What’s poppin’, Razzpimples?
If you’re new to this column or have no idea what the Friday/Sunday split is, it’s a simple yet effective way to maximize your weekly output no matter the format of your league. Typically — and it’s not always the case — heavy game loads are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, whereas Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays are lighter. Streaming players on those lighter days is almost a necessity to ensure you’re getting the most of each week, but this column focuses on just Fridays and Sundays. Reason being is that you get more bang for your waiver add buck in picking up a guy who will play those two days and will almost always be able to slot into your starting lineup without having to sacrifice someone else to the bench.
Let’s do it to it.
Note: All Rostered% numbers and position eligibilities via Fantrax. All line deployment projections via Left Wing Lock.
Two teams on the Friday/Sunday slate this week: the Jackets and the Sharts, I mean Sharks. Some sneaky value to be had here, nonetheless.
Columbus Blue Jackets (FRI vOTT || SUN @BOS)
Ivan Provorov is the first pretty solid option from Columbus. He’s at 60% rostered on Fantrax, though, so I don’t know that he’ll be there for you. A defender with 5 PTS in his last 7 GP is a bit of a rarity in most cases, and while his -2 rating on the year doesn’t stand out, he’s at +4 in that seven-game span. He adds a decent amount of shots from the blueline and really brings good BLK as well.
Kirill Marchenko is the real star here, at least for streaming purposes. You don’t often find guys who chug PP1 minutes and who have 3 G in their last four on the wire. At 54% rostered, maybe he’s not on your wire, but he was in my league! I dropped the ball and should have snagged him for Monday given CBJ’s golden schedule this week (they play on all four off-nights), so I missed out on a powerplay goal, but I did at least get him in for last night’s game against the Habs while still having two more games to look forward to. Marchenko has 59 SOG in 21 GP so far and has seen a real nice bump in overall minutes since about mid-November. Eligible at either wing, he’s a fantastic streaming option if you ask me, especially in points formats.
Erik Gudbranson is the guy you want if you need to stream for extra blocks. He’s got 60 BLK on the year and has 12 in his last four.
San Jose Sharks (FRI @NJ|| SUN @NYR)
Calen Addison is available in just over half of Fantrax leagues while quarterbacking the San Jose powerplay, such as it is. With 3 A in his last 3 GP (two on the PP), you gotta try to scoop this kid. The Sharks have even won their last two games! Good vibes all around. It definitely took a while for things to get rolling for him, but he’s now got 3 PPA in his last five games. Nothing to write home about, yet it’s still pretty solid considering he doesn’t have many good players to pass the rock to. Hopefully Hertl is back in action, as he missed Monday’s tilt.
Fabian Zetterlund might nab you a sneaky goal or two. He is riding a cute little two-game goal streak, after all. I’m especially encouraged by his 15 SOG in just his last three games. Given the uptick in shots and the big TOI — both at ES and on the PP — I’m definitely interested in tossing this dude in my lineup for a couple extra games at the end of the week. Both the Devils on Friday and the Rangers on Sunday will be playing the second games of a back-to-back. And as a despairing owner of the NJ goalie tandem, I can tell you that Friday’s matchup could still see some goals for San Jose.
Mike Hoffman is another dude to look at. Not gonna lie, this man had fallen entirely off my radar. Like, to the level that I thought he no longer lived on Earth. Yet here we are in 2023, with Hoffman scoring a BUTTLOAD of goals lately. In his last seven games, he has 6 G to his name. The ice time is climbing up and he’s obviously feelin’ it, so why not take a stab? He’s good for nothing else, but if you need goals help, you could test your luck.
As always, Mario Ferraro is the man for blocks and Nico Sturm is your man for FOW.
I specialize in bullpens, and I also do some fantasy hockey as well here at Razzball. Find me on Elon’s Disaster: @jkj0787. DMs are always open for questions, comments, concerns, complaints, etc. Odds are good I’m drinking black coffee, dark beer, or some form of bourbon at any given time of day.
