Spezza Clicking Alongside the Stars’ Big Guns

Fred Poulin

2017-03-07

Let's have a look at the hottest lines in the National Hockey League since the beginning of the season, including a few defensemen producing offensively. You will also find below the "Cold as ice" line and duo of the week.

 

Hot forwards

 

Jamie BennTyler SeguinJason Spezza (Dallas)

Clinging to their playoff hopes, head coach Lindy Ruff has decided to put his big guns together at even strength. Spezza is slowly heating up with five points in his last four games after a somewhat disappointing first half of the season. On the year, he has 11 goals and 27 assists for 38 points in 54 games with Dallas. It will be nearly impossible for him to reach the 60-point mark for a fourth consecutive year. Seguin is his usual self, potting four goals and 11 assists for 15 points in his last 10 games. The pivot now has 22 goals and 44 assists for 66 points in 66 games. Steady as a clock, Seguin has been a point-per-game player over the last three campaigns and he is yet again producing at that pace. His long-term buddy Benn is scorching hot with 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points in his last 15 games. The All-Star winger is enjoying another stellar season with the Stars, having recorded 24 goals and 39 assists for 62 points in 62 games.  He will likely reach the 79-point mark for a fourth consecutive year – talk about consistency!

 

Overall Production = 167 points

PP Production = 67 points

 

Mathieu PerreaultMark ScheifelePatrik Laine (Winnipeg)

Laine, the likely rookie of the year, is a blazing inferno recently, potting nine goals and six assists for 15 points in his last nine games. Despite missing several games with a concussion, Laine has 32 goals and 27 assists for 59 points in 59 games. He is currently on pace to score 40 goals, which is phenomenal for a rookie! With three goals and 11 assists for 14 points in his last nine games, Scheifele is having a career-year for the Jets. The dynamic center already has 28 goals and 39 assists for 67 points in only 64 games; he is currently on pace for more approximately 85 points, which is considered extraordinary in today's NHL. Their linemate Perreault is also en feu, recording 11 points, including three goals, in his last eight contests. The Band-Aid boy has a respectable seven goals and 21 assists for 28 points in 50 games for Winnipeg. If he stays healthy (and that's a big IF), he'll be able to repeat his usual offensive production of 41-42 points in 70 games.

 

Overall Production = 154 points

PP Production = 34 points

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Some players to watch who have been traded and could pump up their fantasy value soon:

Patrick Eaves (ANA) who finds himself with Getzlaf and Kase.

Sven Andrighetto (COL) who is now paired with Duchene and Rantanen.

Tomas Vanek (FLA) who is playing with Marchessault and Bjugstad.

Jarome Iginla (LA) who is having a chance alongside Kopitar and Gaborik.

Alex Burrows (OTT) who finds himself with Stone and Brassard.

Valtteri Filppula (PHI) who has joined Voracek and Schenn.

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Dynamic duo

Duncan KeithBrent Seabrook (Chicago)

With three goals and 11 assists for 14 points in his last 16 matches, Keith is blazing hot for Chicago. While he has only five goals on the season, he has also added 40 assists for a total of 45 points in 65 games, including 15 power-play points. The franchise defenseman is on par to repeat his career year of 61 points recorded in 2013-14, the year he won his second Norris Trophy.  Too bad Brent Burns is having a Bobby-Orrian year in 2016-17 or Keith would be a serious candidate for the trophy once again. With five assists in his last five games, Seabrook has been reunited with his long-time partner at even strength. Usually playing together only on the man advantage the two blue liners have been gelling together recently. Overall, he has three goals and 30 assists for 33 points in 63 games, on pace for a respectable 42-point season.

 

Overall Production = 78 points

PP Production = 28 points

 

Cold as ice line

Chris KreiderDerek StepanMats Zuccarello (NYRangers)

With two goals and two assists in his last 12 games, Kreider has greatly cooled down since his hot start. The left winger has 24 goals and 19 assists for 43 points in 60 games for the Rags and he should eclipse his career-best 46 points recorded in 2014-15. The goalie hunter is currently on pace for his first 50+-point season and he should be able to regain his scoring touch around the net. With no goal and eight assists in his past 21 games, Stepan is mired in a very long slump. The pivot has a very similar production to Kreider's with 12 goals and 32 assists for 44 points, but in 66 games. No worries though as Stephan is on pace for his usual output of 55 to 60 points. The last member of that ice-cold line is Zuccarello, who only has two helpers in his last eight games. The Norwegian speedster has 12 goals and 33 assists for 45 points, also in 66 games en route to another 60-point campaign for the Rangers.

 

EV Strength Production = 132 points

PP Production = 28 points

 

Cold as ice duo

Michael MathesonJason Demers (Florida)

The rookie Matheson has been struggling for a while going scoreless in his past 13 games. On the season, he has five goals and nine assists for 14 points in 65 games and he is not even on pace for 20 points. He doesn't have a history of steady offensive production at Boston College and in the AHL with Portland, so don't expect much from him fantasy-wise. His defensive partner is also struggling mightily. Demers has been off the scoresheet for his last 12 games, which is a lot for a blue liner who used to get plenty of power-play time earlier this season. With nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points in 64 contests, Demers has substantially slowed down after a hot start. He is currently in line with his usual production of 25-30 points annually.

 

Overall Production = 36 points

PP Production = 5 points

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UPCOMING GAMES

Mar 18 - 20:03 CGY vs WSH
Mar 18 - 22:03 SEA vs BUF

Starting Goalies

Top Skater Views

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DANIIL MIROMANOV CGY
ALEXANDER NYLANDER CBJ
EVGENY KUZNETSOV CAR
ANTHONY DUCLAIR T.B
WYATT JOHNSTON DAL

Top Goalie Profile Views

  Players Team
DEVIN COOLEY S.J
JAKE ALLEN N.J
LOGAN THOMPSON VGK
DUSTIN WOLF CGY
CHARLIE LINDGREN WSH

LINE COMBOS

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27.7 NICK SUZUKI JURAJ SLAFKOVSKY COLE CAUFIELD
21.4 JOSHUA ROY ALEX NEWHOOK JOEL ARMIA
20.9 BRENDAN GALLAGHER JAKE EVANS JOSH ANDERSON

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