Weekend Warriors: Dec. 2nd-4th (RESULTS!!!)

Posted by daledupuis on December 2

Sometimes, the extra points you pick up from the waiver wire in your head-to-head Fantasy League can be the difference between winning and losing your week … We’ve got your back like that guy you play Call of Duty with only because he does everything you tell him to. This is our 5th edition of Weekend Warriors and we have got all the information you need to win your weekend via Waiver Wire.

Results from our recommended waiver players (combining all recommended players’ stats this weekend):

34 GP
19 goals
13 assists
32 points
+13 rating
*almost a point-per-game among waiver-wire pickups that we recommended … good for a solid B+ grade

13 of our 17 recommended players picked up at least a point – good for 76%

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Team records and Special Teams rankings are accurate as of Thursday December 1st, 2011

Analyzing the West this week is MindPuck’s Steven T. Wild –> @StevenTWild
Analyzing the East this week is MindPuck’s Dale Dupuis –> @MPdaledupuis

Here are the teams that play twice this this weekend (Friday to Sunday, home games in Green, road games in Red):

Anaheim Ducks - Fri vs. PHI, Sun vs. MIN
Buffalo Sabres – Fri vs. DET, Sat @ NSH
Calgary Flames - Sat @ EDM, Sun @ VAN
Chicago Blackhawks – Fri vs. NYI, Sat @ STL
Detroit Red Wings - Fri @ BUF, Sun @ COL
Edmonton Oilers - Fri vs. CBJ, Sat vs. CGY
Minnesota Wild - Fri vs NJ, Sun @ ANH
New Jersey Devils - Fri @ MIN, Sat @ WPG
New York Islanders - Fri @ CHI, Sat @ DAL
Philadelphia Flyers - Fri @ ANH, Sat @ PHX
St. Louis Blues - Fri @ COL, Sat vs. CHI

Scorers to Pick-Up

Anaheim Ducks (7-13-4)

Home (5-8-0), Away (2-5-4), Last 10 Games (2-7-1)
PP Rank: 15th - PK Rank: 7thWeekend games –> Fri vs Phi, Sun vs Min

Cam Fowler: Averaging 5 minutes of PP time over his last 5 games, and with the Ducks’ big road win over Montreal last night – where the PP went 2 for 7 – confidence is growing. Fowler had a 4-game point streak snapped in Montreal, but look for him to start a new one this weekend as he quarterbacks a PP unit with names like Getzlaf, Perry, Selanne and Bobby Ryan.
Results: 2GP, 1 goal, 0 assists, -1 rating

Luca Sbisa: Right now the Ducks are due for a quick turn around after grabbing Bruce Boudreau before he could pick up his first E.I. cheque. But couple that with Sbisa’s more prominent role on the blue line since Lubomir Visnovsky hit the IR and you have a recipe for success. Sbisa has 2 assists in his last 3 games and has been seeing an average of 2 min on the pp in the last 5 games.
Results: 2GP, 0 goals, EVEN rating

Buffalo Sabres (13-10-1)

Home (6-7-1), Away (7-3-0) Last 10 Games (4-5-1)
PP Rank: 10th - PK Rank: 5thWeekend games –> Fri vs Det, Sat @ Nsh

Marc-Andre Gragnani: Buffalo’s PP has struggled lately, but overall has been strong. They face Detroit’s 24th ranked and Nashville’s 12th ranked respective PK units, with a struggling Pekka Rinne so look for Buffalo’s PP to get going again this weekend. Gragnani will be on your waiver wire, and could make use of his 2:52 PP time.
Results: 2GP, 0 goals, o assists, +2 rating, 2 PIM

Luke Adam: As long as he continues to center the top line in Buffalo – between Vanek and Pominville - he will be a Weekend Warrior go-to. He had 2 goals against Washington 2 games ago, but Buffalo was altogether shut down by NYI on Tuesday … Adam’s confidence should still be high from his strong performance against Washington, look for the youngster to ride that confidence this weekend.
Results: 2 GP, 1 Goal, 1 assist, +1 rating, 2 PIM

Calgary Flames (10-12-1)

Home (5-5-1), Away (5-7-0), Last 10 Games (4-6-0)
PP Rank: 25th - PK Rank: 23rdWeekend games –> Sat @ Edm, Sun @ Van

Alex Tanguay: He has put up a quietly consistent season on a struggling Flames squad racking up points in 14 of his 23 games and sees over 3 minutes of pp time per game. A top line winger who is only taken in 64% of leagues should be a steal this weekend.
Results: 2GP, 1 goal, o assists, -1 rating

Chicago Blackhawks (14-8-3)

Home (7-2-2), Away (7-6-1), Last 10 Games (6-4-0)
PP Rank: 16th - PK Rank: 30thWeekend games –> Fri vs NYI, Sat @ StL

Marcus Kruger: Rolling through the stats I had no idea who this guy was but was relieved there is no relation to Nickelback’s lead man. I would in no way endorse him if that were true… anyways getting back on track he has 2 assists in his last 3 games but what really makes him valuable is he is seeing regular shifts with Patrick Kane or Patrick Sharp and is seeing just over 3 min of pp time in the last 5 games.
Results: 2GP, o goals, 0 assists, EVEN rating

Colorado Avalanche (11-13-1)

Home (5-9-0), Away (6-4-1), Last 10 Games (4-6-0)
PP Rank: 3^rd - PK Rank: 19^thWeekend games –> Fri vs STL, Sun vs Det

Ryan O’Reilly: Colorado is easy to overlook these days since the superstars of yesteryear have long since retired but they are a young team who is building a strong core of players. One of those players is O’Reilly who is scorching the score sheets 5 points in the last 3 games. He’s free in virtually every league so you should be able to find him.
Results: 2 GP, 3 goals, 1 assist, +4 rating

Milan Hejduk: Surprisingly only owned in 57% of Yahoo! leagues, so he is worth looking into in your league. He’s got 4 points in his past 3 nights, playing top-line minutes most nights.
Results: 2 GP, 1 goal, o assists, +3 rating, 2 PIM

Detroit Red Wings (15-7-1)

Home (10-2-1), Away (5-5-0), Last 10 Games (8-2-0)
PP Rank: 7th - PK Rank: 24thWeekend games –> Fri @ BUF, Sun @ COL

Valterri Filppula: The Vantaa, Finland native continues to pace himself toward a career year with 20 points in 23 games. Further, he is a streaky scorer which is good for you if you pick him up because he has 6 points in during a recent 4-game point streak. In the past 5 games, he is receiving the 3rd most PP time on the Wings with an average of 3:17 per night -behind only Lidstrom and Kronwall (ahead of Zetterberg and Datsyuk). Colorado’s 29th ranked PK could be in for a Valterri-terrorfest on Sunday.
Results: 2GP, 1 goal, 0 assists, EVEN rating, 4 PIM

Pavel Datsyuk: Had a slow start to his career due to his lacklustre hands, but has since been working on that part of his game with dangle-legends and former Red Wings Chris Chelios and Anders Eriksson. His hands are starting to come around, so look for him to complete at least 3 to 4 passes this weekend. He is only owned in 99% of Fantasy leagues too!
Results: In case you didn’t pick up on it, we were joking … get it? … you know, cuz, Datsyuk would never be on the waiver wire … forget it …

Edmonton Oilers (12-10-3)

Home (7-3-2) Away (5-7-1) Last 10 Games (3-6-1)
PP Rank: 4th - PK Rank: 9thWeekend games –> Fri vs CBJ, Sat vs CGY

Ryan Jones: Lots of reasons to love this guy, the biggest of which is his sweet flow. I mean that is great hair. But in more tangible value he has 3 points and 9 pim in the last 5 games and is due to move up the depth chart now that Taylor Hall is on the sidelines. He is owned in one league in all of yahoo so unless you’re in my league you are pretty…pretty safe to grab him.
Results: 2 GP, 3 goals, 0 assists, +2 rating

Shawn Horcoff: The captain is the most under-appreciated of all of the Oilers. 17 points in 25 games this year, 5 points in his last 5 games. His PP time over the past 5 has been 3rd highest on the team – 3:05 per game. Pretty safe bet to get him against Calgary’s 23rd and Columbus’ 29th ranked PK units.
Results: 2 GP, 0 goals, 3 assists, EVEN rating

Minnesota Wild (15-7-3)

Home (9-4-1) Away (6-3-2) Last 10 (7-3-0)
PP Rank: 23rd - PK Rank: 14thWeekend games –> Fri vs NJ, Sun @ Anh

Cal Clutterbuck: Hands-down the best name in the NHL (and maybe professional sports if it weren’t for Troy Polamalu) is also a complete player who is ripe for fantasy value. He trots out on the top line with Heater and lil’ Koivu and has rewarded the few gamblers with 7 goals, 3 assists and 38pim. Moreover, he is a gold mine while shorthanded: this week alone he had 2 shorties and leads the league with 3 this season. A top line player on the top team in the league, and here is the kicker –> he is owned in only 21% of Yahoo! leagues.
Results: 2GP, 1 goal, 1 assist, +2 rating … and he got another shorty!!!!

New Jersey Devils (12-10-1)

Home (5-4-1) Away (7-6-0), Last 10 Games (5-5-0)
PP Rank: 26^th - PK Rank: 1^stWeekend games –> Fri @ Min, Sat @ Wpg

Adam Henrique: Let’s not be coy about this, NJ’s offense is atrocious. 25th in Goals per game, 26th on the PP. That said, the young rookie from Brantford Ontario (home of Alexander Graham Bell and some guy name Wayne) is red hot. 4 points in his past 3 games, and Winnipeg’s 29th ranked defence should be vulnerable to his surging production. Confidence is everything for young forwards, and Henrique has tons at the moment.
Results: 2 GP, 1 goal, 1 assist, EVEN rating

New York Islanders (7-11-4)

Home (5-6-2), Away (2-5-2), Last 10 Games (3-5-2)
PP Rank: 20th - PK Rank: 20thWeekend games –> Fri @ Chi, Sat @ Dal

*I want to apologize to the New York Islanders organization for criticizing their team … apparently they read this article and wanted to prove me wrong … but at the same time they made me look like a genius.

P.A. Parenteau: Recommending that you pick up an Islander for the weekend is borderline disrespectful, and more dangerous than slapping a rude porcupine. That being said, the Isles have won two in a row, playing better defensive hockey and Parenteau has 2 points in as many games. He is tied with line mate John Tavares for the team lead in points with 16, and is averaging almost 3 minutes of PP time per game this season. Chicago’s dead-last PK could be exploited for Parenteau’s benefit.
Results: 2 GP, 1 goal, 4 assists, +2 rating

Matt Moulson: Similar to Parenteau, Moulson has 2 points in his last two, while also playing on the Isles’ top line. Moulson has been getting more PP time than Parenteau lately as well, with 3:55 per game over his last 5 games. Again, Chicago’s poor excuse for a PK could boost Moulson’s point totals this weekend.
Results: 2 GP, 5 goals, 1 assist, +2 rating … okay, I’ll admit I thought he would do well, but not 5 goals-well. WOW!

Philadelphia Flyers (13-7-3)

Home (6-4-2) Away (7-3-1) Last 10 (6-3-1)
PP Rank: 8^th PK Rank: 2^ndWeekend games –> Fri @ Anh, Sat @ Phx

Jakub Voracek: with 11 points in his past 10 outings the kid is finding the scoring touch that made him a 7th overall pick in 2007. His overall ice time has been inconsistent, but not his PP time – 3:36 per game over his past 5 games. He will be facing two very tough PK units (ANH: 7th, PHX: 4th) but Philadelphia’s PP is equally feared. He should collect some numbers this weekend.
Results: 2 GP, 0 goals, 0 assists, -1 rating

St. Louis Blues (14-8-2)

Home (8-2-1) Away (6-6-1) Last 10 (7-1-2)
PP Rank: 30th - PK Rank: 21stWeekend games –> Fri @ Col, Sat vs. Chi

Alexander Steen: Steen is leading the Blues with 17 points and has points in 15 of 24 games this season, with 6 points in the last 6 contests. Saturday sees the Blues’ last-place PP face Chicago’s last place PK so something has to give there. I’d take the chance that Steen is able to parlay his 2:55 of pp time into something of value.
Results: 2 GP, 0 goals, 1 assist, -2 rating

Backup Goaltenders who may get a start this weekend

Overall Results from Goaltenders below:
5 of 6 backups did indeed get starts – 83%
4 of 6 started in the game we said they would – 67%

Ray Emery (CHI): The Hawks play the Isles’ at home on Friday, and St.Louis in Missouri on Saturday … I’m putting my money on Emery to get the easier of the two starts so that go-to man Crawford get a rested nod in a Divisional contest against St. Louis Saturday.
Result: Started against St. Louis, got a win – he got a start, but I guessed the wrong game.

Devan Dubnyk (EDM): Back-to-back home contests would normally be up in the air, but with both Dubnyk and Khabibulin playing well, the Oilers are more than confident in the younger Dubnyk to relieve the aging Bulin-wall in one of the two nights. Likely Dubnyk will play against Columbus.
Result: Started against Columbus, got the win

Jaroslav Halak (STL): He has been confirmed to start tomorrow @ Colorado
Result: OTL in start against Colorado

Johan Hedberg (NJ): Brodeur is confirmed to start tomorrow in Minnesota, which means Hedberg will get the nod Saturday in Winnipeg – where he once played for the Moose.
Result: Got the start @ WPG … but lost

Al Montoya (NYI): Coming off a 30 save effort in a 2-1 win over Buffalo last night, the Isles will likely go back to their 26-year old net minder. Maybe for both contests if he plays well in the first one.
Result: Started against Chicago, came in relief of DiPietro the following game

Sergei Bobrovsky (PHI): Back-to-back road games for the Flyers should mean that Sergei will relieve Ilya Bryzgalov in one of those two games either @ Anaheim on Friday, and @ Phoenix on Saturday. My money is on him getting the nod against the last-place Ducks on Friday.
Result: Did not get a start