There’s a lot to wrap up from the past week in fantasy hockey. Superstars dominate the NHL’s Three Stars of the Week. Several players had big nights in a wild game between the Vancouver Canucks and the Minnesota Wild. Other players covered in this article include Bobby McMann, Frank Vatrano, Vincent Trocheck, Adam Fox, and more.
Let’s get to it.
Fantasy Hockey Week in Review
NHL Three Stars of the Week
First Star: Auston Matthews, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
There’s nothing to see here just back-to-back hat tricks… again. In three games he had eight points. He was pointless versus St. Louis. He scored his first hat trick on six shots against Philadelphia in a 4-3 win. He then led the charge in a blow-out against Anaheim with three more goals and two assists in the 9-2 shellacking. Four of those points came on the power-play.
To say he is firing on all cylinders might be an understatement. Fun facts: Matthews is on pace for 75 goals. All 49 goals have come against a goalie. That’s right, not a single empty-net goal. His six hat tricks this season are more than any other NHL team.
Second Star: Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers
McDavid had 10 assists in three games, including six against the Detroit Red Wings, in an 8-4 win. His production tells the tale of his season, the goal-scoring is way down. No one expected (or should have) expected McDavid to replicate his 64-goal season. Fewer probably predicted he would be on pace for 34 goals.
Does anyone get the feeling McDavid is just warming up?
Third Star: Matthew Tkachuk, LW, Florida Panthers
Three goals and five assists, for eight points in three games gave Tkachuk the week’s third star. Since January 1st, no one in the NHL has more points than Matthew Tkachuk’s 37. That’s just a hair under two points per game in the last 19. I’ll take the over on Tkachuk notching his third consecutive 100-point season.
His 83 hits also put him on pace for his highest hit total in four seasons. A lot of folks will be riding Tkachuk to fantasy championships this season.
More Fantasy Hockey Standouts
Bobby McMann, C/LW, Toronto Maple Leafs
McMann has six goals and seven points in his last four games, including his first career NHL hat trick. For a fourth-liner averaging under ten minutes a game, this might just be a blip in production. Yet, neither Tyler Bertuzzi nor Matthew Knies has produced as hoped. The Leafs will be on the hunt for a forward at the deadline.
Keek an eye on McMann, who put up 21 goals in 34 games with the Toronto Marlies in 2022-23. They may see what he can do further up the lineup before pulling the trigger on a deal.
Frank Vatrano, LW/RW, Anaheim Ducks
Vatrano has four goals and two assists in his last three games, and eight points in six games since the all-star break. Four of those points have been on the power-play. He’s tacked on 13 shots and 15 hits for good measure.
Being an all-star seems to agree with Vatrano. He’s already set career highs in goals and points. He has a shot at 40 goals. Here’s hoping the Ducks don’t trade him. I see no reason to mess with his fantasy production.
Vincent Trocheck, C, New York Rangers
He also has four goals in his last three games. Trocheck has been a multi-cat beast over the last week. In the past four games, he has 20 shots and 20 hits. He’s dropped in six penalty minutes for good measure, as well.
Wyatt Johnston, C, Dallas Stars
Johnston also has six points and 20 shots over his last four games. In the last seven games, Johnston’s ice time has been over a minute higher than his season average.
There’s no buy-low window here. Those who own Johnston already covet the young center. That affection just grows and grows.
Leon Draisaitl, C/LW, Edmonton Oilers
Draisaitl is on a quiet four-game point streak. Over the last four games, Draisaitl has put up three goals and five assists.
He’s having another tremendous year, with 68 points in 52 games. That’s a tidy 107-point pace.
Yet it feels like Draisaitl hasn’t ripped it up at any point this year.
Shea Theodore, D, Vegas Golden Knights
Theodore returned to the lineup for the first time in three months last night. Before the injury, Theodore was off to a rocket start, with 18 points in 20 games.
It’s hard to predict that level of production will continue. Regardless, Theodore’s return will be welcomed across the board.
I think we all felt this was going to be the year Theodore finally delivered on his fantasy upside. Instead, he strengthened his band-aid label.
Connor Bedard, C, Chicago Black Hawks
Bedard returned on February 15th, after missing five weeks with a broken jaw. He’s played in three games now and has six points. The Hawks are still losing, but Bedard has wasted no time re-staking his claim to the Calder Trophy.
Adam Fox, D, New York Rangers
Largely overshadowed by Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar this year, Fox has 46 points in 46 games. He’s on pace for his third consecutive 70-plus point season.
A goal and six assists in the last three games helped Fox reach that point-per-game pace. He’s been a model of consistency for the Rangers. You have to think there’s a 90-point season on the horizon, don’t you?
Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche
Speaking of Makar, he has been ice cold of late. Going into the game against the Vancouver Canucks last night, Makar has no points in his last five games.
It is hard to believe he could still be on pace for 95 points. when he thaws out, Makar should heat up. I don’t believe he’s done chasing 100 points just yet.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Minnesota Wild
I’ve given this game its own heading because it was that wild (pardon the pun). The Canucks entered the third period up 5-3, only to give up five goals in the opening five minutes of the third period. If you need further proof we’re returning to the ‘run and gun 1980s, then, here’s your 10-7 game.
For the first time in 31 years, we had three hat tricks in the same game.
JT Miller, C/LW, Vancouver Canucks
In a losing cause, Miller scored three goals and added an assist. He also had four shots on goal, five hits, and two blocks. Quite a night.
Joel Eriksson Ek, C, Minnesota Wild
:29 into the third period, Eriksson opened the floodgates with his second goal of the game. Just 1:15 later, Eriksson completed his hat trick and scored the Wild’s third goal of the period. Yup, you read that right. Kirill Kaprizov scored 21 seconds earlier to tie the game at five.
If three goals weren’t enough, Eriksson Ek also added three assists, capping off a six-point night.
Kirill Kaprizov, LW, Minnesota Wild
Not to be outdone, Kaprizov completed the third hat trick of the game. This included the game-winner and an empty-netter which solidified the win. It also pushed the Wild to double digits.
Kaprizov also had three assists, for his own six-point night.
It felt like a slow start to the season, but Kaprizov is back on 40-goal pace and has a shot at 100 points. His six-game point streak has a lot to do with that. He’s scored five goals and nine assists during the streak. It’s a good time to be a Kaprizov fan.
That will do it for this week. Thanks for reading.
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