New York is not home
The New York area teams (Rangers, Islanders and Devils) are away from home all week and we cannot remember when there has not been a regular season week in which the New York area was blanked.
Next week I'm going to give everyone each team's final three weeks of total games to give everyone in Yahoo! pools the chance to trade for players who will see a lot of action down the stretch.
Catch me on Google+Hangout this Thursday with NHL.com's Matt Cubeta, Chris Foster Pete Jensen, Brian Metzer and Matthew Sitkoff for our regular fantasy chat. You can watch the archives of the chats by clicking here or by going to NHL.com Fantasy and then clicking on Fantasy Hangouts.
You can still purchase the Season Pass if you haven't done so already.
Now to The Week Ahead.
WEEK OF MARCH 25-31
4 Games– Anaheim, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Columbus, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Jose, Toronto
3 Games – Calgary, Carolina, Colorado, Dallas, Detroit, Florida, Montreal, Nashville, New Jersey, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Vancouver,
Washington, Winnipeg
2 Games - St. Louis, Tampa Bay
Philadelphia plays all four games at home.
Los Angeles plays all four games on the road.
Anaheim, Columbus, New Jersey, the New York Islanders, the New York Rangers and Phoenix play three games on the road.
Chicago, Dallas, Ottawa, Pittsburgh and San Jose play three games at home.
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INJURIES
Ryan Malone was placed on the injured reserve list after suffering a shoulder injury on Monday. (Click here to see the rest of the injury list.)
ANAHEIM
Games this week
vs. San Jose, @ San Jose, @ Chicago, @ Columbus
Notes
The Ducks play the Sharks twice this week so look for Brad Staubitz and Matt Beleskey to partake in fisticuffs if the situation arises. Looks like Jonas Hiller has regained his spot as the Ducks top netminder as he has started six of the last seven games as well as seven of the last nine. Viktor Fasth remains a more than capable backup. Corey Perry signed an eight-year contract with the Ducks so they have both their superstars (Ryan Getzlaf being the other one) under contract for eight years. Teemu Selanne is so happy with the signings, he could return for another season. The Ducks have won 13 in a row at home after beating the Blackhawks Wednesday.
BOSTON
Games this week
vs. Toronto, vs. Montreal, @ Philadelphia, @ Buffalo
Notes
The Bruins are rested when they host Montreal on Wednesday as the Canadiens will be the tired team after playing in Pittsburgh Tuesday. Adam McQuaid is out three-four weeks with a shoulder strain. Tuukka Rask continues to impress in net with a 14-4-3 record with a 1.92 GAA and a .928 save percentage but backup Anton Khodobin has been pretty good too with a 6-2 mark to go with a 2.14 GAA and a .925 save percentage. Brad Marchand has only two goals but eight assists in his last 11 games. David Krejci is day-to-day with a leg injury and Ryan Spooner saw action in his place on the second line with Nathan Horton and Milan Lucic.
BUFFALO
Games this week
@ Tampa Bay, @ Florida, vs. Washington, vs. Boston
Notes
The Sabres play four times this week including three games in four nights so expect to see Jhonas Enroth play at least once in place of Ryan Miller. Nathan Gerbe was highly regarded coming into this season but has struggled and has been a healthy scratch the last two games. Thomas Vanek is day-to-day with a lower body injury. Some controversy in Buffalo as Miller called out Patrick Kaleta for complaining that he was a healthy scratch. Miller said that Kaleta had to 'grow up'. The two have patched up their differences. Ville Leino has three assists in his four games after returning from a hip injury that had kept him out of action all season.
CALGARY
Games this week
@ Chicago, vs. Colorado, vs. Columbus
Notes
The Flames play three games in four nights so expect to see Joey MacDonald play at least once in place of Miikka Kiprusoff. The Flames will be tired on Wednesday when they take on Colorado after playing the Blackhawks in Chicago Tuesday. They will be rested Friday at home versus the Blue Jackets who are in Edmonton Thursday as well as Tuesday in Chicago as the Blackhawks play the Kings Monday. Rumors persist that Jarome Iginla will be dealt elsewhere but he will have to waive his no trade contract if the Flames decide to deal him. The Flames have lost seven in a row on the road, a major reason why they are unlikely to make the playoffs.
CAROLINA
Games this week
vs. Winnipeg, @ Toronto, @ Winnipeg
Notes
The Hurricanes play the Jets twice this week so look for Jay Harrison to get involved if there is any rough stuff. Tuomo Ruutu returned on Thursday after undergoing surgery on his hip in December. If the Hurricanes do not make the playoffs, it will be because of their porous power play which ranks 29th overall. Justin Faulk, the highly regarded sophomore defenseman, is out two-to-four weeks with a lower body injury. Eric Staal, Alexander Semin and Jiri Tlusty have been outstanding in the plus/minus department with a plus-19 and two plus-18's respectively. Dan Ellis is 4-5-1 with a 2.65 GAA and a .918 save percentage and has played well in relief of the injured Cam Ward but will miss this week with a cut above his knee.
CHICAGO
Games this week
vs. Los Angeles, vs. Calgary, vs. Anaheim, @ Detroit
Notes
The Blackhawks will be tired on Tuesday at home to the Flames as they take on the Kings Monday. Marian Hossa is day-to-day with an upper body injury. Marcus Kruger is playing very well centering the fourth line after playing some on the second line last season. Daniel Carcillo played Wednesday after being a healthy scratch in the three previous games. Seven Blackhawks have plus/minus ratings over plus-10 including Jonathan Toews who leads the team with a plus-17. Ray Emery is a perfect 11-0 this season.
COLORADO
Games this week
@ Calgary, @ Vancouver, vs. Nashville
Notes
The Avs three in four nights and we should expect to see Jean-Sebastien Giguere play once this week in place of Semyon Varlamov. The Avs are rested Wednesday against the Flames after Calgary take on Chicago Tuesday. They are then the tired team Thursday in Vancouver. It appeared that Tyson Barrie was going to be recalled by the Avalanche but a hip injury in the minors precluded that and Colorado recalled Stefan Elliott instead to bolster a sagging defense. Milan Hejduk scored the 375th goal of his career, tying him with Trevor Linden and Butch Goring for 104th overall in the NHL record book.
COLUMBUS
Games this week
@ Vancouver, @ Edmonton, @ Calgary, vs. Anaheim
Notes
The Blue Jackets will be tired Friday when they are in Calgary after playing the Oilers in Edmonton Thursday. Columbus plays three games in four nights as part of a four game week so do not be surprised if Steve Mason finally gets a start in place of the white-hot Sergei Bobrovsky. The surprising Blue Jackets were forecast by just about everyone to have the worst team in the NHL but are on an 11 game points streak and fighting for a playoff spot. Bobrovsky was named the NHL's third star of the week, the second week in a row that he was a star of the week. Ryan Murray, the second overall pick in the 2012 Draft is slowly recovering from shoulder surgery in January. He is expected to be ready for the start of training camp in September.
DALLAS
Games this week
vs. Minnesota, vs. Minnesota, vs. Los Angeles
Notes
The Stars play the Wild twice this week, with both games at home, so look for Antoine Roussel and Brenden Dillon to add to their penalty minute totals. Dallas will be the rested team Sunday when they are home to the Kings who face the Wild in Minnesota Saturday. Jack Campbell, the Stars first pick, 11th overall in the 2010 Draft, was recalled to back up Kari Lehtonen while Richard Bachman was sent to the minors. Both Alex Goligoski and Stephane Robidas have yet to score this season and have 15 and 10 assists respectively. It's hard to believe but 41-year-old Jaromir Jagr leads the Stars in goals with 12 and points with 22.
DETROIT
Games this week
@ Phoenix, @ San Jose, vs. Chicago
Notes
The Red Wings are the tired team Monday when they are in Phoenix after playing the Ducks in Anaheim Sunday. Damien Brunner has not scored in 11 games, and has only four assists in that time frame. The news on Todd Bertuzzi is not good. He has not played since February 7 because of a bad back and tried to skate earlier in the week but had to quit after five minutes as his back is not strong enough. Kyle Quincey is out four-six weeks with a fractured cheekbone. Niklas Kronwall has five goals and 22 points in 30 games season with half his points coming on the power play.
EDMONTON
Games this week
@ Nashville. @ St. Louis, vs. Columbus, vs. Vancouver
Notes
The Oilers play three times in four nights so look for Nikolai Khabibulin to play at least once in place of Devan Dubnyk. The Oilers will be the tired team on Tuesday when playing the Blues in St. Louis after visiting Nashville Monday. Sam Gagner continues to impress as he has 28 points in 29 games. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has not, with only 11 points in 27 games but does have three in his last four. Rookie Justin Schultz is worried about hitting the wall in his first professional season as he has already played over 25 games more than he did last season in college hockey with 19 still remaining in the regular season.
FLORIDA
Games this week
@ Toronto, vs. Buffalo, vs. New Jersey
Notes
The Panthers are the rested team playing tired teams twice this week. First they are in Toronto Tuesday after the Maple Leafs are in Boston Monday, and they then host the Devils on Saturday after New Jersey take on the Lightning in Tampa Bay Friday. After struggling earlier on, rookie Jacob Markstrom is finally showing fans why he was considered the top goalie in the world not in the NHL coming into this season. He has won his last two starts giving up only two goals on 79 shots in two wins. Dmitry Kulikov has apparently been out with a core injury since March 2 although he is expected back at some point this week.
LOS ANGELES
Games this week
@ Chicago, @ St, Louis, @ Minnesota, @ Dallas
Notes
The Kings play three games in four nights this week so look for Jonathan Bernier to play at least once in place of Jonathan Quick. After playing all four at home last week, the Kings are on the road for four as part of a five game road trip. They are rested Saturday when they play the Wild who face the Stars Friday and then are the tired team the next day as they are in Dallas to take on the rested Stars. Drew Doughty finally potted his first goal this season in 29 games. Justin Williams is picking up the pace after a slow start as he is tied for second spot in Kings scoring with 21 points. Tyler Toffoli was a healthy scratch on Thursday but scored his first NHL goal Monday. He had 52 last season with Ottawa of the OHL and it should be the first of many in the NHL.
MINNESOTA
Games this week
@ Dallas, vs. Phoenix, @ Dallas, vs. Los Angeles
Notes
The Wild play three games in four nights so expect to see the recently recalled Matthew Hackett to play in place of Niklas Backstrom once. The Wild are tired Saturday at home to Los Angeles as they are in Dallas Friday to play the Stars. They play Dallas twice this week and you can expect to see Zenon Konopka and Michael Rupp spend some time in the penalty box due to some fisticuffs. Devin Setoguchi has been red-hot of late with six goals in his last five games. Ryan Suter has been equally as hot with two goals and 15 points in his last 12 games. Jason Zucker is back after suffering an upper body injury when hit by Corey Perry, an indiscretion that cost Perry a four game suspension.
MONTREAL
Games this week
@ Pittsburgh, @ Boston, vs. New York Rangers
Notes
The Canadiens will be tired Wednesday when they face the Bruins in Boston after playing the Penguins the previous night. P.K. Subban has been outstanding since returning after signing his contract into the season as he has nine goals and 22 points in 24 games. He leads all defensemen in goals and is tied for third in points. Rene Bourque has been out of action since February 21 with a concussion but is expected back this week if not sooner as he has been practicing with the team. Alex Galchenyuk is slumping with only two assists in his last 12 games. Carey Price is 16-4-4 this season and has a shot at the Vezina as his GAA is 2.34 with a .912 save percentage.
NASHVILLE
Games this week
vs. Edmonton, vs. Phoenix, @ Colorado
Notes
The Predators are rested Thursday when they host the Coyotes who play the Wild on Wednesday. Mike Fisher has been the Predators leading scorer of late with five goals in his last five games. Shea Weber started the season with only one assist in his first 13 games but has really turned things around with five goals and 17 points in his last 18 games. Colin Wilson is still out with an upper body injury suffered on March 9 and there is no timetable for his return. Defenseman Jonathon Blum has played in the Predators last three games after being a healthy scratch for the previous five. Pekka Rinne has been in a terrible slump of late, giving up 16 goals in his last five games on only 88 shots.
NEW JERSEY
Games this week
@ Ottawa, @ Tampa Bay, @ Florida
Notes
The Devils will be tired on Saturday when they travel across the state of Florida to play the Lightning after playing the Panthers Friday. Great return to action for 40-year-old netminder Martin Brodeur, who played Thursday for the first time since Feb. 21. He stopped 17 of 18 shots and was credited with a power play goal. It was the third goal of his NHL career and he scored more power play points this season than Shane Doan of the Coyotes who has played 86:10 minutes of power play time with nary a point. Travis Zajac has a goal and two assists in his last two games after only eight points in his first 29 games. Andrei Loktionov scored in his return to action on Thursday after missing two games with an undisclosed injury.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS
Games this week
@ Washington, @ Philadelphia, @ Pittsburgh
Notes
Jesse Joensuu is close to returning and should play this week after missing the entire season thus far recovering from a sports hernia injury. Michael Grabner returned to the lineup on Thursday after missing three games with a shoulder injury. He has 10 goals and 13 points in 27 games. Matt Carkner also returned on Thursday but he had been out since Feb. 5 with a lower body injury. Mark Streit has four goals and 15 points in 30 games but his minus-14 rating really hurts his fantasy value in traditional pools. Thomas Hickey is the only Islander with a plus rating who has played in over half the team's games as he is plus-four.
NEW YORK RANGERS
Games this week
@ Philadelphia, @ Ottawa, @ Montreal
Notes
Marian Gaborik scored his ninth goal of the season on Thursday but his name is getting bandied about in trade rumors with San Jose being prominently named. The Rangers recalled Chris Kreider and he played alongside JT Miller and Brian Boyle. Kreider struggled in the minors as he has done so all season with only a goal and an assist in 11 games since his previous demotion. Do not expect a lot from him fantasy-wise the rest of the way as this could be a lost season, but look for him to be a fantasy asset in a couple of years. The Rangers could use some extra toughness and will get it with Arron Asham returning, possibly as early as March 24 as he has been out since Feb. 19 with a back injury. After being a Stanley Cup favorite heading into the season, the Rangers are currently on the outside looking in, at a playoff position going into Friday's action.
OTTAWA
Games this week
vs. New Jersey, vs. New York Rangers, vs. Toronto
Notes
Robin Lehner has a 1.92 GAA and a .944 save percentage but is only 2-1-4 this season. Zack Smith has three goals in his last eight games after going goalless in his first 23 contests. If you are looking for a scoring defenseman, Ottawa has two you could consider as Patrick Wiercioch has four goals and eight points in his last nine games and Sergei Gonchar is really hot as he is on a nine game scoring streak with two goals and 15 points. Gonchar is owned in 72 percent of Yahoo! pools while Wiercioch is owned in only 22 percent. Gonchar suffered an undisclosed injury on Thursday. Kyle Turris was the NHL's second star of the week last week with four goals and six points.
PHILADELPHIA
Games this week
vs. New York Rangers, vs. New York Islanders, vs. Boston, vs. Washington
Notes
The Flyers play three games in four nights so it is likely that Michael Leighton will play once in net instead of Ilya Bryzgalov. The Flyers are home for all four games as they start a six game home stand. Ruslan Fedotenko has only one goal this season and has not found the back of the net in 25 games. Sean Couturier has not scored in his last 22 games. Brayden Schenn has not picked up a point and is a horrible minus-nine in his last seven games. Scott Hartnell only has a goal and no assists in his last eight games. No wonder the Flyers are in a three way tie for 12th in the Eastern Conference.
PHOENIX
Games this week
vs. Detroit, @ Minnesota, @ Nashville, @ San Jose
Notes
The Coyotes play three games in four nights this week so look for Jason LaBarbera to get one start this week giving Mike Smith one night off. The Coyotes are rested Monday as they are home to Detroit who play in Anaheim Sunday. The Coyotes are tired Thursday when in Nashville after playing in Minnesota Wednesday. Smith suffered an undisclosed injury Thursday so keep an eye on the goaltending situation. Boyd Gordon is one of only three NHL forwards to play 28 or more games and not register a goal. Jeff Halpern and Tanner Glass are the others. Mikkel Boedker leads the Coyotes with 19 points, one ahead of Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Shane Doan.
PITTSBURGH
Games this week
vs. Montreal, vs. Winnipeg, vs. New York Islanders
Notes
Kris Letang could return this week from an upper body injury suffered on St. Patrick's Day. While he has not been on the ice, he is working out off-ice. Evgeni Malkin (upper body) is hoping to return on March 22 as he took part in some contact drills on Wednesday. Keep your eye on Beau Bennett for next season as he could be quite a scorer if he plays as a top-six forward. He is currently on the second unit with James Neal and Dustin Jeffrey but that could change once Malkin returns. After 29 games, Paul Martin already has tied his season high goal total of six, set in his rookie season of 2003-04. Sidney Crosby is the first NHLer to 50 points this season and he did it in only 31 games.
ST. LOUIS
Games this week
vs. Edmonton, vs. Los Angeles
Notes
The Blues are rested Tuesday when hosting the Oilers who are in Nashville Monday. They only play twice this week so it may be a good idea to bench your Blues if you are in weekly pools. Good news for Blues fans as Andy McDonald returned to action this past week after missing 10 games with a knee injury. Chris Stewart was the first star of the week as he had five goals and seven points in three games. He is leading the Blues with 14 goals and 28 points, seven points ahead of David Perron who sits in second. Jake Allen is 8-2 this season with a .915 save percentage but the Blues need Jaroslav Halak to return to form if they hope to do anything in the playoffs, provided they make the post-season.
SAN JOSE
Games this week
@ Anaheim, vs. Anaheim, vs. Detroit, vs. Phoenix
Notes
The Sharks play three games in four nights so you should expect to see Thomas Greiss (if healthy) play once in place of Antti Niemi. If Greiss is unable to go then Alex Stalock may get the call in net. The Sharks will be tired Thursday when they host Detroit after playing Anaheim the night before. San Jose play the Ducks in back-to-back games and Ryane Clowe and Andrew Desjardins could find themselves involved in a fight. The Sharks finally made Michal Handzus a healthy scratch after he had only two points in 28 games with a minus-nine rating. Dan Boyle is being named in trade rumors with the New York Rangers leading the way as a possible destination.
TAMPA BAY
Games this week
vs. Buffalo, vs. New Jersey
Notes
The Lightning play only twice this week so I suggest benching all your Tampa Bay players with the exception of Steve Stamkos and Martin St. Louis. The Lightning signed highly regarded undrafted college player Andrej Sustr to a two-year/entry level contract. He is a behemoth at six foot, eight inches and should be a presence on the Tampa Bay blueline. Anders Lindback is out indefinitely with a high ankle sprain and the Lightning are in serious trouble again between the pipes (remember last season with Dwayne Roloson) with Mathieu Garon the likely starter for the foreseeable future. Ryan Malone was placed on the injured reserve list after suffering a shoulder injury Monday.
TORONTO
Games this week
@ Boston, vs. Florida, vs. Carolina, @ Ottawa
Notes
The Maple Leafs play three games in four nights so expect to see Ben Scrivens play once in net for James Reimer. They will tired on Tuesday when the Panthers come to the Air Canada Centre after playing in Boston Monday. Joffrey Lupul will return to action this week after sitting out a two-game suspension for a hit to the head on the Lightning's Victor Hedman. Nazem Kadri is eighth in NHL scoring with 33 points while teammate Phil Kessel is tied for 15th with 30 points. Mike Komisarek agreed to be waived and was sent to the minors allowing the Maple Leafs to recall last year's sensation Jake Gardiner. Leo Komarov left Thursday's game with an upper body injury.
VANCOUVER
Games this week
vs. Columbus, vs. Colorado, @ Edmonton
Notes
The Canucks are the rested team Thursday when they host the Avalanche as Colorado will be in Calgary on Wednesday. Jordan Schroeder's first goal in 17 games was the winner Thursday. The Canucks could start going with Cory Schneider after a good performance in back-to-back performances this week, especially with Roberto Luongo struggling of late. Zack Kassian returned to action on Tuesday from a back injury and then promptly re-injured it in a fight. Daniel Sedin has found the back of the net only once in his last 11 games. David Booth is out indefinitely with a leg injury and could be dropped in most pools as he will likely not have any fantasy value the remainder of the season.
WASHINGTON
Games this week
vs. New York Islanders, @ Buffalo, @ Philadelphia
Notes
After missing another 10 games with a groin injury, Mike Green returned to action on Thursday. Despite the perceived poor season that most think Alex Ovechkin is having he has 13 goals and 27 points in 30 games including an NHL leading nine power play goals. Brooks Laich finally returned to action on Tuesday after missing all season with a groin injury and picked up an assist Thursday for his first point of the season. Braden Holtby is 11-10-0 with a 2.77 GAA and a .913 save percentage but is tied for second in the NHL with four shutouts, trailing only Pekka Rinne. Mike Ribeiro has 32 points in 30 games, good for ninth place in NHL scoring but he is on the trading block as he can become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
WINNIPEG
Games this week
@ Carolina, @ Pittsburgh, vs. Carolina
Notes
Winnipeg plays Carolina twice this week so it is likely that Chris Thorburn will get into a fight or two along the way. Al Montoya is close to returning from a lower body injury and should be able to push Ondrej Pavelec between the pipes. Arturs Kulda played in the KHL this season and returned to the Jets after his team was eliminated in Russia. He has played in 15 NHL games in the previous three years and the defenseman had no points in nine games last season with a plus-three rating. Tobias Enstrom has missed the last 18 games with a shoulder injury but was able to partake in some contact drills in practice this week.