It’s the final week of the NHL regular season, and for those remaining in their fantasy leagues, it’s now or never to improve your lineups and push towards the glory of your virtual championship. If you’re looking to add some punch on defense, consider these options for point totals and other intriguing stat lines.
Travis Sanheim – Philadelphia Flyers – 7% Rostered
Quarterbacking the Philadelphia Flyers’ first power-play unit and playing top-pairing minutes, you’d expect Travis Sanheim‘s rostered percentage to be north of 10%. Given how low it is, it’s almost a guarantee he’s available in your league, and picking him up now may pay off in the last three games. He’s a prime candidate for those in need of blocks and hits, picking up 9 and 12, respectively, in his previous five games.
The good news is that the Flyers will play the Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators in two of their final three games, with the Winnipeg Jets occupying the other spot. Sanheim has performed well against both the Senators and the Blackhawks, registering at least one point against each and driving up his defensive stats. The Flyers experienced a rough 2021-22 season, but they’ll close it out against three non-playoff teams and look to take advantage of their current two-game winning streak.
Brady Skjei – Carolina Hurricanes – 18% Rostered
While he saw his four-game point streak come to an end last week, Brady Skjei is still enjoying his best season in the previous five years. Considering he’s amassing all of his points at even-strength and playing 20 minutes or more each night, he’s a solid pick-up if he’s available in your league. He brings a good mix of point production and defensive stats that will give you an edge in your matchup and could push your team to the edge with Skjei on the backend.
On top of his ability to sneak in an assist every other game, Skjei is also a dependable player for blocks, hits, and shots on net. Considering the Hurricanes play the New York Rangers next, a team Skjei notched two assists and two hits against in their last meeting, it may be a good idea to grab him while he’s still free. They’ll close out the season against the Devils, and he has points in all three encounters.
Evan Bouchard – Edmonton Oilers – 44% Rostered
If you’re lucky enough to see Evan Bouchard on the free-agent list, now would be a good time to grab him and stick him right into the lineup for this upcoming week. The Oilers are winners of four of their last five games, and Bouchard has three points and 10 hits in that span. His fluid puck-moving ability and presence on the top pairing with Duncan Keith make him a threat, and it doesn’t hurt to be quarterbacking the second power-play unit.
The Oilers have been fun to watch since the arrival of Evander Kane, and he’s seeing power-play time on Bouchard’s wave. They play the Vancouver Canucks in the last game of the season, and with the NHL’s worst penalty kill percentage, it’s a great time to pick up some points for Bouchard. He’s done well against the Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks, the two teams that make up the final three games of the year, and paired with his hits and blocks piling up, now is the time to snatch him before it’s too late.
Roster percentages courtesy of Yahoo
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