We are back! The regular season days are numbered, so let's enjoy the 2022-23 Fantasy Hockey Week 26 Weekly Planner while we can!
Since we last spoke, the NHL has awarded the Presidents' Trophy. Following a 2-1 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night, the Boston Bruins have clinched the top spot in the league as well as home ice throughout the entire playoffs. Will they be able to break the Presidents' Trophy curse?
🐻 THE B'S ARE ON TOP 🐻
The @NHLBruins have clinched the 2022-23 Presidents' Trophy! pic.twitter.com/za24pNjDNK
— NHL (@NHL) March 31, 2023
Week 25 also saw the first team clinch a playoff spot in the Western Conference, as the Vegas Golden Knights have secured their postseason seat. The Knights have now clinched a spot in the NHL Playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons as an organization. Which teams are going to be joining Vegas in the spring?
We are now less than 10 games from the postseason, and there are still a number of spots that need to be secured. Both Wild Card races are set up for an extremely close finish, so who will come out on top?
It's time for us to get this week going. Enjoy the 2022-23 Fantasy Hockey Week 26 Weekly Planner!
2022-23 Fantasy Hockey Week 26 Weekly Planner
April 1, 2023 - April 7, 2023
Top Targets
Brock Boeser, Right Wing, Vancouver Canucks (53% Rostered)
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Since the coaching change was made mid-season, the Vancouver Canucks have a 16-9-3 record. Guys like Brock Boeser have responded well to the change, and their personal game has improved. The week ahead should play into Boeser's game as well, making him a value add for your teams.
Boeser has recorded 52 points so far this year and finds himself four points away from hitting his career-high in points. Given his play of late, he should hit that mark with no problem. Over his last three games, he has registered six points (three goals and three assists) and should be able to finish the season strong. Although the Canucks season may be all but over, Boeser will have a chance to continue improving on his stellar season. He is set to take on the Kings, Kraken, and Blackhawks who have all had their struggles with stopping the puck.
David Perron, Right Wing, Detroit Red Wings (48% Rostered)
The Detroit Red Wings won't be playing postseason hockey this year, but this hasn't stopped them from finishing the season strong. David Perron, the team's most veteran player, is helping lead the way by finding the score sheet. This week should be no different, and Perron can make for a solid addition to a fantasy team in need of points.
34-year-old Perron is leading by example, finding the scoresheet eight times (three goals and five assists) through his last six games. He also sits one point away from the 50-point mark, which will be the fourth consecutive season hitting this milestone. Seeing teams like the Canadiens and Sabres on the upcoming schedule this week will certainly help Perron add to his point total.
Ryan Hartman, Center, Minnesota Wild (42% Rostered)
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Ryan Hartman was looking for a continuation of last year's success to begin this year but ended up getting off to an extremely rocky start. Thankfully, he has found his game and has been a key contributor to Minnesota's second-half success. Hartman would also be a key contributor to a fantasy hockey lineup.
Following the injury to Kirill Kaprizov, Hartman has moved up to the team's top line alongside Marcus Foligno and Mats Zuccarello. He is actively riding a four-game point streak and has recorded 12 points (five goals and seven assists) through 14 games during March (also adding a 10-1-3 record in the month). The 28-year-old seems to be heating up at the right time thanks for the promotion. His newfound spot on the team's top line has been an important change.
Kasperi Kapanen, Right Wing, St. Louis Blues (9% Rostered)
Kasperi Kapanen's career high in points for a full regular season is 44, which was his first full season in Toronto.
In his 15 games since being traded to the #stlblues, he has 11 points (7 G, 4 A) and is scoring at a 38 goal/60 point pace.
— The Chirp (@STLBluesChirp) March 29, 2023
It appears that all Kaperi Kapanen needed was a change of scenery in order to find his game again. Since being waived by Pittsburgh and claimed by St. Louis, Kapanen has found a fit in the lineup immediately. He is up to 16 games with his new team and has supplied seven goals and five assists.
Given some injuries to the Blues' roster, Kapanen has been called upon to center the team's second line between Sammy Blais and Jordan Kyrou. It is unsure how long the center experiment will last, but this will certainly help increase Kapanen's value for fantasy hockey no matter which line he ends up sticking with.
Injury Alerts
Reilly Smith, Left Wing/Right Wing, Vegas Golden Knights
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Thursday's victory for the Golden Knights didn't end as they would've hoped, as they lost one of their key contributors in Reilly Smith. The 31-year-old was injured during the second period and didn't return to the bench for the third with a lower-body injury. He returned home to Vegas rather than continuing on the road trip, and the team expects to be without Smith for at least one week.
Sam Bennett, Center, Florida Panthers
Sam Bennett has been absent from the Panthers lineup for 11 of the team's last 18 games, and his timetable for return is unknown. Bennett has been out with an undisclosed injury after leaving last Monday's game, where he played 12:44 and recorded two assists. The Panthers remain the last team out of the Eastern Conference Wild Card race, and the team will hope to have Bennett back to make their final push.
Troy Terry, Right Wing, Anaheim Ducks
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After leaving Saturday's game early, the Ducks have been without star player Troy Terry for two games. The absence, originally labeled as an injury, has now been confirmed as a personal reason. Terry will not accompany the Ducks on their upcoming three-game road trip, and we hope that all is well for Troy.
Jakob Chychrun, Defense, Ottawa Senators
It is starting to feel as though Jakob Chychrun will not return this season, as the star defenseman has been sidelined with a hamstring injury. Chychrun was doubtful heading into last Friday's game but has now missed three straight games for the Sens. The team's latest update is that it will be a 2-3 week absence, but it is safe to assume it will end his season given the timing and the team's current spot in the standings.
Team Worth Watching This Week
Pittsburgh Penguins
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They have certainly struggled as of late as we move towards the later part of the season, but no week is more important than this week for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Penguins enter the new week 4-6 over their last 10 games, but they are still clinging to the final Wild Card spot. 4 games are on the schedule for Week 26, and they will start it off against the league's best. Boston may not have too much to play for at this point, as they clinched the Presidents' Trophy last week. It may be a tough battle for the Pens, but anything can happen at this point.
Following the Bruins, Pittsburgh will play home contests against the Flyers and Wild while hitting the road for a matchup with the Devils.
We are eight games away from the end of the regular season, and Pittsburgh will hope to secure their postseason spot by the end of this week. They will rely heavily on their veteran leaders to help them return to the playoffs for the 17th consecutive season.
Week 26 Most Games
Carolina Hurricanes (4) - @MTL, NYI, OTT, @NAS
Columbus Blue Jackets (4) - FLA, OTT, @TOR, @NJD
Los Angeles Kings (4) - @SEA, @VAN, EDM, @VGK
Nashville Predators (4) - STL, @DAL, VGK, CAR
New Jersey Devils (4) - @CHI, @WPG, PIT, CBJ
Ottawa Senators (4) - TOR, @CBJ, @CAR, @FLA
Philadelphia Flyers (4) - BUF, @PIT, @STL, @DAL
Pittsburgh Penguins (4) - BOS, PHI, @NJD, MIN
Seattle Kraken (4) - LAK, ARI, @VAN, ARI
St. Louis Blues (4) - @NAS, BOS, PHI, NYR
Toronto Maple Leafs (4) - @OTT, DET, CBJ, @BOS
Vegas Golden Knights (4) - MIN, @MIN, @NAS, LAK
Week 26 Fewest Games
Washington Capitals (2) - NYR, @MTL
Winnipeg Jets (2) - NJD, CGY
Week 26 Back-To-Back Tracker
Anaheim Ducks - 04/01 @EDM & 04/02 @CGY
Arizona Coyotes - 03/31 DAL & 04/01 SJS
Boston Bruins - 04/01 @PIT & 04/02 @STL
Buffalo Sabres - 03/31 NYR& 04/01 @PHI
Carolina Hurricanes - 04/01 @MTL & 04/02 NYI
Calgary Flames - 04/04 CHI & 04/05 @WPG
Columbus Blue Jackets - 04/01 FLA & 04/02 OTT
Dallas Stars - 03/31 @ARI & 04/01 @COL
Edmonton Oilers - 04/04 @LAK & 04/05 @ANA
Los Angeles Kings - 04/01 @SEA & 04/02 @VAN
Nashville Predators - 04/03 @DAL & 04/04 VGK
New Jersey Devils - 04/01 @CHI & 04/02 @WPG
NY Islanders - 04/01 TBL & 04/02 @CAR
NY Rangers - 04/05 TBL & 04/06 @STL
Ottawa Senators - 04/01 TOR & 04/02 @CBJ
Philadelphia Flyers - 04/01 BUF & 04/02 @PIT
Pittsburgh Penguins - 04/01 BOS & 04/02 PHI
Seattle Kraken - 04/03 ARI & 04/04 @VAN
St. Louis Blues - 04/01 @NAS & 04/02 BOS
Tampa Bay Lightning - 04/05 @NYR & 04/06 @NYI
Toronto Maple Leafs - 04/01 @OTT & 04/02 DET
Vegas Golden Knights - 04/03 @MIN & 04/04 @NAS
What player was missed in the 2022-23 Fantasy Hockey Week 26 Weekly Planner? Be sure to tell me in the comments!
Be sure to get all of your Fantasy Hockey advice from the F6P team.
