Posted by Sean Allen, Special to ESPN.com
The
Buffalo Sabres were downed 6-3 by the
Ottawa Senators and I want to highlight two players I talked about in my March 14 Open Ice column.
Mike Weber and
Andrej Sekera were strongly recommended as a source of plus/minus for the remainder of the season. Of the six goals the Senators scored, five counted as a minus against Sabres' players. Weber and Sekera finished the game as the only two Buffalo players with a plus rating (plus-2 and plus-1, respectively) while the rest of the team was a combined minus-18. Yeah, they can help in that category.
If you will also recall, I was on a pretty harsh campaign for everyone to ditch Ryan Miller way back in January. The main content of my argument was that Buffalo's schedule in March and April would make him a terrible option for the stretch run. It looked like I was off my rocker when Miller posted terrific stats in January and February, but his March numbers are four wins, 3.40 goals-against average and a paltry .880 save percentage in 11 starts. Strength of schedule may not be used in fantasy hockey that often, but it still means something.
Marc-Andre Fleury stopped all 31 shots as Pittsburgh beat New Jersey 2-0. Not much to note from this contest except that Sidney Crosby was held out of the lineup again. Reports speculated that he would be back, so I think it would be a safe bet to count on him Thursday night. Remember, he is one of the few players you don't have to give a couple games to get his legs back.
No. 61 for No. 8, as Alexander Ovechkin continues his epic campaign. However, it was Viktor Kozlov's shootout goal that decided the game, 3-2 in Washington's favor against Carolina. The Capitals have a soft schedule remaining (thanks to their division) and a gem during the final few contests could be Eric Fehr. I know, I keep speculating on a return from him, and I know he skated fewer than 10 minutes in this contest, but he really is quite skilled. Besides, those 10 minutes of ice time were mostly spent on the second line with Alexander Semin and Sergei Fedorov. With talent like that aiding him, he could solidify his roster spot for next season.
Put Martin Straka on your short list of pickups for the remainder of the season. A juggling of the lines in New York has Straka back with Jaromir Jagr and rookie Brandon Dubinsky. Now notice Straka's four-game point streak (five points) and his 65 percent availability in ESPN leagues. Take a chance on him. His assist was in vain, though, as Mike Richards scored in overtime to give Philly the 2-1 victory.
The list of possible last-minute helpers should also include Boston rookie David Krejci. Skating with Chuck Kobasew and Marco Sturm, Krejci had a goal, assist and plus-2 rating in the Bruins' 6-2 wallop of Toronto. Just who makes up Boston's No. 1 line is debatable, but the aforementioned trio started every Boston power play on the ice.
I've been getting some flack lately for what has apparently come off as a negative bias toward Florida teams. I mean nothing by it. Honest. There is some fantasy value to be had in the dangling state, but I think several players will have trouble repeating the fantasy success they've had this season. I was sure Nathan Horton would eclipse his numbers from last season, but he is looking to match them. Stephen Weiss has disappeared for stretches this season. David Booth is a great hockey player who I'd love to have on my NHL team, but may never again match the fantasy season he contributed this year, and I won't have him on my fantasy teams. Neither Karri Ramo nor Mike Smith has convinced me they should be the Lightning's starter next season. Those are my concerns, and I believe them to be legitimate. I am not ripping on the Florida teams, I swear.
The Battle of Florida ended in a 3-1 win for the Bolts on Tuesday night. Jeff Halpern and Michel Ouellet continue to make a strong case for you to pick them up for the balance of the season. Halpern's three-point night gives him 15 in 13 games as a Lightning. Remember, this is a guy who was lost in Dallas, but was the captain of the Capitals before he went to the Lone Star State. A point per game next season? No, but a return to status as a No. 2 or 3 center is definitely in the cards.
Predators' goaltender Dan Ellis is a mystery, wrapped in an enigma. Never projected as a No. 1 NHL goalie as he developed, he certainly has stats (21-10-2, 2.38, .922) that suggest he has been strong this season. But the fact is, Ellis has been really, really good for a stretch and then, without warning, melts down. The highs are high (like last night's 3-0 shutout of Columbus), but the lows are real low. I'm still looking for Pekka Rinne in my drafts next season.
Jan Hlavac is a great deep-league addition for those desperate for help. Since becoming a Predator in an unheralded deadline deal, Hlavac has eight points in 13 games and is an impressive plus-8. How is he doing it? Well, coach Barry Trotz has Hlavac attached at the hip to Jason Arnott and J.P. Dumont. Go ahead and use him on your wing if you need a boost in plus/minus more than you do points.
The Red Wings topped the Blues, 2-1, with the winning goal coming off the stick of Johan Franzen. Tomas Holmstrom suffered a setback in his groin recovery this week, and as I have stated before, as long as Holmstrom is out, Franzen will pile up the goals. He is playing Holmstrom's role as the guy who stands in front of the net on the Detroit power play. A scary place to be with Nicklas Lidstrom on the point, but definitely a position that breeds goals. He is still out there in 13 percent of ESPN leagues despite his 11 goals in 11 games this month.
All the stars came out to play as the Flames battled to a 3-2 win against the Canucks. Fantasy-relevant players accounted for the bulk of points in this game, but Kristian Huselius owners can't be happy. He was a healthy scratch after two straight games of being kept under seven minutes. Coach Mike Keenan's doghouse is a difficult one to escape from quickly and as much as it hurts to drop a player with 65 points and no apparent health problems, you need production now. Get out of the Huselius business and find someone producing.
How badly does Joe Thornton want to lead the Sharks to victory? So badly the man beloved by fantasy owners for his prolific assist totals, is shooting the puck. Thornton recorded his first hat trick since Jan. 5, 2002, but it wasn't enough as Phoenix topped San Jose, 5-4 in overtime. It was three shots and three goals for Thornton, begging the question: why doesn't he shoot more?
I had Jeremy Roenick on my list of players to mention in last Friday's Open Ice, but thought the better of it at the last minute. However, with Jonathan Cheechoo missing time with a neck injury, Roenick was promoted to Thornton's wing and responded with two assists to push his current streak to six points in three games. Go ahead and give ol' J.R. a chance.
Sean Allen is a fantasy baseball and hockey analyst for ESPN.com. You can Email him here.
