Welcome back. We’re now deep into round two with several teams entering elimination territory.
Let’s look at the top performers in each of the current series.
Fantasy Hockey Playoff Week in Review
Boston Bruins vs. Florida Panthers
Panthers lead series 3-2
David Pastrnak, RW, Boston Bruins
This is not the Pastrnak of the regular season. With only three points through five games, Pastrnak hasn’t produced at the elite level we’ve come to expect. He scored the series-clinching goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs, which seems to have removed a lot of heat over his underwhelming offensive production. Eight points through 12 playoff games from the team’s best player isn’t enough.
Brad Marchand, LW, Boston Bruins
He has 10 points in 12 playoff games to lead the team. Unfortunately, he hasn’t played in game four or five. For Marchand to miss a playoff game, he has to be really injured. Love him or hate him, he is a playoff warrior. I doubt he will return this round.
Jake DeBrusk, LW, Boston Bruins
Forget the regular season, DeBrusk thrives when the playoffs begin. It’s reaching the point that DeBrusk arguably should be the third Bruin forward drafted in fantasy hockey pools. If not for how goalie stats are tracked, possibly the third Bruin period.
Aleksander Barkov, C, Florida Panthers
He has eight points in the five games so far and 13 through 10 playoff games. He’s been quiet the last two games with just one assist. Expect a big game six from him.
Matthew Tkachuk, LW/RW, Florida Panthers
It should be no surprise he’s tied with Barkov for the team lead in scoring with 13 points. Although, if the Panthers win the series he might be remembered for the ‘accidental’ right he landed on Marchand’s face.
Sergei Bobrovsky, G, Florida Panthers
Wins are the only thing that matters come playoffs, and Bobrovsky is 7-2. Has anyone even noticed he’s rocking a .892 save percentage? His 2.50 goals-against average is respectable. The Panthers just aren’t giving up a lot of shots.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Rangers
Rangers lead series 3-2
Mika Zibanejad, C, New York Rangers
Monday was the first time since April 3rd he was held without a point, breaking his 14-game point streak.
Vincent Trocheck, C, New York Rangers
Trocheck had six points in the Rangers’ three wins. He’s been held pointless in the last two games, both Carolina wins. This is the type of player that slips into the middle rounds of fantasy hockey playoff pools but produces like a top player.
Alexis Lafreniere, LW/RW, New York Rangers
Lafreniere has a very respectable six points through five games against the Hurricanes and ten points in total. What makes this more impressive is he is only receiving 15 minutes of ice time (two less than the regular season), and still only 1:23 a game on the powerplay.
Jake Guentzel, LW, Carolina Hurricanes
He has nine points, which is respectable. Guentzel hasn’t given us the rockstar performance we’ve come to expect from him in the playoffs. During the Pittsburgh Penguins Cup runs, Guentzel was a scoring machine. The Hurricanes could use that right now.
Andrei Svechnikov, LW/RW, Carolina Hurricanes
He’s having one of the best playoff performances of his career with nine points in 10 games. He keeps chipping in each game but hasn’t had a real dominant game to this point.
Brady Skjei, D, Carolina Hurricanes
He likely wasn’t the first, or possibly even the second Hurricane’s defenceman drafted. Yet, here he is, tied for 23rd in playoff scoring with 9 points.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Vancouver Canucks
Canucks lead 2-1
Leon Draisaitl, C/LW, Edmontonn Oilers
Draisaitl is doing regular Draisaitl things in the playoffs. His 19 points in just nine playoff games, lead the playoffs in scoring. Going into last night’s game, Draisaitl had picked up at least two points in all but one playoff game.
Evan Bouchard, D, Edmonton Oilers
If a 64-point season wasn’t a big enough coming-out party for Bouchard, then perhaps an encore of 14 points in nine, so far is the cherry on top.
Zach Hyman, LW, Edmonton Oilers
His goal-scoring touch has carried over into the playoffs. With nine goals in nine games, there appears to be no slow to his game.
J.T. Miller, C, LW, Vancouver Canucks
That regular-season passion he was criticized for last year, Fans are eating it up now. This guy wants to win. He has been dominant with five points through the first three games of the series.
Artur Silovs, G, Vancouver Canucks
Odds are, no one drafted Silovs. That said, some fantasy hockey playoff pools draft the team, not individual goalies. If so, Silovs has been a pleasant surprise. He is the reason the Canucks won game three. After all, they were outshot 36-7 in the second and third periods.
Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks
He’s hurting. If this were the regular season, Pettersson wouldn’t be playing. We won’t know until the season is over but it looks like it’s his wrist or hand.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars
Stars lead series 3-1
Valeri Nichushkin, LW/RW, Colorado Avalanche
Nichushkin was suspended minutes before game four. He was leading the playoffs in goals, with nine. The news seemed to shake the Avalanche as they were outshot 16-2 in the first period. This is a big blow to the Avalanche, who now find themselves in a 3-1 hole.
Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche
The Stars have really slowed MacKinnon down. He has a pedestrian three points through four games. The Avalanche needs him to put the team on his back if they have any chance of clawing back.
Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche
After a big game one ( one goal, two assists), Makar has been held pointless. Like MacKinnon, he needs to hit the scoresheet or the Avalanche won’t see game six.
Jake Oettinger, G, Dallas Stars
It took Oettinger a couple of seasons to figure out playoff hockey, but he finally has. He’s been rock solid in both rounds. His 2.02 goals against average and .923 save percentage further shows how solid he has been.
Wyatt Johnston, C, Dallas Stars
Another young player building off a breakout season. His 11 points lead the team in scoring. His seven goals are tied for 3rd in the playoffs.
Logan Stankoven, LW/RW, Dallas Stars
He leads all rookies with five points. Playoffs aren’t generally for rookies. Coaches rely on their veterans to push through playoff adversity. Regardless, he could explode with a three-point game on any given night. Likely a late-round or final-round pick, Stankoven will continue to chip in.
Next week, four will remain. Thanks for reading
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