This article is part of our Schedule Analysis series.
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Four Aces
With super-powers Anaheim, Los Angeles, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Tampa and Toronto all playing a light two-game schedule, three teams will play a four game slate.
Chicago will split their week with two at United Center and two on the road. It's the two tilts on the road that you'll want to focus on, as their opponents will be the Wild and Oilers on b2b nights. Not only will these be favorable contests for the All-Star heavy Hawks, but FA pools should be hoarding Anttii Raanta. Kris Versteeg (hand) is expected to miss a month. Teuvo Teravainen (23 points in 33 games with AHL Rockford) is up and playing fourth line duties.
Minnesota will host the Sharks, aforementioned match with the Blackhawks and then a big battle with the Preds on Saturday before ending the week on the road on Sunday against Chicago again. Charlie Coyle nabbed a pair of assists. Darcy Kuemper and Niklas Backstrom should both be needed this week.
After an embarrassing loss to St. Louis, San Jose will play three games (all on the road) in the first four days of the week, then head home to host Dan Boyle and the New York Rangers. Joe Thornton (shoulder) did not play on Saturday.
Winnipeg finishes out the homestand and will play seven of their next contests away from home. Ordinarily, this sounds like a bad prospect, but the Jets have been surprisingly confident (11-4-4) on the road this season and shouldn't be looked past. Dustin
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Four Aces
With super-powers Anaheim, Los Angeles, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Tampa and Toronto all playing a light two-game schedule, three teams will play a four game slate.
Chicago will split their week with two at United Center and two on the road. It's the two tilts on the road that you'll want to focus on, as their opponents will be the Wild and Oilers on b2b nights. Not only will these be favorable contests for the All-Star heavy Hawks, but FA pools should be hoarding Anttii Raanta. Kris Versteeg (hand) is expected to miss a month. Teuvo Teravainen (23 points in 33 games with AHL Rockford) is up and playing fourth line duties.
Minnesota will host the Sharks, aforementioned match with the Blackhawks and then a big battle with the Preds on Saturday before ending the week on the road on Sunday against Chicago again. Charlie Coyle nabbed a pair of assists. Darcy Kuemper and Niklas Backstrom should both be needed this week.
After an embarrassing loss to St. Louis, San Jose will play three games (all on the road) in the first four days of the week, then head home to host Dan Boyle and the New York Rangers. Joe Thornton (shoulder) did not play on Saturday.
Winnipeg finishes out the homestand and will play seven of their next contests away from home. Ordinarily, this sounds like a bad prospect, but the Jets have been surprisingly confident (11-4-4) on the road this season and shouldn't be looked past. Dustin Byfuglien had a good night against the Leafs and Ben Chiarot was productive by his side. Michael Hutchinson continues to be the favorite, but Ondrej Pavelec should get a shot or two at redemption this week. Bryan Little has a six-game point streak.
Three of a Kind
With 21 of 30 NHL teams will be left with an ordinary three-game docket, "Three of a Kind" is all that more important this week.
Hold 'Em
A trio of road-weary teams are looking to change their luck. No, Detroit (7-5-3) hasn't been a shadow of themselves on the road. But a 4-2 win over Washington back in October and a combined 14-6 GF/GA en route to a 4-0 record against the Oilers and Flames last season suggests good odds.
Yet another team that has not truly found a groove on the road, Nashville still has the odds stacked in their favor with a combined 3-0 record against Dallas and Minnesota and a surprising one goal loss to Carolina last month. James Neal (lower body) did not play on Saturday. Pekka Rinne was ugly on Saturday, so he should be on edge this week, looking rebound momentum. Miikka Salomaki (16 points in 29 games with AHL Milwaukee) has been recalled.
St. Louis will finish out a four game road trip in Arizona before playing seven straight at Scottrade, the only place Hitchcock's Blues (13-4-1) can be trusted. Jaden Schwartz returned to the lineup with two points in the Blues rout of San Jose. Alex Steen and Kevin Shattenkirk each had a goal and three assists on the night, T.J. Oshie had a hatty and Brian Elliott stopped 13 of 15 shots for the win.
Fold 'Em
Several Central division teams will play Carolina this week, so what could go wrong? Despite Saturday's loss to Arizona (see Martin Hanzal), Columbus is another team trending in the right direction. However, the Jackets play in Dallas and Toronto, two teams that have outscored the Jackets by a combined 8-3 score in two previous losses this season. They close out the week at home against the Isles.
Edmonton continues their four game homestand. Despite roster and bench changes, the Oilers keep finding ways to lose. Something tells us a schedule like Detroit, Chicago and Florida won't be any easier. Benoit Pouliot scored in his return to the lineup. Is Ben Scrivens is starting to right the ship?
After having their winning streak snapped by its first quality opponent (Dallas) in weeks, the Rangers head West. We speculated on the Phil Naessens show a few weeks ago this trip could signify a coming out party for Dan Boyle as he returns to his old battle grounds among others. Derick Brassard has points in consecutive games. Cam Talbot is a sure thing for a start this week.
Table Talk with Phil Naessens (http://phillipnaessens.wordpress.com/)
1). Listeners had questions about picking up Colin Wilson, Michael Hutchinson, Jordan Staal and Jimmy Hayes.
Colin Wilson talk gives me déjà-vu to last week's talk about Craig Smith. While Wilson's increased ice time is certainly an obvious reason for contrast and his production over his last six games are reason for excitement, I worry about his streakiness. Although, Dallas (28th in GA) and Minnesota (22nd in GA) are on the docket, and now with Neal having an injury issue, I'm concerned about the line chemistry. I would grab him if it's not a high risk situation, but nothing more.
Michael Hutchinson is without a doubt a pick up, has been for several weeks, but add in the fact that the Jets are playing eight games over the next two weeks and this is a no brainer. Yes, PICK HIM UP.
The epic saga of Jordan Staal returns. I think he finally breaks out. Looks at his split stats, his production grows as the year progresses and this logic is only emphasized by three months of recovery on his side, I think he's a damned good long-term pick up, if available.
Jimmy Hayes is an interesting thought. Another pedigree investment, but does Florida really have enough confidence to get anyone going consistently? I'm going with no.
2). Trade: Stephen Stamkos for Claude Giroux straight up?
NO. Steven Stamkos is like a visionary unicorn come from the future on a Tampa team biding their time. Giroux.. well, he's a stud triple crown contender with an idiot for a jockey who loses on the last leg of the dream. No, NO, NO. That is all.... speaking of Giroux's legs, he is considered day-to-day.
3). Trade: Alex Ovechkin for Phil Kessel straight up?
A bit more open-ended here, Phil. A scorcher actually, with both players on temperamental teams. Both have high shot ratios, the ability to take over a game. The thing is, who is more likely to sustain a long term injury? I don't have an answer to that, so I'm going to suggest this listener err on the side of caution.
