WESTERN CONFERENCE FACE-OFF(S)

MAY 15/12

Since there isn’t much to report on Fantasy-wise at this time of year, let’s face it your teams are drafted and now there is just the waiting, I thought I would get in on the face-off debate.

Don Cherry and many analysts want to see the linesmen give more leeway in the face-off circle. I, as a former linesman, disagree. It is simple to take a legal face-off. The reason more guys are getting tossed out of the dot in the playoffs is because everyone, EVERYONE, is looking for any advantage they can get. Watching the games in person during the first round I was seeing more infractions than I did all year.

The cries for, “Let the players do their jobs,” is a fair one, but not as fair as my point of, “Let the linesmen do their jobs”. 

THE IR REPORT - PLAYOFF EDITION

May 2/12

Brandon Dubinsky – He was not in practice on Tuesday and will not play in game three.

Brian Boyle returned in game two from his concussion.

Ilya Kovalchuk – He was a scratch for game two with a lower body injury. There is some speculation that it is a back injury. Kovalchuk has been playing through the injury for the better part of the post season. He may return for game three.

Alex Pietrangelo – He took a hit in game one from the Kings Dwight King and went face first into the glass. It was suspected that he suffered a concussion on the play but is officially listed as out with a lower body injury.

FHC COACHES CLINIC

May 16/12

The FHC Coaches examine and give their opinion on four questions:

Which player has raised his fantasy value the most during the playoffs, Braden Holtby, Erik Gustafsson, Brayden Schenn, Chris Kreider, or other?

Will the Nashville be able to retain Ryan Suter and Shea Weber?

Which player in the upcoming draft will have the most fantasy impact the fastest, and why?

Which player has diminished his fantasy value the most during the playoffs, Alex Semin, Alex Ovechkin, Roberto Luongo, Ilya Bryzgalov, Brian Elliott, Patrick Marleau, or other?

STARTING GOALIES

May 17/12

Here are the potential starters for tonight's NHL games. This information is based on the latest tweets or news from on the web. Remember that coaches have the right to make changes so take this information as a list of potential starters and not written in stone starters.

This table shows who the potential starting goalies are along with their individual records for three different categories. The first is their record in the last five games (W-win, L-loss, SO-shutout, SH-shoot-out loss, P-pulled, R-relief). The second category is their 2012 Stanley Cup playoff home and away records, along with their GAA (goals against average). The final category is their career playoff record against their opponent, along with their career playoff GAA against their opponent.

THE UNDERRATED STATS

April 30/12

When you talk about fantasy hockey with your buddies it won’t take long till someone brings up how many goals Steven Stamkos has or how many assists Henrik Sedin has. The discussion usually centers on goal, assist and point totals but the smart fantasy gm knows there are a few stats that are extremely important.

Time-on-ice per game, power play time-on-ice per game and team penalty minutes per game are underrated stats that fantasy players don’t use to their potential.

You want to add players who average more ice time, simply put the more a player is on the ice the more they have a chance to produce a point for you.