Five Games: Hurricanes

Four Games: Blues, Flyers, Senators, Penguins, Islanders, Lightning, Flames, Blackhawks, Kings, Devils, Avalanche, Panthers, Jets, Blue Jackets, Wild, Coyotes

Three Games: Rangers, Leafs, Bruins, Sharks, Canucks, Predators, Stars, Red Wings, Sabres, Capitals, Oilers, Canadiens, Ducks

FORWARDS

Oliver Bjorkstrand took seven shots on net his last time out. Two games earlier it was six shots on net. When a guy is that active you have to take notice. Moreover, in three of four outings he’s taken at least four shots on net. He’s also scored three times his last six games for the Blue Jackets.

Paul Byron is a small guy checking in at 160 pounds on his 5’9” frame. Hasn’t stopped him from lighting the lamp 19 times this season including four markers his last four outings. He’s only taken seven shots in those four games, and his plus/minus the last four games, despite all those points, is just +2, so there are limits to the goodness.

John Hayden scored 21 goals in 33 games with Yale this season. In his first game in the NHL he was on the ice for less than nine minutes but he still generated a shot on net while dishing out three hits. With Artem Anisimov on the shelf, Hayden is getting a shot at skating with Jonathan Toews.

Joshua Ho-Sang has nine games of experience in the NHL. The rookie has recorded three goals and handed out three assists (two of the points are with the man advantage). The last four games have been particularly impressive as he’s posted five of those six points.

Elias Lindholm has posted 36 points in 58 games this campaign. The centerman has produced a point in 5-straight games, one goal and four assists, and he’s a +4 skater in that time. In those four outings he’s been very active with the shots as well with 13 shots on net.

Adam Lowry of the Jets has just 19 goals since the start of last season. There hasn’t been much offensive excitement with the centerman. Still, there might be something to see of late. Over his last four games he has three points, and in four of five he’s taken at least two shots on net. He also has 12 PIMs his last four games. It’s not much, admittedly.

Braden Point is another smallish forward who stands 5’10” with 165 lbs of weight on his frame. He’s seen copious amounts of ice-time the last four games, more than 20 minutes each outing, and in four of five games he’s taken exactly three shots on net. Oh yeah, he’s also scored three times his last three games.

DEFENSE

His last eight outings Jay Bouwmeester has handed out just two helpers, but he’s chewing up 23:00 minutes of ice-time. He’s also a +6 skater with 16 shots on net and 16 blocked shots for the Blues.

Justin Braun of the Sharks, a righty shot on the point, has posted a +3 rating the last three games. He’s been out of control blocking shots of late with at least four in each of his last four games for a total of 20 blocked shots in four outings. He’s also laid out nine hits his last two games. Can’t get much more active than that from the blueline.

Jakob Chychrun of the Coyotes has two goals his last four games during which time he’s also dished out three helpers. In those four games, he’s also taken 12 shots on net as he’s morphed into an offensive threat (two of the points have come on the power-play).

Darnell Nurse has used those 14 goals by the Oilers the last two games to great effect as he’s scored, handed out two assists, and posted a +7 rating. That’s only eight points and a +2 rating on the year, so be extremely cautious with expecting the offensive explosion to continue.

GOALTENDER

Keith Kinkaid has made it to the ice three times in March allowing a total of four goals. He’s only gong 1-2 but his 1.55 GAA and .938 save percentage speak to how well he’s performed when called upon. Meanwhile, Cory Schneider has been torched for 12 goals his last four games including allowing four goals on 10 shots in his last outing.

Eddie Lack has been on point his last seven outings with a 1.79 GAA and .932 save percentage. He’s also allowed two goals or less in three straight outings for the Hurricanes.

 

Ray Flowers can be heard Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday, 7 PM EDT, Wednesday 8 PM EDT on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 8 PM EDT PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).