This article is part of our Schedule Analysis series.
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Four Aces
Obviously the teams that play just two tilts (Arizona, Boston, Dallas, Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver) and their players will yield limited results. As every week, "Four Aces" highlights the most chances for productive punch.
Calgary gets their four-game road trip squeezed into this week before closing out the month with five of their remaining seven at home. Sean Monahan's five-game point streak is nice, but we're liking Curtis Glencross, especially on Tuesday, as he has eight points in seven career games against the Leafs.
Winners in six straight, Chicago's goal differential doesn't seem to be getting any worse with Antti Raanta in net. He has been a blessing for those that coupled him with Corey Crawford. Meanwhile Scott Darling got the win and Brandon Saad found the scorer's sheet for the fourth game in a row while defenseman Klas Dahlbeck (six points in 22 AHL games) made his NHL debut in Saturday's win over Nashville.
Perhaps it's only fitting Edmonton get a chance to break their schneid (0-7-4) against the team they last defeated. However, you can't have any pudding if you don't eat your meat, isn't that what they say? The Oilers will find that out as they play in San Jose and Anaheim on b2b nights (1-3) before heading home for another tilt with Anaheim then host the Rangers.
Seven of Los Angeles' final 11 games in the calendar year are on the road, beginning with four tilts against the Atlantic Division. We
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Four Aces
Obviously the teams that play just two tilts (Arizona, Boston, Dallas, Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver) and their players will yield limited results. As every week, "Four Aces" highlights the most chances for productive punch.
Calgary gets their four-game road trip squeezed into this week before closing out the month with five of their remaining seven at home. Sean Monahan's five-game point streak is nice, but we're liking Curtis Glencross, especially on Tuesday, as he has eight points in seven career games against the Leafs.
Winners in six straight, Chicago's goal differential doesn't seem to be getting any worse with Antti Raanta in net. He has been a blessing for those that coupled him with Corey Crawford. Meanwhile Scott Darling got the win and Brandon Saad found the scorer's sheet for the fourth game in a row while defenseman Klas Dahlbeck (six points in 22 AHL games) made his NHL debut in Saturday's win over Nashville.
Perhaps it's only fitting Edmonton get a chance to break their schneid (0-7-4) against the team they last defeated. However, you can't have any pudding if you don't eat your meat, isn't that what they say? The Oilers will find that out as they play in San Jose and Anaheim on b2b nights (1-3) before heading home for another tilt with Anaheim then host the Rangers.
Seven of Los Angeles' final 11 games in the calendar year are on the road, beginning with four tilts against the Atlantic Division. We definitely like Alec Martinez' career numbers against Montreal this week.
New Jersey plays three of four in the first four days of the week before continuing their five game road trip to Dallas. Patrik Elias (groin) scored in his return to the lineup on Saturday. Jaromir Jagr is back after battle with the flu, praying that it's not the mumps. It will be interesting to see if New Jersey plays Cory Schneider (played 13 of their last 14 contests) on b2b nights again. Very likely they will hold onto him for Tuesday night against Chicago. Michael Cammalleri (lower body) is currently considered day-to-day.
Back-to-Back Jacks
The Maple Leafs will play all four of their contests on b2b occurrences, especially since they have two b2b games. The Leafs will host Calgary then travel to Detroit, only to head back home to host Detroit and the Kings on Saturday and Sunday respectively. Here's the week Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer get the Leafs moving in the right direction definitively or simply fall back to their shame. Leo Komarov is still not skating for Toronto. Peter Hollland broke a nine-game drought, while Joffrey Lupul continued his streak on Saturday.
Three of a Kind (East versus West)
Hold 'Em
Anaheim plays the NHL's worst for two of three and we highly doubt Winnipeg will give them too much trouble. Matt Beleskey has been solid as of late. Ilya Bryzgalov signed by the Ducks and Frederik Andersen has been pedestrian as of late. Ducks have three games in four nights, two of which will be a non-traditional home-and-home against the listless Oilers. Corey Perry day-to-day with a knee issue.
Nashville's plays six of next seven tilts on the road, starting with the Avs, Coyotes and Sharks this week.
St. Louis hosts Florida, a road-weary Isles squad and then off to regional rival Colorado. Alex Steen didn't play in the Blues' high-scoring victory over the Isles on Saturday. The Jori Lehtera rollercoaster is continues its sketchy ride as a quick point and two penalty minutes last night muck up your judgment. Still standing by our treasure in what has been a very shallow FA pool this year, as Dan Pennucci and Janet Eagleson's Morning Skate referenced last month.
Fold 'Em
Colorado hosts a trio of opponents from the Central division. While they have yet to be tasked with the Preds this season, they are winless (0-2-1) and being outscored 11-5 in three contests against the Blues and Jets. P.A. Parenteau was dropped to the third line on Friday. The organization did end up staying with the more experienced Reto Berra -despite his struggles- and he relieved Semyon Varlamov of his duties on Friday.
Currently second in the league with 38 points, the Islanders have been nothing short of Cinderella this year. But they are definitely a bit weaker on the road (9-5), where they'll play two of their three opponents this week, also against the NHL's best division exclusively. Furthermore, Isles coach Jack Capuano says Johnny Boychuck "won't be playing anytime here soon." With Capuano echoing the same sentiment for Travis Hamonic's issue, Ryan Pulock (eight goals and 13 points in 20 games with AHL Bridgeport) will only be sent back as Lubomir Visnovsky (upper body) was reportedly cleared to return on Tuesday.
Yes, the Rangers stomped out Pittsburgh (Monday) a few weeks back and lost to Edmonton (Sunday) last month. And quite honestly, this team has yet to see its own identity, so there's no telling how it will all shake out as they begin a four-game road trip on Saturday, especially against the high-powered Canucks, but we definitely don't like the Blue Shirts' chances. Despite the team's light schedule Cam Talbot continues to get more than his fair share of starts due to the team's back-to-back occurrences and that trend should continue with two weekend games. Most notably, Chris Kreider sustained an upper-body injury after colliding with teammate Carl Hagelin at practice on Sunday.
All-In (FanDuel Value Picks*)
I'm trying something new here, by adding a section of good value match-ups to help you save salary in one position and increase in another.
We're going with the rising Jakob Silfverberg ($4300) this week. He has three goals and seven points in 10 career games versus the Oilers and Jets.
Kerby Rychel has three points in his first three games in Columbus.
Nick Foligno ($5800) in two of three games this week - vs. Philly on Tuesday but not against Washington on Thursday. Additionally, the Jackets stand-out has a career-high with 15 points against Pittsburgh as well.
Mikael Granlund, playing on the top line with Zach Parise and Jason Pominville.
Jonathan Huberdeau ($3000), three points in his last two games, has eight of his 11 points on the season on the road where the Panthers will be exclusively, but temper your expectations.
*all values at the time of publishing
