Crashing The Net: March.28

Photo by Tiffa Day

Crashing the Net takes you around the league touching on hot and cold players, battles for ice-time and what’s going on in net.

FIRE

Simon Gagne, Lightning
Always injured, Gagne was always an offensive force when on the ice, that is until this season. Oh he’s been injured again, he’s appeared in just 56 games, but until lately he was producing like a third line winger whose main job was shutting down the other teams top line. Finally producing points with some regularity, Gagne has scored four times in his last two games and six times in his last six contests. Toss in four assists in that time and he’s finally rounding into form as the playoffs approach.

Patrick Marleau, Sharks
Just a short while ago Marleau was having a very poor season. The numbers are still down from what he accomplished the last two years, but he has been on a feeding frenzy for the Sharks of late. Marleau has 11 goals in his last 15 games including six in his last five games to push his season total up to 33. Moreover, in his last 12 contests he has recorded 17 points for the surging Sharks. If you weathered the storm of his uneven early season play you’ve reached safe harbor in solid shape with Patrick.

Corey Perry, Ducks
Hello NHL goal scoring leader. Here are the staggering numbers Perry has posted of late: thirteen goals, five multi goal games, and four game winning goals in a meager nine games. Perry also leads the NHL with 20 third period goals, has tied a franchise record with 10 game winning goals and has also equaled the club record for tallies in a month with 13. Moreover, if you look at the totality of his game he could be the fantasy MVP this season: 44g, 41a, 100 PIMs, 254 shots on goals and 25 power-play points. What a season for the right wing who has increased his point total each of the last five seasons.

Blake Wheeler, Thrashers
As a Bruin this season be averaged 0.47 points per game, but that rate has gone up significantly since he pulled on the Thrashers’ sweater. In 16 games in his new home Blake has recorded 13 points, a rate of 0.81 points per game, as he has lit the lamp five times while dishing out eight assists. He’s also drastically pushed his shot rate up from 1.74 per context in Boston to 3.44 per game with the Thrashers. He’ll attempt to finish strong this season to assure himself a top-6 role with Atlanta next season.

ICE

David Booth, Panthers
Booth scored 31 times in 2008, but injuries limited him to just 28 games last year. This season has been one filled with health, he’s appeared in all 76 Panthers’ games, but he has just 21 goals an a pitiful (-24) mark. Recently he has gone four games without a point, has gone seven games without a goal and has only one assist in nine games.

Drew Doughty, Kings
He just never really got going this year. Oh he has 11 goals and a +14 rating, solid totals to be sure, but after a 16 goal, 59 point season in his second campaign more was expected  of him this season. His production has really slowed the past little while as he has but one goal 13 games and just one helper in his last seven contests. There’s always next year.

Patrik Elias, Devils
Have the Devils run out of steam in their mad push to make the playoffs after a horrendous start to the year? Elias seems to have hit a wall of some kind as he has five games without a point. The Devils’ long time leader also has a mere three goals in 27 games. Sprinkle in a (-7) rating in the month of March and you have a veteran who is limping to the finish line.

Steven Stamkos, Lightning
He is second in the NHL with 43 goals and fourth with 86 points, but the scoring phenom has gone cold of late with just two goals in 15 games. Even worse, he’s stopped handing out helpers too having played 5-straight without being on the score sheet. Obviously it’s only a matter of time before the points come, but this slump comes at a terrible time – the fantasy hockey playoffs.

MOVIN’ ON UP

Troy Brouwer, Blackhawks
Welcome to Nirvana Mr. Brouwer. After going 17-straight games without a goal, Brouwer will get a chance to end that drought on Monday as he’ll be placed on the Blackhawks’ top line alongside Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews who is working on a rather amazing run of 11 goals in 15 games and 23 assists in 25 games. Brouwer will need a big final push to reach 20-goals for the second straight year – he currently has 17.

Oscar Moller, Kings
With Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams on the shelf for the rest of the season, the Kings nee someone to skate on the top scoring line, so they are going with a trio of Michael Handzus along with Dustin Penner and Moller. A talented skater who had 50 points in 59 games in the AHL this season, Moller has a mere 12 goals and 14 assists in 80 games in his young NHL career, but with first line minutes will come the chance for him to improve upon those lackluster scoring rates.

KEEPER CORNER

Ray Emery, Ducks
Jonas Hiller (vertigo) is back, but in his first action in over a month he lasted only 12 minutes before surrendering three goals. The team says that Hiller didn’t suffer any setbacks, perhaps it was just rust, but it’s unclear how much he will play down the stretch since Ray Emery is playing so well. Eleven months after having bone-graft surgery in his hip, Emery is back in the NHL and thriving for a Ducks team that is desperately trying to make the playoffs. Emery has been spectacular in his five appearances with a 4-0 record, a GAA of 1.39 and a save percentage of .952. Again, there is uncertainty about who will be in net for the club, but one thing is for sure, Emery is performing at an elite level right now.

Braden Holtby, Capitals
Holtby is the third goalie with the Caps, so it’s understandable that he would shuttle between the AHL and the NHL. However, I have a hard time understanding their use of him of late. Holtby was called up to fill in when Semyon Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth were less than 100 percent on the weekend, and all Holtby did was post a shutout. His reward? He was sent beck to the minors on Monday. I’m sorry, but when you have won 6-straight appearances and have a GAA of 1.01 in your last nine outings you simply must be on the ice for every game – period. Odd to say the least that he isn’t in net for the Caps don’t you agree?

Joey MacDonald, Ducks
Jimmy Howard has 34 wins, tied for second in the league, but his ratios are poor by current standards (2.77 GAA, .904 SV%). Still, a “W” is a “W”, and that’s why he has value in the fantasy game. However, he recently injured his shoulder, and though an MRI showed nothing significantly wrong, it is possible that he could miss a week of action (he thinks he might be able to return by the middle of the week). With Chris Osgood still dealing with groin issues, MacDonald figures to start until Howard returns. Given that Joey has a 2.05 GAA and .928 save percentage in 13 appearances this year, and that he hasn’t allowed a goal in his last three appearances, the Wings should be fine.

Looking Ahead

* Twelve teams play four games this week: Anaheim, Buffalo, Carolina, Chicago, Colorado, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Minnesota, Philadelphia, St. Louis and Tampa Bay.

* Two teams plays only two games this week: Phoenix and an Jose

Ray Flowers can be heard daily on Sirius/XM Radio on The Fantasy Drive, 5-8 PM Eastern, on Sirius 211 and XM 147.

Crashing The Net: March.21

Photo by lululemon athletica

Crashing the Net takes you around the league touching on hot and cold players, battles for ice-time and what’s going on in net.

FIRE

Blake Geoffrion, Sabres
In 11 games as an NHL player, Blake has scored six goals while posting a +6 rating. That’s some pretty good stuff for the 2006 second round draft pick with the famous hockey name. He upped the offensive ante on Sunday when he scored on all three shots he took against the Sabres for a hat-trick. His future is bright, and right now he is producing enough offense to help those in deep leagues.

Joe Pavelski, Sharks
A scoring change in the last game took away Pavelski’s hat-trick, but don’t feel to sorry for him. Little Joe has scored at least two points in 4-straight games as the offensive side of his game has erupted, and during those four games Pavelski has scored three goals while handing out eight assists. He’s also taken at least four shots on net in 6-straight contests. He’s rounding into perfect form just in time for the playoffs.

Teemu Selanne, Ducks
The Finnish Flash is now tied for 30th in league history with 1,327 points (Pierre Turgeon), 49th in assists with 699 and he’s tied for 8th with 232 power-play goals (Dino Ciccarelli). Yeah, Selanne is historically good. Teemu has only one goal in seven games, but he has still handed out six assists for a point-per-game pace which is actually slightly behind his season long rate (he has 67 points in 63 games). Just 22 goals from 650, the question is, will he return for another season to make a run at that mark?

ICE

Johan Franzen, Wings
Not only is he now dealing with a slightly strained groin, The Mule simply hasn’t been able to score of late. On the year his numbers are solid – they include 27 goals and 24 assists in 69 games – but since he scored an amazing five goals on February 2nd Johan has lit the lamp one time in 20 games. Think about that. He scored five times as many goals in one game as he has in the last quarter of the NHL season.

Ryan Smyth, Kings
First the good. Smyth has his customary 20 goals (it’s the 11th time in his career that he has hit that plateau despite constantly being in and out of the lineup with injuries – something he has actually avoided this year given that he has appeared in all 72 of the Kings’ games). Now the bad. He’s been brutal in March with two points in nine games. He’s also been saddled with a (-8) rating on the month. Moreover, Smyth hasn’t scored a goal since February 23rd, a stretch of 12 games, and going back to the start of February he has one goal in 22 games. Yikes.

R.J. Umberger, Blue Jackets
In each of his three years with the Blue Jackets, R.J. has recorded at least 21-goals and 46 points, so his 21 scores and 51 points are exactly what one would expect. He’s also been a +5 performer this season, a strong total for a guy who recorded a (-26) mark the past two years. Still, his point production has dried up of late. Umberger hasn’t scored a goal in six games, has just one in 12 games, and just two in 20 contests. It’s not like he has been dishing the puck off for scores either as he has just three helpers in 11 March games. Umberger has given you solid production this season, but he’s clearly limping to the finish line in the point producing column.

KEEPER CORNER

Martin Brodeur, Devils
Johan Hedberg was 7-1-1 with a 1.43 GAA in February holding down the fort while Brodeur was out of action due to injury. So much for that miraculous run as Hedberg hasn’t seen the ice since February 25th. Why? Because Martin Brodeur remembered that he wasn’t Bob Essensa but instead an all-time great. Since February 27th Brodeur is 8-3 and only once in that time has he allowed more than two goals. In fact, over his last 14 appearances he is 11-3 with a GAA of 1.55 (he also has a .924 save percentage). With his recent run of awesomeness – yes I just used that word – Brodeur has dumped his GAA down to 2.45 on the year. Welcome back Mr. Brodeur.

Ray Emery, Ducks
Dan Ellis is 6-2 for the Ducks since he was added to help cover the gaping hole in net with Jonas Hiller out with a case of vertigo. However, Ellis has allowed eight goals in his last two outings which has opened the door for Emery to get some work in net. Back in the NHL now that his body is healed after hip surgery, Emery has allowed two goal on 72 shots leading to a 0.87 GAA and .972 save percentage with the Ducks. He’s clearly moving into the lead in net for the Ducks. However, there is one caveat – Hiller appears to, finally, be moving in the right direction. There is no established date for his return to action, but reports seem to suggest that it could happen by the middle of next week. When he returns both Ellis and Emery figure to be nothing other than Hiller’s caddy.

Braden Holtby, Capitals
The NHL’s First Star of the week ending March 14 after going 4-0 with a 1.05 GAA, Holtby has been sent to the minors since Semyon Varlamov is healthy enough to play in net. Michal Neuvirth is also back , and after his 33 save shutout against the Devils the Caps made the decision to send Holtby down. You gotta feel for Holtby, and even if the Caps are right and he is their third best goalie, you have to question the wisdom of demoting the NHL’s reigning player of the week don’t you?

Tim Thomas, Bruins
Thomas leads the NHL in GAA (2.08) and save percentage (.937) so he has clearly been an elite option, and probably the leader for the Vezina trophy. However his play has slumped of late as he has won just one of four starts as he has allowed a total of 14 goals in that time leading to a 3.62 GAA. Again, it’s completely unfair to throw Thomas under the bus given how spectacular he has been this season, but it should still be pointed out that after posting a 1.81 GAA prior to the All-Star break that he has added a full goal to that mark since (2.88). Damn the regression gods.

Looking Ahead

* Five teams play four games this week:  Boston, Florida, Ottawa, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

* Three teams play only two games this week: Chicago, Dallas and Minnesota

Ray Flowers can be heard daily on Sirius/XM Radio on The Fantasy Drive, 5-8 PM Eastern, on Sirius 211 and XM 147.

Crashing the Net: March.14

Crashing the Net takes you around the league touching on hot and cold players, battles for ice-time and what’s going on in net.

FIRE

Andy McDonald, Blues
Frequently injured in recent seasons, McDonald is a nice source of points when healthy. Over the last three seasons he has 140 points in 170 games, a pace that would net about 68 points over an 82 game season. McDonald has been streaking the past 10 days with eight points in his last five games (including four goals). Moreover, since returning from his latest bought with inactivity Andy has nine goals and 13 helpers in 20 games for the Blues. You know you are going to get points with this guy – it’s just a matter of how often he can drag his body onto the ice.

Andrej Sekera, Sabres
With three goals, 22 assists and a +3 rating on the year, I’d venture that Andrej is likely on waivers in about 90 percent of leagues. However, his pedestrian season totals mask what has a been a fantastic month of March that has seem him produce as if he was a top-10 defensemen. In addition to a +5 rating on the month, Sekera has 11 points in just eight games. Hell, Andrej has scored at least two points in six of his last nine games. It can’t possibly continue, but hitch a ride to Sekera’s wagon as he his hauling fantasy squads to victory.

Jason Spezza, Senators
As has been his trend in recent seasons, Spezza shifts from invisibility to brilliantly glowing almost as easily as The Invisible Woman and the Human Torch from Fantastic 4 fame. Spezza scored twice while dishing out two assists in his last game and that gives him seven points in his last five contests. Stretching things back over his last 16 games Jason has six goals and 13 assists for the Senators. The only negative is his (-5) plus/minus mark in that time as the Senators continue to limp to the finish line as they try desperately to avoid being the worst team in the Eastern Conference.

ICE

Patric Hornqvist, Thrashers
This right winger exploded on the scene last year lighting the lamp 30 times in his first full season. Not surprisingly he has found the going a bit tougher this time around with 18 goals on the year. Patric has also found the going particularly tough of late as he hasn’t  scored a goals in four games and has just one marker in 13 games. To pile on, Honrqvist isn’t exactly a passer extraordinaire as he has a mere 16 helpers on the year, and he hasn’t setup a teammate for a goal since February 19th, a span of 10 games. Look for your points elsewhere down the stretch

Rick Nash, Blue Jackets
Nash is a star who is one goal from a 4th straight season of 30 goals. He’s also seven points from a 4th straight effort of at least 67 points. Overall he has been just what his owner’s hoped for. However, he has been a disaster of late in the goal scoring department. Though he has four assists in his last four games, Nash hasn’t lit the lamp since February 22nd, a span of nine games. It’s only a matter of time before the red light starts flashing again, but his goal scoring drought comes at a tough time in the fantasy game with playoff matchups starting.

Henrik Zetterberg, Wings
It’s odd to list Z here given that he has 69 points in 69 games this season but he has been, to put it kindly, a wasteland of late. Henrik has suited up for six games in March and the results make him look like a 4th liner struggling to hold on to a roster spot: zero goals, zero assists and a (-3) rating. Going back a bit further, Zetterberg has scored only five times in 31 games while recording a (-9) in the plus/minus category. You can’t bench him (duh) but his effort has been pretty rough of late.

MOVIN’ ON UP

Marcus Johansson, Capitals
Nicklas Backstrom is currently sidelined with a thumb injury that is making it very difficult for him to control his stick. In fact, he has a cast on the thumb and he really can’t do much of anything at the moment. Into the first line void has stepped Johansson who now gets to ride shotgun to Alexander Ovechkin. Johansson has only 22 points in 57 games this season, but he has been producing points of late with a 3-game point scoring streak and four points in five games. His role will diminish substantially when Backstrom returns, but until then Johansson is worth an add in deep leagues.

KEEPER CORNER

Corey Crawford, Blackhawks
An out of nowhere star this year (26 wins, 2.30 GAA), Corey has hit a speed bump of late. After winning 8-straight games, Crawford has lost in his last three appearances, and in his last four games he has allowed three or more goals each time. In fact, his GAA in six appearances in March is more than a goal above his season long mark at 3.48. Luckily Marty Turco continues to struggle as he has allowed three or more goals in four of his last five outings. Crawford is still the starter but you have to wonder – have we seen the best we are going to see this season from the youngster?

Braden Holtby, Capitals
Semyon Varlamov continues to be sidelined with a knee injury, and though Michal Neuvirth is over the issue that plagued his eye, the Caps will continue to ride the scalding hot play of Holtby… for the moment. Holtby is insanely hot with a 1.95 GAA and .931 save percentage in 12 appearances and those numbers pale in comparison to what he has done in four appearances in March (4-0, 1.05 GAA, .965 SV%). It’s far from certain that he will hold on to the role the rest of the season, but for now he is a must start and shouldn’t be on waivers in any league. By the way, the Caps are the first team in NHL history to have three difference keepers, all under 23 years of age, win at least seven games in the same season.

Antti Niemi, Sharks
The best keeper in the NHL since the All-Star break? That might sound far fetched, but a look at the numbers that this workhorse has posted for the Sharks over his last 19 starts tell the story: 13-3-2, 1.95 GAA, .928 save percentage and three shutouts. Dynamite is right. Antero Niittymaki is finally back and healthy after a protracted injury layoff, but the Sharks’ bus is being driven by Antti, and he figures to start the overwhelming majority of the games the rest of the way for the surging Sharks.

Carey Price, Canadians
Finally living up to expectations, Price is tied with Jimmy Howard for the NHL lead with 33 wins, and he is second in the league with eight shutouts. Price has also stopped 1,684 pucks, the second highest save total in the game (Cam Ward with 1,795) and his .924 save percentage is fifth in the NHL. The Habs almost let him go, but the organization, and the fans, finally have their star in net in Price.

LOOKING AHEAD

* Eight teams play four games this week:  Columbus, Minnesota, Montreal, Nashville, New Jersey, Phoenix, San Jose and Toronto.

* Two teams play only two games this week: Edmonton and Pittsburgh.

Ray Flowers can be heard daily on Sirius/XM Radio on The Fantasy Drive, 5-8 PM Eastern, on Sirius 211 and XM 147.

Crashing the Net: March.7

Photo by Doc Searls

Crashing the Net takes you around the league touching on hot and cold players, battles for ice-time and what’s going on in net.

FIRE

Ryan Callahan, Rangers
What did you expect? Anyone who records four goals and five points in a single game makes the “hot” list. Mainly because of that outing, Callahan has 10 goals and six assists in his last 16 games.

Matt Calvert, Columbus
This 2008 5th round draft pick has excelled of late for the Jackets as he has six goals and two assists in his last seven games. Be careful though as his mojo might be slipping as he has gone three contests without a point.

David Krejci, Bruins
After 73 points in 2008 David slumped to 52 last season. He’ll surpass that lower total this season, he has 50 points in 58 games, thanks in no small part to a run of productivity of late that has seen him produce 11 points in his last eight games.

Vinny Prospal, Rangers
Well it’s about time. Though he’s only been on the ice for 15 games this season thanks to a knee injury, Vaclav has been productive with 11 points including a point in 4-straight games for the Blueshirts.

ICE

Zdeno Chara, Bruins
The big fella has only one point in seven games and just one goal in 20 contests. Still, he has 11 goals, 32 points, is a +21 and has 67 PIMs, so he has been pretty darn good this season, even if he’s struggled for points of late.

Ryan Kesler, Canucks
Like Chara, his yearly numbers are superb as Kesler has 33 goals, 58 pints, and is a +21 in 67 games. However, his offense has been non-existent of late as he has just two points in nine games and just one goal in 12 contests.

Filip Kuba, Senators
He certainly isn’t an offensive defenseman, but he has recorded at least 24 points in 9-straight years. He won’t get there this season as he has nine points in 47 games (along with a -28 rating). Oh, he’s also failed to light the lamp a single time.

Tyler Seguin, Bruins
He’s been in an out of the lineup of late and he hasn’t produced when on the ice. Tyler hasn’t produced a point in five games and has just 21 points in 60 games on the year. He’ll get there, but the game just isn’t that easy people.

MOVIN’ ON UP

Alexander Giroux, Oilers
Giroux has played 697 games in the AHL after being drafted in 1999, though he has only found his way onto the ice in 32 NHL contests. He’ll get one more shot to prove he has something to offer as the Oilers have been racked up front by injuries (Taylor Hall, Ales Hemsky) and a trade deadline deal (Dustin Penner). Giroux has skill, he was the AHL MVP in 2008 when he scored 60 goals in 69 games, and this season he was second in the AHL in points when he was recalled, so deep leagues might consider giving him a look.

David Moss, Flames
The Flames are without Brendan Morrison who is out with a knee injury, and that means there is a hole on the #1 line next to Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay. Somewhat surprisingly, Moss was centering that line over the weekend, and the result, if Moss is able to stick with that talented duo, could be a significant upswing in performance. Moss hit the 20-goal mark back in 2008 and he has 16 tallies in 55 games this season so he has some talent. Time will tell if his scoring rate will improve, but it certainly should if he sticks on the top line.

Kyle Wilson, Blue Jackets
Wilson last saw time with the NHL club on January 18th. He was shipped to the minors after recording a mere 11 points in 31 games (including two points in his last 19 games), but instead of sulking the center went to work as he posted 11 goals and 22 points in 20 games in the AHL. With the Jackets in need of help down the middle with Derrick Brassard out of action with a hand injury, Wilson could be given a shot in the top-6.

KEEPER CONER

Jonathan Bernier, Kings
Jonathan Quick is still the starter in net for the Kings, but

Just Keeping Afloat

As you might have gathered, I’ve been really busy the past few days. Why? I’ve been tasked to produce the Fanball Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide in less time than it takes the average fella to grow a beard. As a result, my time has been very limited in terms of writing anything other than information that is hockey related. With that, here are some links to some relevant information you might benefit from viewing.

I haven’t had a lot of time to write about baseball, but I’m still twittering like a madman. You can see my most recent Twitter posts at the right of this article, or you can just sign up at the BaseballGuys’ Twitter page.

For those of you that enjoy the frozen pond, make sure give Owner’s Edge: NHL a read. I’m biased, but it’s a great source that will be greatly enhanced when the Draft Guide debuts.

The Marlins shut down Josh Johnson because of concerns about his back/shoulder. You can read about his 2010 exploits in Daily Dose: Johnson Shut Down.

For those of you with four minutes to kill, you simply must take a look at the following video of the Fanball crew doing a fantasy football draft. Its simply tremendous.

By Ray Flowers