Weekend Outlook: Regular Season Wrap Up

Happy Friday everyone! Fantasy playoffs for most leagues are right around the corner and what a way to come into the home stretch than a…two game slate. Someday when I’m NHL Commish it is my promise to all of you that there will be no games on deadline day, but good-sized slates (thinking nine-12 gamers) on the final weekend. Give the people what they want NHL. There’s a couple of intriguing options for the weekend, so let’s dive on in!

Pyotr Kochetkov, Carolina Hurricanes (Rostered in 16% of ESPN leagues, 50% Fantrax, 28% Yahoo) 19 starts, 11 wins, 5 OTL, 2.21 GA/G, .917 Sv%, 4 SO

The king has returned. Pyotr Kochetkov has been recalled from AHL Chicago and in grand fashion delivers a 19 save shutout against the Flyers as a min priced DFS option. I joke with my friends about the narrative of, “Beginning of the Championship DVD” type of performances and I feel like if the Hurricanes go on to raise the Cup, Kochetkov starting a Thursday night game at home versus the Philadel phiaFlyers has to be how the DVD kicks off. In all seriousness, Twitter’s favorite goaltender might just be an addition worth making for the final weekend of the season.

I somewhat feel for Antti Raanta, as this is another season as we approach playoffs where he is going to miss some time due to injury. Although it’s an undisclosed injury and I expect we’ll find out more soon, Kochetkov may be in line for a start as the Hurricanes have back-to-back games this weekend against the Vegas Golden Knights and New Jersey Devils.

I don’t expect Raanta to be out very long, but in the event that he is I think Kochetkov makes some sense here. Prior to Thursday’s game, Kochetkov’s previous start was back in mid-January, but he has still been guarding the crease for the Hurricanes AHL affiliate. Carolina always brings a great opportunity for any goaltender to earn a win which only makes rostering Kochetkov more appealing.

Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins (Rostered in 68% of ESPN leagues, 83% Fantrax, 77% Yahoo) 24 starts, 16 wins, 4 OTL, 2.30 GA/G, .916 Sv%, 2 SO

The Bruins will have a home-and-home against the Detroit Red Wings this weekend, meaning that we should expect to see Jeremy Swayman in net at some point for Boston. Swayman stopped 19 of 22 shots on Thursday’s tilt against the Edmonton Oilers and looked fine up until late in the third period where he let two go by him to ultimately lose 3-2.

I do wonder if Linus Ullmark’s absolutely stellar play this season has shadowed Swayman’s in such a way to where he gets a reputation of not being reliable? This season he has a 16-5-4 record with a 2.30 GAA and a .916 save percentage. Most organizations in the league would take that production from a backup goaltender every day of the week, and I do think Swayman has value for this weekend and beyond.

Boston, like Carolina above, always gives any goaltender a great chance to earn a victory which really adds to value here. Any opportunity to add points to your fantasy roster is crucial, especially those fighting for a playoff spot. I think there’s also value here because Boston has started rotating their goaltenders out as a tandem which I think will carry through the rest of the regular season. No secret here, the Bruins are well within a playoff spot and likely the top seed in the Eastern Conference, giving Linus Ullmark rest here is optimal. For now, I think Swayman helps in the short and long term.

Marc-Andre Fleury, Minnesota Wild (Rostered in 63% of ESPN leagues, 92% Fantrax, 90% Yahoo) 37 starts, 20 wins, 3 OTL, 2.79 GA/G, .908 Sv%, 2 SO

This one really is for anyone fighting for a playoff spot or maybe even playoff seeding. The Wild are on a road back-to-back in San Jose and Arizona this weekend, both very winnable spots. Marc-Andre Fleury will more than likely start in either of those contests, giving your fantasy club the help it may need to push towards playoffs. This may only be an addition for the weekend but if you need any last second points, I think Fleury and the Wild could provide that. Fleury has won his last four contests out, most recently earning a 46-save victory against the Winnipeg Jets.

For continued fantasy news and notes throughout the season, follow me on Twitter @ndySanz