We are back again for another round of the 2022-23 Fantasy Hockey Week 20 Weekly Planner!
As we move into a new week, we are headlined by the 2023 Stadium Series game between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Washington Capitals. The Metro division leading Canes will be participating in their first-ever outdoor game, hosting the game at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, NC. The league is expecting a crowd of at least 57,000 for Saturday's game.
The Capitals are currently holding on to the final Wild Card spot, and it looks like it'll be a tight race until the end of the season. Five points separate six different teams in the Wild Card hunt, and the Caps will have to try and do it without their renowned goal scorer. Alex Ovechkin will be away from the team for an indefinite period of time following the death of his father.
What else do we have to look forward to this week? Let's find out! Here is the 2022-23 Fantasy Hockey Week 20 Weekly Planner.
2022-23 Fantasy Hockey Week 20 Weekly Planner
February 18, 2022 - February 24, 2022
Top Targets
Adrian Kempe, Center/Left Wing, Los Angeles Kings (81% Rostered)
Per NHL PR, Adrian Kempe became the third skater in Kings history to record five straight goals, joining Luc Robitaille (2/4/92 - 2/6/92) and Tomas Sandstorm (11/22/90 - 11/24/90). The last to do so for any team was Jack Eichel with Buffalo (11/16/19 - 11/17/19). pic.twitter.com/rK6MZLLB5A
— LA Kings PR (@LAKingsPR) February 14, 2023
Week 19 was dominated by Adrian Kempe, who found himself with four straight goals in the game on Saturday night. Kempe then went on to score the first goal of Monday's game, tying a Kings' record of scoring five straight goals.
The 26-year-old Kempe is up to 27 goals and 15 games through 55 games this season. He has been moved to the wing with Anze Kopitar taking care of the center duties, and young star Quinton Byfield is on the opposite wing. The Kings will look to remain in the Pacific division's top three teams, and this line will do a lot of the heavy lifting through the end of the season.
Mathew Barzal, Center/Right Wing, New York Islanders (73% Rostered)
The addition of Bo Horvat has heavily impacted the Islanders team fighting for the playoffs and has also changed the game for a guy like Mathew Barzal. Barzel was able to shift from center to the wing following the trade and has recorded seven points (three goals and four assists) through his past six games. Looks for Barzal's production to continue increasing in his new role!
Rickard Rakell, Left Wing/Right Wing, Pittsburgh Penguins (62% Rostered)
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When playing alongside one of the greatest hockey players of all time, you are always valuable from a fantasy standpoint! Rickard Rakell is up to 19 goals and 17 assists this season, and the point totals should continue to increase as the Pens look to hold on to their Wild Card spot. Rakell has secured his spot on the team's top line, playing with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel.
Robby Fabbri, Left Wing/Right Wing, Detroit Red Wings (7% Rostered)
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Fantasy hockey is all about riding the hot hand, and that is something that you would get from adding Robby Fabbri to your team. Fabbri and the Wings are making a push for the playoffs, and he is almost at a point per game since joining the lineup following ACL surgery. The 27-year-old is bringing a four-game point streak into the new week, registering three goals and five assists during the stretch.
Injury Alerts
Lucas Raymond, Right Wing, Detroit Red Wings
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After colliding with a teammate during practice, the Red Wings were forced to place young star Lucas Raymond on injured reserve. The 20-year-old is dealing with a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day. The Red Wings are still in the Wild Card hunt and will need Raymond back in the lineup soon as they continue to battle.
Erik Johnson, Defense, Colorado Avalanche
Continuing with the trend of injuries in Colorado, The Avs will be without Erik Johnson for multiple weeks. Johnson has been playing in a top-four role for a depleted Avalanche team, and will now have to replace the 34-year-old's presence. It is being labeled as a lower-body injury with no set timetable for return.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Center, New York Islanders
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The 30-year-old Jean-Gabriel Pageau has been placed on injured reserve following an injury suffered on Saturday. The Islanders will prepare to be without Pageau, who is dealing with an upper-body injury. The 29-point scorer will be missed in the lineup, as the Islanders continue their second-half fight for a playoff Wild Card spot.
Team Worth Watching This Week
Tampa Bay Lightning
Stop me if you've heard this before... but Tampa Bay is good. After reaching the Stanley Cup Final three straight years, analysts predicted that this was finally the year where the Lightning would take a large step back. We are now in mid-February, and Tampa Bay owns the fifth-best record in the NHL.
Entering Week 20, the Lightning are one point behind the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division with one game in hand. Given the Bruins' performance this season, we are likely going to get a first-round playoff matchup between these two teams. Both teams remain competitive as a home-ice advantage will certainly place a factor in that series!
Week 20 features some favorable matchups for the Bolts, and they will kick it off with a matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas is unbeaten since the All-Star break, but injuries may start to play a factor for the team. The Lightning will then return to Tampa and meet the Ducks and the Sabres. Although the Sabres are still battling for a playoff spot, they have not played great defensively and the Lightning should be able to take advantage.
Week 20 Most Games
Buffalo Sabres (4) - @SJS, TOR, @TBL, @FLA
Calgary Flames (4) – NYR, PHI, @ARI, @VGK
Los Angeles Kings (4) – ARI, @MIN, @NJD, @NYI
Minnesota Wild (4) – NAS, LAK, @CBJ, @TOR
Nashville Predators (4) – FLA, @MIN, VAN, @SJS
New Jersey Devils (4) - @PIT, WPG, MTL, LAK
New York Islanders (4) - @BOS, @PIT, WPG, LAK
Philadelphia Flyers (4) - @VAN, @CGY, @EDM, MTL
St. Louis Blues (4) – COL, @OTT, @CAR, VAN
Toronto Maple Leafs (4) – MTL, @CHI, @BUF, MIN
Winnipeg Jets (4) - @NJD, @NYR, @NYI, COL
Week 20 Fewest Games
Dallas Stars (2) – CBJ, CHI
Week 20 Back-To-Back Tracker
Anaheim Ducks - 02/20 @FLA & 02/21 @TBL
Arizona Coyotes - 02/18 @LAK & 02/19 CBJ
Buffalo Sabres - 02/23 @TBL & 02/24 @FLA
Calgary Flames - 02/22 @ARI & 02/23 VGK
Carolina Hurricanes - 02/24 OTT & 02/25 ANA
Chicago Blackhawks - 02/21 VGK & 02/22 @DAL
Colorado Avalanche - 02/24 @WPG & 02/25 CGY
Columbus Blue Jackets - 02/18 @DAL & 02/19 @ARI
Dallas Stars - 02/17 @MIN & 02/18 CBJ
Los Angeles Kings - 02/17 @ANA & 02/18 ARI
Minnesota Wild - 02/23 @CBJ & 02/24 @TOR
Montreal Canadiens - 02/24 @PHI & 02/25 OTT
Nashville Predators - 02/18 FLA & 02/19 @MIN
New Jersey Devils - 02/18 @PIT & 02/19 WPG
NY Islanders - 02/17 PIT & 02/18 @BOS
NY Rangers - 02/17 @EDM & 02/18 @CGY
Ottawa Senators - 02/19 STL & 02/20 @BOS + 02/24 @CAR & 02/25 @MTL
Philadelphia Flyers - 02/20 @CGY & 02/21 @EDM + 02/24 MTL & 02/25 @NJD
Pittsburgh Penguins - 02/17 @NYI & 02/18 NJD
St. Louis Blues - 02/18 COL & 02/19 @OTT
Toronto Maple Leafs - 02/18 MTL & 02/19 @CHI
Winnipeg Jets - 02/19 @NJD & 02/20 @NYR
What player was missed in the 2022-23 Fantasy Hockey Week 20 Weekly Planner? Be sure to tell me in the comments!
Be sure to get all of your Fantasy Hockey advice from the F6P team.
