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Posted - 11/06/2014 : 15:14:28
Who are the hottest lines in the league heading into Week Five?
This week we welcome November and Week 5 of the fantasy hockey season. Players are coming and players are going as always. Some have just had some outstanding weeks. Will there be changes from Week 3 and what can be expected from Week 5 perhaps. Let’s go “Between the Lines”.
Lead Us Forwards
Valtteri Filppula-Steven Stamkos-Alex Killorn (Tampa Bay) – The first thing that has to be mentioned is that the line combined for ten points while together, essentially playing two games plus as Alex Killorn has been battling an upper body injury. Not surprisingly, Val Filppula and Steven Stamkos both had four points on the week and exhibited solid chemistry like they did last season when they were briefly paired together. Jon Cooper is like a mad scientist with his line combinations due to injury so again just follow the beat writers for the latest just in case during Week 5.
Ondrej Palat-Nikita Kucherov-Tyler Johnson (Tampa Bay) – It feels kind of like a theme here but here is another Tampa line again. This one had eight points in their “line two” role. Nikita Kucherov had three goals while Tyler Johnson had four points. This is how Tampa Bay has to function as they slowly get their players back from injury. They have found ways to score goals – four against Washington and seven against Arizona. As the schedule heats up, can this line come to the forefront once again?
Phil Kessel-Daniel Winnik-Nazem Kadri (Toronto) – We will see how long this experiment lasts but Phil Kessel and his line finds his way on the list this week with eight more points by this new trio. This helps Daniel Winnik owners immensely. His four points probably came as a surprise to most but Winnik does have the ability. Obviously Nazem Kadri has the potential but does he have the discipline? So far, this line has worked great but Phil Kessel carries this line. He had five points last week and honestly if he does not go, the line does not go. Kessel and Kadri could stick for a while with a good Week 5.
Tyler Toffoli-Jeff Carter-Tanner Pearson (Los Angeles) – The “Leisure Suit Larry err 70’s line” is at it again with another eight points combined, despite kind of a rough week for the Kings who went 0-for on the week. On the bright side, Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik came back on Sunday against Carolina so that should help. It will alter the frequency charts, which were insanely high for a “second line”. The line production and charts for the two lines should be intriguing once Kopitar and Gaborik get going. Over the last ten games, this line has scored ten goals by the way.
Defend This!
Mark Giordano-T.J. Brodie (Calgary) – On Sunday night, the Calgary Flames torched Montreal 6-2. T.J. Brodie and Mark Giordano combined for five points on the night. The Habs had no answers for them and honestly they may be a more potent version of Keith Yandle and Oliver Ekman-Larsson right now. Late Sunday night points were not available at press time so we are adding them in this week. Calgary’s top four is one of the better ones in the league though their team defense suffers some as games go on. Calgary’s schedule picks up and they will need Brodie and Giordano to lead the way.
Trevor Daley-Alex Goligoski (Dallas) – Yes Trevor Daley and Alex Goligoski owners may have been driven to drink with their plus/minus at times but their production has been pretty steady. This is especially the case with Daley, who had three points last week (duo had four together). Since they are usually matched up with the Dallas top line, the production is bound to filter on down. The drawbacks are that, at times, the pair make some boneheaded decisions defensively that can cost the team goals. They are still a steady play since they command so much power play time.
Erik Johnson-Jan Hejda (Colorado) – Lost in the mess that has been Colorado’s 3-5-5 start is the fact that Erik Johnson is having a pretty nice season. He tacked on another three points in week number four and against some pretty tough competition. Johnson has improved some defensively and has been less of a liability. Jan Hejda has helped that a little but it has more to do with the former number one pick rededicating himself. This could be a sneaky play in deeper leagues in the coming weeks and expect steady but not spectacular numbers.
Written by Chris Wassel of www.dobberhockey.com
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