ADD'EM: 6 OF ONE, HALF DOZEN OF THE OTHER
Thomas Greiss-G-NYI (27.9% owned in ESPN), Nino Niederreiter-RW-MIN (56.3), Daniel Sedin-LW-VAN (48.1), Mikael Backlund-C-CGY (45.6), Mathew Barzal-C-NYI (41.3), Jason Zucker-LW-MIN (35.3), Tanner Pearson-LW-LAK (33.5), Justin Williams-RW-CAR (27.5), Rick Nash-RW-NYR (24.5), Frans Nielsen-C-DET (18.9)
11/12/2017
GOALIE: The only available net minder worthy of a fantasy slot this week is the Islanders’ Thomas Greiss. Greiss played in three games the past week and netted 2 wins allowing 8 goals against but had 89 saves. An away game against Tampa Bay sandwiched between a home-and-home series against the Carolina Hurricanes.
FORWARD: There are quite a few forward options out there with one returning for an encore performance. Nino Niederreiter went 1-2-3 in 4 games last week and with 2 home games against Philly and Nashville concluding with an away game against Washington this week, look for NN to continue his groove now that his early season injury seems to be behind him.
We are heading back to the island, more specifically Brooklyn with Mathew Barzal of the Islanders. Posting 0-6-6 in 4 games last week, Barzal seems to be getting more and more comfortable on a line with Jordan Eberle, and vice versa. Look for the talented rookie to continue contributing and hopefully he starts to shoot the puck more being that he only had 4 SOG for the whole week.
Back to Minnesota and a red-hot Jason Zucker. While this JZ might not be from Brooklyn, he sure is causing a ruckus this past week with 6 goals and an assist in 4 games. With 17 SOG you know he is feeling it and so should you. Stick him in your lineup while the iron the hot.
Mikael Backlund of Calgary usually saves his game for the second half but recently he has been putting up some assists more consistently with 4 in the past 3 games. You won’t get much more than an assists here or there as he tends not to shoot the puck too often.
Justin Williams return to Carolina has been somewhat quiet to start the season, but he has been putting up the points of late with a goal and 3 assists in the past 3 games. With 4 games on the tilt this week, at home against Dallas and NY Islanders bookending matches against the same NY Islanders and Buffalo both away, the schedule looks promising for Carolina.
One player I was expecting to breakout this season after a semi-breakout last year is LA King Tanner Pearson. He has just 9 points in 16 games so far this season but has the potential to put together some decent offense. 4 games against Vancouver, Boston, Florida (all at home) and Vegas (on the road) should provide some decent opportunities to get his name on the score sheet quite regularly.
NY Ranger Rick Nash has started out the season snake-bitten to say the least but lately he has been putting some points on the board with 3 goals in the last 3 games, a +2 and 12 SOG. You know how these goal-scorers get. Very streaky!
Frans Nielsen has erupted this past week with a 2-2-4 line. Nielsen was also +3 and had 10 SOG. 3 home games against Calgary, Buffalo and Colorado gives Frans a good chance to continue his scoring ways.