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Team Canada Wins Gold over USA in Overtime!

Kory — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:07:10 +0000

Canada wins the gold medal for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics over the USA in sudden overtime on a quick Sidney Crosby goal vs. Team USA. After Parise tied it up late in the 3rd with just under 25 seconds left to go in the game, Crosby finishes it off on a quick little play on a nice pass off the wall from Iginla and just put it on net as fast as he could and beat Miller to win it for Canada. Miller was named the MVP for the tournament, without question the right choice. It was a good game for both sides with an exciting finish.

Congrats to both Team Canada and Team USA!

NHL play starts back up tomorrow. Expect a good finish to the season.

Consider Taking on Jaroslav Halak or Josh Harding

Schrembs — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:06:40 +0000

No matter what kind of fantasy hockey league you are in, there are always people on the lookout for goaltenders. If you fall into this category, take note. Over the past several months, we have heard rumors surrounding goaltenders Jaroslav Halak and Josh Harding.

The Halak rumors are far more intense at this point in time, so fantasy managers, especially in keeper leagues may want to consider making a play for Jaro Halak. Halak has been playing 2nd fiddle to Carey Price in Montreal for the past couple years, however, Price’s inconsistencies has allowed Halak to showcase his talents and prove he could be a number 1 goaltender candidate somewhere in the NHL. Now is the perfect time for fantasy managers (especially in keeper leagues) to make a play for him. Chances are not too many fantasy managers are thinking about the trade deadline at this point, so it may be easier to acquire him before March roles around. You may have to sit on him for a month or so, but remember we have the Olympic break, so it certainly is manageable.

Josh Harding is a lesser known case, which may make him easier to acquire. He is a sound backstop playing behind an all-star caliber goaltender. With Anton Khudobin in the system and Backstrom’s contract far from over, Harding would certainly benefit from going elsewhere rather than riding the pine. Making a pitch for him or plucking him off the waiver wire is low risk since you’re probably not offering up a terrible amount for him, if anything at all; essentially a roster spot if you pluck him off the waiver wire.

Now, if these players don’t get moved during the trade deadline, they could certainly find themselves elsewhere over the summer, so hang onto them if you have the capacity to do so. Managers in keeper leagues may find this more beneficial at this point in time. For those in year-to-year leagues, perhaps you wait until after the Olympics to consider making a move.

Remember, these trade scenarios are still rumors, so don’t put all your eggs in one basket. It’s more food for thought than anything, but it’s fun to play with strategies and different types of scenarios.

Take a Chance on Rob Schremp

Schrembs — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:40:37 +0000

Fantasy managers savvy to the up and coming talent in the NHL have certainly heard the name Rob Schremp being thrown around over the past several seasons. Perhaps some have seen the video of his crafty “stickmanship” during a Skills Competition in Wilkes-Barre. There’s little doubt in anyone’s mind that he is a crafty player with the potential to put up big numbers, however, his game has not transferred as well to the NHL as some had hoped, so he hasn’t gotten the recognition he may have deserved over the past two seasons.

This season started off similarly for Schremp with the Islanders this year; some playing time followed by a series of healthy scratches. However, at this point of the season, He’s seeing between 13 and 15 minutes of ice time, as well as power play duties. Now, while center is the most plentiful position in hockey in terms of fantasy worthy players, managers in deeper fantasy leagues certainly could use the depth to help them maintain their current status or make a playoff run. There’s a good chance Robbie is out there in your league; if you have a hole to fill, take a chance on him right now. He’s playing extremely well.

Add Backup Goaltenders to Olympic Starters

Schrembs — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:35:25 +0000

With the 2010 Winter Olympics fast approaching, it’s time to consider how the games will impact our fantasy rosters. While it certainly won’t have much of an impact if a forward or defenseman misses a game or two, fantasy managers who own an Olympic goaltender should consider adding their backup for the next month of play. It’s not uncommon to see NHL coaches give their Olympic tenders some time off in the weeks leading up to the games. With that being said, it may be worth adding his backup as an insurance policy in case you’re a manager in a league that requires a certain number of appearances per week to qualify the goaltending categories.

Ryan Miller – Buffalo Sabres
With Ryan Miller a strong candidate to get the majority of the workload in Canada for Team USA, we may see backup Patrick Lalime a little more over the next several weeks. He had a shaky start to the season for Buffalo but has come off an injury in stellar form. He is a comparable option that should steal some wins before we head into the break.

Miikka Kiprusoff – Calgary Flames
Kippers is notorious for being an absolute workhorse for the Flames, so perhaps we see him get a bit of a breather over the next couple weeks to try and prepare him for the Bronze medal battle. Curtis McElhinney is a so-so option. His numbers aren’t as bad as we have seen them in the past and looked good in the spot start against the Oilers.

Henrik Lundqvist – New York Rangers
Lundy has also been a workhorse this season as his once reliable backup Stephan Valiquette has been demoted and Chad Johnson continues to ride the pine. Lundy can’t keep up this torrid pace forever, so it may not be a bad idea to add Johnson for the time being to see if they use him more over the next several weeks. And if they don’t, see if he gives Lundy a breather after the Olympic break.

Jonas Hiller – Anaheim Ducks
While it’s unclear if former NHL goaltender Martin Gerber or Jonas Hiller will help the Swiss in Vancouver, it’s certainly worth considering JS Giguere over the next month. A rock solid performance in November unfortunately led to a somewhat shaky showing throughout the month of December, so perhaps view Giggy as a bit of a low buy candidate right now.

Iyla Bryzgalov – Phoenix Coyotes
One of the biggest surprises this season has been the strong play of Ilya Bryzgalov and the Phoenix Coyotes. Bryzgalov is one of the best goalies in the league right now and will see some playing time in Vancouver. He should be playing second fiddle to Evgeny Nabokov but has shown her certainly could offer a strong platooning tandem for Russia if needed, and rumors are swirling that he may see more playing time overall. With Phoenix playing as well as they have been, it may not be a bad move to acquire Jason LaBarbera for a month or so.

Evgeny Nabokov – San Jose Sharks
Thomas Greiss, may find himself between the pipes a little more often over the next month trying to gain as much playing time as possible before he joins Team Germany at the Olympics. He’s a nice prospect on a good team, so consider him one of the better options to pickup to fortify your goaltending situation in January.

Tomas Vokoun – Florida Panthers
With Florida battling about 8 other teams for a playoff spot right now, we may see more of Vokoun over the next month than his counterpart Scott Clemmensen. Clemmy’s 11 starts this season has shown us that last season may have been a bit of a fluke. This “one hit wonder” should be left alone as we prepare for the next month of fantasy play.

Something that’s worth mentioning is that even if you’re a manager that doesn’t own these goaltenders, it’s perfectly acceptable to get in on this action, especially if you’ve suffered some serious hits to your goaltenders this season and are constantly scrambling to deal with injuries. Also, you can certainly add one of these players and peddle them as trade bait to managers in a bit of a bind. It’s all about strategy, my friends. Good luck.

Stash Jason Williams on IR in Deeper Fantasy Hockey Leagues

Schrembs — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:35:31 +0000

Photo by: Quadzilla99

Red Wings right winger Jason Williams is probably available in your moderate to deep fantasy league. Do yourself a favor: snatch him up and stash him on IR. He’s at an ultra-thin right wing position and there’s a good chance he’ll jump right into the 2nd line power play unit for Detroit.

Don’t expect Dan Cleary to be floating around on the waiver wire (if he is, certainly snatch him up ahead of Williams). Fantasy hockey managers have become fairly savvy to the production possibilities from the later bloomer, but at least with Williams, he could certainly be of some service to any manager as depth is the name of the game in deeper fantasy hockey leagues.

If you’re in a shallow fantasy hockey league, you can probably find a player with more of an offensive upside than Williams.

Consider David Perron in Keeper Leagues

Schrembs — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:12:07 +0000

For those fantasy hockey managers participating in keeper leagues this season, it should be worth noting the situation that up-and-coming winger David Perron finds himself in. Perron is a left winger for the Blues, and at the end of this season, St. Louis will have some decisions to make with their veteran leaders in Paul Kariya and Keith Tkachuk. Both players see time at left wing, but both are getting up there in age, and with the strong youth movement currently taking place in St. Louis, the Blues may have to trim the fat a bit to make room for players like Perron to get their NHL legs.

If Kariya and Tkachuk aren’t with the Blues next season, the opportunity for Perron to nab top line honors on that left side is extremely favorable. He himself is a RFA at the end of this season, but is certainly making a claim for his talents as the the team’s 4th leading scorer right now. The former first rounder would add a nice scoring punch to the McDonald-Boyes tandem in 2010-2011, so if may be worth making a play for him right now. He’s in a bit of a low buy situation being on a Blues team that has trouble scoring from time to time, but his long term value should make up for it.

Changes at Saucerpass.com

Schrembs — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:57:03 +0000

Hey everyone. We just wanted to drop a quick post to let everyone what’s going on with The Sauce. It’s been a while since we dropped a post; life gets in the way sometimes, but with the holidays behind us now, we’re back up and running.

Some changes are forthcoming here, so be on the lookout. We’ve overhauled the interface of the website a bit to kick off the new year. Our posting content is going to be a little different heading into the 2nd half of the season as well. We’ll certainly provide you with strategy articles as often as we can, but we’ve decided to offer more of a “quick hit” content style. Something useful every day that managers can use, whether it be an add/drop recommendation, or a savvy injury stash.

Also, with the trade deadline looming, we’ll be posting information about out Trade Deadline Contest. It’ll run much like the RFA/UFA contest that Bill Brister from IceJunkies.com won earlier this year.

Make sure to join or feed, or better yet, follow us on Twitter. If you have any fantasy hockey related question, feel free to drop us a line or send us a Tweet. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

Thanks for reading.

Weekly Goalie Outlook for November 16th to November 22nd (Week 7)

Kory — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:51:39 +0000

Here is a look at each team’s goaltending situation heading into week 7 of the fantasy season (November 16th – November 22nd).

Atlantic Division

Team	Goaltenders	Opponents	Advice
New Jersey Devils	1. Brodeur 2. Danis	@Philadelphia, @Nashville, @Dallas	Safe to Start. The Devils are playing fantastic right now. No reason to change anything here.
New York Islanders	1. Roloson 1a. Biron	@Boston, @Minnesota, @St. Louis	Use Caution. The Isles play all three games away from home this week but they have been a bit better of late. Due to the platooning situation, though, it’s tough to say they’re a safe play in a weekly roster set league.
New York Rangers	1. Lundqvist 2. Valiquette	Washington, Florida	Safe to Start. The Rangers only have two games this week vs. a couple Southeastern teams. Ovechkin is slated to come back on Tuesday just in time to play against the Rangers, otherwise that would have been a much better match-up for NY, especially with some of the injuries they have themselves. The game against Florida could be a toss-up due to the Panthers’ up and down play this season. Expect Lundy to play both games, as they’re spaced apart.
Philadelphia Flyers	1. Emery 2. Boucher	New Jersey, @Los Angeles, @San Jose, @Phoenix	Safe to Start. The Flyers have a busy scheduling coming up for the next several days. Starting off with the smoking hot Devils and they head out west to play some pretty decent teams. Philly is playing well (as is Emery) but they could be splitting some of these games this week, so be prepared for that.
Pittsburgh Penguins	1. Fleury 2. Johnson	Anaheim, @Ottawa, @Atlanta	Safe to Start. Malkin is back in the lineup and he came back strong with a 3 assist night his first game back. Fleury has not been great the last little bit, as he’s on a personal four game losing streak. The Pens won their last game with Johnson in net, hopefully Fleury can get back on track with Malkin back.

Northeast Division

Team	Goaltenders	Opponents	Advice
Boston Bruins	1. Thomas 2. Rask	New York Islanders, @Atlanta, @Buffalo	Use Caution. Rask will be getting the start vs. NYI but expect Thomas to play against the hot Thrashers and Sabres. Thomas gave up six goals against the Pens last game and is under .500 on the year. Atlanta and Buffalo are both playing very well and Boston has not been that consistent thus far this season so be wary.
Buffalo Sabres	1. Miller 2. Lalime	Florida, Boston, @Ottawa	Safe to Start. After alternating wins and losses to start the month, Miller is back on a three game winning streak. All three opponents this week have been inconsistent this year so if the Sabres can play like they have been all season, the results should be favorable for Buffalo.
Montreal Canadiens	1. Price 1a. Halak	Carolina, @Washington, Detroit	Use Caution. Carey Price was the hard luck loser last game against the Predators where he made 53 saves on 55 shots but still ended up losing 0-2 to a Nashville team that has struggled to score goals this season. At the same time, the Habs themselves have been very underwhelming thus far. They could be in for a tough week with the Caps and Red Wings later on. Hopefully they can get a win vs. struggling Carolina but that’s not a given. Look for Halak to start at least one game, as well.
Ottawa Senators	1. Leclaire 2. Elliott	Toronto, Pittsburgh, Buffalo	Use Caution. Could be an interesting week for the Sens. They could get some trouble from the Leafs, who usually play pretty well against them, and then they have two stronger teams in Pittsburgh and Buffalo. Pascal Leclaire has been rather average this season with an under .900 save percentage. He’s also coming off a game vs. the Flyers where he gave up five goals. The Sens simply aren’t the offensive powerhouse they used to be so Leclaire has to be more consistent, otherwise he risks losing more starts to youngster Elliott.
Toronto Maple Leafs	1. Gustavsson 2. Toskala	@Ottawa, @Carolina, Washington	Use Caution. The Leafs started off extremely poorly but now they have been getting a bit closer to decent. They play longtime rivals in Ottawa and then head to the Southeast division. Although they could feasibly win all three games, that is pretty unlikely so take this into account.

Southeast Division

Team	Goaltenders	Opponents	Advice
Atlanta Thrashers	1. Pavelec 2. Hedberg	Boston, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay	Use Caution. The Thrashers have been scoring like crazy lately especially with Kovy’s return. ATL should continue their strong scoring, it’s just up to Pavelec and Hedberg to keep up their end of the deal, which has not been as consistently well done. Lehtonen is still going to be out for a while, for anyone keeping track.
Carolina Hurricanes	1. Leighton 1a. Legace	@Montreal, Toronto, Tampa Bay	Emergency Basis Only. The Hurricanes snapped their long losing streak finally last week and hopefully they can build on it this week with a few somewhat weaker opponents. However, if you don’t have to, try not to start any Carolina goalies right now, as they simply are not playing well. Without Ward, it will be a tough stretch for them for a long while.
Florida Panthers	1. Vokoun 2. Clemmensen	Los Angeles, @Buffalo, @Detroit, @New York Rangers	Safe to Start. The Panthers have a busy schedule coming up but Vokoun, even though he’s 5-8 on the year, has put up 3 shutouts since Halloween, so hopefully he can get back to the form he’s had the past couple weeks. When he’s not shutting teams out, Vokoun usually gives up at least three goals and the Panthers play pretty inconsistently so this is a factor. Even though they have some tough opponents, you should definitely start Vokoun.
Tampa Bay Lightning	1. Smith 2. Niittymaki	@Phoenix, @Anaheim, @Carolina, @Atlanta	Safe to Start. The Bolts have a solid four games on their schedule so it’s likely Niitty will grab one of the starts, perhaps against Carolina or maybe Atlanta, as they are back to back.
Washington Capitals	1. Theodore 2. Varlamov	@New York Rangers, Montreal, @Toronto	Use Caution. Ovechkin is coming back to the lineup vs. NYR but things are starting to get cloudier in the Caps’ goalie situation. Varly has only given up one goal his past two games, one of which he came in to relieve Theodore who got pulled after giving up three goals. Theo’s last game he gave up 5 goals for a loss. It’s still tough to tell who’s going to start when so keep abreast of the starter on a daily basis if you can. Something’s gotta give soon here.

Central Division

Team	Goaltenders	Opponents	Advice
Chicago Blackhawks	1. Huet 2. Niemi	@Calgary, @Edmonton, @Vancouver	Safe to Start. Huet is on a four game winning streak. The Hawks go on a westward road swing but they’ve been playing well so don’t worry too much about them.
Columbus Blue Jackets	1. Mason 2. Garon	Edmonton, @Dallas, @Nashville	Use Caution. Garon will be getting the start vs. the Oilers so take this into account if you’re a Mason owner in a weekly roster set league. Mason has not had a great season thus far, with his numbers being much, much worse than last year’s. Giving up EIGHT goals against Detroit isn’t helping anything.
Detroit Red Wings	1. Osgood 2. Howard	Dallas, Florida, @Montreal	Safe to Start. Osgood gave up five goals against the lowly Leafs and is now out with the flu. Since Osgood’s been out, Howard’s won 3 straight and only gave up one goal in the first two games. Osgood might be back by the end of the week but if you have Howard, don’t have any reservations about starting him for the week.
Nashville Predators	1. Rinne 1a. Ellis	San Jose, New Jersey, Columbus	Use Caution. The Rinne & Ellis platoon seems to be continuing. However, Rinne seems to have the latest leg up with a shutout last game and only one goal against the game before. Ellis’ last start was a loss with 4 goals against so it’s likely that Rinne will get at least two of the three starts this week, if not all of them. Take note of this depending on who you have.
St. Louis Blues	1. Mason 2. Conklin	Phoenix, New York Islanders	Use Caution. The Blues have not been playing well lately. They only have two games this week though so take a shot with the starts if you think they’ll grab at least one of ‘em.

Northwest Division

Team	Goaltenders	Opponents	Advice
Calgary Flames	1. Kiprusoff 2. McElhinney	Colorado, Chicago, @Los Angeles	Safe to Start. Kipper is 11-3-2 on the year and the Flames are playing pretty well. He has not had a regulation loss in the past 5 games.
Colorado Avalanche	1. Anderson 2. Budaj	@Calgary, @Edmonton, @Vancouver	Use Caution. Anderson has slipped a bit since his surprisingly stellar start. Anderson hasn’t had a win in the past 6 games or so and the last game they played, against the Canucks, they got shelled for 8 goals against, four on Anderson and then four on Budaj when he came in after Anderson got pulled. Colorado will be taking a road swing through their division this week but it remains to be seen if they can get their mojo back and rebound. Start Anderson if you think they will. Don’t start Budaj, though.
Edmonton Oilers	1. Khabibulin 2. Drouin-Deslauriers	@Columbus, Colorado, Chicago	Use Caution. Khabibulin should continue to get the majority of the starts but JDD may start to see a few more starts here and there as the season goes on. The Bulin wall has only had one win since the month of November started. The matchups this week are pretty much toss-ups.
Minnesota Wild	1. Backstrom 2. Harding	Phoenix, New York Islanders	Safe to Start. The Wild have a very lax schedule this week with only two games to play. After the NYI game they have a full four nights off until they play the B’s on the 25th. Both games should be favorable for Minny.
Vancouver Canucks	1. Raycroft 2. Luongo/Schneider	Colorado, Chicago	Safe to Start. The Canucks do not have to play a game until Friday at home against Colorado and then again on Sunday vs. the Blackhawks. This slow week should give Lungo further time to rest up. After the game against Chicago, Vanvoucer has another few days off. Hopefully Luongo is totally 100% by then.

Pacific Division

Team	Goaltenders	Opponents	Advice
Anaheim Ducks	1. Hiller 2. Giguere	@Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, San Jose	Use Caution. Giguere came off IR last week but is still behind Hiller by a bit right now, regardless of the trade rumors lately. He did still claim that he wants to stay in Anaheim, so things should get interesting down the stretch. The Ducks’ schedule is usually spaced out, so for weekly set rosters it could get annoying with the platooning. They play two strong teams in the Pens and the Sharks, so it’s a toss up for this week if you want to start one of ‘em.
Dallas Stars	1. Turco 2. Auld	@Detroit, Columbus, New Jersey	Use Caution. Turco continues to be the stalwart in net for the Stars but their record is pretty all over the place. They have a rough schedule this week but the Stars haven’t been playing poorly.
Los Angeles Kings	1. Quick 2. Ersberg	@Florida, Philadelphia, Calgary	Safe to Start. Quick rebounded after three straight losses with a solid win over the Lightning in a 28 save effort, only giving up one goal. Though they play a couple of good teams in the Flyers and the Flames, the Florida game won’t be a pushover for them either. The Kings have been good at scoring in bunches in their wins but sometimes they fall flat in their losses.
Phoenix Coyotes	1. Bryzgalov 2. LaBarbera	Tampa Bay, @Minnesota, @St. Louis, Philadelphia	Safe to Start. The Coyotes have a heavy schedule and should put up a good fight in each game. Bryz has been alternating wins and losses so far in November so be prepared for an up and down week if you do end up starting him.
San Jose Sharks	1. Nabokov 2. Greiss	@Nashville, PHiladelphia, @Anaheim	Safe to Start. Nabby has not had a regulation loss in his past 10 games.

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“Hired Guns” for November: Shots On Goal

Schrembs — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:06:08 +0000

Fantasy hockey is dynamic in the sense that you have to adjust your drafting and acquisition strategies based on the statistical categories that your league has. There are certain managers that try and test the skills of those in their leagues by adding in categories that aren’t found in standard fantasy hockey formats.

For those fantasy hockey managers who are leagues that have some specialty categories, there are players hanging out on the waiver wire that could be of some use to you.

This article looks at the category of shots on goal and who in the league could offer you the most bang for your buck. We’ll break it down by league size and even look at a group of wingers who could offer you relief in the face-off circle.

While we won’t make light of the the obvious choices with respect to players who shoot a ton (Ovechkin, Parise, Crosby, Nash, etc.), we can certainly give you some waiver wire options depending on the size of your league.

Players to Consider in Shallow Fantasy Hockey Leagues

Brian Gionta – Certainly a decent number 2 right winger, Gionta is top ten in shots on goal this season.
Mikko Koivu – We saw him on the face-off list and we see him here. He is quite the “hired gun” in shallow fantasy hockey leagues.
Brad Richards – It’s still surprising to see Richards un-owned in 20-25% of leagues in major services.
Jason Blake – Blake is such a streaky player, but if it’s shots on goal you’re in the market for, he could definitely be a decent stopgap option that won’t completely waste a spot on your roster.
Patrick Sharp – Another player that shouldn’t be as unowned as he is. He has been one of the best players on the ice for Chicago, so scoop him up if he’s laying around in your league.

Players to Consider in Moderate Fantasy Hockey Leagues

Kyle Okposo – He’s battling the swine right now, but when he returns, he’ll be back to firing on all cylinders. He’s becoming a decent option for keeper leagues as well.
Ryan Kesler – He’s about a point per game right now; make the add if he’s just lying around.
Patrick O’Sullivan – The points aren’t exactly there right now, but certainly an opportunity to buy low as he should pick up his game.
Matt Moulson – Is finally getting a chance to do what he wasnn’t able to do in Los Angeles: strut his stuff. May be a “sell high” candidate as well.
Brooks Laich – Who needs AO when you have Brooks Laich?

Players to Consider in Deeper Fantasy Hockey Leagues

Patric Hornqvist – Hornqvist was a pretty trendy pickup in the first couple weeks of the season. He has since cooled off, but in deeper fantasy leagues, he certainly won’t do your roster any harm.
Radim Vrbata – Vrbata has cooled off immensely, but the situation is ripe for a low buy as he has shown us he plays his best hockey in Phoenix.
Lee Stempniak – He’s quietly having a decent season in lowly Toronto. Worth a look.
Rostislav Olesz – If you’re sitting pretty and are just looking for a quick pick-me-up with respect to shots on goal, Olesz may be able to provide some relief. If you do decide to make the add, just remember that his role will diminish significantly when David Booth returns from his concussion.
Nicklas Bergfors – A great sleeper option right now. He’s shooting a ton and starting to get power play time. Pull the trigger if he’s available. You won’t be disappointed.

Weekly Goalie Outlook for November 9th to November 15th (Week 6)

Schrembs — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:18:30 +0000

Here is a look at each team’s goaltending situation heading into week 6 of the fantasy season (November 9th – November 15th).

Atlantic Division

Team	Goaltenders	Opponents	Advice
New Jersey Devils	1. Brodeur 2. Danis	Anaheim, @Pittsburgh, Washington	Safe to Start. Brodie is on a tear right now. Don’t even think about benching him even with the 2 tough games to close out the week.
New York Islanders	1. Roloson 1a. Biron	Edmonton, @Buffalo, @New Jersey, Atlanta	Safe to Start. Despite an up and down week 5, consider playing Roloson or Biron in the final two games of the week. They have an absolutely ice cold Hurricane team and an inconsistent Panther club on the horizon in week 6. Make sure to double check your starter on game nights as they continue to platoon. Also, ESPN is reporting that Rick DiPietro is still a couple weeks away from returning.
New York Rangers	1. Lundqvist 2. Valiquette	Atlanta, @Ottawa	Safe to Start. Valiquette was between the pipes last week in back-to-back games (taking a win and a loss) but Lundy should be back in a short week for the Rangers in two favorable matchups. Keep Valiquette around until we start seeing Lundy back for good.
Philadelphia Flyers	1. Emery 2. Boucher	Ottawa, Buffalo	Safe to Start. Emery has his former club on Thursday and a Sabre squad he was able to manhandle last week. Give him a go.
Pittsburgh Penguins	1. Fleury 2. Johnson	@Boston, New Jersey, Boston	Safe to Start. Fleury split out west last week and has a couple of tough tests ahead of him in week 6. Give him a go.

Northeast Division

Team	Goaltenders	Opponents	Advice
Boston Bruins	1. Thomas 2. Rask	Pittsburgh, Florida, @Pittsburgh	Use Caution. People may be looking at the current situation in Boston as “Tim Thomas playing poorly with a 4-6 record; a Cinderella story coming to an end.” Hardly. Thomas’ numbers are average; possibly even a little above average. The majority of their troubles stem from the lack of the offense coming from Boston’s front men. Boston will get themselves back on track, so now may be a good opportunity to buy Thomas low. With Pittsburgh twice this week, see if you can get away with giving Thomas (or maybe Rask) the nod against the Cats only.
Buffalo Sabres	1. Miller 2. Enroth	Edmonton, Calgary, @Philadelphia	Use Caution. Sabres are on a bit of a skid right now. 3 tough games this week for Miller and crew, so watch yourself.
Montreal Canadiens	1. Price 1a. Halak	Calgary, @Phoenix, @Nashville	Use Caution. Price continues to play and continues to struggle. We suggested that Halak may challenge for the starting spot last week, but that just wasn’t the case. Montreal is a terrible road team this season, so if you’re a manager who plays the numbers, you may want to consider look elsewhere this week.
Ottawa Senators	1. Leclaire 2. Elliot	Edmonton, @Philadelphia, New York Rangers	Use Caution. Three tough matchups this week for an Ottawa team who has lost 5 of their last 7 games. Start Leclaire against Edmonton and see where it takes you. Perhaps you can lock up an early win and then rely on another tender to meet your requirements or snag you a win.
Toronto Maple Leafs	1. Gustavsson 2. Toskala	Minnesota, @Chicago, Calgary	Use Caution. Gustavsson has started the last three and won the last two. He has looked good, and with rumors swirling around Toskala being dealt to the Ducks for Giggy, expect him to continue to carry the load until Toronto can figure their situation out. Give him a go against Minnesota and play him based on your matchup needs from there on out.

Southeast Division

Team	Goaltenders	Opponents	Advice
Atlanta Thrashers	1. Pavelec 2. Hedberg	@New York Rangers, Los Angeles, Edmonton	Use Caution. Pavelec has struggled a bit as of late and has 2 tough teams on the horizon this week. Be careful. Perhaps we see Heddy on Sunday against the Oilers if Pavelec gets the nod in the first 2 games.
Carolina Hurricanes	1. Leighton 1a. Legace	Los Angeles, New York Islanders, Minnesota	Emergency Basis Only. Make sure that if you’re a Cam Ward owner, you add Manny Legace AND Michael Leighton to your roster. It’s unclear right now as to who will be playing more. Our best guess is whoever can get this team a friggn’ win. Legace isn’t anything to gawk over. He was run out of the league last year and is clearly a veteran insurance policy for the time being. Leighton isn’t a bad option; he was successful a couple years ago in the AHL. Still, it would be best to steer clear of this one for a while.
Florida Panthers	1. Vokoun 2. Clemmensen	@Boston, @New York Islanders	Safe to Start. Perhaps DeBoer goes with Vokoun this week after Clemmy’s meltdown against Washington on Saturday. Vokoun has 2 shutouts in his last 3 starts, so consider him a decent option against 2 inconsistent teams.
Tampa Bay Lightning	1. Smith 2. Niittymaki	Minnesota, Los Angeles	Use Caution. Give Smith the nod against Minnesota; perhaps he can land you a win and you’ll be able to rely on another tender to make your goalie starts for the week.
Washington Capitals	1. Theodore 2. Varlamov	New York Islanders, Minnesota, @New Jersey	Safe to Start. Do it.

Central Division

Team	Goaltenders	Opponents	Advice
Chicago Blackhawks	1. Huet 2. Niemi	Los Angeles, Colorado, Toronto, San Jose	Safe to Start. Nice homestand for the Hawks this week. Rough go of it last week, but they have some favorable matchups in week 6, so have at it. Check your starters starting against Colorado and beyond as Niemi will get the nod at least once this week.
Columbus Blue Jackets	1. Mason 2. Garon	Detroit, Anaheim	Safe to Start. Mason hasn’t had a regulation loss in his last 4 starts (2-0-2) and has a short week against two opponents the Jackets can certainly compete with.
Detroit Red Wings	1. Osgood 2. Howard	@Columbus, Vancouver, Anaheim	Use Caution. Osgood looked sharp last week, but it’s worth noting that the offense is not there right now for Detroit. Two decent offenses are in town this week, so if there are better options available outside the Vancouver contest, they may be worth taking.
Nashville Predators	1. Rinne 1a. Ellis	@San Jose, @St. Louis, Montreal	Safe to Start. Dan Ellis needed a solid start under his belt to save face a bit and he got it against the Kings last Saturday. It would be wise to end the week with either Ellis or Rinne as the Preds can certainly handle the Blues and Habs.
St. Louis Blues	1. Mason 2. Conklin	Vancouver, Nashville, San Jose	Emergency Basis Only. Not right now.

Northwest Division

Team	Goaltenders	Opponents	Advice
Calgary Flames	1. Kiprusoff 2. McElhinney	@Montreal, @Buffalo, @Toronto	Safe to Start. Busy week again for Kippers and crew. Perhaps we see McElhinney again this week as he was able to land a nice win against the Stars last week.
Colorado Avalanche	1. Anderson 2. Budaj	@Chicago, Vancouver	Safe to Start. First home loss at home for Colorado on Sunday. Nothing to fret about. Give Anderson a go this week..
Edmonton Oilers	1. Khabibulin 2. Drouin-Deslauriers	@Ottawa, @Buffalo, @Atlanta	Use Caution. East coast swing for Edmonton. They have lost 6 of their last 8 but could snag 2 wins this week against Ottawa and Atlanta.
Minnesota Wild	1. Backstrom 2. Harding	@Toronto, @Tampa Bay, @Washington, Carolina	Safe to Start. 3 favorable matchups for the Wild in this long week. Expect Harding at least once this week, so double check your starters on game nights.
Vancouver Canucks	1. Raycroft 2. Luongo/Schneider	@St. Louis, @Detroit, @Colorado	Safe to Start. Luongo is still ailing but is anticipating backing up Raycroft on Tuesday against the Blues. Raycroft has looked stellar in his last 5 starts (4-1) and certainly has allowed Luongo to take his time coming back. Give them a go this week.

Pacific Division

Team	Goaltenders	Opponents	Advice
Anaheim Ducks	1. Hiller 2. Giguere	@New Jersey, @Columbus, @Detroit	Use Caution. Giggy is back, but the Ducks are on the road against 3 tricky teams. Try your luck against Columbus and Detroit.
Dallas Stars	1. Turco 2. Auld	@San Jose, @Phoenix	Use Caution. Dallas has lost 4 of their last 5 games. It’s a short week, but 2 tricky opponents for Turco and crew. Use caution.
Los Angeles Kings	1. Quick 2. Ersberg	@Chicago, @Carolina, @Atlanta, @Tampa Bay	Safe to Start. Outside that Chicago game, give Quick/Ersberg the nod against some up-in-the-air opponents.
Phoenix Coyotes	1. Bryzgalov 2. LaBarbera	Montreal, Dallas	Safe to Start. Short, but manageable week for the ‘Yotes. They have been struggling but could get themselves back on track at home this week. Take a chance and give ‘em a go. Should see Bryzgalov in both contests.
San Jose Sharks	1. Nabokov 2. Greiss	Nashville, Dallas, @St. Louis, @Chicago	Safe to Start. Long week ahead for Nabby and crew, but don’t hesitate to start him. Note that in a 4 game week, don’t rule out Greiss in one of these games, so double check your starters.

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Weekly Goalie Outlook for November 2nd to November 8th (Week 5)

Schrembs — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:33:13 +0000

Here is a look at each team’s goaltending situation heading into week 5 of the fantasy season (November 2nd – November 8th).

Atlantic Division

Team	Goaltenders	Opponents	Advice
New Jersey Devils	1. Brodeur 2. Danis	Washington, New York Islanders, @Ottawa	Safe to Start. Yann Danis was able to sneak on ice and grab a win last week. That should have given Brodie enough rest to take the next 6 or 7 games. Look for him all this week, and if you’re looking for a high percentage win opportunity, consider the games against New York and Ottawa
New York Islanders	1. Roloson 1a. Biron	Edmonton, @Buffalo, @New Jersey, Atlanta	Use Caution. The Islanders have rattled off 3 wins in a row…I KNOW, RIGHT! Hot damn! There are some things to consider this week before we give you the green light this week, though. Buffalo is going to come out guns-a-blazin’ after getting embarrassed last week on The Rock. However, Marty Biron has been a Sabre killer ever since he left Buffalo, so if he gets the nod, give him a shot. It appears that Rolo and Marty are platooning, so make sure you check your starters on game night. Lastly, rumor has it that DP could be back by months end. This certainly presents a log jam between the pipes, but with as well as Rolo and Biron have been playing, I’m sure you’ll see DP eased back into action.
New York Rangers	1. Lundqvist 2. Valiquette	@Vancouver, @Edmonton, @Calgary	Safe to Start. Lundy ended a rough week with a stellar shutout against the Bruins. The Rangers are on a tour of western Canada this week, so we could see Valiquette for one of these games; be sure to check your starters. Otherwise, continue to fire on all cylinders as Gaborik is back in the lineup.
Philadelphia Flyers	1. Emery 2. Boucher	Tampa Bay, @Buffalo, St. Louis	Safe to Start. Emery has some favorable matchups this week, so if you’re looking for the best opportunity for a win, start him against Tampa and St. Louis.
Pittsburgh Penguins	1. Fleury 2. Johnson	@Anaheim, @Los Angeles, @San Jose	Safe to Start. Tough western swing for the Pens, but it’s not like you’re gonna bench Fleury.

Northeast Division

Team	Goaltenders	Opponents	Advice
Boston Bruins	1. Thomas 2. Rask	@Detroit, Montreal, Buffalo	Use Caution. Loss, win, loss, win, loss, win, loss, win, loss, win, loss, win, loss. Now, we’d hate to recommend you follow suit as this pattern has got to end at some point. Detroit is playing better and Buffalo is a strong team. Perhaps you start Thomas against Montreal and again against Buffalo (if needed). It’s also worth noting that Tuukka Rask is playing well when given the opportunity; just food for thought…
Buffalo Sabres	1. Miller 2. Lalime	New York Islanders, Philadelphia, @Boston	Safe to Start. So Miller had a bad game. He’s allowed one every once and a while. Give him a go this week. Tricky games, but Buffalo can certainly handle. It’s worth noting that Marty Biron is a Sabre killer, so he’ll certainly be the front-runner to get the nod against Buffalo on Wednesday.
Montreal Canadiens	1. Halak 1a. Price	Atlanta, @Boston, Tampa Bay	Use Caution. We’re going to say that there’s a goaltending controversy brewing in Montreal. Plain and simple: Halak has been on-point and Price has not. Good chance for a couple wins this week for the Habs, so make sure you double check your starters on game nights. Halak is the hot hand right now, so expect to see him at least twice.
Ottawa Senators	1. Leclaire 2. Elliot	Tampa Bay, New Jersey	Safe to Start. Start Leclaire in both matchups this week.
Toronto Maple Leafs	1. Toskala 2. Gustavsson	Tampa Bay, @Carolina, Detroit	Use Caution. The Leafs are playing competitive hockey right now, so it’s certainly worth a look this week. Use caution, but consider Tampa Bay and Carolina good places to start if you’re relying on the Leaf tandem.

Southeast Division

Team	Goaltenders	Opponents	Advice
Atlanta Thrashers	1. Pavelec 2. Hedberg	@Montreal, Columbus, @New York Islanders	Safe to Start. Pavelec continues to impress in Atlanta. Some winnable matchups for the Thrash this week, so give him a nod in all 3 games. Nervous yet, Kari?
Carolina Hurricanes	1. Ward 2. Leighton	@Florida, Toronto, @Columbus	Use Caution. Talk about a skid. Good thing Carolina has some favorable matchups this week to help get them off the schnide. See if you can sneak two wins from the Florida and Toronto matchups; perhaps you can land 2 so you don’t have to start Ward against the Jackets.
Florida Panthers	1. Vokoun 2. Clemmensen	Carolina, Washington, @Washington	Emergency Basis Only. The shutout last week was a nice surprise, but with Washington on the horizon twice this week, your best bet is Carolina, who is looking to put an end to a pretty mean losing streak themselves…
Tampa Bay Lightning	1. Smith 2. Niittymaki	@Philadelphia, @Toronto, @Ottawa, @Montreal	Use Caution. If you’re looking for wins this week, give Toronto and Ottawa a look.
Washington Capitals	1. Theodore 1a. Varlamov	New Jersey, @Florida, Florida	Safe to Start. Varly is 5-0, yet they continue to start Theodore. Not yet ready to admit you made a mistake, Washington? Expect Varly at least once this week; two favorable games to close out the week, so double check your starters and have fun.

Central Division

Team	Goaltenders	Opponents	Advice
Chicago Blackhawks	1. Huet 2. Niemi	@Phoenix, @Colorado	Safe to Start. Give Huet a go this week. Two tricky matchups, but Chicago’s offense should be able to help keep them close.
Columbus Blue Jackets	1. Mason 2. Garon	San Jose, @Atlanta, Carolina	Safe to Start. The Jackets were skidding there for a bit but were able to lock up a big OT win against the Capitals on Sunday. Give Mason the nod against the Thrash and ‘Canes later on in the week.
Detroit Red Wings	1. Osgood 2. Howard	Boston, San Jose, @Toronto	Use Caution. The Red Wings aren’t playing consistent puck right now, so it may be a bit of gamble when you start Osgood. If you can hold off, do so until they play the Leafs. And while you’re at it, stop playing Howard.
Nashville Predators	1. Rinne 1a. Ellis	@Anaheim, @Los Angeles	Safe to Start. The Preds have rattled off 3 straight wins thanks to the play of Pekka Rinne. He was outstanding last week and should see the starts this week as Dan Ellis is getting yanked left and right. Two more solid appearances from Rinne and we may see him as the starter for a while. Make roster adjustments and fire at will this week.
St. Louis Blues	1. Mason 2. Conklin	Calgary, @Philadelphia	Emergency Basis Only. The Blues have lost 3 of their last 4 and with two tough matchups this week, we don’t advise you start Mason unless you absolutely have to.

Northwest Division

Team	Goaltenders	Opponents	Advice
Calgary Flames	1. Kiprusoff 2. McElhinney	@Dallas, @St. Louis, New York Rangers	Safe to Start. Busy week for Kippers and crew. Perhaps we see McElhinney against the Blues to give him a breather?
Colorado Avalanche	1. Anderson 2. Budaj	Phoenix, Chicago	Safe to Start. Anderson took a couple losses last week, but it’s not a cause for concern. Give him a go this week as the ‘Lanche have a short week.
Edmonton Oilers	1. Khabibulin 2. Drouin-Deslauriers	@New York Islanders, New York Rangers	Use Caution. The Oilers have been struggling a bit, but in a short week, give Khabibulin the nod against the Islanders and see how it plays out. If you snag a win, perhaps you can find another option to meet your weekly requirements.
Minnesota Wild	1. Backstrom 2. Khudobin/Harding	Vancouver, Dallas	Safe to Start. The Wild have won 2 straight (against two top opponents might I add) and have a short week ahead of them. Give ‘em a shot. Perhaps it’s a sign of good things to come.
Vancouver Canucks	1. Raycroft 2. Luongo	New York Rangers, @Minnesota, @Dallas	Use Caution. Luongo is still ailing. Watch yourselves.

Pacific Division

Team	Goaltenders	Opponents	Advice
Anaheim Ducks	1. Hiller 2. Pogge/Giguere	Pittsburgh, Nashville, Phoenix	Emergency Basis Only. A nice little home stand for a team who has only won 1 game in the past 6 attempts. Pittsburgh is hot and Rinne is playing extremely well right now. Perhaps you wait until Phoenix if you’re hunting for wins this week.
Dallas Stars	1. Turco 2. Auld	Calgary, Vancouver, @Minnesota	Use Caution. Tough week for a team that struggled against Toronto and Florida last week. Play your specific situations.
Los Angeles Kings	1. Quick 2. Ersberg	@Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Nashville	Safe to Start. Tough week ahead, but the Kings haven’t lost in regulation since October 17th..
Phoenix Coyotes	1. Bryzgalov 2. LaBarbera	Los Angeles, @Colorado, Chicago, @Anaheim	Safe to Start. Busy, busy, busy week. LaBarbera is getting a spot start tonight against the Kings. Give Bryzgalov the nod for the rest of the week. He’s really playing well.
San Jose Sharks	1. Nabokov 2. Greiss	@Columbus, @Detroit, Pittsburgh	Safe to Start. Tough, tough week head. Start Nabby against the Jackets and Wings, and hopefully he can land 2 wins so you don’t have to take a chance against the Penguins.

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“Hired Guns” for November: Face-Offs

Schrembs — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:52:10 +0000

For those fantasy hockey managers who are leagues that have some specialty categories, there are players hanging out on the waiver wire that could be of some use to you.

This article looks at the category of face-off wins and who in the league could offer you the most bang for your buck. We’ll break it down by league size and even look at a group of wingers who could offer you relief in the face-off circle.

Face-offs are unique in the sense that a manager new to the category may want to load up on centers to ensure that they stay competitive in the category. It’s not always the best strategy for a few reasons: Center is the deepest position in fantasy hockey and proper scouting can ensure that you still remain competitive in the face-off circle while addressing more important needs on your team first. Also, there are other players on the ice, more specifically wingers, who are productive in the face-off circle as well.

Now, the obvious choices for face-offs (Crosby, Sedin, Thornton etc.) should already be owned in all leagues. Consider the following players, however, as they play into your specific league depth (and please note that the players we recommend will be productive over several categories, and not just face-off wins):

Players to Consider in Shallow Fantasy Hockey Leagues

Mikko Koivu – It may surprise some that Koivu is currently 2nd in the NHL in face-off wins. He’s a solid source for points as he is Minnesota’s mainstay on the first line. He’ll see power play duties all season long and should top out around 60-70 points this season.
Paul Stastny – Stastny was a serious sleeper heading into this season because of his injury last year, and after a bit of a slower start than anticipated, he has rattled off 7 points in the last 5 games. He’s their top option at center and should have a dynamite season as long as he remains healthy.
Scott Gomez – We knew that there would be some growing pains that came along with all the movement in Montreal, but with the top line finally showing some chemistry, Gomez could be a savvy waiver wire pickup going forward.
Travis Zajac – It’s never a bad thing having rock solid chemistry with one of the best players in the league. Zajac and Parise have clicked over the past couple of seasons and continue to do so in 2009. There may be some line shuffling taking place when Elias rejoins the team, but Zajac will shouldn’t be bounced out of the top 6 in New Jersey.
Mike Ribeiro – Ribeiro is a player who could share top line duties this season with Brad Richards, but he has been successful ever since he joined the Stars. Consider him a solid waiver wire pick-up as he already has 107 face-off wins on the season.

Players to Consider in Moderate Fantasy Hockey Leagues

Shawn Horcoff – Horcoff may not be putting up the points that some anticipated early on, but he’s been an absolute beast in the face-off circle. It could be a good opportunity for a low buy or waiver wire steal early on in this season as Horcoff is a top 6 player in Edmonton at all times.
Ryan Kesler – Kesler’s 59-point season in 2008-2009 put him on many fantasy radars this season but he still remains un-owned in many moderate sized leagues. He’s slowly working his way up from “deeper leagues” status to “standard league” status and is finding success in the face-off circle so far this season.
Tomas Plekanec – Plekanec is off to a fantastic start this season and managers who avoided him because of his busted season in 2008-2009 may want to put him back on the radar.
Stephen Weiss – Weiss is another player with a solid upside but hasn’t started the year off quite as well as many anticipated. Still, he’s worth a look as he’ll be a top 6 option all season long for the Panthers.
Brandon Dubinsky – Dubinsky is finding success in the face-off circle early on this season and is certainly benefiting from a revamped Ranger offense. Look for Dubinsky to be a factor in scoring all season long as he could finish the season with 55-65 points.

Players to Consider in Deeper Fantasy Hockey Leagues

Michal Handzus – Zeus is finding early success in the scoring and face-off column and could certainly be of service to managers in deeper fantasy leagues. He’ll be battling Stoll this season for a shot at the 2nd line center job, but if the Kings keep playing the way they are now, he could be just as successful on the 3rd line this season.
Patrice Bergeron – Sure he comes with an injury risk, but in deeper fantasy leagues, it’s a low risk, high reward situation. He’s still largely un-owned in many fantasy leagues and for a player who spends time on the power play and penalty kill, he’s a threat over many different fantasy categories.
Samuel Pahlsson – It’s too bad you don’t get fantasy points for hard work out on the ice. Pahlsson should only be of consideration in the absolute deepest of fantasy leagues by managers who have a solid core of players up front and that are just looking to shore up their face-off wins a bit. With that being said, Pahlsson should finish the season with 25 points-ish, but more importantly, several of those will be shorthanded. Oh, and he’s a beast in the face-off circle to boot.
Dave Bolland – Bolland had a strong season in Chicago in 2008-2009 and continues to play well for the ‘Hawks this season. He’s already racked up 107 wins in the face-off circle and seems to be pointing every other game at the current pace.
Mike Fisher – It’s unlikely that Fisher will overthrow Spezza as the top line center in Ottawa, but he’s certainly worth a look as he is off to a great start to the season.

Major fantasy hockey services usually have players listed at the positions they finished the season prior and just add eligibility as their role becomes more defined throughout the year. There are plenty of players listed as wingers in fantasy hockey services that are currently centering a line on their respective teams. Savvy managers may want to consider making a play for wingers who take face-offs to preserve a sense of balance on their fantasy hockey team.

Players Listed as Wingers Who Take Face-Offs

Richard Park – Park isn’t exactly lighting up the score sheet right now, but he’s a fast, shorthanded threat racking up face-off wins for the Islanders. Recommended only for deeper fantasy hockey leagues at the moment.
Vernon Fiddler – Fiddler is playing a pretty big role in the young Phoenix offense right now, so as long as he’s still getting the ice time, consider him a decent option for points and face-off wins in deeper leagues.
Keith Tkachuk – Some services have Tkachuk listed as a center; some as a left wing. If he’s listed as a winger, there’s a good chance he’ll have duel-eligibility before the year is out. Either way, he’s winning a decent amount of face-offs and scoring some points as well.