Fantasy Focus 11/23 – 11/29

Ok, great thing about this week, we can totally forget about last week altogether, and thank God.  It was an ugly one, no doubt about that, and this week it doesn’t get any easier.  Let’s get it started.

Matchups

1. Wed., Nov. 25th, @ Washington Capitals (13-5-6) 7:00 PM – Granted this is the night before Thanksgiving, but I will be in attendance at the Verizon Center.  Mom can wait, seeing the Sabres cannot.  The Sabres last came to DC (aside from the 3-2 preseason win) was a 5-4 OT win in April of last season, handing Semyon Varlamov his first career defeat.  Both teams are currently spiraling, each dropping their last 3 contests (1 OTL for the Sabres, 2 OTLs for the Caps).  The Caps are injury riddled, with Semin, Knuble, Jurcina, and others all out of the lineup and “historically” the Sabres have beaten both Theo and Varly often, and let’s not forget the Caps 23rd ranked PK either (77.7%).  There is the question of rest as well, the Sabres having had off since Saturday (and it can be argued they didn’t show up all of last week), while the Caps have played 2 straight OT games, one Saturday, the other Tuesday.  That’s almost too many variables to track, with that said, as there’s 14 games on the docket, you’re going to want to sit some guys.

14 Games Scheduled
Starts: Roy, Miller, Myers
Your Call: Vanek, Pominville
Sits: Connolly
Sit ‘em If You’ve Got Em: Rivet, MacArthur, Stafford

Look at those numbers from last week.  Vanek (-6) and Connolly (-5), that’s hideous and a killer.  The other guys were more accountable defensively (just a -2), but Vanek and Pommer actually contributed offensively, can’t say the same for Timmy.  With a high powered offense like the Caps, if you can’t afford to take a hit on +/-, don’t.

2. Fri., Nov. 27th @ Philadelphia Flyers (12-8-1) 1:00 PM - Note that start time, early.  This will be the Sabres first afternoon game on the season, but looking back to last season, in 3 games played before the sun went down, the Sabres were 3-0, outscoring their opponents (Boston twice, Islanders) by a total of 17-4.  I think we can simply throw that stat out the window, but if that gives you more hope, then hell yeah, we’re taking this one.  We’ve already played the Flyers twice this season, the first in the 1st half of a back to back and got smoked 5-2, the other was in the 2nd half of the back to back and won 3-2.  Another trend I’m not entirely sure you can look at without a grain of salt.

Speaking of trends, the Flyers will have come in, pending a matchup with the Islanders tomorrow, riding a 3 game losing streak (San Jose, Phoenix, Colorado), pending the game with the Caps, the Sabres are as well.  What’s this mean?  I haven’t a damn clue, but if Emery has another bad outing (14 GA last 3 games) then perhaps we could see Brian Boucher in net.  Either way, I think the starts and sits are pretty similar in this matchup.

12 Games Scheduled
Starts: Roy, Miller, Myers
Your Call: Vanek, Pominville
Sits: Connolly
Sit ‘em If You’ve Got Em: Rivet, MacArthur, Stafford

3. Sat., Nov. 28th Carolina Hurricanes (5-13-5) 7:00 PM – Finally, some relief.  Or is it?  Unlike the prior two teams, these woeful Canes have actually won 2 of 3 contests.  Of course, that doesn’t change the fact that their goalie tandem is Michael Leighton and Manny Legace, sporting a combined GAA of 3.48. Oh, should I mention that they’re ranked 30th in goals for with a meager 2.17 goals per game?  Do I have to explain any more?  This is the game Lalime should be starting every time, but after laying his egg against a familiar face and foe in Ottawa, he can sit on that bench ’til the cows comes home, and by cows come home I mean until he gets waived.

13 Games Scheduled
Starts: Roy, Miller, Myers, Vanek, Pominville, Connolly
Your Call:
Sits:
Start ‘em If You’ve Got Em: Rivet, Stafford