Ottawa Senators
Schedule This Week
Wednesday: at Washington
Thursday: vs. Vancouver
Sunday: vs. Detroit
Defense has been an issue for Ottawa recently. In their last seven games, they have allowed four or more goals in five of them.
As has been the case all year, the surest plays are the Ryan/Turris/MacArthur line. Goals aren’t a problem for this team as they’ve scored three or more goals in eight of their last 12 games. They also own two wins against Detroit already this year, a middle-of-the-pack team so far. Other than that skating line, I would wait to see if Robin Lehner gets a start in the latter two games, he’s been the much better goalie this year for Ottawa.
Philadelphia Flyers
Schedule This Week
Monday: at Florida
Wednesday: at Tampa Bay
Friday: vs. Winnipeg
Saturday: at Nashville
The Flyers have had a major turn-around this month, having gone 7-2-2 in November, having allowed more than three goals once in November. Amazingly, if you need a goalie this week, whoever starts (preferably Steve Mason) on Monday and Saturday aren’t bad bets.
The big news is the emergence of their top line; Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds and Scott Hartnell have combined for 21 points in their last nine games and they still make cheap options on the right day. That makes Kimmo Timonen still the go-to defenseman on the Flyers for point production.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Schedule This Week
Monday: at Boston
Wednedsay: vs. Toronto
Friday: at Tampa Bay
Saturday: at Florida
It was a matter of time, but that Pittsburgh power play is really clicking now with four goals in their last three games with the man advantage.
The big news is that James Neal and Evgeni Malkin are really flying now. Since Neal came back from injury, they have combined for 22 points in their last eight games.
Malkin and Neal are familiar with each other, but you’ll want to keep an eye to who stays on their line. It could be Jussi Jokinen, Beau Bennett, or whoever else coach Bylsma feels like putting on that line. The expensive guys are obvious, check back for updates to see who is playing with who.
Avoid the tougher teams if you’re starting Marc-André Fleury and wait until the weekend to roll him out.
San Jose Sharks
Schedule This Week
Wednesday: vs. Los Angeles
Friday: vs. St. Louis
Saturday: vs. Anaheim
In four of their last five games, the Sharks have only allowed one goal against.
For a team that was a world-beater out of the gate, the Sharks have slowed and so have several players: Tomas Hertl has two points in six games, Antti Niemi has allowed 4+ goals in five of his last nine starts, Logan Couture has one goal in his last ten games.
Not only that, this is a brutal schedule for the upcoming week. The games are all at home but all three opponents are among the 10 teams with 30+ points on the year. If you’re risk-averse, wait until the Anaheim game to target Sharks players specifically, maybe roll the dice with Niemi on Wednesday.
St. Louis Blues
Schedule This Week
Monday: vs. Minnesota
Wednesday: at Colorado
Friday: at San Jose
For a team that had trouble scoring goals at times last year, the Blues have scored one or none in one game this year. That’s it. Load up.
San Jose isn’t a good match-up, but don’t be afraid of any skater from St. Louis. They’re on too good of a tear to have those concerns. I would avoid Jaroslav Halak on Friday, though.
I would avoid St. Louis’s top line on Friday at San Jose. That’s one of those games that’s too close to call with confidence either way. I would take just about anyone in the first two games of the week, though.
