Sports With The StatMan: Fantasy Hockey Edition - Week 18

For the Games of January 31st-February 6th, 2010

One thing is for sure for the local teams.  They had some trouble scoring goals.  The top three local forwards all played on the same line and scored all of their points in the same game, the Devils 5-4 overtime win against the Maple Leafs.  The local teams had trouble getting any production from the defense.  The top three local defensemen combined to score 12 points, putting together only three assists in nine games.  The local teams also had trouble stopping the puck.  Ray Emery was the best of the lot, ranking 20th in the league.  Martin Brodeur was second and the 1-2 combination was the same as last week.  But, the third-best goaltender among the five local teams, Yann Danis, is the Devils backup and only had six saves in a relief role.

WEEK 17 REVIEW (Games of 1/24-1/30/2010)

THREE STARS
Forwards

-         1st Star: Eric Staal CAR – 30 points (4-2-6 in 4 games, +3, 3 PPG)

-         2nd Star: Mike Knuble WSH – 28.5 points (4-2-6 in 3 games, +4, 2 PIM, 1 PPG)

-         3rd Star: Jarome Iginla CGY – 22.5 points (3-4-7 in 4 games, +4, 5 PIM, 2 PPG)

Local Forwards

-         1st Star: Travis Zajac NJD – 16 points (Tied-#17 Forward overall, 1-3-4 in 3 games, +3, 1 PPG)

-         2nd Star: Zach Parise NJD – 13.5 points (Tied-#31 F overall, 2-2-4 in 3 games, +2)

-         3rd Star: Dainius Zubrus NJD – 8 points (Tied-#59 F overall, 1-2-3 in 3 games)

Defensemen

-         1st Star: Nicklas Lidstrom DET – 29 points (3-3-6 in 3 games, +2, 2 PIM, 2 PPG)

-         2nd Star: Joni Pitkanen CAR – 23 points (0-4-4 in 4 games, +3)

-         3rd Star: Filip Kuba OTT – 22.5 points (0-4-4 in 3 games, +3)

Local Defensemen

-         1st Star: Derek Morris BOS – 4.5 points (Tied-#59 Defenseman overall, 0-1-1 in 3 games)

-         2nd Star: Colin White NJD – 4 points (Tied-#62 D overall, 0-1-1 in 3 games)

-         3rd Star: Kimmo Timonen PHL – 3.5 points (Tied-#71 D overall, 0-1-1 in 3 games, 2 PIM)

Goaltenders

-         1st Star: Cam Ward CAR – 32.8 points (4-0-0 in 4 games, 1.25 GAA, .963 SvPct)

-         2nd Star: Brian Elliott OTT – 28.2 points (3-0-0 in 3 games, 1 SO, 0.98 GAA, .964 SvPct)

-         3rd Star: Jonathan Quick LAK – 21.8 points (3-0-0 in 3 games, 1.95 GAA, .934 SvPct)

Local Goaltenders

-         1st Star: Ray Emery PHL – 7 points (#20 Goalie overall, 1-2-0 in 3 games, 2.36 GAA, .915 SvPct)

-         2nd Star: Martin Brodeur NJD – 5 points (Tied-#26 G overall, 1-1-1 in 3 games, 2.84 GA, .889 SvPct)

-         3rd Star: Yann Danis NJD – 1.2 points (#33 G overall, 0-0-0 in 1 game, 6 saves, 1.000 SvPct)

Special Teams

-         Best in League: Colorado Avalanche +11 (2-8 PP, 11-11 PK, 1 SHG, 0 SHGA)

-         Best among locals: New Jersey Devils +3 (Tied-#11 ST overall, 1-4 PP, 5-5 PK, 0 SHG, 0 SHGA)

WEEK 18 PREVIEW (Games of 1/31-2/6/2010)

SCHEDULE

4-Game Weeks:

- Sunday-to-Saturday scoring period: Buffalo, Carolina, Calgary, Colorado, Dallas, Detroit, Edmonton, Florida, Los Angeles, New Jersey, N.Y. Rangers, Phoenix, Tampa Bay, Washington

- Monday-to-Sunday scoring period: Boston, Buffalo, Carolina, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Washington

2-Game Weeks:

- Sunday-to-Saturday scoring period: None

- Monday-to-Sunday scoring period: N.Y. Islanders

Local Matchups:

- Devils at Rangers (Saturday)

START ‘EM and SIT ‘EM

Last Week (Start vs. Sit)

- Forwards: Alex Burrows VAN (2-3-5 in 3 games, +5, 1 SHG) vs. Ilya Kovalchuk ATL (1-1-2 in 3 games, -1) (W, Burrows 21.0, Kovalchuk 5.0)

- Defensemen: Jack Hillen NYI (0-0-0 in 1 game, -1, broken jaw) vs. Andy Greene NJD (0-0-0 in 3 games) (L, Greene 0.0, Hillen (-2.0))

- Goaltending: Miikka Kiprusoff CGY (1-1-2 in 4 games, 1.94 GAA, .935 SvPct) vs. Cristobal Huet CHI (2-1-0 in 3 games, 3.02 GAA, .894 SvPct) (W, Kiprusoff 14.4, Huet 10.2)

Season: 8-4 (2-1 last week)

Forwards

- Start: Mike Knuble WSH – Knuble is on a tear and he plays two of his former teams (at BOS, at NYR) and finishes the week against an Atlanta team that has allowed the third-most goals in the Eastern Conference.  Plus, playing on a line with Alex Ovechkin doesn’t hurt.

- Sit: Ryan Kesler VAN – Kesler has had six assists and he is a +5 in his last five games, but he has not scored a goal in seven games.  He will be on the road all week against Montreal, Ottawa, and Boston.

Defensemen

- Start: Ian White CGY – White was just traded to Calgary from Toronto and he will be called on to replace some or most of Phaneuf’s minutes.  White might get started right away on Monday night against Philadelphia, but he will definitely be in the lineup against Carolina at home before a Florida road trip to the Panthers and Lightning.

- Sit: Zdeno Chara BOS – The Bruin captain has only scored one fantasy point in the last four weeks.  Chara is at a minus-4 in his last eight games, with only two assists in that span.  Chara will face two hot teams (vs WSH, vs VAN), and a rivalry game against Montreal, all at home.

Goaltending

- Start: Jonathan Quick LAK – Quick is gearing up for the Olympics with three home games and he is facing two teams who are having trouble scoring goals (vs NYR, vs DET) with a rivalry game at home against the Ducks.

- Sit: Brian Elliott OTT – Elliott has been hotter than the sun, averaging over 28 points a week.  But, Elliott and the surprising Senators, who are only five points behind the division-leading Sabres, have a tough schedule this week (@ BUF, vs VAN, @ TOR).

Upcoming Schedule

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• Wednesday: “Random Musings” sports column

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• Sunday 10-11am ET: Sports With The StatMan (#45)

• Sunday: Fantasy Hockey Edition – Week 19

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