STUDS

STONE MASON

Sergei Bobrovsky earned a very respectable 30-save shutout over the Red Wings, yesterday afternoon. The Blue Jackets have now won four straight and are 4-0-2 in their last six outings, and the Bobber in net for all four wins. Remember that Bobrovsky came in relief of Mason during the Oilers game, when the latter was pulled for poor play. The BlueJackets rallied and ultimately won the game, thanks to Bobrovsky's 21 saves. In fact, over the last four wins, Bobrovsky has stopped 104 of 106 shots. Insane really...

I still don't trust the Jackets offense enough to garner the goals needed to make Bobrovsky a weekly start, but if you own him it may be time to sell high. Maybe test the market in your league, as it were.

J.J. The D-Man

...as long as we're talking about the Blue Jackets. Jack Johnson was out for four games, returning on March 5th. In the three games played since JJ has accrued three points (a power play point too) on seven shots and a plus-1. His overall +/- is nothing to brag about (minus-9), but maybe this mini win streak the Jackets are on will continue - bringing Johnson's +/- within a more respectable range. Someone for poolies to keep an eye on, during this dash to the finish line.

One Hip Czech

Vlad Sobotka (cool name if there ever was one) earned his first ever hat trick, yesterday afternoon. Great timing to as the Blues had to fight back, in this come from behind win over the ailing Sharks. Sobotka has only 13 points on the year, so don't get trip over yourself getting to the waiver wire. Premature accumulation should always be avoided....

Rask-ing In The Glory

Seems to me people aren't talking about the Bruins net minder enough. Tuukka Rask earned a shutout (while kicking my fantasy team in the teeth) yesterday over the heretofore streaking Flyers. Rask has won eight of his last ten, with a 1.97 GAA and .92 SV%, and a very strong team in front of him makes Rask a plug-n-play goalie in any league format. Beast.

Tlusting Over Tlusty

Tlook, I know it's been two Saturdays in a row now, but Tlusty desrves it. Two goals, one assist (one power play goal), in yesterday's win over a slumping Devils team. Along w/Skinner (1G/1A) and Semin (1G/2A), Tlusty would be a very nice weapon for a poolies tool box.

Who?

Please, allow me to introduce you to Alexei Emelin, the Montreal Canadiens' d-man. - he had a goal in yesterdy's win over Tampa Bay. His overall points on the season (9) won't blow you away, but when combined with his hits (88) and shots on goal (23), Emelin makes for a nice depth d-man for any poolie in multi-cat leagues.

A Fleury of Activity

We poolies are very familiar with the notion that the Penguins' net minder is most valuable in W/L-only leagues. His win yesterday over the Leafs gives him four straight. For that he is to be recognized. Yet his pedestrian periphs of .846 SV% (last night), .902 SV% (overall) and 2.71 GAA only serve to prove the rule.

No Need to Bow. Neal-ing Will Suffice

At the risk of stating the obvious, but James Neal is a stud. His goal and assist in yesterday's win added to his already stud-like rep among poolies. He has points in eight of his last ten while averaging four shots/game. this is really no surprise to any vet fantasy GM, but need to be said.

Honorable Mentions

• Mike Smith gets a win...and there was much rejoicing.
• Nick Foligno has six points in six games, however, he should remain a depth forward for poolies due to inconsistent production.
• Seguin is quickly earning 'Stud' status across league formats. A goal yesterday, seven points in last five make him extremely valued in points-only leagues. Yet, he needs some consistency in his +/-, and some more PPTOI to gain additional value in multi-cat and roto leagues.
• John Tavares gets an honorable mention, despite his two goal performance. Honorable, yet his disappearing act is enough to drive poolies crazy. We need it every night, Johnny boy!
• Evgeni Nabokov gets a nod, stopping 22 of 24 for the win. And if he could only string together more than two wins at a time, his value would increase exponentially. Until then, he remains a depth goalie in W/L leagues.
• Jake Allen w/ two wins. Keep an eye on his periphs, they should settle down some with the confidence that comes w/more playing time. I'd probably keep him on ice for the time being. Until we see which Blues goalie gets moved prior to the trad deadline. Difficult to gues what Hitch is thinking.
• ..and last but not least. Rob Klinkhammer pots his very first NHL goal. If this hockey thing doesn't work out for Mr. Klinkhammer there's always porn. He's got the name for it.

DUDS

My Kingdom for a Goal(s)

So the Nashville Predatorspot six on the defenseless D of Edmonton on March 8th, only to return to form - scoring a lone goal in their loss yesterday to Minnesota. In fact, the Preds have scored only one in four of last five. And let's face it, scoring six on the Oilers is like Usain Bolt beating Gary Busey in a 1oo yard dash (assuming Busey could even find the starting line). Rinne's periphs will always be respectable, but until the Preds can manage more than one goal per game, his wins will be tough to predict.

Bailey's on The Rocks

It's rare for a player who pots a goal to wind up on the 'Duds' side of the ledger, but that's exactly where Josh Bailey deserves to be...imo. Sure he gets a goal in yesterday's win, but with a mere five points on the year, and sniffing 30 only once in his underachieving career - we poolies will not be fooled into pouncing upon the waive wire for this perennial under-performering player. No siree!!

Give the Devil His Due

New Jersey needs Brodeur back, desperately. The lose to Carolina, and four of their last five. This team is a true collective, and each part (player) is necessary for its success. Brodeur can't return fast enough.

Capital Spending

A special shoutout to the Washing Capitals defense. Way to help out your nascent net minder, Grubauer. He faced 45 shots from 15 different Islanders. I'm sure his confidence is soaring right now, knowing his team stepped up

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Four out of three people have difficulty with fractions

Commish - Twisted Wrister Fantasy Hockey League

12 team, $$$, 24 players, Weekly, H2H, limited keeper (8), multi-cat (G, A, PIMs, Hits, SOG, HT/ W, GA, SV%, SO)

Start: 2C, 2RW, 2LW, 4D, 2G

Simply brilliant! I fully expected to see Voynov written up - but wasn't disappointed with what I read.

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Yahoo weekly starts 12 team league, keep 17 plus farm

GS, W, L, SV, GAA, SV%, SO G, A, P, +/-, PIM, SOG, GWG, PPP, SHP, HITS, FOW

3C: H. Sedin,Stepan, Stastny, R. Johansen, Hanzal, Anisimov,
3LW: Burrows, Vanek, Ott, Lupul, Dubinsky
3RW: Doan, Pavelski, Brown, Okposo,
6D: Franson, Doughty, Voynov, Subban, Markov, Gonchar, Karlsson
1Util:
2G: Price, Emery


Farm: (< 100 games): S. Elliott, J. Bernier, Galchenyuk, Etem, Eakin, Atkinson

I forgot Kipper in the Duds too. I had four pages of incoherent notes. Lol. I need to organize the better to prevent future oversights.

Thanks, for the words Shoeless.

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Four out of three people have difficulty with fractions

Commish - Twisted Wrister Fantasy Hockey League

12 team, $$$, 24 players, Weekly, H2H, limited keeper (8), multi-cat (G, A, PIMs, Hits, SOG, HT/ W, GA, SV%, SO)

Start: 2C, 2RW, 2LW, 4D, 2G

Another excellent write up Bomm.

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You know it's going to be a good day when you open up your mailbox and find out the previous tenant was a playboy subscriber

Dallas Stars Team Coverage
Friday Night Studs And Duds
Common Sewer of good beer

Another gem Bomm!

Lmao, Rob Klinkhammer.

Thanks guys, appreciate the comments.

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Four out of three people have difficulty with fractions

Commish - Twisted Wrister Fantasy Hockey League

12 team, $$$, 24 players, Weekly, H2H, limited keeper (8), multi-cat (G, A, PIMs, Hits, SOG, HT/ W, GA, SV%, SO)

Start: 2C, 2RW, 2LW, 4D, 2G

I picked up Tlusty in the last round of my one year 15-man roto league draft this year... only to drop him 7 games in when he had 0 points. I hate it when I do something very sly and intelligent, only to follow it up with a bonehead move. Gawd!

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1 yr H2H, 10 teams
G(3),A(2),+/-(1),PIM(0.2),GWG(1),W(5),SO(3)

3C-Stamkos/Kane (RW)/Shaw
3LW-Ovechkin/Lucic/Pacioretty/Ryan (RW)/Hagelin
3RW-Sharp (C)/St. Louis/Stewart/Brunner/Neil/Gallagher
4D-Pietrangelo/Goligoski/Ekman-Larsson/Leddy/Phaneuf/Beauchemin/Corvo
1G-Rinne/Ward/Anderson/Bishop
+1 Util

I feel ya, Guvnah. If I had a dollar for each time I out thought or out flanked myself, I could retire a wealthy man.

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Four out of three people have difficulty with fractions

Commish - Twisted Wrister Fantasy Hockey League

12 team, $$$, 24 players, Weekly, H2H, limited keeper (8), multi-cat (G, A, PIMs, Hits, SOG, HT/ W, GA, SV%, SO)

Start: 2C, 2RW, 2LW, 4D, 2G