Weekend watch: Start Jake DeBrusk, Bryan Rust this weekend
In one respect, fantasy managers in head-to-head playoff competition can feel a kinship with those presently competing on NCAA hardcourts: There’s no tomorrow if you don’t win today. So never mind how you got here, or who helped make it happen. What only matters is now. If that means replacing some fantasy fixtures with timely individual Cinderellas, so be it.
There will be plenty of opportunities to do just that over this three-day NHL schedule – featuring four games Friday, 11 Saturday, and an unusually high number of 10 on Sunday – particularly at the goaltending position. Several attractive streamers, pegged to play either Friday or Sunday, are listed below.
Otherwise, it sets up to be a rich fantasy weekend for your players with the Avalanche and Stars (including an under appreciated Wyatt Johnston). While Colorado hosts the Blue Jackets and Penguins on either side of Saturday’s slate, Dallas welcomes that same struggling Pittsburgh squad Friday before visiting Arizona on Sunday.
Elsewhere, it’s a big weekend for the still-hopeful Devils (vs. Senators/Isles), the sizzling Lightning continue their trip through California with stops in L.A. and Anaheim, and Vancouver’s No. 1-for-now Casey DeSmith will aspire to make it three in a row when the Flames come to town.
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Jake DeBrusk, F, Boston Bruins: This is more like it. After registering two points in all of February – and hardly buckets of them in previous months either – DeBrusk is rediscovering his productive touch. A total of five goals and six assists in nine recent games certainly suggests as much. On a scoring line with Brad Marchand and Charlie Coyle, the refreshed winger merits rostering in the here and now.
Bryan Rust, F, Pittsburgh Penguins: Skating on a top line and power play with Sidney Crosby, Rust has three goals and two helpers in four games, including a point with the extra skater. Logging upwards of 20 minutes/contest of late, the winger is sure to get plenty more chances for a desperate Penguins squad with 14 games – most in the East – to go.
Seth Jarvis, F, Carolina Hurricanes: Since Jake Guentzel joined the fray, the 22-year-old has six goals in six games. Coincidence? Considering the number of assists Guentzel has earned on those Jarvis goals, the answer is “no”.
Mattias Ekholm, D, Edmonton Oilers: The Oilers defender appears to fancy himself a dangerous offensive threat these days, doesn’t he? (Judging from that one beauty of two scored against Buffalo, rightly so.) With three goals and four assists on 13 shots in his past four contests, Ekholm is feeling more productively inspired than usual.
Nick Schmaltz, F, Arizona Coyotes: Clayton Keller’s linemate has five goals and 12 assists in his past 13 games. The Coyotes host the Kraken Friday before welcoming the Stars Sunday.
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Jeremy Swayman, G, Boston Bruins: Surrendering 12 goals in his past three contests – two of them losses – Swayman is wobbling a little bit, while Linus Ullmark is not. After facing the Flyers Saturday, the Bruins visit the Panthers, Lightning, and Capitals next week. Even if he earns two of the next four starts, in a span of 10 days, the younger Boston netminder might not enjoy a successful go of it.
Ilya Sorokin, G, New York Islanders: Patrick Roy: “I’m not 100 percent pleased with him. It’s obvious, and I’m sure he’s not [pleased with] himself.” Ouch. Never mind the player/coach relationship, hearing that from one of the game’s goaltending legends must sting that much more.
Fact is, the Islanders top netminder is hemorrhaging fantasy points throughout his team’s six-game losing skid. Including during two losses after Roy aired his disappointment.
Pyotr Kochetkov, G, Carolina Hurricanes: Friday’s match-up with the Capitals favors the surging Hurricanes, in which Kochetkov is slated to start.
Justus Annunen, G, Colorado Avalanche: I’m all over rolling out Colorado’s backup against the visiting Penguins Sunday, if that’s how it unfolds. Not only has Annunen won four in a row, including two shutouts, but the Avalanche are even more vicious at home (six total losses), while Pittsburgh has only 12 road wins this season.
Calvin Pickard, G, Edmonton Oilers: One of my current favorite streaming options of late appears in position to face Ottawa Sunday. The Senators – also playing their second in as many days – have surrendered 21 goals in their past four games (three losses, one overtime victory), while Pickard has been great in relief this month.
Jonas Johansson, G, Tampa Bay Lightning: The Lightning’s backup should be in line for Sunday’s start versus Anaheim.
Laurent Brossoit, G, Winnipeg Jets: Play him against the Capitals Sunday.