Kessel’s hat trick lands him on DailyFaceoff Fantasy Team of the Week

Every Monday I will be writing an article outlining the LW, C, RW, two D-Men and goaltender that performed the best at their position this past week. This team will be based off of the usual fantasy scoring categories and players that excelled across the board. Skaters – (G, A, +/-, SOG, GWG, SHG, PPP) Goalies – (W, GAA, SV%, SO)

LW – Brandon Dubinsky (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Dubinsky was able to record a point in all three of the Blue Jackets games this week. He had a goal and an assist in the first two games, and then had an assist before being ejected for a hit on Saku Koivu on Sunday. Had he not been tossed from the contest, he could have helped your fantasy team even more. The two-time 20-goal scorer has eight points in 11 games as he averages close to 20 minutes a game on Columbus’ second line.

STAT LINE: 2 G, 3 A, +5, 1PPP, 1SHG, 1 GWG

RW – Phil Kessel (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Kessel scored at least one goal in all three of Toronto’s games. He started the week with a hat trick against Anaheim and scored against Columbus and Pittsburgh as well. The Maple Leafs sniper now has seven goals and seven assists in 12 games, but could be without his usual centre Tyler Bozak for a little bit.

STAT LINE: 5G, 1A, +3, 2PPG, 1 GWG

C – Ryan Kesler (Vancouver Canucks)

Kesler has been given a great opportunity to play with the Sedin twins, and he is taking advantage of it. He scored a goal in all three games this week, including a pair against St. Louis on Friday. The former-40 goal scorer also added two assists to put him at 10 points (7G / 3A) in his first 13 games .

STAT LINE: 4G, 2A, +3, 1PPP, 1GWG

D – Keith Yandle (Phoenix Coyotes) 

Yandle got off to a slow start with just one assist in his first seven games, but has turned things around in the last five games. In three games this past week he scored once and added five assists (three on the power-play). Unfortunately he was a minus-5, including a minus-3 on Thursday vs. Los Angeles. That being said, it is not very often you are going to get a 2.0 points-per-game from a defenseman.

STAT LINE: 1G, 5A, -5, 1PPG, 4PPP

D – James Wisniewski (Columbus Blue Jackets) 

Wisniewski’s strong start to the season continued. He had a point in all three games, and now has a four game point streak going. Despite playing on a below-average Blue Jackets team he was still able to finish the week with a plus-2 rating. The 29-year-old has one goal and eight assists (nine points) in 11 games.

STAT LINE: 1G, 4A, +2, 2PPP

G – Antti Niemi (San Jose Sharks)

Niemi was handed his first loss of the season on Thursday, but posted a shutout in each of his other two starts. No other goalie won more than two games, and his two shutouts led to a 0.65 GAA and .968 SV%. He continues be a must-start behind a great Sharks team.

STAT LINE: 2-1-0, 0.65 GAA, .968 SV%, 2SO