We’re at that point of the season where small samples can wreak havoc on fantasy standings. At this point, all owners can do is put themselves in a position to succeed and hope for the best.
Here are some players who could manage a couple of power play points over the balance of the season. Keep in mind, these are guys found on the waiver wire. They’re on the waiver wire for a reason.
Chris Tierney (San Jose, Centre)
To be sure, most of the power play time in San Jose goes to the top unit, which features Joe Thornton and others. The second unit gets less time, but Tierney is a part of it.
The biggest reason for adding Tierney and hoping for a couple of power play points is the rest of San Jose’s schedule. Out of the Sharks’ final nine games, three are against Arizona and Colorado. Those two teams are among the five worst in giving up scoring chances on the penalty kill. That could mean very good things for San Jose’s power play down the stretch.
Frans Nielsen (NY Islanders, Centre)
It has been a step back offensively for Frans Nielsen this year, but one aspect of his production has still been very good: his power play points. To date, 16 of Nielsen’s 40 points have come on the man advantage.
While the top power play unit tends to be switched up from time to time, Nielsen is on the top unit with John Tavares as of now. Like San Jose, the Islanders have a favourable schedule for power play points down the stretch, facing the Flyers, Blue Jackets, and Sabres in four of their final eight games. Those three teams are among the bottom-six in the NHL in penalty-kill efficiency on the season.
The second pairings of players was released today for Sportsnet’s Pick ‘n Play. This is a matchup game that pits players who are facing each other the upcoming Saturday. Today’s pairings feature players from the Ottawa-Toronto game on the weekend. Given how these two teams have played of late, it’s hard to rely on any Leafs player.
Brett Ritchie (Dallas, Right Wing)
Brett Ritchie is seeing some ice time currently on the top power play unit for Dallas with Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and others.
On a per minute basis, the Dallas Stars are a top-10 team in the NHL this year in goals for while on the power play. They’re also second in the NHL in total power play opportunities. Over the next six days, Dallas plays Edmonton once and Calgary twice. Neither team takes a lot of penalties, but neither team has been very proficient on the penalty kill as a whole this year either.
Brayden Schenn (Philadelphia, Centre/Left Wing)
Kind of like Nielsen, Brayden Schenn has quietly been racking up power play points this season. Though Schenn has just 39 points on the year, 15 of them have come on the man advantage.
Of course, Schenn is in a pretty good spot by playing on the top power play unit with Claude Giroux and company. The Flyers face some pretty good penalty killing teams down the stretch like Pittsburgh and Carolina (twice each), but also face the Islanders and San Jose, who are not.
Justin Schultz (Edmonton, Defence)
It’s desperate times in fantasy hockey leagues when Justin Schultz starts to look like a good option on the blueline. Points are points, though, and 11 of Schultz’s 28 points have come with the man advantage.
Fantasy owners may find some use for Schultz over the next week; two of Edmonton’s next three games are against Colorado, a team that has given up a lot of scoring chances relative to the rest of the league while short-handed. The Oilers also get Dallas, the team who owns the 23rd-ranked penalty kill this year. With Edmonton healthy and playing better, Schultz is a good target for power play points.
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Patrick Wiercioch (Ottawa, Defence)
One of the biggest reasons for adding WIercioch – beyond the fact that he plays alongside Erik Karlsson on the power play – is that Ottawa is one of just six teams that has 10 games remaining on the season. Everyone else has fewer.
The Sens get Toronto twice down the stretch, and the Leafs are ranked 25th in scoring chances against while short-handed. They also get the Flyers, one of the worst penalty killing teams overall on the season. Wiercioch may be able to sneak in a power play point or two over the balance of the season as long as he stays with Karlsson.
Some stats from Hockey Analysis, Hockey Reference, War On Ice, and Left Wing Lock
