Fantasy hockey information: Who so as to add, drop and begin this week

It is a bit awkward for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Following their recreation towards the Minnesota Wild on Nov. 3, the Leafs might solely see the Buffalo Sabres under them after they seemed down within the power-play rankings. That they had scored simply 4 power-play targets via 40 alternatives. For comparability at that very same second in time, the Winnipeg Jets led the league with 15 power-play targets in 34 alternatives.

One thing fascinating occurred at this stage.

Auston Matthews went on the shelf with an upper-body damage that also has him questionable as we speak. And the Leafs energy play has thrived in his absence.

With out Matthews, the Leafs benefit has seven targets in simply 13 alternatives throughout their previous three video games. The Matthews-less high unit of John Tavares, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, Matthew Knies and Morgan Rielly have accounted for all seven of these targets throughout 7:57 of ice time. They’ve generated a ridiculous 14 photographs on objective in that point and an much more ridiculous 24 shot makes an attempt (which is 6.04 per two minutes).

We will forgo the jokes in regards to the Leafs being higher off with out Matthews. They don’t seem to be. Nobody is.

Soar forward: Goalies | Power Play | Droppables

However hopefully that is sufficient for the staff to appreciate they do not should put the puck on Matthews’ stick to attain targets or attempt to drive performs to the star middle.

When Matthews does return, which can hopefully be this week in some unspecified time in the future, it is unlikely the Leafs do not use him on the highest unit. So the clock is ticking on Matthew Knies’ time there. However I believe there are nonetheless a few actionables right here.

Rielly stays obtainable in 14.2% of ESPN Fantasy leagues. First off, choose him up. Second off, when you have him benched, it is time to activate him. The hope is that the teachings realized in the course of the time with out Matthews will preserve this energy play rolling when he is again, too.

Second, this could no less than be a confidence booster for Knies (obtainable in 58.6% of leagues). He was getting top-six minutes when Matthews is within the lineup, so that ought to proceed. Getting his offensive engine going with out Matthews will hopefully translate going ahead, even when his power-play time is all the way down to second-unit minutes.

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Goalie notes

Anaheim Ducks in 14 video games (three final week):

• Lukas Dostal (crease share season/week: 78.6%/66.6%, fantasy factors season/week: 32.4/-8.4, 36.9% obtainable)

• James Reimer (crease share season/week: 14.3%/DNP, fantasy factors season/week: -6.6/DNP, 99.0% obtainable)

• John Gibson (crease share season/week: 7.1%/33.4%, fantasy factors season/week: 7.6/7.6, 94.8% obtainable)

As mentioned final week, this run by Dostal was prone to come to an finish. He allowed 14 targets throughout his previous three video games and now John Gibson is again to compete for begins. That is to not counsel Gibson is a lock for fantasy rosters both, because the Geese nonetheless do not undertaking as a driving drive for fantasy goaltender statistics.

Buffalo Sabres in 16 video games (5 final week):

• Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (crease share season/week: 73.7%/92.3%, fantasy factors season/week: 20.6/16.0, 61.2% obtainable)

• Devon Levi (crease share season/week: 26.3%/7.7%, fantasy factors season/week: -8.0/-3.6, 98.2% obtainable)

We had a couple of optimistic showings that reminded us how Luukkonen made his manner into the highest 12 goaltenders final season. It does not sound like his day-to-day damage standing is something severe, both. Whereas I nonetheless would possibly wish to hold onto Dostal relying on the scale of my league, now looks as if a very good time to pivot to Luukkonen for the long run. He has a greater monitor file and the Sabres are imagined to be successful extra video games — no less than, greater than Anaheim.

Calgary Flames in 16 video games (4 final week):

• Dustin Wolf (crease share season/week: 50.0%/74.0%, fantasy factors season/week: 23.0/11.8, 82.4% obtainable)

• Dan Vladar (crease share season/week: 50.0%/26.0%, fantasy factors season/week: 15.6/0.4, 94.5% obtainable)

The Flames appear to be shifting to a hot-hand method to the starter, versus a rotation. It signifies that if Wolf is successful video games, he’ll be extra prone to get extra begins. On a per-game foundation, his fantasy outcomes do make him value beginning. He simply wants extra begins to be nearer to a lineup-lock.

Nashville Predators in 16 video games (5 final week):

• Juuse Saros (crease share season/week: 81.3%/80.1%, fantasy factors season/week: 25.4/14.6, 6.3% obtainable)

• Scott Wedgewood (crease share season/week: 18.7%/19.9%, fantasy factors season/week: -8.2/-6.4, 99.7% obtainable)

Due to mixing in a few of his patented big outings, Saros has shaken off any early-season issues. Even with the Predators nonetheless not successful sufficient video games, he is getting the job finished for fantasy. Assuming they determine make their upgraded lineup work collectively, extra wins shall be coming. We’d nonetheless be in a buy-low window for Saros.

Pittsburgh Penguins in 17 video games (5 final week):

• Alex Nedeljkovic (crease share season/week: 46.7%/71.4%, fantasy factors season/week: -3.2/-10.2, 97.5% obtainable)

• Joel Blomqvist (crease share season/week: 40.5%/28.6%, fantasy factors season/week: 9.4/1.4, 97.1% obtainable)

• Tristan Jarry (crease share season/week: 12.8%/DNP, fantasy factors season/week: -8.0/DNP, 78.5% obtainable)

Simply after I’m able to declare that I will cease wanting on the Pens’ crease for fantasy functions, they recall Tristan Jarry from the AHL, the place he went 4-1 with a .926 save share. Sigh. It is value maintaining a tally of, I suppose.

San Jose Sharks in 17 video games (4 final week):

• Vitek Vanecek (crease share season/week: 50.7%/75.8%, fantasy factors season/week: 5.0/12.0, 98.9% obtainable)

• Mackenzie Blackwood (crease share season/week: 49.3%/24.2%, fantasy factors season/week: 17.2/15.8, 97.7% obtainable)

This previous week will nearly actually go down as the most effective week for fantasy goaltending that the Sharks have this season. Let or not it’s and transfer on.

Washington Capitals in 14 video games (three final week):

• Logan Thompson (crease share season/week: 50.6%/67.7%, fantasy factors season/week: 28.6/13.4, 47.5% obtainable)

• Charlie Lindgren (crease share season/week: 49.4%/32.3%, fantasy factors season/week: 7.4/-0.4, 45.2% obtainable)

The Capitals haven’t come off their strict goaltender rotation but this season. However perhaps they need to give it some thought? As fantasy managers, we might all be pleased with slightly extra Thompson and rather less Lindgren. Thompson has but to lose a recreation as a member of the Capitals. Even when this 50-50 crease share holds, Thompson needs to be on rosters in additional leagues.

play

Stat Tales: Monday’s standout NHL fantasy performances

Take a look at a number of the high performers in fantasy NHL from Monday, together with Nick Suzuki and Jake Oettinger.

Energy-play notes

Artturi Lehkonen, LW, Colorado Avalanche (30.9%): As anticipated, the Avs have been all-in on Lehkonen getting large minutes, together with 7:28 with the highest power-play unit throughout the previous three video games. However there is just one extra recreation earlier than Valeri Nichushkin is predicted again and Jonathan Drouin is getting nearer and nearer to a return. Will Lehkonen proceed to get high minutes on and off the benefit? Will he dip again to the second line? Will Casey Mittelstadt additionally lose his function on the highest PP? Modifications are coming quickly. As we wait and see there is just one factor to say with certainty: Ensure that Nichushkin is rostered in your league, even when it’s important to do it your self.

Pius Suter, C, Vancouver Canucks (99.2%): The unlucky damage for Brock Boeser is a chance for Suter. He is changed Boeser on the highest power-play unit throughout the previous two video games and the unit has tallied twice. They’ve additionally saved about the identical shot try tempo as when Boeser is with them.

Charlie Coyle, C, Boston Bruins (57.7%): Coyle is shifting in on Pavel Zacha‘s function because the fourth ahead within the benefit, however the Bruins energy play continues to be struggling. They could have to look outdoors the field to get this unit cracking once more.

Timothy Liljegren, D, San Jose Sharks (99.5%): It is value noting that Liljegren consumed nearly all the important thing power-play minutes up to now three video games with Jake Walman on the shelf. However the unit hasn’t been scoring targets like they had been with Walman, so we’ll have to attend and see subsequent steps. Both manner, the unit of Tyler Toffoli, Mikael Granlund, Alex Wennberg, Macklin Celebrini and Liljegren posted 4.01 shot makes an attempt per two minutes throughout 6:59 of ice time, which is a stable displaying.

Matt Coronato, RW, Calgary Flames (98.2%): The Flames are nonetheless experimenting with getting the highest unit excellent. Currently, Coronato has been the fourth ahead, and he did assist the unit pot a objective towards the Bruins. Total, he is now second on the staff in scoring regardless of sitting out 5 video games.

Emil Andrae, D, Philadelphia Flyers (99.8%): With Jamie Drysdale and Cam York on the injured reserve, it has been Andrae taking over the power-play quarterback job for the previous recreation and a half. He spent a complete of three:18 with Sean Couturier, Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett and Matvei Michkov on Monday, leading to 4 shot makes an attempt and one objective. If these accidents to Drysdale and York drag out, Andrae has some short-term worth.

Droppables

Brady Skjei, D, Nashville Predators (67.9%): It is beginning to appear like what we see is what we’ll get from Skjei as a member of the Predators… and it is not sufficient for fantasy hockey.

Logan Cooley, C, Utah Hockey Club (61.7%): Do not go dropping him in keeper codecs, as Cooley is a superb long-term play. However you would possibly do higher together with his roster spot in redraft leagues. Scorching begin apart, Cooley is down to only 1.3 fantasy factors per recreation this season and continues to be solely getting 15:36 per recreation as a result of he isn’t a part of the highest power-play unit.