The Flames are playing incredible hockey at the moment as they make their way up the standings. The top line gets a ton of credit, but the second line has been just as important. They’ve thoroughly dominated for months generating absurd shot rates and possession. This continued the last two nights as Calgary blew out Vegas and Toronto back to back. Mikael Backlund led the way with six points between the two games, scoring a goal and three assists against Vegas, then following it up with two more assists against the Leafs. Andrew Mangiapane scored three goals over the two games, while Blake Coleman dished two assists. It might be a stretch, but I have them all as elite streamers right now. I’d rank them Mangiapane, Coleman, Backlund depending on your league format, but the work they’re doing against top lines is more valuable in real life than fantasy. Still, if they keep getting over 80 shots per 60 minutes as a line, which they’ve done for over a month, there will be plenty of fantasy value. Let’s take a look at what else happened over the last two nights:
Wednesday’s Games
Dylan Larkin – Goal and an assist with three shots and four PIM. Larkin has found another level this season which is great to see. Detroit better get ready to back up the Brinks truck.
Lucas Raymond – Goal and an assist with three shots. Raymond is right on the fringe depending on team needs.
Robby Fabbri – Goal and an assist with two PIM. Fabbri is a middling streamer with a little bit of upside.
Pius Suter – Goal and an assist with two shots. Suter remains a bottom end streamer, although he is a little better than that at the moment while Bertuzzi is on his line.
Moritz Seider – Two assists with three shots. Seider is going to be an absolute fantasy superstar. I’m completely all in in dynasties. The hits and blocks are amazing, and he’s already playing at over a 50 point pace as a rookie.
Nick Seeler – Two assists. I can’t even joke that it’s an annual update on Seeler because he had 0 points in his first 27 games this season. I can’t believe he was already in the Razzball Database.
Marc-Andre Fleury – 40 saves on 41 shots in the 4-1 win over the Oilers. It’s been a lot more down than up lately, but I still think MAF is worth holding in most formats.
Alex DeBrincat – Goal and two assists with four shots. DeBrincat has clearly played himself into the second tier of goal scorers in the entire NHL. Just a monster.
Dylan Strome – Goal and an assist with five shots. His season was going horribly but Strome has turned it around, scoring 11 points in the last 10 games and eight in the last five. For now, he’s in elite streamer territory.
Brandon Hagel – Goal and an assist. Hagel is a solid streamer as long as he keeps playing with the Chicago superstars.
Kirby Dach – Goal and an assist with three shots. Dach has been one of the biggest disappointments in the entire league. I’m not quitting on him long term, but I have him as a bottom end streamer for now.
Roman Josi – Two assists with two shots and four PIM. Josi keeps chugging along right around a point per game. He’s still battling for the #1 defenseman spot.
Jason Robertson – Two goals on five shots. What Robertson has done over the last 12 months is a remarkable story. He’s playing at a 40+55 pace this season which is bonkers. He’s not quite a top 20 player, but he’s not far off.
Roope Hintz – Goal and an assist. Hintz taking close to an extra shot per game is massive for his fantasy value. You love to see it.
John Klingberg – Two assists with a shot. Klingberg is piling up the assists, including on the power play, but the shot rate is rough. He’s a clear hold, but I wonder if it gets better if he’s traded.
Matthew Tkachuk – Goal and two assists with two shots. Tkachuk is going to have a real case for being a first round pick in fantasy drafts next season. I think he’s just a little short, but he’ll be in the conversation.
Noah Hanifin – Two assists with a shot. Hanifin has made some nice strides this season. I wouldn’t hold him in 12’ers, but anything deeper, I think he’s a hold.
Jacob Markstrom – 28 save shutout in the 6-0 win over the Golden Knights. That’s eight shutouts this season for Markstrom already. He followed it up with 46 saves against the Leafs. Markstrom is inching towards the top tier of fantasy goalie with Igor and Vasilevskiy.
Phil Kessel – Goal and an assist with two shots. Kessel finally broke his massive goal drought! He’s a middling streamer, but it could get better depending on where he’s traded to at the deadline.
Alex Galchenyuk – Goal and an assist with two shots. He has a goal in three of the last four games, but Galchenyuk didn’t have a goal in his first 23 games. He’s still off my streaming radar.
Nick Schmaltz – Two goals on four shots. Schmaltz has eight points in the last eight games. I still have him a step below an elite streamer, but it’s encouraging to say the least.
Yanni Gourde – Two assists with five shots. Gourde has been decent with Seattle, but I had hopes for a little more offense. He’s a step above bottom end streamer.
Cal Clutterbuck – Two assists with a shot. The Identity line hasn’t been nearly as good this season, but Casey Cizikas had a goal and an assist in this game too. Easy pass for fantasy though.
Anders Lee – Goal and an assist. Lee has struggled this season to say the least. He’s a decent streamer because he’s scoring a decent number of goals still, but the assists are atrocious and the PIM dried up.
Thursday’s Games
Jakub Voracek – Goal and an assist with two shots and two PIM. It’s a rare sight to see Voracek get a goal at this point. If you’re streaming him, it’s because you need assists. AAGNOF!
Tage Thompson – Two assists with two shots. The Sabres may still be bad, but they have a legitimate top line now. Tuch is a slam dunk hold, while Thompson and Skinner are elite streamers. You can even make a case for holding Tage given his shot rate is over three per game.
Frederik Andersen – 34 save shutout in the 6-0 win over the Bruins. Yes, Boston was missing Bergeron and Marchand, but Carolina has absolutely blasted them in every meeting this season. Andersen has been the second best goalie in the league behind Igor in terms of goals saved above expected. Pretty, pretty good.
Teuvo Teravainen – Three assists with four shots and two PIM in his return from injury. Get him back in your lineup immediately.
Andrei Svechnikov – Goal and two assists with four shots. This gets Svechnikov to a point per game with elite shots, hits and PIM. Svechnikov is also looking like a top 20 pick as well.
Jordan Staal – Goal and an assist with three shots. Staal’s renaissance last season did not carry over to this one. He’s not even on my streaming radar.
Sebastian Aho – Two goals on four shots with two PIM. Aho is also settled into second round value. He’s a true superstar through and through.
Joe Snively – Tow goals and an assist with three shots. Snively has been on the first line with Ovechkin out, but he’ll be back for the next game. He’s worth monitoring, but don’t see a lot here. Welcome to the Razzball Database!
Evgeny Kuznetsov – Two assists with two shots. The bounce back is more than real at this point.
Justin Schultz – Two assists with five shots. Schultz played on PP1 with Ovechkin out, but without that, he’s only a deep league option and a bottom end one at that.
Casey DeSmith – 26 save shutout in the 2-0 win over the Senators. Despite this, I only want to use DeSmith in the best of matchups. He’s been bad in most of his starts.
Matt Murray – 42 saves on 43 shots as the tough luck loser against his old team. Murray is actually in a great run of form, enough for me to hold him as a #3 for the time being. I’m not sure it’ll last, but with the volume he’s getting, I’ll ride with it.
Nico Hischier – Two goals and an assist with three shots. I didn’t see the Devils taking it to the Blues, but I probably should have considered it with how bad Binnington has been. Hischier is playing well at the moment, but I’m still disappointed he hasn’t found another level offensively. He’s a solid streamer.
Yegor Sharangovich – Goal and two assists with two shots. Sharangovich hasn’t built off his solid rookie season. He’s a bottom end streamer at best.
P.K. Subban – Goal and an assist with two shots. Deep league only.
Damon Severson – Two assists with four PIM. Severson is a hold for now, but I can see that coming to an end when Hamilton comes back, which should be next week.
Brayden Schenn – Two goals on four shots. Great run of form from Schenn to get to elite streamer status. I can see the case for holding, but the shot rate is a little too low for me.
Torey Krug – Two assists with a shot. Krug’s offense hasn’t been quite as good in St. Louis as it was in Boston. He’s an easy hold, but he’s in the #3/4 range now.
Rasmus Andersson – Goal and an assist with two shots. The shots have been much better for the last month which is enough to solidify Andersson as a hold as a bottom end #3 to #4.
Brayden Point – Goal and an assist with five shots. The Avalanche were incredible in this game, but the Tampa top line still managed to score get a couple goals. I have the feeling Point is going to get on a hot streak soon.
Devon Toews – Goal and an assist with six shots. He goes under the radar, but Toews is still chugging along right at a point per game while being +34. He’s on the ice for literally one more goal for the Avalanche than against in every game. Toews has already been a very good defenseman, but he’s found another level this season. Props to him, and props to Sakic for trading for him.
That’s all for now guys. I’ll be back on Monday recapping the action from the weekend. As always, feel free to ask any questions, leave any comments, or give any suggestions below. Thanks for reading, take care!
