This article is part of our The Man Advantage series.
It's Christmastime and there's no need to be afraid. Why? Because we're here to help you find some players who can improve your power-play performance in fantasy. We're going to focus on players who have been going strong over the last 15 days. That's verging a little bit on recency bias, but it'll let you know who's playing well right now so you know who to keep an eye on. Perhaps the good times will continue rolling.
Kris Versteeg, RW, CGY – Versteeg has spent a lot of time on the sidelines this season, but he's gotten back to full health, which has been a boon to Calgary's power play. He has five power-play points this year, all of which have come in his last six games. Now, he missed two games in the middle of that run, which is part of the concern here. However, Versteeg clearly has a role on Calgary's power play at the moment, and you may be able to take advantage of that. (By the way, fellow Flame Troy Brouwer also has four power-play points over the last 15 days.)
Jonathan Drouin, RW, TAM – Drouin isn't playing as much on the power play as he did last season, when he averaged a whopping 4:28 in 21 games, but his output has gone to the next level anyway. He's got eight points with the extra man, including five in his last seven games. The time of tension and strain with Drouin in Tampa
It's Christmastime and there's no need to be afraid. Why? Because we're here to help you find some players who can improve your power-play performance in fantasy. We're going to focus on players who have been going strong over the last 15 days. That's verging a little bit on recency bias, but it'll let you know who's playing well right now so you know who to keep an eye on. Perhaps the good times will continue rolling.
Kris Versteeg, RW, CGY – Versteeg has spent a lot of time on the sidelines this season, but he's gotten back to full health, which has been a boon to Calgary's power play. He has five power-play points this year, all of which have come in his last six games. Now, he missed two games in the middle of that run, which is part of the concern here. However, Versteeg clearly has a role on Calgary's power play at the moment, and you may be able to take advantage of that. (By the way, fellow Flame Troy Brouwer also has four power-play points over the last 15 days.)
Jonathan Drouin, RW, TAM – Drouin isn't playing as much on the power play as he did last season, when he averaged a whopping 4:28 in 21 games, but his output has gone to the next level anyway. He's got eight points with the extra man, including five in his last seven games. The time of tension and strain with Drouin in Tampa is over. Now he's just a promising young player who is getting it done on the ice.
Sam Gagner, RW, CLM – Gagner has popped up in articles like this a few times already because he's the rare power-play specialist in the NHL. This is, after all, a guy who plays a mere 13:36 a night, but 2:40 with the extra man. He's got 11 power-play points, but he's been on a tear recently, netting six of those in his last seven games. Gagner has done nothing to jeopardize either his role with the Jackets or the enthusiasm of fantasy owners.
Jaromir Jagr, RW, FLA – Let me tell you about a little-known hockey player named Jaromir Jagr. I jest, of course, but the ageless wonder has picked up his play recently. He's got six points in his last six games, and three of them have been with the extra man. While he might be 44, he's still playing 2:58 on the power play, with seven power-play points. He had 11 last year, so there's life left in these legs yet.
Justin Schultz, D, PIT – Schultz has been on a tear in general, and that has stretched to the power play. He's tallied four power-play points in his last five games, and the absence of Kris Letang (lower body) has given Schultz even more opportunity. In the three games since Letang's injury, he's played at least 3:54 a night with the extra man. Schultz is an interesting long-term player, of course, but he could really help you out in the short term, too.
Jake Gardiner, D, TOR – Morgan Rielly may be having a better season, but when it comes to the power play, Gardiner is the guy. The 26-year-old is averaging 2:39 a game with the extra man, and he has five points in that time. Three of those have come in the last five games, representing a nice recent uptick in production. If he can keep that up, he could be a boon to your fantasy squad.
