Weekly NHL Forecaster 4/3 - 4/9

Likely the last Weekly NHL Forecaster of the season  4/3 -4/9

Below is the average of ‘CORSI For per 60 minutes' on the Home team and Away team to tell me if this is going to be a shot filled matchup. The graph below is sorted from the most offensively oriented games to the least offensively oriented. Updated as of 12/28/2016

We are getting into the final  week of the regular season. Most Fantasy leagues are either done or in their Finals matchups.

Weekly schedule -ranked by CORSI:

Ten Notes:
1. New York Islanders. They looked to have a good momentum on that last playoff spot until the last 2 weeks, they fell hard.  They now find themselves on a far outsiders chance and 4 matchups on the road against two red hot opponents (Carolina and Nashville) and two opponents who have mailed it in due to a playoff berth or their season being long since over (Ottawa and New Jersey). They have not shown me that they are going to fight for that last spot, due to this I'm not counting on them as a good hungry team to follow this week.

2. Boston Bruins. They hold a three point lead but also have one game fewer than Tampa Bay and Carolina who are 3 and 4 points respectively behind them. They face Tampa Bay as well as Washington (who would no doubt love to win the Presidents Cup despite its recent curse). They have shown the will to fight their way into the playoffs but I'm not sure how I feel about their matchups this week, one loss and they could find themselves on the outside looking in.

3. Los Angeles. The farthest of outside chances they can make the playoffs as they face red hot Edmonton, Calgary, Chicago and Anaheim. There might be some fight in the first two but as soon as they are eliminated I anticipate the fire goes out real quick.

4. Nashville Predators. As it is right now they would face Chicago which I don't think they want. Look for them to fight hard to elevate up one spot and avoid that matchup. Islanders, Devils and Jets provide three very plausible matchups for this to happen.

5. Arizona Coyotes. This just might be an ok week for the Coyotes! Imagine winning your fantasy championship on the backs of the Arizona Coyotes! First they faceoff at Dallas (4-5-1 over their last 10) followed by Vancouver (2-7-1 over their last 10) followed by vs. Minnesota (2-6-2 over their last 10). Christian Dvorak (C/LW) 8% owned is heading up their top line and has 3 points in his last 7 games to go with 12 SOG and 53 Faceoffs won.

6. Ottawa Senators. They look like they want to coast into the playoffs. Trouble is they have 5 games this week and some of them are against lackluster Detroit and NYI. Boston will give them a hard fight on Wednesday and depending on the standings the Islanders might be removed from contention by Saturday and Sunday. Kyle Turris (40% owned) is playing strong with 3 goals and 6 total points in his last 7 games. 

7. Edmonton Oilers. They have continued to play lights out (specifically one Connor McDavid) as they have now won 8 of their last 10 games. They face LA who should provide some fight on the off chance they can clinch that last playoff spot but I imagine San Jose is dialing it back having secured their spot and then Vancouver twice at the end of the week provides ample room to pad some stats.  Patrick Maroon continues to compile points down the stretch despite his ownership not rising.

8. Chicago Blackhawks. They are chasing the Presidents Cup alongside Washington, Columbus and the Penguins. They get Colorado and LA who should prove to be opponents with no fight left. Anaheim is playing well and usually gives a good fight at home but we should still see solid point production from Richard Panik (51% owned) and Nick Schmaltz (9% owned) as they sit with Jonathan Toews on the top line.

9. Winnipeg Jets. They are eliminated from the playoffs but that has not really stopped them from putting on a stringent fight lately. A win against a tough Anaheim team capped off three straight wins after facing an easier New Jersey and Vancouver tandem. Their schedule has been lighter and they made the most of it. They now face St. Louis, Columbus and Nashville who are all still fighting for various positions in the playoffs but I don't think the Jets are going to lay down for them. Mathieu Perreault (28% owned) has been electric with 10 points in his last 7 games. 

10. Tampa Bay Lightning. They are the epitome of fighting tooth and nail for that last playoff spot. Without their star player and with their star goalie traded they have won 7 of their last 3 with help from a core of young players who largely struggled through the last year and are now shining at the right time. The game against Boston mid-week should be a must watch game. I'm continuing to ride this train for a third straight week. Brayden Point (8% owned) continues to light the lamp as the first line center.