ADD’EM: LIGHTNING STRIKES 3 TIMES!
12/17/2017
David Krejci-C-BOS (58.4% in ESPN Leagues), Tyler Johnson-C-TB (61.7%), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins-C-EDM (63.0%), Yanni Gourde-LW-TB (23.2%), Matt Dumba-D-MIN (65.1%), Matt Niskanen-D-WAS (38.3%), Esa Lindell-D-Dal (14.2%), Anton Stralman-D-TB (18.2%), Cam Fowler-D-ANA (41.1%)
This is the week if you are looking for help on the defensive side of the puck as we have 5 candidates for you to consider. Our top choice is Matt Dumba as he has been on fire in recent games and has 4 goals and an assist in last 7 games. Owned in 65% of leagues means that he could be available in your league. Three road games versus Ottawa, Florida and Tampa Bay may be a hindrance to some but he is en fuego for sure and should be worth a gamble.
Don’t fret if Dumba isn’t available as Washington Capital defenseman Matt Niskanen is more readily available and owned in just 38% of leagues. 6 points in last 8 games with a +9 rating along with 15 SOG give you some decent category help. Nisky also has a 3 game road trip to contend with this week but has a somewhat attractive schedule against Dallas, Arizona and Las Vegas.
Also sporting decent numbers like Niskanen is Tampa Bay Lightning D-man Anton Stralman, the first of our 3 Bolt candidates, with 5 points in 7 games, a +0 and 13 SOG. With an away game at Las Vegas to begin the week before returning home against Ottawa and Minnesota, Stralman’s steady contribution may not be the sexiest of names out there but he can provide you with some help.
Surprised to see Anaheim D-man Cam Fowler still available in just under 60% of leagues, but if available I would scoop him up for the long-term. Fowler has 4 points in last 7 games with 11 SOG but a -1 rating. 4 road games (NJ, NYR, NYI, and PIT) may make you shy away from him as the others sport more attractive schedules.
Dallas Star D-man Esa Lindell may not be a name you would consider but if all else fails, with 5 assists in past 9 games and 22 SOG, you know he’s there for offense. 3 home games should be an eye-opener but with games against Washington, Chicago and Nashville, those are some tough opponents.
Two Tampa Bay Lightning forwards seem to be getting their names on the score sheet a lot of late with Tyler Johnson and Yanni Gourde providing some good secondary scoring for the Bolts. Johnson is tearing it up with 12 points in last 7 games while Gourde has 8 in same span. Not too shabby. The schedule is decent as noted in Stralman’s assessment above and the team is just steaming down the tracks.
David Krejci is available in just over 40% of leagues and should be scooped up as the Boston Bruins, due to a light schedule at the start of the season, should be picking up momentum as they have their full team intact. With 5 points in last 7 games and a 4-game schedule on tap for the week, an away game at Buffalo sandwiched in there with games at home versus Columbus, Winnipeg and Detroit, should be enough to whet the appetite..
With most fantasy owners drooling over Connor McDavid and possibly Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has been overlooked lately and rightfully so as he hasn’t been putting up appropriate numbers for his talent level. With a 4-1-5 line in past 7 games and 21 SOG, RNH is bringing it every game lately and could be a positive addition to your week’s lineup.
Some tasty morsels on the menu for the week. Hope they can satisfy your need!
HOW’D WE DO LAST WEEK? Our title for last week’s article was a bust as Tyler Bozak went scoreless in his 3 games. Adam Henrique cooled off quickly after his blazing start in Anaheim as he too went scoreless in 3 games. Valtteri Filppula and Tom Wilson chipped in with just a single point with both getting 5 SOG for the week. …Now for the good ones! Tyler Johnson, which is on the ADD’EM list for the third straight week went 2-3-5 and a +4 with 6 SOG. Meanwhile, Nashville’s Kevin Fiala continues to light the lamp with 3 goals and an assist for the week. He also spotted a +4 with 9 SOG and both Fiala and Johnson had 3 power play points. Even though Fiala is not on our ADD’EM, he should be considered if available in your league and would probably be worth a long-term hold the way he has been playing of late.