Matvei Michkov scored a pair of targets within the Flyers’ 7-4 win over Buffalo on Saturday. Michkov has tallied 4 targets, one help, 11 photographs, and at the least 19:59 of icetime per recreation within the two video games with Brad Shaw as coach. To be utterly correct, Michkov was sizzling even earlier than John Tortorella was fired, as he now has a five-game level streak with 9 factors over that span. Nonetheless, Michkov had not scored a objective in his closing 10 video games with Torts as coach, whereas his icetime had sometimes been within the 15-17-minute vary beneath Torts.
Tortorella being let go by the Flyers wasn’t a matter of if, however when. Many coaches have a shelf life, and that’s significantly true with Torts. Additionally like many coaches, Torts appeared extra prone to be fired on the finish of the season, not with a number of video games left, so that is an added bonus for individuals who have been affected person with Michkov. Understand that Shaw is the interim coach, so how a brand new Flyers coach impacts Michkov’s scoring remains to be but to be decided. Traditionally talking, Torts hasn’t been probably the most excellent coach for fantasy groups, although.
Fantasy Take: Flyers Relieve Tortorella of Teaching Duties
Additionally for the Flyers, Noah Cates scored a objective whereas including two assists. With 32 factors, Cates could problem his profession better of 38 factors set two seasons in the past.
The Jack Quinn – Ryan McLeod – JJ Peterka line struck for the Sabres. Quinn scored two targets (one on the ability play) whereas including an help, McLeod issued three helpers (one on the ability play), and Peterka scored a objective whereas including an help. Quinn has 5 factors over his final three video games, whereas McLeod has eight factors over his final 4 video games and Peterka has six factors over his final six video games. The Sabres play once more right this moment (Sunday), so take your choose for out there streamers. Quinn is rostered in solely 2 % of Yahoo leagues, so he ought to be a straightforward choice to show to.
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Yesterday I discussed how my opponents’ top-notch goalies are ruining my fantasy playoff week. It seems that certainly one of my fantasy groups can be getting wrecked by Nikita Kucherov. Kucherov scored a objective and added three assists on Saturday, which might have simply been 2+2 as an alternative had he determined to shoot at an empty web as an alternative of passing, which did not work (though picked up his third help on Jake Guentzel‘s empty-net objective shortly after).
Quibble about Kucherov’s recreation all you need, Phil Esposito. What I see from my snug laptop chair is back-to-back four-point video games, 11 factors this week, a four-game objective streak, and 16 factors in his final eight video games. Kucherov is now tied for first in NHL scoring with Nathan MacKinnon (109 factors every) whereas arising massive throughout fantasy playoff week such as you’d anticipate him to. Granted, Esposito was a goal-scoring machine who would have been a mainstay in hockey swimming pools again within the Sixties and Seventies (if there have been such a factor again then).
In case your opponent has a sure huge gun, generally you possibly can counter by having their linemate in your roster. Such is the case for me with Brayden Level, who scored the opposite two targets that Kucherov assisted on. Level (38 targets), Guentzel (37 targets), and Kucherov (33 targets) type what may be probably the most potent ahead line within the league. Solely Leon Draisaitl and William Nylander have extra targets than Level, with Guentzel additionally within the prime 5.
Tony DeAngelo may not be your favourite participant or individual, however his time with the Islanders deserves acknowledgment. Time within the KHL may need been what he wanted to reset his recreation. DeAngelo has targets in back-to-back video games together with six factors over his final 5 video games. Essentially the most shocking stat for TDA may be his icetime, which at 23:34 per recreation far surpasses the 14 minutes he averaged final season with Carolina. He is even being listed as an “common top-four two-way defenseman”, which did not appear to be the case in his different NHL stops.
You’ll be able to belief DeAngelo sufficient so as to add him (19% Yahoo/45% Fantrax), particularly with the Islanders enjoying once more right this moment (Sunday) in opposition to those self same Canes. Solely two of his 16 factors have been on the ability play, so he’s additionally proving that he would not essentially must be on PP1 to attain, as was typically the case up to now. DeAngelo has made a powerful sufficient impression that he ought to be again within the NHL subsequent season.
Marc Gatcomb scored one of many Islanders’ different targets, giving him six targets in 29 video games. Nonetheless, Gatcomb should not be rostered due to his goal-scoring potential. The previous Canucks farmhand is averaging practically 4 hits per recreation, together with 4 consecutive video games with precisely 4 hits every. Amongst gamers with at the least 25 video games performed, solely Kiefer Sherwood and the injured Liam O’Brien common extra hits/60 than Gatcomb (23.4). He is a Sunday hits streamer in the event you want one.
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The St. Louis Blues aren’t letting up, extending their profitable streak to 9 video games on Saturday. Maybe they are often accused of feasting on backside feeders in the course of the streak (Nashville x 3, Chicago), however they have been as much as the duty on Saturday in defeating the Avalanche 2-1 in Colorado. With the Blues profitable and the Wild dropping, St. Louis and Minnesota are actually tied in factors (87) for the ultimate two playoff spots, though Minnesota nonetheless has one recreation in hand. On the fee they are going, the Blues could not cease on the second wild card spot.
With assists on each St. Louis targets, Robert Thomas has 12 factors over his final 5 video games, together with 4 consecutive multipoint video games. He is one other participant {that a} head-to-head opponent is utilizing to pile up the factors in opposition to me.
Did profitable the 4 Nations Face-Off increase Jordan Binnington‘s confidence? Publish-tournament, Binnington has a 10-2-0 report with a 2.09 GAA and .917 SV%. Earlier than the match, Binnington had a 15-19-4 report with a 2.89 GAA and .896 SV%. Looks as if a special goalie to me. On prime of that, Binnington has gained 5 consecutive video games, 4 of these being high quality begins. I’ve a sense that this stat may be cited in future midseason tournaments, significantly if the Blues can hold this up and cruise into the playoffs.
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Nico Hischier accomplished a hat trick within the Devils’ 5-2 win over Minnesota. Hischier’s 33 targets represents a profession excessive for him, whereas he additionally has 11 factors over his final 10 video games. Since Jack Hughes‘ season-ending harm in early March, Hischier has eight targets and 15 factors in 13 video games whereas averaging 20:32. He might want to proceed to attain for the Devils to have any form of success within the postseason.
Luke Hughes returned to the Devils’ lineup after a one-game absence associated to a groin harm.
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Within the Leafs’ 3-1 win in Los Angeles, John Tavares scored a pair of targets. Tavares has been holding a sizzling stick lately with eight targets over his final 5 video games, in addition to 12 factors over his final six video games. Tavares now has 35 targets, so if this sizzling streak continues, he may have the ability to attain 40 targets for the primary time in his profession.
Rating one for Zero G goalies with Anthony Stolarz making 35 saves and permitting only one objective. Stolarz has three consecutive wins and high quality begins, presently alternating begins with Joseph Woll.
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Since being traded to the Senators, Dylan Cozens has 9 factors in 11 video games, primarily enjoying on a line with Drake Batherson and David Perron. The commerce has additionally helped each Batherson and Perron, as Batherson has 5 targets 10 factors in his final 9 video games and Perron has 5 targets and eight factors in his final 11 video games. Perron has had an uncommon season, as he missed a lot of the first half and didn’t register his first level as a Senator till January 30. The Sens play once more right this moment (Sunday), so Perron may be value a Sunday stream.
Fantasy Take: Sabres Ship Cozens to Senators for Norris
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Leon Draisaitl returned to the Oilers’ lineup for the Battle of Alberta after lacking the previous 4 video games with an undisclosed harm. Draisaitl’s game-tying objective within the third interval was his 50th objective of the season, making him the primary participant to achieve 50 targets this season. He adopted that up with the game-winner in extra time, which in fact was objective quantity 51. Draisaitl will be the solely 50-goal scorer this season, because the second-highest objective scorer is William Nylander with 42. Draisaitl and Alex Ovechkin are the one lively gamers with at the least 4 50-goal seasons.
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The Rangers bounced again from a troublesome Friday evening extra time loss with a stronghold 6-1 win in San Jose on Saturday evening. Adam Fox and Artemi Panarin every scored a pair of targets for the Blueshirts. Fox now has 4 targets and three assists over his final 5 video games, whereas Panarin has 20 factors over his final 15 video games.
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Mikko Rantanen led the Stars with a objective and two assists within the 5-1 win in Seattle. That’s Rantanen’s first three-point recreation with the Stars. After a lukewarm begin together with his new group (4 PTS in first 7 GP), Rantanen has turned it up lately (7 PTS in final 4 GP). The Stars seem like loading up their prime line with Rantanen, Roope Hintz, and Jason Robertson, which ought to be useful for all. One thing to remember for playoff swimming pools, with the Stars formally punching their ticket to the playoffs with the win.
By stopping 34 of 35 photographs and choosing up a win, Jake Oettinger has wins and high quality begins in every of his final 4 video games. Three of these video games have occurred this week, with Oettinger permitting a mixed 4 targets and making 108 saves. If that is not a “star week”, then I do not know what’s. (Star Week on Frozen Instruments is per week “with at the least 2 wins and mixed save share at the least 2% above the league common.”) Oettinger has been cash lately and the primary purpose that I will be enjoying in a third-place match or two subsequent week.
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If you’re competing in a head-to-head playoff matchup right this moment, good luck! Observe me on X @Ian_Gooding and Threads @goodsfantasyhockey and Bluesky @goodsfantasyhockey.bsky.social
