Week 27! We have made it to the final week of the NHL regular season, and we are back with the 2022-23 Fantasy Hockey Week 27 Weekly Planner for the final time.
Each team has just a few games left, and we have the playoff field almost completed. Teams are also making their final push for the Connor Bedard sweepstakes, as the "race" for the worst record will come down to the wire. It will be an action-packed week that will help us conclude the awesome regular season we have been through.
Some players will also be competing hard to hit some milestones, as well! Will Connor McDavid hit 150 points on the season? Can Joe Pavelski record one more point to hit 1,000 in his career? Will Linus Ullmark complete the Triple Crown?
Let's close this season out strong! For the final time this season, let's dive into the 2022-23 Fantasy Hockey Week 27 Weekly Planner.
2022-23 Fantasy Hockey Week 27 Weekly Planner
April 8, 2023 - April 15, 2023
Top Targets
Bowen Byram, Defense, Colorado Avalanche (70% Rostered)
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Injuries have been a focal point of the Colorado Avalanche's season. As the season comes to a close, they are getting all of their players back and look like the dangerous team that won last year's Stanley Cup. Bowen Byram is one of those guys and happens to be playing his best hockey heading into the most important part of the season.
Over the past two weeks, Byram has been a valuable part of the team's success with five points (three goals and two assists) through five games. The defensive pairings are fluid for now as Cale Makar is out injured, but the Avs have Byram in their top four while also making sure he is included in the team's powerplay. Given his spot in the lineup with the many superstars on this roster, he remains a consistent fantasy hockey contributor that gets his shots on the net.
Dawson Mercer, Center/Right Wing, New Jersey Devils (47% Rostered)
Dawson Mercer’s second season in the NHL:
- Three goals away from 30
- Nearly a 60-point scorer
- Has played every single game
- Third-most points from the 2020 NHL Draft (seven more than first-overall pick, Alexis Lafrenière, in 51 fewer games)Folks, he’s only 21.#NJDevils pic.twitter.com/oViCMNmenJ
— Devils Army Blog (@DevilsArmyBlog) April 5, 2023
Dawson Mercer is doing what he can to keep the New Jersey Devils in the hunt for the Metropolitan Division title. The team enters week 27 one point behind the Hurricanes, and this race will come down to the wire.
The 21-year-old has done his part throughout the year, adding 27 goals and 28 assists in his sophomore season. He has found comfort in playing on a line with Tomas Tatar and Nico Hichier, but also plays a key role on the team's second powerplay unit. This Devils team won't give in and accept a first-round playoff matchup with the Rangers just yet, so look for Mercer to step his game up through the final three games. These are also the kind of games that you love to see as a fantasy hockey manager!
Pavel Zacha, Center/Left Wing, Boston Bruins (27% Rostered)
The Boston Bruins have done just about everything that an NHL team can do in 2022-2023, and there are a lot of people to thank for that. Pavel Zacha, the team's Ironman, has been one of their unsung heroes.
Zacha has played in every game this season and he has had many different linemates. Even with the changes throughout the season, the 26-year-old has produced at a high level setting a new career high in goals (18) and points (53). His flexibility across different lineups makes him an extremely valuable piece when building a fantasy lineup because he will be put into situations where he can make a play.
Devon Levi, Goalie, Buffalo Sabres (9% Rostered)
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We have reached the final week of the regular season, and the Buffalo Sabres are still in playoff contention. The play of newcomer Devon Levi has helped fuel the team so they can have their shot at the postseason.
Since leaving Northeastern University with the Hockey East Player of the Year Award, Levi has won two of his first three NHL starts. Along with the wins, he is making an impact with a 3.23 GAA and a .901 SV%. With the Sabres still on the brink of a playoff spot, Levi makes for an incredible fantasy option that is playing behind a team desperate for the postseason.
Injury Alerts
Joel Eriksson Ek, Center, Minnesota Wild
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After hitting the 60-point plateau for the first time in his career, Joel Eriksson Ek will be out of the lineup with a lower-body injury. The team has announced that Eriksson Ek will be week-to-week after blocking a shot during Thursday night's game. The 26-year-old has had a breakout season and has been a main contributor to Matt Boldy's red-hot goal-scoring stretch, so the Wild hope to have him back by the first round of the playoffs.
Cale Makar, Defense, Colorado Avalanche
Following a two-game absence, the Avalanche has announced that Cale Makar is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury. This season has been rocky for Makar health-wise, as he has only played in 60 of the team's 77 games this year. As the team has already clinched their spot in the postseason, there is a chance that he is being held out for rest but we will continue to keep an eye on this as we get close to the playoffs!
Tanner Jeannot, Right Wing, Tampa Bay Lightning
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The Lightning will likely be without their newly acquired Tanner Jeannot after suffering a leg injury during Thursday night's game. Jeannot was on the receiving end of a check which led to an awkward fall to the ice where his right leg was crushed under two bodies. Coach Cooper described the injury as "worrisome", and did not provide any further information on the extent of the injury.
Tanner Jeannot was expected to play a big part in the Lightning's playoff roster, so we hope that he is able to get healthy soon.
Team Worth Watching This Week
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I have spent most of the week thinking about who should be the team to watch during the last week of the season. Then I thought, why should I only pick one? Heading into the new week, we have seven total teams that are still in a fight for the remaining three playoff spots. This week is going to be a wild one, so let's find out what we will be watching across the league!
The Eastern Conference Wild Card race has four teams battling for the final two playoff spots. The Florida Panthers (89 Points), New York Islanders (89 Points), Pittsburgh Penguins (88 Points), and Buffalo Sabres (83 Points) will continue playing for their chance to stay alive during Week 27.
The Western Conference has locked up one Wild Card spot, and we are left with three teams in contention for the final place. The 8th team in the Western Conference playoffs will be either the Winnipeg Jets (89 Points), Calgary Flames (89 Points), or Nashville Predators (88 Points).
Florida Panthers | @WAS | TOR | CAR | N/A | N/A |
New York Islanders | PHI | @WAS | MTL | N/A | N/A |
Pittsburgh Penguins | @DET | CHI | @CBJ | N/A | N/A |
Buffalo Sabres | CAR | @NYR | @NYR | OTT | @CBJ |
Winnipeg Jets | NAS | SJS | @MIN | @COL |
Calgary Flames | @VAN | NAS | SJS | N/A |
Nashville Predators | @WPG | @CGY | MIN | COL |
Give me Florida and Pittsburgh in the East, and Nashville in the West! Everybody enjoy the final week of the season!
Week 27 Most Games
Anaheim Ducks (4) - @ARI, COL, VAN, LAK
Boston Bruins (4) - NJD, @PHI, WAS, @MTL
Buffalo Sabres (4) - CAR, @NYR, @NJD, OTT
Carolina Hurricanes (4) - @BUF, @OTT, DET, @FLA
Chicago Blackhawks (4) - @SEA, MIN, @PIT, PHI
Colorado Avalanche (4) - @LAK, @ANA, EDM, WPG
Dallas Stars (4) - VGK, @DET, @STL, STL
Detroit Red Wings (4) - PIT, DAL, @CAR, @TBL
Minnesota Wild (4) - STL, @CHI, WPG, @NAS
Philadelphia Flyers (4) - @NYI, BOS, CBJ, @CHI
San Jose Sharks (4) - EDM, @WPG, @CGY, @EDM
Seattle Kraken (4) - CHI, @ARI, @VGK, VGK
Toronto Maple Leafs (4) - MTL, @FLA, @TBL, @NYR
Vancouver Canucks (4) - CGY, @LAK, @ANA, @ARI
Washington Capitals (4) - FLA, NYI, @BOS, NJD
Winnipeg Jets (4) - NAS, SJS, @MIN, @COL
Week 27 Fewest Games
Arizona Coyotes (3) - ANA, SEA, VAN
Calgary Flames (3) - @VAN, NAS, SJS
Columbus Blue Jackets (3) - NYR, @PHI, PIT
Edmonton Oilers (3) - @SJS, @COL, SJS
Florida Panthers (3) - @WAS, TOR, CAR
Los Angeles Kings (3) - COL, VAN, @ANA
Montreal Canadiens (3) - @TOR, @NYI, BOS
Nashville Predators (3) - @WPG, @CGY, MIN
New Jersey Devils (3) - @BOS, BUF, @WAS
NY Islanders (3) - PHI, @WAS, MTL
NY Rangers (3) - @CBJ, BUF, TOR
Ottawa Senators (3) - TBL, CAR, @BUF
Pittsburgh Penguins (3) - @DET, CHI, @CBJ
St. Louis Blues (3) - @MIN, DAL, @DAL
Tampa Bay Lightning (3) - @OTT, TOR, DET
Vegas Golden Knights (3) - @DAL, SEA, @SEA
Week 27 Back-To-Back Tracker
Anaheim Ducks - 04/08 @ARI & 04/09 COL
Boston Bruins - 04/08 NJD & 04/09 @PHI
Buffalo Sabres - 04/10 @NYR & 04/11 @NJD
Carolina Hurricanes - 04/10 @OTT & 04/11 DET
Chicago Blackhawks - 04/10 MIN & 04/11 @PIT
Colorado Avalanche - 04/08 @LAK & 04/09 @ANA
Dallas Stars - 04/12 @STL & 04/13 STL
Detroit Red Wings - 04/10 DAL & 04/11 @CAR
Minnesota Wild - 04/10 @CHI & 04/11 WPG
Montreal Canadiens - 04/12 @NYI & 04/13 BOS
Philadelphia Flyers - 04/08 @NYI & 04/09 BOS
San Jose Sharks - 04/12 @CGY & 04/13 @EDM
Seattle Kraken - 04/10 @ARI & 04/11 @VGK
St. Louis Blues - 04/12 DAL & 04/13 @DAL
Toronto Maple Leafs - 04/10 @FLA & 04/11 @TBL
Vancouver Canucks - 04/10 @LAK & 04/11 @ANA
Washington Capitals - 04/10 NYI & 04/11 @BOS
Winnipeg Jets - 04/10 SJS & 04/11 @MIN
What player was missed in the 2022-23 Fantasy Hockey Week 27 Weekly Planner? Be sure to tell me in the comments!
Be sure to get all of your Fantasy Hockey advice from the F6P team.