The Olympics are just less than three weeks away and fantasy hockey owners are wondering which Olympians are hot or cold heading into this crucial stretch. This is about the time of year where we search for the hottest and coldest for fantasy owners looking to spearhead a nice push in the last few weeks of this phase of the season. So this is a post not for the waiver wire or even middle tiered players. This one is for the blue chippers that control your week fantasy wise.
Too Hot Tamales
Henrik Lundqvist, G, NY Rangers — After going back and forth all season between pretty good and rather awful, Lundqvist is finally looking like the top-five goaltender everyone thought he could be. In his last five starts, the Swedish goalie posted a 4-1 record with a .961 save percentage while allowing only six goals. The anchor for Team Sweden finally is looking like the Vezina winner we are all accustomed to. His performances against Washington and Detroit were particularly impressive because of the stage. Detroit was a goalie duel between him and Jimmy Howard and then the head to head with Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals. The key may be next week when Lundqvist ultimately will have to face New Jersey and then the New York Islanders.
Phil Kessel, RW, Toronto — Talk about a forward that is on fire, Kessel is just that. All he has done is managed a whopping 14 points over his last seven games. Team USA needs him more than ever and he is delivering for your fantasy hockey teams. Add in the fact that the right winger has been averaging nearly 21:00 a night and his power play time is up. Kessel has definitely found a chemistry with James Van Riemsdyk along with Tyler Bozak. Toronto is a weird team that takes advantage of its chances out of the relative few they get. Their CORSI and puck possession is rather poor to say the least. That does not deter Kessel from rapidly rise up the NHL scoring leaders.
Cool As Cucumbers
Daniel Sedin, LW, Vancouver — The “Sedin” twins haven’t fared too well over the last five games with Henrik suffering an injury and an aggravation of an injury. His twin brother has suffered a bit as a result. With one assist in his last five games, Sedin has had at least 2-3 scoring chances each game with little or nothing to show for it. Early in the season, I had said a point a game was not close to attainable for the twins. So far they are both right around 0.8 points per game. Call me not surprised. It does not look like this will turn around anytime soon either.
Mike Richards, C, Los Angeles — Richards does have four points in his last five games but this was once a 30 goal scorer who has watched the goal scoring well run as dry as any desert in Southern California. How bad is it. Let’s try one goal in his last 26 games played. This is not a misprint. Richards has seven goals on 105 shots which is a shooting percentage of 6.5 percent. Those are levels of futility that has not been seen since 2005-06. That was his first year in the league with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Every week leading to the Olympics, we will attempt to spotlight the hottest and coldest heading to the tournament. This is just the beginning here on XNSports. There may be some Olympic fantasy hockey updates, NHL talk, and so much more hockey. You can follow me @ChrisWasselTHW with any and all questions.
