Week 23 Fantasy Hockey Start 'Em & Sit 'Em (Mar. 28-Apr. 3)
In Week 23, the focus shifts back to a more balanced schedule which is good and bad. A whopping 14 teams play four times this week. Then, 16 more play a total of three games.
Teams Playing Four Games: Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Seattle Kraken, St. Louis Blues.
Teams Playing Three Games: Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Vegas Golden Knights, Winnipeg Jets.
Teams Playing Two Games: Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals
Now, here are day-by-day games played for week number 23.
- Monday (Mar. 28) -- 5
- Tuesday (Mar. 29) -- 9
- Wednesday (Mar. 30) -- 6
- Thursday (Mar. 31) -- 9
- Friday (Apr. 1) -- 7
- Saturday (Apr. 2) -- 9
- Sunday (Apr. 3) -- 9
Please note that this week's schedule feels almost too symmetrical. Four times this week, there are nine games each. This includes Saturday and Sunday which brings nine games to the docket. However, this is just the normal push which makes the fantasy playoffs more interesting. Anyway, it is time for more start'em and sit'em for Week 23.
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Fantasy Hockey Forwards To Start In Week 23
C Nazem Kadri, Colorado Avalanche
Auston Matthews is our other option here given the schedule. However, former teammate, Nazem Kadri has fired back in a big way for the Colorado Avalanche of late. Kadri had four goals and four assists over the past five games. Also, he has three or more shots in each game and four or more scoring chances. That brings him up to 81 points in 2021-22. He is on pace to potentially win more than 700 faceoffs which is a career-high. Kadri won 16 over the weekend against Minnesota of all teams. These are the categories that keep the pivot a must when it comes to starting him not just this week but throughout April too.
C Nick Suzuki, Montreal Canadiens
The temptation to use Filip Forsberg or Matt Duchene here was palpable. However, Nashville is on the schedule just twice this week. Nick Suzuki is eating up more and more minutes for the Montreal Canadiens as Martin St. Louis turns to him for a little bit of everything. His ten shots and 15 scoring chances over the last three games are encouraging. Playing 20+ minutes a night over the past five games is even better. Suzuki has four points during this span but again, those peripherals, including hits, are helpful in more comprehensive fantasy leagues. Suzuki and Caufield are still quite the duo.
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Fantasy Hockey Forwards To Sit In Week 23
W Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
So, Alex Ovechkin plays just twice in Week 23. Worse, these games are on Monday, then next Sunday. There are several factors to consider. The biggest one may just be rust. All the practice in the world does not prepare a team for what essentially feels like a "bye week". Playing Carolina and Minnesota are not all that helpful from a fantasy standpoint either. The Hurricanes can be stingy defensively and the Wild have played better of late. Ovechkin has gradually slowed down in terms of fantasy production and again the lesser amount of activity does not help.
W Miles Wood, New Jersey Devils
The reason for sitting a player who is coming back into the lineup is an easy one. Miles Wood has missed the entire 2021-22 season up until now. There is just one month left. Wood did have 17 goals in 55 games last season while remaining healthy. We may never know what was truly wrong with him. Either way, Wood played less than 12 minutes on Sunday in a shootout win over the Montreal Canadiens. He is going to be eased into his more accustomed middle-six role. Fantasy owners should not expect much initially as these first couple of weeks are essentially a "training camp and pre-season" for Wood.
Not sure who to start this week? Use our fantasy hockey Start / Sit Tool!
Fantasy Hockey Defenseman To Start In Week 23
D Damon Severson, New Jersey Devils
With Roman Josi playing twice this week, sadly we had to look elsewhere. Damon Severson played nearly 31 minutes in a shootout win over the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday. Now, blocked shots are always a risk but Severson does have four points in his last four games. Also, the New Jersey defenseman could get overlooked. He does have 37 points in 64 games which is respectable. If Severson racks up a good chunk of ice time this week, that is a solid category and adds some value to the New Jersey defenseman.
Fantasy Hockey Defenseman To Sit In Week 23
D Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins
The idea that Kris Letang has been healthy for the second season in a row is a scary one. There is this thought that the injury is bound to come. He has had several close calls of late as well. So, despite the 56 points in 63 games, this may be a week to take the gamble and sit the defenseman. Matchups against the New York Rangers, Minnesota, and Colorado have some good elements to them. However, the bad likely outweighs the good. Plus, some alternatives can be had on the waiver wire. Taking risks in the fantasy playoff portion of the season is common. Look at schedules very closely.
Fantasy Hockey Goalie To Start In Week 23
G Semyon Varlamov, New York Islanders
The other Russian goaltenders in the New York area often get left out but not this week. Semyon Varlamov should have a few chances to get some wins and saves. There is the home-and-home with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Furthermore, they play the New Jersey Devils over the weekend. New Jersey is a team they traditionally perform very well against. The good err bad news, depending on one's philosophy, is that Varlamov could be the starter for most of this week and possibly beyond. It will be interesting to see what news comes out on Ilya Sorokin.
Fantasy Hockey Goalie To Sit In Week 23
Detroit Red Wings Goaltenders
Candidates were battling hard for this slot. However, nothing could be scarier than trying to roster a Detroit Red Wings goaltender at the moment. This comes on the heels of giving up 11 goals to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday night. The volatility is what could be more frightening. Detroit has had too many games over the past month or two where yielding a whole bunch of goals just seems to happen. One night, everything could be normal. The next, there goes that eight, or nine, or ten again. How does one roster a Detroit goaltender at this point? The human element of safety takes over here. SIT!
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