It is time to declare the Washington Capitals the kings of the PPPP Rankings. They remain atop the Offensive Rankings again, while also maintaining an excellent ranking defensively. The Sharks and Canadiens are also right there in both sets of rankings.
The rankings have also stabilized, as the league averages are almost identical to last season’s year end numbers. It is important now to pay attention to the trends to determine those teams and players who will benefit the most from particular hot and cold steaks. Additionally, as always, when there is a coin flip lineup decision, go with the favorable matchup.
You can download this week’s Power Play Point Potential Rankings below:
Last Week’s Defensive PPPP Rankings
Last Week’s Offensive PPPP Rankings
Explanation of the PPPP Rankings
2013 PPPP Rankings and Power Play Statistics
*Statistics through November 18th, 2013.
Getting Defensive
- What is going on in Ottawa? Welcome to favorable matchup territory, a difficult matchup all last season, it is time to target the Sens who are spending on average more time short handed per game than any team in the league.
- The New York Islanders’ slide continues, as their final ranking has gotten even worse and they remain the NHL’s most favorable matchup. Could Evgeni Nabokov‘s injury make this team even worse?
- New Jersey has quickly become one of the most difficult matchups in the league, sitting at 28th in the rankings. Their goals against per 60 minutes went from 5.81 to 4.22 since November 10th. Impressive.
- Similarly, the New York Rangers are getting stingy. Giving up well under two goals a game will do that, which also helps explain their fall in the rankings. They’re quickly entering avoid territory in matchup terms.
- The Phoenix Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild are interesting teams. They’re all considered favorable matchups and in the top third of the league, but they have a combined 10 losses in regulation on the season and just three at home. Will something give at some point?
- Boston and Vancouver are settling in as extremely difficult matchups, as they sit at the bottom of the rankings. The Canucks 3.20 goals per 60 minutes short handed is extremely impressive, especially compared to their rival Blackhawks’ 12.18.
- Anaheim, Calgary, Buffalo and Florida are more teams to target in matchups and three of the four should remain that way throughout the season. At some point, perhaps now that their road trip is over, the Ducks should be able to climb into the middle of the pack. For now though, they’re killing penalties at just over 75 percent.
On the Offense
- The Penguins get Kris Letang and James Neal back and their power play stutters down five spots in the rankings. Expect that unit to find their way back into the top five.
- Detroit has jumped up twelve spots in the rankings since November 10th.Welcome to the big time boys. They’ve gone to overtime in their last five games. Connection? No, but make sure to ride any surging Red Wings power play weapons going forward.
- The Phoenix Coyotes’ power play is rolling. They’ve climbed six spots in the rankings, improved their success rate over two percent and have the second highest goals for per 60 minutes. Do not underestimate them going forward, only the Blackhawks have scored more goals this season.
- The Blues have the leagues best power play percentage, converting over 25 percent of the time. With only 19 games played thus far, their schedule is busy straight through to January. In some fantasy formats this could be valuable information.
- Twenty-Eight percent of the Leafs goals have come via the power play, so their third overall ranking shouldn’t be surprising. However, the rankings don’t always translate to fantasy success, as the Leafs have only scored more than 2 goals once in November.
- The Philadelphia Flyers are improving although they’re still among the league’s worst in the rankings, their power play percentage has jumped up 4.5 percent since November 10th. Expect this trend to continue, they should be in the middle of the pack at worst.
Player Notes
Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avelanche: The rookie has been climbing up the depth chart and seeing power play time of late. With Matt Duchene out for a few games, at least, expect MacKinnon to get even more offensive opportunities.
Valeri Nichushkin, Dallas Stars: Riding alongside Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn is as good as it gets for a rookie. However, Nichushkin has six of his eight points in November and has untapped offensive upside and a power forward build. Get him if you can!
Wayne Simmonds, Philadelphia Flyers: He should be owned in all leagues, as an ideal multi-category contributor. Simmonds plays on the Flyers top power play and top six minutes too. Get him on your roster if you can.
Brayden Schenn, Philadelphia Flyers: See above, only Schenn plays on the second power play unit. He has natural high-end offensive ability and doesn’t mind the gritty aspects of the game either, another multi-category producer.
Beau Bennett, Pittsburgh Penguins: His power play duties aren’t going to align with Sidney Corsby, but he lined up with him frequently last night. Bennett is an up and comer, who will score if given top six minutes.
Olli Jokinen, Winnipeg Jets: Statistics win fantasy hockey leagues and right now Jokinen is producing at a nice pace. He plays with Evander Kane and Devin Setoguchi, both with the man advantage and at even strength and you could do much worse than that.
Steve Ott, Buffalo Sabres: A lunch pail player, who brings the anti in all fantasy categories. Ott is getting offensive opportunities with the Sabres and making the most of them. His penalty minutes make up for any dip in goals in assists you suffer.
Martin Hanzel, Phoenix Coyotes: He is quietly posting a monster season, with 18 points to date. Hanzel is emerging into the two-way shut down center the Coyotes envisioned when they selected him in the first round back in 2005. He is a stat filler too.
Alex Goligoski, Dallas Stars: Playing on the Stars top power play unit isn’t paying off yet, but it will. Goligoski got off to a rotten start this season, but has four helpers and a plus seven rating the past two weeks. That’ll do for a fantasy blue liner.
Kris Russell, Calgary Flames: He was pushed out of St. Louis because of their depth and the Flames are loving it. Russell is a smart, mobile and capable offensive defenseman who is eating big minutes and widely available in fantasy leagues.
Ryan Murray, Columbus Blue Jackets: Getting lots of power play and even strength minutes, Murray is a star in the making. With that being said, he is better left for deeper formats and dynasty leagues at this point.
The Week at a Glance
Tuesday, November 19th – St. Louis Blues at Buffalo Sabres: The top ranked power play heads into Buffalo to face the seventh most favorable matchup, yes please.
Tuesday, November 19th – New York Islanders at Toronto Maple Leafs: The Islanders are atop the Defensive PPPP Rankings and the Leafs score over twenty-eight percent of their goals with the man advantage. This is a mismatch.
Wednesday, November 20th – Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals: There are no mismatches in this one, but the rivals both boast high-powered power play units. Expect some offense in this one.
Thursday, November 21st – Buffalo Sabres at Philadelphia Flyers: The Flyers power play is trending in the right direction and the momentum should continue against Buffalo’s weak penalty kill.
Thursday, November 21st – Carolina Hurricanes at Detroit Red Wings: These two teams are headed in opposite directions, leading to a significant mismatch. The Wings’ power play is surging, while the Canes’ penalty kill is sputtering.
Friday, November 22nd – New York Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins: The Penguins are healthy and should be in top form by the time they get to pick on the league’s most favorable matchup. This is a giddy worthy matchup for daily gamers.
Saturday, November 23rd – New York Islanders at Philadelphia Flyers: It is a great week for Flyers fans and until the Islanders show some signs of stopping opponents they’re a team to target in matchups.
Saturday, November 23rd – Anaheim Ducks at Phoenix Coyotes: The Ducks aren’t stopping anyone and the Coyotes are among climbed the rankings six spots in the last week. This is mismatch could fly under the radar.
Sunday, November 24th – Detroit Red Wings at Buffalo Sabres: The Wings are hot, the Sabres are not. With only two games on the docket, expect daily gamers to be rolling out their Red Wings.
