Fantasy Hockey MINI ONE (4/9)
Today we are letting the world get settled in. Thanks to Ian Gooding, we set up the table compliments of Fantasyhockey.com. So here we go.....
IAN'S Pick SIX (Saturday April 9th)
Here it is… my final Pick Six of the season! (Unless Garrett can’t write one for Sunday, in which case you put up with me one more time.) Based on reader reaction, I believe that this is a column that we should continue in some way, shape, or form for next season. You may not always agree with my picks, and they may not always be accurate (eg. the Devan Dubnyk shutout on Tuesday), but perhaps I’ve helped you out with other picks (eg. the Cam Ward shutout on Wednesday, although I was being a little cautious in assuming he would allow a goal). Remember that you don’t have to be right all the time – just more often than your opponents.
As per usual on Friday, I’ve outlined teams that play both Saturday and Sunday so that you can target players who will provide two games for the price of one.
Teams that play both Saturday and Sunday: Boston, New Jersey
Teams that play neither Saturday nor Sunday: none
Brad Marchand, C, BOS – start
I targeted Marchand a couple weeks ago when I was trying to stay alive in one league (and didn’t). I can’t blame Marchand for that, as he scored a goal for me that happened to be a little too late to matter. Regardless, raise your hand if you predicted he would reach 20 goals, 40 points, and an impressive +25 this season. There shouldn’t be any concern about adding him, what with the season so short.
Mark Recchi, RW, BOS – start
Recchi continues to climb up the NHL’s all-time scoring lead. Based on his play this season (48 points), he might very well come back for another season or two. Consider him in mid-size to deep leagues while he continues to drink from the fountain of youth.
Travis Zajac, C, NJ – start
Zajac has performed below expectations this season, especially considering the Ilya Kovalchuk situation earlier this season. He has rebounded a little in the back half of the season, but many fantasy owners were not willing to be patient with him. If he is available, he is an option for the weekend, considering that the Devils play back-to-backs.
Johan Hedberg, G, NJ – start
Hedberg should start one of the Devils’ back-to-back games on Saturday or Sunday. He may receive the opportunity to annihilate the Rangers’ playoff chances on Saturday, or he may start Sunday’s home finale against Boston. Either way, there’s no way that the Devils start Martin Brodeur in back-to-backs over the weekend, considering that they are out of the playoffs and have also shut down recently returned Zach Parise.
Cory Schneider, G, VAN – start
Schneider will start the Canucks’ final game of the season on Saturday against Calgary. The reason he is starting is not necessarily to provide Roberto Luongo with rest, but so that Schneider will have appeared in the 25 games necessary for his name to be engraved on the Jennings Trophy (awarded to the goalie tandem with the top goals-against average in the NHL). Leagues with active participants may already have a Schneider owner, but you can always check on his availability.
Nikolay Zherdev, RW, PHI – start
This one might be completely out of left field, and Zherdev’s 22-point season may have you believing he is one of the most truly pathetic fantasy options out there (not to mention a chronic underachiever). However, did you know that Zherdev has points in three consecutive games? He also faces the Islanders on Saturday. Just don’t make the mistake of targeting him as your first-round pick in playoff fantasy drafts – just like you should avoid overindulging in the Molsons before your draft.
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SCHEDULE TIME:
SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2011 |
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| Teams | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | at | NY Rangers | 12:30 PM | ||
| Ottawa | at | Boston | 1:00 PM | ||
| Montreal | at | Toronto | 7:00 PM | ||
| NY Islanders | at | Philadelphia | 7:00 PM | ||
| Tampa Bay | at | Carolina | 7:00 PM | ||
| Washington | at | Florida | 7:00 PM | ||
| Buffalo | at | Columbus | 7:00 PM | ||
| Nashville | at | St. Louis | 8:00 PM | ||
| Vancouver | at | Calgary | 10:00 PM | ||
| Anaheim | at | Los Angeles | 10:30 PM | ||
| Phoenix | at | San Jose | 10:30 PM | ||
Two afternoon games and nine night games make for one hell of a schedule. As we near the end, and the season end columns surface in the next couple weeks, we will reflect on the craziness that has been the fantasy hockey season. We will even sneak in some fantasy hockey playoff pool goodies in the mix as well.
This is the point of no return. There really is not much else to say. Keep an eye on the early games because they will impact the late ones. If the Rangers win, Carolina players obviousy have even more value. If the Rangers lose in regulation, then they have a little less. Therefore adjust your lineups accordingly. Remember Dallas plays on Sunday as well so there is a potential that they may be out before they even take the ice. Keep that in mind.
If you have followed us all season, you were not mired in pages and pages of numbers and statistics, we gave you practical fantasy advice that well most of it worked and some of it did not. Simply good luck this weekend and we will continue to tweet and write away on here to get your ready for some playoff pools and update you on how some of ours are faring.
Thanks so much to all that have made this possible. Truly without you, there is no us.
