Coming into week three of the season, where the world is overreacting to how everyone is playing, we want to keep it simple. The Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues and Vegas Golden Knights all have four games this week which will provide them to have valuable upside as they will see the most action, and provide you a great place to start looking for players to add to your lineups.
Some other good options to fill in for your injured Tavares, Forsberg, and Malkin:
Zack Kassian, RW, Edmonton Oilers (29% owned) – Kassian is worth owning in all leagues this week as the Oilers have three games with the potential to see three of the worst save percentages in the league: Devin Dubnyk .867%, Braden Holtby .862%, and Sergei Bobrovsky .872%. Not only that, Kassian is playing top line minutes alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. When paired with two play makers of their ability all he needs to do is pass the puck to either of them and let them work.
Marcus Johansson, C/LW, Buffalo Sabers (12% owned) - Johansson has had a good start to the season which has seen him put up seven points (4g, 3a). He could be another nice week long stream option in leagues as Buffalo matches up against San Jose, New York Rangers and Detroit. On the Saturday, Johansson put up a goal and assist against the Sharks and will face them at home on Tuesday against a San Jose team that has given up an average of 4.25 g/pg away from home. His other two match-ups of the week feature teams in the bottom 10 in goals/game and mediocre PKs at best providing some intriguing match-ups this week.
Nick Schmaltz, C, LW Arizona Coyotes (28% owned) – Arizona has three games this week as they begin their New York swing playing the Rangers, Islanders and the Devils. Schmaltz has put up some impressive numbers in the past five games (3g, 5a) recording a point in each match. He’s worth an add as long as he keeps this consistency up.
Anaheim Ducks top line – Adam Henrique, C (26% owned), Jakob Silfverberg, RW (26% owned) & Rickard Rakell, LW/RW (85% owned) - This line doesn’t have the most ideal match-ups of the week playing Nashville, Dallas, Colorado, and Vegas, but they have combined for eight goals and six assists in the past week and are one of nine teams with a four game week.
Ian Cole, D, Colorado Avalanche (2% owned) – In the four games since he’s joined the lineup, he’s recorded four assists, a +10, and six blocked shots. Cole is definitely someone I would be keeping an eye on.
Paul Stastny, C, Vegas Golden Knights (36% owned) – Stastny’s last 5 games have resulted in four goals and three assists with five points coming on the PP. As long as he remains centering the top PP unit he needs to be owned in the majority of leagues.
The following guys you should have a short leash if you haven’t dropped them already. Shayne Gostisbehere (D Philadelphia Flyers) simply put 0 goals, 0 assists, and if you’re using him to add blocks and shots, don’t. This one hurts to say but, Kaapo Kakko (RW New York Rangers.) Kakko recently got bumped up to the number one PP unit, but outside of the Rangers top line I don’t trust anyone to put up fantasy value points. He could be worth the stash and hold onto to see if he replaces Chris Kreider on the first line. On the other side of the city you can find Ryan Pulock (D New York Islanders) he can be relied upon for his blocks and hits but is providing minimal point production for those of us expecting to break the 40-point barrier this season.
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