Fantasy Hockey News

Commissioner Gary Bettman announces 24-team return to play format for the resumption of the 2019-2020 NHL season. (Source: NHL on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: The NHL 2019-2020 regular season is officially over. The league will return with a 24-team playoff tournament. Top 12 in each Conference by points percentage (March 12th) officially make the playoffs. The First Round The playoff tournament will take place in two playoff hub cities, which have yet to be announced. Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Edmonton, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Pittsburgh, Toronto and Vancouver are among the hub cities that are being considered. An announcement should be made shortly about possible dates for games and which city will host.

J.T. Compher tipped in the game-winning goal in Wednesday night's 3-2 overtime victory over the visiting New York Rangers. He finished the game with one point, a minus-1 rating and two shots.

Fantasy Impact: The goal came off of a Cale Makar point shot. He was crossing the middle at just the right time as you could see Gerogiev reach to catch the shot. He trailed his stick behind him and just tipped it over the glove and in. That was Compher's 11th of the season and has 31 points total.

Pavel Francouz was the winning goalie in Wednesday night's 3-2 overtime win over the visiting New York Rangers. He stopped 30 of the 32 shots he faced including six power plays.

Fantasy Impact: Francouz appeared to be wearing down a bit over the past few games and one wondered if his new workload was negatively affecting him. This performance should help ease fantasy owners minds as he once again looked nimble and competent between the pipes. The win moves him up to 21-7-0-4 with a 2.41 GAA and .933 save percentage to date. He's been huge for the Avalanche as well as fantasy owners and will continue to hold down the fort while Philipp Grubauer recovers.

Vladislav Namestnikov found the back on the net in Colorado's 3-2 overtime win over the New York Rangers on Wednesday. He finished the game with a goal, an even-rating, three shots, one hit and one block.

Fantasy Impact: Namestnikov was passing back and forth with defenseman Cale Makar on the powerplay. They eventually got the screen up which is when Vlad decided to shoot and put it in short-side top corner. He has contributed four goals and six points since being traded from Ottawa back on February 24th. He makes for an interesting streaming option during the playoffs if the NHL does in fact stay open during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gabriel Landeskog racked up two assists in Colorado's 3-2 home win over the visiting New York Rangers on Wednesday night. He finished the game with two points, an even-rating, 2 PIM, five shots and two blocks.

Fantasy Impact: With the Avalanche walking wounded, they've needed their talent and depth players to step up. They have. Both his assists came on the powerplay. Since February 21st he's contributed five goals and ten assists which have no doubt helped keep the Avalanche on pace with St. Louis in the Western Conference. He has 21 goals and 44 points through 54 games in 2019/20.

Tyson Jost opened the scoring in Colorado's 3-2 overtime victory vs. the New York Rangers on Wednesday. He tallied a goal, an even-rating, two PIM, two shots and two hits.

Fantasy Impact: The goal came on the power play where he took a feed from Gabriel Landeskog. He was able to move laterally through the zone and shot it over the Georgiev's glove to tie the game at one. That's his eighth of the season and 23rd point to date.

Andre Burakovsky was spotted wearing a non-contact jersey in Wednesday's morning skate. There still isn't a timeline for when he will be back but this is good news. Jared Bednar said that he's hoping to get him back during Colorado's current home stand. He's been on the shelf since Febraruy 28th due to a lower and upper body injury.

Fantasy Impact: Keep an eye on his health as he's probably available with the fantasy playoffs under way. He can be used as a streamer with decent upside if you have roster flexibility.

Cale Makar tallied up three assists on Wednesday helping lift the Avalanche to the 3-2 victory over the visiting New York Rangers. He finished the game with three points, a plus-1 rating, two shots, one hit and one block.

Fantasy Impact: This just goes to show how much of a contributor he is to Colorado's defensive corps. He carries the puck into the zone without issue and is very well composed in both ends. The goal in overtime was a wrist shot from the point that J.T Compher got a stick on and redirected in for the win. Makar is up to 12 goals and 38 assists on the season.

Nazem Kadri was spotted on the ice at Wednesday's practice. He was wearing a non-contact jersey so he doesn't appear to be quite ready to return though it's possible he shows up during their home-stand. He's been out since February 9th with a lower-body injury.

Fantasy Impact: Check back shortly for the fantasy impact.

Philipp Grubauer was seen taking shots at practice prior to Wednesday's 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers.

Fantasy Impact: There still isn't a timeline for Grubauer since he was injured in the Stadium Series game vs. the LA Kings where Ian Cole lost balance and collided with him. Pavel Francouz has filled in admirably as the new starter so they won't rush him back. He's been out since February 15th.

Mikko Rantanen was spotted on the ice in Wednesday's skate before they took on the New York Rangers whom they defeated 3-2.

Fantasy Impact: A step in the right direction for the Avalanche winger who is no doubt missed by his team and fantasy owners. It's possible he returns for Colorado's home stand but they certainly aren't going to rush him back until he's ready to go. He's been sidelined since February 17th.

According to Rick Sadowski of NHL.com Nathan Mackinnon will be sidelined for the next 7-14 days with a lower-body injury.

Fantasy Impact: There's an argument to be made that this is a worse blow for fantasy owners than it is for the Avalanche. Colorado has suffered a rash of injuries over the past month and has lost 216 man-games over the season. Losing Mackinnon for fantasy playoffs is a devastating loss and will be difficult to replace production. He won't be eligible for an IR spot either so he will remain have to remain in lineups which makes the situation even more difficult. Do what you have to do to stay in it.

Ivan Barbashev scored a goal versus the Ducks Wednesday. The goal was his 11th of the season.

Fantasy Impact: Barbashev set career-highs in goals, assists, and points in 2018-19. The Russian center played on the fourth line last season and could see even better opportunities this season.

Jordan Kyrou recorded an assist versus Anaheim. Technically the assist came before the game was postponed on February 11th.

Fantasy Impact: Kyrou was a highly-regarded young prospect coming up. Keep an eye on him in case he breaks out.

Sammy Blais recorded an assist versus the Ducks Wednesday. The assist came on the eventual game-winner.

Fantasy Impact: Blais had not been much of a fantasy option in the past, especially for a winger. Keep an eye on him in the future as he was producing early this season.

Brayden Schenn recorded an assist versus the Ducks Wednesday. The assist came on the power-play.

Fantasy Impact: Schenn fell from a career-best 70 points in 2017-18 to 54 points. His shooting percentage saw a noticeable dip from the three previous seasons. However, he is on pace to rebound. Schenn has four straight seasons with at least 54 points and is a former #5 overall pick.

Justin Faulk recorded an assist Wednesday versus Anaheim. The assist came on the empty netter at the end of the game.

Fantasy Impact: Faulk has been one of the better goal-scoring defensemen in the NHL in the past. He has six straight seasons of 30+ points but only one over 37 (2014-15 with 49). He is on pace to fall short this season. Faulk is not currently on the top-level of fantasy defensemen but he has been a good option in the past.

Ryan O'Reilly recorded two assists versus Anaheim Wednesday. The first assist came on the power-play and the second came on the eventual game-winner.

Fantasy Impact: O'Reilly is coming off a career-high 77 points last season which is worth a roster spot in the vast majority of leagues. He has seven seasons with at least 55 points.

Alex Pietrangelo scored two goals versus the Ducks Wednesday. He has 16 goals this season. The first goal of his in the game came on the power-play.

Fantasy Impact: Pietrangelo is a solid fantasy option although he has never been elite. He finished with 28 assists last season but has been over 30 in seven different seasons.

Jake Allen saved 26 of the 27 shots he faced after the resumption of the game against the Ducks Wednesday. St Louis would win 4-2.

Fantasy Impact: Allen has been a very good goalie in his career and it is highly recommended that you grab him as a handcuff if you have Binnington.