There was plenty of craziness on Thursday night, but the Detroit-Tampa game takes the cake.  The Red Wings took the lead 6-3 in the third on the back of four, count them four, Tyler Bertuzzi goals, only to blow the game and lose in overtime 7-6.  Bertuzzi looks to be a solid streamer, but it’s going to take a lot more to hold him.  He’s been inconsistent in the past, and he’s unvaccinated.  That means he won’t be able to play any games in Canada.  The Red Wings already have a one off in Montreal next Saturday and another game in Toronto the week after.  It’s simply too hard to hold a player that’s missing games for something other than an injury.  Let’s take a look at what else happened on the ice on Thursday night:

Craig Anderson – 30 saves on 31 shots in the 5-1 win over the Canadiens.  No, that’s not a mistype.  The Sabres earned every bit of this victory too.  I still have no interest in Anderson and it will take a lot to change that.

Jeff Skinner – Two assists with two shots.  The Sabres will be bad, but they should score and have the chance of a good power play with Dahlin and Olofsson.  Skinner had two assists there today and there could be some value in deep leagues still.  He’s worth monitoring because he has the talent.

Zemgus Girgensons – Goal and an assist with two shots.  No fantasy relevance, but good to see Zemgus on the ice after missing all of last season due to injury.

Colin Miller – Two assists with five shots.  There’s nothing here yet, but perhaps he’s traded eventually and can have deep league relevance?

Victor Olofsson – Goal and an assist with five shots.  If there’s a forward on the Sabres I want, it’s definitely Goalofsson.  The shot is so good.  He’s an elite streamer in my mind, especially with a soft part of the schedule coming up.

Kyle Palmieri – Two assists with four shots.  He’s playing on the first line as expected.  I have him ranked as a bottom end hold for the time being as I expect him to get back to the level he was at with the Devils.

Andrei Svechnikov – Two goals and an assist with four shots and two PIM.  Svech!  He played over 20 minutes as well which is the most exciting thing for me.  Hopefully this is the breakout that we’ve been expecting.

Teuvo Teravainen – Goal and an assist with five shots.  We know what we’re going to end up getting from Teravainen come the end of the season.  Solid hold.

Tony DeAngelo – Two assists with five shots.  He ran the first power play unit as expected and he had both assists there, granted one was an empty netter.  You don’t have to like the guy (I surely don’t) but he’s going be a great fantasy asset as long as he’s on the ice.

Miro Heiskanen – Goal and an assist with three shots playing over 26 minutes.  John Klingberg left the game injured which put Heiskanen in an even bigger role.  If Klingberg misses time, Heiskanen should be a top 20 defenseman with relative ease.

Brady Tkachuk – Signed a seven year deal.  <exhales>

Tyler Ennis – Goal and an assist with two shots.  Ennis has carved out a nice career scoring at even strength at a high level.  That said, he played just 10 minutes in this one so I’m passing for now.

Jason Spezza – Goal and an assist with three shots.  He’s a great streamer right now, especially in deeper leagues, if you need STP.  Spezza is on the first power play unit.

William Nylander – Goal and an assist with six shots.  The minutes are through the roof with Matthews out and the Leafs trailing for most of this game.  I’m really excited for Nylander going forward if he can maintain this shot rate.

Jeff Carter – Goal and an assist with eight shots, his 400th goal of his career.  Carter is getting all the minutes he can handle right now with Crosby and Malkin down.  He needs to be held.

Kris Letang – Two assists with two shots, 4 PIM, and a -3 in 28 minutes.  That’s the full Letang experience!  Just a matter of him staying healthy.

Aaron Ekblad – Two goals on six shots.  Ekblad looked incredible making me feel great ranking him as a top 6 defenseman.

Aleksander Barkov – Two assists with two shots playing 26:55.  Almost 27 minutes!  Barkov is an animal, plain and simple.

Carter Verhaeghe – Two goals with two PIM.  As long as Verhaeghe is on Barkov’s wing, he needs to be held.

Victor Hedman – Four assists with five shots.  Nikita Kucherov had a goal and three assists with eight shots while Steven Stamkos had two goals and an assist with five shots.  Safe to say who brought the Lightning back into this game.  What a performance from the top guys on Tampa.  That includes Ondrej Palat (two goals, 4 SOG, 2 PIM) and Mikhail Sergachev (2A, 3 SOG, 2 PIM).

Nick Leddy – Two assists.  I could maybe see Leddy having deep league value, but for now, I’m passing.

Robby Fabbri – Two assists with two shots and two PIM.  Fabbri has looked excellent since being moved to Detroit.  I’m not holding in 12’ers, but he’s a quality streamer.

Moritz Seider – Two assists with two PIM, +1 in his NHL debut playing 20 minutes.  Great start for Seider holding his own against Tampa.  Must own everywhere.

Dylan Larkin – Goal on three shots with 10 PIM.  A Larkin match penalty in the second allowed Stamkos to get two power play goals.  We’ll have to see if anything more comes from this i.e. a suspension.

Brandon Tanev – Two goals on two shots and four PIM.  And there’s your bi-annual Tanev update!

Alex Wennberg – Goal and an assist playing over 19 minutes.  With this kind of workload, I can see Wennberg having deep league value.  He’s only a bottom end streamer in 12’ers because of the lack of shot volume.

Jared McCann – Goal and an assist with two shots.  Must own everywhere, as JKJ and myself have been preaching all preseason.

Mikael Granlund – Goal and two assists with two shots.  He hasn’t been good the last two seasons by the standards he set in Minnesota, but maybe Granlund finds his game again?  It’s worth monitoring.

Filip Forsberg – Two assists with a shot and two PIM.  Just stay healthy!

Carter Hutton – 18 saves on 26 shots in the 8-2 loss to Columbus.  Woof.  After the second, Hutton allowed five goals on 1.6 expected goals.  He is terrible and the main reason Arizona is the favorite to finish last in the league.  Don’t even think about using him.

Oliver Bjorkstrand – Two goals and two assists with three shots.  An original Razzball favorite a.k.a. one of my breakout calls, great start for Bjorkstrand.  Only a handful of guys didn’t get on the scoresheet for Columbus.  I don’t have much to say because the minutes are all out of whack with the game being out of hand early.  We’ll have to see Columbus a few more times to comment on the values of their players.

Robin Lehner – 27 saves on 31 shots in two periods before getting pulled against the Kings.  Vegas simply didn’t have it tonight; I’m not panicking.

Anze Kopitar – Hat trick and two assists with seven shots.  Alrighty then.  Kopitar rewarded me early for ranking him higher than consensus.  I’m really looking forward to Kopitar playing with Viktor Arvidsson (assist, five shots, two PIM).

Drew Doughty – Goal and three assists with two shots.  The role will be there for Doughty to be a hold, but keep expectations in check.

Dustin Brown – Goal and an assist with four shots.  Brown owes Kopitar so much for reviving his career.  He’s a strong streamer.

Vladimir Tkachev – Two assists in his NHL debut. I’m very intrigued by Tkachev, at least in deep leagues.  I’ll have to watch the Kings a few more times before I make a definitive judgment, but getting PP1 time is a good start.  Welcome to the Razzball Database!

Alex Iafallo – Two assists with two shots.  Solid streamer.

That’s all for now guys.  I’ll be back on Monday recapping the action from the weekend.  If you need streaming help, be sure to check out JKJ’s post here.  As always, feel free to ask any questions, give any comments, or make any suggestions below.  Thanks for reading, take care!

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LG Hockey
LG Hockey
1 year ago

Great recap Viz!

I have a couple of roster questions as my waiver wire is decent right now with some players who have started well:

1) Would add Vanecek or Gibson over my Nedeljkovic?

2) would you add Verhaeghe or Olofsson or Bowen Bryam over my Rasmus Anderson or my Grzelcyk (one is my D4 and one a bench D)

Thanks,
LG

JKJ
JKJ
1 year ago
Reply to  LG Hockey

I could happily let Grizz go for Verhaeghe. Someone’s gotta go for Verhaeghe!

ashtray
ashtray
1 year ago

It’s odd to see so many blatant boardings with no penalty being called. Larkin spent a whole bunch of time in a neck brace due to Benn boarding him last year (again no penalty) so it’s completely understood he would take exception to Joseph’s hit last night.

Anyway, a couple games in to the season have you noticed anyone in particular getting a lot of minutes or being on a good line that you weren’t expecting and maybe worth a speculative add?

Joey Jo Jo Jr Shabadoo
Joey Jo Jo Jr Shabadoo
1 year ago
Reply to  ashtray

at least the kog got 2 games out (how that’s only 2 for HIM i got no clue though) for that dirty head hit while he was on his knees (and off balance on one of those knees) to dach. if you watch the whole play kog went around trying to do some shit to ilke 3 guys on same shift. the first 2 it wasn’t a big deal then he saw dach doing a dump in while in completely defenseless position and targeted head into boards. i didn’t see the larkin play from last night yet but will go find it.

Shitwolf
Shitwolf
1 year ago

hey buddy! Thanks for the write up. my worst players are currently Pierre Luc, Killorn, Koneckny, Adam Larson (5th D for blocks n hits) and Merzlikins (3rd goalie, but i feel like if i drop him i wont see him again)

I has to make drop decisions. I have mathews coming off IR (next week problem) McCann is on waivers and usually i leave one spot to stream.

who should i hold for sure out of these boys and who is expendibles!

Thank you sirs

Shitwolf
Shitwolf
1 year ago
Reply to  Shitwolf

ooo Mcann just got added so forget abouth that haha! So who is my drop to stream for now haha Killorn?

JKJ
JKJ
1 year ago
Reply to  Shitwolf

Oof you added this while I was typing haha. Bummer. Yeah Killorn. Only 2 games for TB next week.

Shitwolf
Shitwolf
1 year ago
Reply to  JKJ

haha aint no thing homie! My roster already feels tight on holds although I know the owner of Mccann likes elvis if i really wanted to pursue, but i dont think i feel that. Streaming my bottom couple lineup spots feels like the right play.

I look forward to more of ur streaming posts although I picked Dach tonight over johnson… Lets see how that works out! Have a good day!

JKJ
JKJ
1 year ago
Reply to  Shitwolf

Killorn and PLD are very expendable for me. TK is more of a hold to see how he starts but if it’s slow then you can cut bait. McCann beats all three. Would hold Elvis and Larsson.

Joey Jo Jo Jr Shabadoo
Joey Jo Jo Jr Shabadoo
1 year ago

really, when is the last time that ANYBODY went to NAS and got better or even stayed as good as they were before. certainly not:
– subban, granlund, duchesne, r-joey, radulov (he’s notable since he did well when older when he came back to NHL at DAL). i guess rittich has a chance to improve, we’ll see. maybe ekholm counts.

Joey Jo Jo Jr Shabadoo
Joey Jo Jo Jr Shabadoo
1 year ago
Reply to  Viz

turris is probably the biggest one really. forgot about him too. turris went from great real life #2 center and very good in faceoffs/hits/blocks leagues to ONLY usable for faceoffs, like right quick.

fleeced
fleeced
1 year ago

Drop Garland for Mccann?

JKJ
JKJ
1 year ago
Reply to  fleeced

I would make that move

Chet
Chet
1 year ago

Thanks, Viz!

Any thoughts on the 3rd overall pick, Mason McTavish? Not a bad start to his career.

The Harrow
The Harrow
1 year ago
Reply to  Viz

this really seems like a 9 game stint, i drafted him in one dynasty and had no clue at all he’d be up yet.

Winterfell Wolves
Winterfell Wolves
1 year ago

Hey Guys,

10 Team G/A/PPP/Hits/Shots/ and +/- for skaters Wins, SO, GAA, Sv% for Goalies

C McDavid
C Stamkos
LW M. Thachuk
LW Svechnikov
RW Marner
RW Perron
UT Pacioretty
D Makar
D Hamilton
D Theodore
D Pionk

Bench
Kuznetsov
McCann
DeAngelo

IR
Malkin
Boeser

Goalies
Binnington
Sorokin
Bob
Elvis

I am out of moves for this week and trying to plan for next week. I love my skaters and I am just trying to figure out who I can cut. Goalies are shaky. Appreciate any help!

JKJ
JKJ
1 year ago

Agreed with Viz. You’re in excellent shape there. Maybe don’t need 4 goalies though but it does give you matchup flexibility.

Winterfell Wolves
Winterfell Wolves
1 year ago
Reply to  JKJ

Thanks guys, you rock!

Dubjay
Dubjay
1 year ago

Hey guys,
I asked the other day about which G to grab since I have Varlamov on the IL. You guys both went with Merzlikins over Swayman. I got him and he was great last night. Question is, now that Swayman has been tabbed for the bruins season opener, would you stick with Merz or go for Swayman.

JKJ
JKJ
1 year ago
Reply to  Dubjay

I’d probably lean Swayman now tbh. Sad I have no shares anywhere 😭

Shitwolf
Shitwolf
1 year ago

JKJ stream success bud you had a lot of good calls. Koneckny was a beauty and when i picked Dach over Johnson was worried i was a jerkface who didnt listen. Dach played over 20 minutes though and got a ppg. Gives me pauss for drop. Would you roll with Pierre Luc or Dach?

JKJ
JKJ
1 year ago
Reply to  Shitwolf

When I’m right I’m right!

I’d roll Dach over PLD.

Surfer Dude
Surfer Dude
1 year ago

Hi Viz and JKJ
h2h pts, Hughes is a free agent, I could drop one of these F. – Verhaeghe, Toffoli, Strome. Lee
or maybe go with no reserve D-man, in which case, drop one – Seider, R.Andersson
what do you think?
as always – THANKS!

JKJ
JKJ
1 year ago
Reply to  Surfer Dude

Drop Strome for him

scoboticus
scoboticus
1 year ago

Who sits?
Saros vs Car
Jarry vs Chi
Fleury @ Pit

scoboticus
scoboticus
1 year ago

Start Foligno or Zucc @LA?
No hits no blocks.