just like that, it is over. It is the hardest part but sometimes it is just out of your control.
Take a look at last night’s games and there was not much in the way of scoring. The Vancouver and Chicago battle had all the ingredients of a moderately high scoring affair and a 2-1 game ensues. Why? That was because everyone wanted to kill each other after one hit that won’t be discipled and one that will be. Just ask Duncan Keith how unfair that really is. So the guy that retaliates will lose games while the guy that started the whole mess does not even see a fine. We make it clear that Keith absolutely deserves to be suspended. That is basically what will happen here and for Keith owners and the league, that just plain stinks. There is no excuse for subjective officiating and discipline and yes it is a problem for fantasy owners and NHL fans everywhere.
So what else happened last night? Honestly we saw a nice little Anaheim comeback, a Cody Hodgson sighting, and a Captain score on his birthday. Now let’s find out who won the Fantasy POTN. This one was tougher than usual but we think we have a good one here.
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FANTASY POTN:
Eric Staal, C/LW, Carolina Hurricanes — Staal has played better since Marc Staal returned. Sorry ladies and gentlemen but the numbers do not lie and neither does that +18 in that span. Eric Staal is also right around a point a game pace since that return as well. He has four goals in his last two games and six points in his last three. Staal also had seven shots on goal and was 14-21 from the faceoff dot (if your league counts that). He played 23:30 and has been seeing a higher than usual ATOI in the last couple months. This was an easy choice for a Fantasy POTN on a night where everyone seemed focused on a certain hit.
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QUICK LOOK BACK:
Cody Hodgson, C/RW, Buffalo Sabres — Sometimes all it takes is one. Naturally, Cody Hodgson figured one goal was not enough so he tried two on for size. The seven shots on goal was also a bit of a surprise. More importantly, Hodgson looked like the player he was in Vancouver while playing that increased load of ice time (18:45). People forget that the youngster is 22 years old and not everyone adapts to change the same ways. Adjustments often take time and hopefully this is just what the doctor ordered for Hodgson’s fantasy owners.
Alex Pietrangelo, D, St. Louis Blues — We always pay attention to the defensemen but Pietrangelo is just one of those special players that is enjoyable to watch and even more beneficial for your fantasy team. His two assists were nice but the fact that he is logging 27 and 28 minutes a night is just an immense bonus. The workhorse can still produce offense as he was on the ice for a game high 36 shifts. Just think of how far he has come along then think of how far he still has to grow. Now that has to appeal to all fantasy people out there and fans.
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SCHEDULE TIME:
Thursday, March 22, 2012 |
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| Teams | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | at | Philadelphia | 7:00 PM | Gameday | ||
| Nashville | at | Pittsburgh | 7:00 PM | Gameday | ||
| Edmonton | at | Tampa Bay | 7:30 PM | Gameday | ||
| Calgary | at | Minnesota | 8:00 PM | Gameday | ||
| Vancouver | at | Dallas | 8:30 PM | Gameday | ||
| Colorado | at | Phoenix | 10:00 PM | Gameday | ||
| Boston | at | San Jose | 10:30 PM | Gameday | ||
| St. Louis | at | Los Angeles | 10:30 PM | Gameday | ||
San Jose has a must win in a season where they should have been leading the Pacific. It has just been a sign of the times this year as the unexpected has suckered us in and left us wanting answers. Today, Ian Gooding seeks out some of those answers with his Pick Six for Thursday, March 22nd.
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PICK SIX:
A quick Pick Six tonight, although I should have something to prepare you for a Thursday in which 16 teams are in action.
Brian Rolston, LW, BOS – add/start
Rolston is on a roll with the Bruins, as he is currently on a three-game point streak with a +5 over that span. He performed his greatest damage on Monday, scoring four points in the 8-0 whitewash over Toronto. It is also worth mentioning that Rolston has eight points in 12 games as a Bruin. Perhaps the 39-year-old isn’t quite ready to hang ‘em up.
Cory Schneider, G, VAN – start
Although the Canucks haven’t announced it yet, expect Schneider to start Thursday’s game against Dallas, which will be the second of back-to-backs. The Canucks have been sputtering lately, but that is certainly no fault of Schneider’s. Since the new year, Schneider has allowed more than three goals in a game just once. With a 2.08 GAA and a .933 SV% this season, Schneider is clearly ready to be an NHL starting goalie somewhere.
Alexander Radulov, RW, NSH – add
It’s official: Radulov is returning to the Predators, and he may even suit up for Thursday’s game against Pittsburgh. His name finally appears in the search box in Yahoo leagues, so you can get your waiver claim on him now. What have you got to lose? There’s only a few weeks left in the season, and he racked up 1.5 points per game (301 points in 210 games) in the KHL.
Jaden Schwartz, C, STL – watch
Want to catch lightning in a bottle from a rookie late in the season? Schwartz, the Blues’ first-round pick in 2010 and a former Canadian World Junior captain, has goals in each of his first two games. Don’t be surprised to see the Blues give Schwartz a test drive while they seemingly cruise toward a President’s Trophy. Keeper leaguers might want to consider him a person of interest too.
Daniel Sedin, LW, VAN – bench
Sedin left Wednesday’s heated rivalry game in Chicago because of a vicious elbow to the head from Duncan Keith. Sedin was on the ice for the resulting power play but then left the game immediately afterward. The Canucks haven’t announced that he has a concussion, but at this stage he seems unlikely to play the second of back-to-backs on the road Thursday in Dallas.
Dany Heatley, RW, MIN – bench
It seems surprising that Heatley leads the Wild in goals (20), since he has found the net just once over the past month. In addition, Heater hasn’t even found the scoresheet in eight games. Perhaps he is battling another unknown injury as he was during last year’s playoffs, but he is becoming increasingly difficult to rely on in your fantasy playoffs.
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We keep it quick so that tonight there is the focus on the hockey. Later tonight, we have a new edition of “Magic Elimination Numbers”. Good luck tonight and thanks again for reading everyone.
