Orange Teams = Playoff Teams
Purple Teams = Bubble Teams
1.
St. Louis Blues (11-3) previous 1 - Still crushing faces and being a total fantasy hockey boss. If a defensive group could ever be compared to The Fellowship of the Ring it would be this group. They are just massively prolific and represent 4 of the top 11 fantasy producers. Sadly, in an anticlimactic fashion, old age or being traded to the Islanders will more probably derail their careers instead of orcs, wraiths, or an all seeing eye.
2.
Carolina Hurricanes (10-4)
previous 3 - Uniting the Staal brothers is apparently like putting the Wonder Twins in the same room. Eric has once again taken the form of a dominant gargolye of a hockey player that is the stuff of opponents darkest nightmares. Side note I went after 2 highly touted overseas players in Cervenka and Fasth, put all my eggs in Cervenka's basket and he has repaid me with 8 points in 19 games. Snugerud got Fasth who set an NHL record for most consecutive wins to start their NHL career. I think we all know won out on that.
3.
Detroit Red Wings (9-5)
previous 1 - The pressure of wearing the crown has gotten to the Red Wings. 6-0 to start the season and now mired in a 3-5 slump, but to be fair he is getting clubbed with the 4th highest fantasy points against. Clearly folks are getting up to play the Red Wings. People havn't gotten this excited to play against someone since someone realized that lonely gamer guys will pay money to play Modern Warfare with girls over the internet. Millions of premature...... deaths ensued.
4.
Colorado Avalanche (10-4)
previous 6 - Getzlaf is having a bonkers season and just got paid like a man who put his country on his back and won the gold medal olympic game in overtime resulting in a lifelong pickup line that works 100% of the time, everytime, which is good because Malkin can't stay healthy to save my life. Please Malkin, I've got alot of food money riding on you. Side Note: Viktor Fasth came out and said he was ok with the Taliban. Good Job Snugerud you are harboring a terrorist on your team.
5.
Anaheim Ducks (11-3)
previous 4 - A week after scoring the most points in a regular length week of any team this year (naturally the week I play them) they fell asleep and lost to the Blackhawks, but hell who hasn't done that yet? This is to be expected from a team whose average age makes them legally not allowed to go to the place their opponents say their moms' work, or even understand the specifics of what those vile men said they did to them in the champagne room.
6.
Boston Bruins (10-4)
previous 13 - The biggest mover upper has been Boston. Starting out 2-4 they have ripped off 8 straight wins and they gave up pretty much no major pieces to get Daniel Sedin and make a deep run at the cup. They play 5 games this week, so chalk up 2 more wins to make 10 in a row (just checked I play them
). The Markstrom era started about as well as anyone could have hoped for, except for the 1-3 record under .900 save % and over 3.00 GA.
7.
Chicago Blackhawks (10-4)
previous 5 - It has finally happened. Steve Mason is the backup. He lost his job to you know the guy the Jackets went out and traded for in the offseason, because why give that guy the job when you could just force feed starts to Mason who has been the worst goalie for 2 straight years. Imagine the Incredible Hulk show, Mason is just walking away into a sunset with that sad sad music.... I bet he could pawn that Calder Trophy for a real nice hat to keep from getting sun burnt. Also, Hanzal most definitely left the ice and hit Benn in the head and should've been lit up with a suspension.
8.
Tampa Bay Lightning (7-7) previous 8 - The Toronto Blue Jays of our Hockey League. They just have so many tough teams in their division, but they keep on keeping on. It is pretty rough for them to get a playoff birth because they won't win the division and are 200 FPtsF behind the Red Wings. Still, this isn't a team you want to see on your schedule after going up and over 220 Fantasy Points last week. Chris Kunitz is going all He-Man Master of the Universe on the NHL.
9.
Toronto Maple Leafs (6-8) previous 9 - The first representative of the depressing Canadian division. This team has more ups and downs than Lindsay Lohan, who is admittedly much more down than up and is just on this side of becoming an adult actress. Either way they are my pick to take the divison. They score oodles of points but have run into some buzz saw teams in the Blues, Bruins and Blackhawks recently to keep their record low. Nazem Kadri is like Rocky, he took so many Brian Burke punches to his ego and pride and now has his hands raised at the top of the stairs!
10.
Philadelphia Flyers (8-6)
previous 12 Moving ON UP! To a possible could be playoff spot! They are just lying in wait under Boston, biding their time for a chance to strike, which is eerily similar to what Duchene did. Took 2012 off and let O'Reily pick up his slack. While O'Reily was playing real life Let's Make a Deal, Duchene remembered he liked being good at hockey and is a beast again. Apparently having your wrists broken by Crosby is not beneficial to you. Welcome to being a superstar Giroux.
11.
Edmonton Oilers (7-7)
previous 7 - These old boots have fallen on hard times with an 1-6 recent record. Like that shiny penny you found and rubbed dull the Oilers have lost their luster. They might say well that is because 6 of my players are out with injuries and I'd say Lemieux didn't complain when he scored 199 points in a season while sick with cancer! Sack up and play like a champion.
12.
Montreal Canadiens (6-8)
previous unranked - So you're saying there's a chance? Yes Canadiens you are still very much in it to win the Canadian division. Currently playing the role of the middle child, not young enough to warrant attention and not old enough to be doing anything cool. Get this guy some people who are playing in the NHL right now and they are dangerous, but with 5 guys on the starting 30 still in the minors and add 4 more injuries that is like playing with 2/3 of a team. A team to look out for if you are in their division when Sharp and Khabibulin come back.
Other Teams:
Kings - you are breaking my heart! I had such high hopes but lady luck is sleeping in the beds of your competitors this year. They just lost to the Red Wings by .4 fantasy points. or as my dad would say "a very small amount" (no catchphrase that is just what he would've said about that).
Penguins - This team is going to be scary the rest of the way. I think they have to big a hole to climb out of for a playoff spot, but wow are they set for the future.
Winipeg Jets - I have been watching you and anyone that beats the Blues gets a tip of the cap from me. All the trades they made, and probably some they didn't have them as a team that could push for a spot next year. Who would've thought Jiri Tlusty was going to be so good? Not me that is why I dropped him. Double damn.
Everyone else I'll see you on the coliseum battle grounds that is fantasy hockey.
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