Start ‘Em:
Alexander
Ovechkin
Washington Capitals - LW
Upcoming Games:
3/5 - @ Buffalo
3/8 - @ Boston (poor Bruins)
3/9 - Pittsburgh
This falls into the blatantly obvious pick category, sort of
like predicting the 18-0 Patriots to win the Super Bowl over the mediocre New
York Giants ... oh, wait.
Anyway, after only finding the net once in his past eight
games, Ovechkin blew up Monday evening with three goals and five points in a
10-2 romp of the Boston Bruins. If Sidney Crosby is destined to be the
next Wayne Gretzky, then Ovechkin is the next Mario Lemieux. With his
offensive outburst Monday, he became the first player this year to cross the
legendary 50 goal mark.
He's on track to have the best goal-scoring season in the
post lockout era, eclipsing Jonathan Cheechoo's 56 goal season in
2005-06. Look for his dominance to continue as the Capitals battle for
one of the last remaining playoff spots in the East.
Jonathan
Toews
Chicago Blackhawks - C
Upcoming games:
3/4 - @ Minnesota
3/5 - Anaheim
3/7 - San Jose
3/9 - Edmonton
Following a brutal elbow to the mouth Sunday from
Vancouver's Matt Pettinger, Toews let the Chicago media know Monday he'd be
back in the lineup for Tuesday's game
against Minnesota.
To use one of by-far, the least annoying of all the
constantly repeated, far, far beyond beating a dead horse SportsCenter cliché's,
"he' a hockey player."
At least I didn't say Boo-Ya.
With four games coming up this week and the Hawks only six
games out of the playoffs, Toews will have to be at his best. Though
fellow rookie Patrick Kane has gotten a few more accolades, Toews has actually
been the more consistent offensive producer. In games they've played,
Kane is averaging .85 points/game, while Jonathan is slightly better at .91
points/game.
The main difference is that Toews missed an extended period
due to injury. Consider also, that Toews is currently an Assistant
Captain, while Sharp is not.
With Robert Lang and Martin Havlat out with injuries, Toews
will be centering the top line
between Kane and newcomer Andrew Ladd. As he gets more comfortable with
Ladd, I expect his numbers to pick up as he leads the Hawks back to postseason
glory.
Brian
Campbell
San Jose Sharks - D
Upcoming Games
3/5 - Ottawa
3/7 - @ Chicago
3/9 - @ Minnesota
Currently ranking third amongst all defenseman in assists
with 41, just behind Sergei Gonchar and The Man, Nicklas Lidstrom, Campbell was
traded last week from the Sabres to the Sharks.
As Fantasy Hockey, complete with belly, Buddha Darryl Dobbs points out,
"Over in San Jose, the Sharks are scoring at about 10 or 15
percent higher a clip in the three games since the deadline."
As he quarterbacks the power play, look for San Jose's power
play %, which is currently 18th in the league at 17.7% to rapidly
improve. Buffalo has the 9th best unit in the NHL, with
Campbell in their lineup for most games. As he gets more comfortable as
the games go forward, Campbell will only put up more points for the Sharks and
for your fantasy team.
Sit ‘Em:
Michael
Peca
Columbus Blue Jackets - C
Upcoming Games:
3/4 - @ Calgary
3/7 - Edmonton
3/9 - Tampa Bay
Despite a hallowed career, the Blue Jacket forward simply
has not been getting it done lately. With Columbus fighting for their
lives and first ever playoff berth, the center did not score a goal in the
entire month of February. This could be the week he turns it around with
a couple of easy games against Edmonton and Tampa Bay, but I frankly just don't
see it happening.
Especially considering he's playing on a team that is
currently last in the NHL in goals scored per game at just 2.4/contest.
Thank God they have a Vezina candidate in net.
Rick
DiPietro
New York Islanders - G
Upcoming Games:
3/4 - @ New York Rangers
3/6 - Rangers
3/8 - @ Philadelphia
Easily the most self-hyped goalie's a$$ hasn't been cashing
the checks his mouth's been writing lately. He's let up at least four
goals in three of his past four starts, and his save percentage has been an
atrocious 87.1%.
With two HUGE back to back games against the cross city
rival Rangers this week, for his own sake I hope Rick can turn things
around. Unfortunately, given the team in front of him, and that he's a
punk, I doubt it'll happen.
I wonder how owner Charlie Wang feels about that
atrocious 15-year contract these days?