What We Learned in Week 5 of Fantasy Hockey
Streamers continue to be the difference between wins and losses, goalies are still voodoo, and owning Flames is suddenly a good thing? We’re now 34 days into the fantasy hockey season, and the surprises just keep coming. Here’s what we learned over the last seven days as we remind ourselves that it’s a long season filled with plenty of highs and lows.
THE GOOD
Flames Run Hot for the Perfect Stream
When “stream” and “flames” are used in the same sentence, it’s usually a bad sign, and you should probably call your doctor. Not in Week 5.
Entering the week, all four forwards on Calgary’s top power-play unit were rostered in fewer than 8% of leagues, and the Flames had the best streaming schedule in the NHL. If you were lucky enough to add Matt Coronato (6 points, 1 goal), Joel Farabee (6 points, 3 goals), Matvei Gridin (5 points, 2 GWG), or Morgan Frost (2 points, 1 goal), you likely gained a massive advantage in your Week 5 matchup.
Thompson and Gauthier Lead the Charge
Tage Thompson led the NHL in goals (5) and points (8) in Week 5 while finishing second in SOG (18), making him easily the most valuable fantasy forward over the last seven days. Thompson also joined nine other players in the double-digit goal club this season and continued to provide elite shot volume, leading the NHL with 4.5 SOG per game.
Cutter Gauthier wasn’t far behind, tying Thompson for the weekly lead in goals (5) while finishing as the only player ahead of him in SOG (19).
Kochetkov Gets Every Start and May Never Lose Again
Pyotr Kochetkov is a perfect 10-0-0, and Carolina’s crease officially belongs to him after he made his fourth consecutive start Sunday against Winnipeg. The 27-year-old is healthy and thriving, delivering another massive fantasy week for managers who grabbed him late in drafts (210.0 ADP) or off the waiver wire earlier this season.
His 26-save shutout Sunday was the cherry on top, likely securing goaltending categories for plenty of fantasy managers almost single-handedly. Kochetkov currently ranks among the NHL’s top five in all major goaltending categories, including first in wins (10), second in shutouts (2), third in GAA (1.49), and fourth in SV% (.929).
The Tristan Jarry Experience
With Devon Levi going down in Edmonton last week, there was understandable concern about Tristan Jarry taking over the Oilers’ crease. However, the veteran netminder stepped up in a massive way, recording back-to-back shutouts to close out Week 5. He finished the week with two wins, a 0.97 GAA, and a .957 SV% in three appearances.
Fantasy managers willing to gamble on Jarry, who was rostered in just 20% of Yahoo leagues entering the week, were rewarded handsomely. His performance likely won plenty of matchups in the goaltending categories almost single-handedly.
Even after his incredible week, the 31-year-old still owns a season SV% below .900 (.895), showing just how many highs and lows we’ve already seen from him this season.
THE BAD
Zero-Point Club Stays Spooky
With Week 5 coinciding with Halloween, there were plenty of ghosts around the NHL who failed to record a point and haunted their fantasy managers in the process. Dylan Guenther, Adrian Kempe, Sam Bennett, Tom Wilson, Alex Ovechkin, Tomas Hertl, and Ivar Stenberg were the seven players rostered in more than 50% of leagues who failed to register a point last week.
Larkin Dilemma Gets Dicey
Dylan Larkin was a top-100 pick (94.0 ADP) in fantasy drafts this season, making the recent news of Detroit’s internal suspension of its former captain even more frustrating. After recording just six points in his first 10 games, Larkin announced he would no longer dress for the team, leaving fantasy managers wondering what to do with the 12-year veteran.
With his second public dispute in the last few months, managers are now stuck deciding whether he’s worth holding onto as he continues to occupy a valuable bench spot. A trade could give his fantasy value a much-needed boost, but the longer he sits at home like the rest of us, the more concerning the situation becomes.
With trade and contract disputes already making Simon Edvinsson a non-factor in fantasy, it’s frustrating to see two situations like this unfolding in Detroit.
It Continues to Be Tough in Net
With the NHL’s average SV% (.891) sitting at its lowest mark since 1975-76, we’re watching established fantasy goaltenders destroy our numbers week after week, with no end in sight.
Over the last seven days, Stuart Skinner (.737 SV%), Philipp Grubauer (.778), Dan Vladar (.811), Lukas Dostal (.818), Clay Stevenson (.821), John Gibson (.824), Darcy Kuemper (.833), Sergei Bobrovsky (.837), Karel Vejmelka (.843), Leevi Merilainen (.851), and Andrei Vasilevskiy (.852) all posted an SV% below .855 while making at least two appearances.
Jets Lose Their Wings as Hellebuyck Departs
Winnipeg’s first week without star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck did not go according to plan. The Jets allowed a league-worst 5.75 goals against per game while finishing second-last in the NHL with just 1.75 goals per game.
It was a miserable week at both ends of the ice for Winnipeg, and things are already looking pretty cold out west despite winter still being more than a month away.