March 04, 2011

Jeff Angus

2011-03-04

 

I am busy working on the 2010-11 edition of the Prime Cuts. Check out the past three years here: 2007-08, 2008-09, and 2009-10. I love writing this series and I hope you have enjoyed reading it!

 

Check out my piece on Puck Daddy from yesterday – those who purchased the 2010-11 Fantasy Guide will recognize the theme of my intro.

 

The Sedin twins are pointless in three games. Canucks in a rut offensively and they seem to be missing Alex Edler both on the PP and at even strength. Disconnect between the forwards and defensemen right now.

 

Pekka Rinne has allowed three goals in three games against Vancouver this season after blanking them last night.

 

Outside of your favorite team, who are your five favorite players to watch? Mine: 1) Giroux, 2) St. Louis, 3) Parise, 4) Yandle, 5) Datsyuk. HM's to Crosby, Calvert, and Skinner.

 

Blake Geoffrion scored his second goal in as many games last night. He looked good to me – big, strong, and knew where to go offensively. He isn't getting much ice time right now but that could change quickly if the production continues.

 

Tomas Vokoun was pulled after giving up two goals on three shots against Montreal last night.

 

Unsurprisingly the Panthers are struggling offensively. As a team, they have six goals in the past six games.

 

Weiss, Santorelli, Booth, and Bergfors saw almost all of the PP time among Florida forwards.

 

David Desharnais refuses to go away – seven points in his last 10 games, including a goal last night.

 

Craig Anderson continues his strong play – it looks like Colorado was the problem after all. He stopped 42 of 43 shots last night. I wonder if the Avs give him a contract in the summer? (Kidding…)

 

Bobby Butler continues his strong play and is earning himself a spot in Ottawa's top six for next season more and more with each game. Not big but he is a smart player and isn't afraid to shoot.

 

Canuck prospect Eddie Lack is having a phenomenal rookie season in the AHL – he boasts a .928 save percentage and a 2.08 GAA. Often times rookie European goalies struggle at first with the increase in the number of games played (Jacob Markstrom, but he has stepped his play up big time since December). Lack may find himself backing up Luongo sooner rather than later…

 

Michal Neuvirth has allowed only five goals in his past three starts (all wins).

 

It is amazing how different a team plays when there is confidence in the goaltender. The Leafs are really trusting James Reimer right now (and for good reason, the kid has been lights out). Instead of worrying about rebounds, odd-man rushes, and soft goals, the forwards can attack and the d-men can rush up the ice.

 

The Flyers were shooting at Reimer's glove hand all night (like many goalies a weakness of his), but he wasn't giving them much.

 

Grabovski's awesome season continues – after scoring the OT winner last game, he had an assist and fired seven shots on goal last night.

 

I am not sure he has much fantasy upside, but Leafs rookie Darryl Boyce has really impressed me when I have managed to see him play this season.

 

Dion Phaneuf must think it is 2005-06 – he sets up the Grabovski winner last game with a beauty end to end rush, and he has two points and five shots on goal last night. A sign of things to come, perhaps?

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Even with Philadelphia's insane forward depth, Claude Giroux played over 22 minutes (including nearly six on the penalty kill).

 

I have tweeted this a few times over the past week – PM Bouchard is back. Zero signs of rust. Clicking on a line with Havlat in a huge way. He is far and away Minnesota's most skilled and creative player offensively, and he is getting the ice time to produce.

 

Bouchard has eight points in his last eight games.

 

Kyle Brodziak is continuning to benefit from the Mikko Koivu injury. He had two points last night.

 

Jose Theodore has been a very under-the-radar signing for the Wild – another strong game in New York (I don't have the stats handy but he always seems to beat the Rangers).

 

Trade deadline in my keeper H2H last night – moved Jordan Caron for Alex Steen. Steen's value is a tad lower in this league because he takes up a C position without contributing any FOW. I love his PPP and SOG, though. I really like Caron (a lot), especially with Ryder and Recchi both probably leaving in the off-season. It was not a deal I could pass up, though.

 

Jamie McBain has six points in his last eight games. Once Joe Corvo leaves Carolina, McBain's PP time will increase dramatically. Corvo is an awful defenseman but he serves a purpose offensively. I don't get to watch Carolina play all that much, but he has never impressed me all that much (aside from some decent play with Ottawa during their cup run in 2007).

 

Jeff Skinner has five points in his last 10 – I'd expect him to be around that pace for the rest of the way with Stillman taking some of his ice time away.

 

Steve Kampfer has five goals this season, his highest total at any level since high school back in 2006.

 

Vinny Lecavalier missed the game last night with a minor injury.

 

Lucic and Horton are going to be very, very difficult to stop in the postseason. On the same line they cause all sorts of matchup problems with their size and skill combination.

 

Mike Smith got the start for the Lightning and looked pretty good in the loss, only allowing two goals on 28 shots.

 

Brad Boyes scored again for the Sabres. He could return to the 30-35 mark with Derek Roy next season. On paper the two seem like a terrific fit together.

 

Taylor Hall recorded the Gordie Howe hat trick last night – his fight with Derek Dorsett is posted below.

 

Hall on the fight: “You get tired of being rescued all the time. I’m 195 lbs.”

 

Hall's fight – he also lays a solid check on Matt Calvert at the beginning of the clip:

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UPCOMING GAMES

Apr 25 - 19:04 T.B vs FLA
Apr 25 - 19:04 NYI vs CAR

Starting Goalies

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AUSTON MATTHEWS TOR
ALEC MARTINEZ VGK
JACK EICHEL VGK
ELIAS PETTERSSON VAN
ZACH HYMAN EDM

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THATCHER DEMKO VAN
FILIP GUSTAVSSON MIN
STUART SKINNER EDM
ILYA SAMSONOV TOR
JOEL HOFER STL

LINE COMBOS

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23.4 VLADIMIR TARASENKO SAM REINHART ALEKSANDER BARKOV
13.5 CARTER VERHAEGHE MATTHEW TKACHUK ANTON LUNDELL
10.4 CARTER VERHAEGHE MATTHEW TKACHUK SAM BENNETT

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