In this edition of the Last Word On Fantasy Hockey Report, we will look at the top fantasy performers over the last week. Don’t sleep on Carolina Hurricanes who scored 16 goals over a four-game stretch. Read on to see who’s hot for Carolina. In addition, we will look around the league for other players who can help you in your fantasy league.
Last Word On Fantasy Hockey Report
Don’t Sleep on the Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes boasted a trio on their top line that combined for nine goals and 16 assists for 25 total points in only four games. Teuvo Teravainen, who is only 33% owned in Yahoo! leagues led the way with five goals and five assists. Centre Jordan Staal, only 28% owned in Yahoo! leagues, put up six helpers and also won 33 face-offs. Sophomore Sebastian Aho meanwhile scored a goal in each of four games and assisted on five in the same span.
Aho is owned in 62% of Yahoo! leagues which means that it is possible he could still be available in your league. However if not, his two linemates are more likely still out there. This has become the defacto top line in Carolina, and all three of these players play on the top power play.
Jordan Staal has been around a 0.60 point per game clip over the last two seasons. So far this year he’s humming along at a 0.83 point per game pace. While it’s possible he could regress, if Staal stays on this line there’s no reason he can’t continue to put up the points.
The Carolina Hurricanes are, if not an underrated team, definitely an under the radar option in fantasy hockey. Don’t sleep on the Carolina Hurricanes and take advantage, before your opponents catch on.
Other Players Who Can Help You
We could tell you about Johnny Gaudreau and his continued hot streak of seven points in his last three games or 17 in his last nine. Or we could talk about Connor McDavid and his six in his last three. However, Johnny Hockey and McDavid are already owned in virtually every league out there. So, instead let’s look at some much more available waiver wire options.
A pair of St. Louis Blues centers put up six points in just three games last week. While Brayden Schenn (95% owned in Yahoo!) was one of them, Paul Stastny (only 31% owned in Yahoo!) was the other. With 18 points in 21 games played, Stastny is another veteran player that seems to be enjoying the NHL’s new crackdown on stick infractions. If he can continue his points point per game pace, Stastny will achieve 70 points which would be his highest total since 2009-10. While this may not happen, it’s very likely he will greatly improve upon last year when he managed 40 points in 66 games. If your league counts face-off wins too, Stastny is a great buy-low option. He won 30 in only three games last week. Even if his points dry up, he is perennially in the upper echelon on this measure.
Another player who is almost certainly waiting on your wire, is Nick Schmaltz. Schmaltz is dual position eligible (C,LW) in fantasy. He is also currently playing the wing for the Chicago Blackhawks second line and second power play unit. In this role, Schmaltz put up six assists in three games with half of them on the man advantage. While Schmaltz is unlikely to win your league for you, he’s a decent option in deeper leagues and only 10% owned in Yahoo!
Offence From the Defence
If you are in need of a defender, Mattias Ekholm (39% owned in Yahoo!) had five points in his last three games played. He is currently playing beside Roman Josi for the Nashville Predators at even strength and manning the point on the second power play unit.
Jared Spurgeon (61% owned in Yahoo!) is quietly having a very good season. With four points in his last three games, Spurgeon is averaging over 26 minutes a game. Only Brent Burns and Spurgeon’s power play partner Ryan Suter played more over the past week.
If Ekholm or Spurgeon aren’t available a deeper option can be found in the desert. Alex Goligoski (just 10% owned in Yahoo!) scored three points in his last three for the Arizona Coyotes and plays on the second power play.
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