NHL playoff fantasy pools full of surprises

editor — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:17:35 GMT

They've hit the half way pole in the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs and just four horses remain in the hunt as they head for home.

Some things just don't seem right here. Marty Turco is in Conn-Smythe form. Ditto Martin Biron. Marian Hossa is scoring. Johan Franzen has more points than Zetterberg and Datsyuk - and, no, that is not a typo.

What's next? Chris Simon wins the Lady Byng?

If you drafted one of those players in your playoff fantasy league, chances are you're in contention heading into the conference finals.

Here is a look at the Top 10 fantasy surprises from the 2008 playoffs:

10. BRENDEN MORROW, Dallas

Hardly a surprise he is playing well, but at times Morrow has been dominating. Anyone wondering how jacked up Morrow is this spring, just ask Milan Michalek.

9. JAROMIR JAGR, NY Rangers

Retirement? Heading overseas to play next year? Yeah right. The violins are playin', but don't shed any tears. Jagr will be back, especially after his playoff performance. Plus, the NHL pays better.

8. DANIEL BRIERE, Philadelphia

Someone has won over the hearts of the rough and tumble Flyers' faithful. Oh, and pissed off Canadiens' fans a little more. C'est la vie.

7. MIKE RIBEIRO, Dallas

In 24 career playoff games pre-2008, Ribeiro had amassed a whole eight points. This spring, he has 14 in 12 games. If you think of a reason he should be off this list, let us know. Just after you get a clue.

6. VACLAV PROSPAL, Philadelphia

OK, so it is Prospal's second go-round in Philly, but think he might be sending a thank you note to Jay Feaster sometime this spring? Traded from the league's worst team on deadline day? Rough life.

5. MARTIN BIRON, Philadelphia

Anytime you can post a .914 save percentage for a sixth-seeded team against a pair of high-powered attacks like Washington and Montreal, you're getting mentioned in the same sentence as "Conn" and "Smythe". If Biron can keep it up, another free-wheeling team may be washing their balls - for golf - come the middle of the month.

4. MARIAN HOSSA, Pittsburgh

Can't score the big one when it matters, huh? Hossa is doing the talking with his play right now. If only a hockey stick had a middle finger...

3. RJ UMBERGER, Philadelphia

R.J. Umberger, top ten in playoff scoring? Is there something wrong with this picture? Not if you are a Flyer fan. Just another example how the Philly roster can burn you from top to bottom, which might explain why they are where they are right now. Umberger. Someone tell me a budding entrepreneur has trademarked this name for a fast food joint...

2. MARTY TURCO, Dallas

Most playoff seasons, Turco plays as though he is worried about being late for his tee time. Not so fast this year. The Stars are into the final four - no, not FORE! - and Turco is in Conn-Smythe form. Golf can wait.

1. JOHAN FRANZEN, Detroit

Hey, 27 goals in the regular season and we should be surprised? You bet. Eleven goals and 14 points in ten playoff games have made believers out of us.

Johan Franzen, NHL Playoff MVP? It’s not a Conn job

editor — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:57:47 GMT

Hands up those of you who figured Johan Franzen would be rubbing shoulders with the scoring leaders as the Stanley Cup playoffs chugged along towards the halfway pole.

OK, head to the front of the class. That one guy over there. Yes, you, Johan Franzen's nephew.

And so, ladies and gentlemen, I give you this year's version of John Druce and Chris Kontos.

For you NHL playoff fantasy experts, Franzen seemed like a low-risk pick, considering he racked up 27 goals for the Winged Wheel during the regular season. Seeing how he toils for a team most figured would advance, at the very least, to the Western Conference final, there were worse picks you could have made than Franzen, regardless of what round he was plucked in your fantasy draft.

And right now, Franzen would get some serious consideration if the Conn Smythe Trophy were awarded today.

Over the 72 games he played during the regular season, Franzen had 38 points. In nine playoff games, he's put up 11 points. You do the math.

Very few in Motown will ever confuse the line of Franzen, Valtteri Filppula and Mikael Samuelsson with the Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom trio, but Franzen and Co., to date, are carrying the bulk of the mail for the Red Wings in this playoff run. In the opening two games of their series with the Colorado Avalanche, the line combined for six goals and ten points. Oh, and for good measure Franzen added another marker last night in Game 3 as the Red Wings pushed Colorado one step closer to the Stanley Cup ledge.

When offering my playoff sleeper picks for the 2008 NHL playoffs, I left Franzen off my list, simply because a 27-goal man is hardly seen as a sleeper.

But no one outside the state of Michigan could have predicted this.

If you've got Franzen in your fantasy draft this spring, now would be a good time to rejoice.

Both he and the Red Wings are showing no sign of slowing down.

Dominik Hasek backup role hurts NHL playoff fantasy hopes

editor — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:35:47 GMT

No matter what else happens in these wacky Stanley Cup playoffs, one thing that can't be overlooked is that we've probably seen Dominik Hasek play his final game in the National Hockey League.

For you poolies who took Hasek in your fantasy draft thinking the Detroit Red Wings would go deep into the playoffs, it looks as though you're out of luck. Better hope your forwards pile up the points, because your goalie won't be.

After a less than stellar performance in the opening round, a series the Red Wings must believe they were very fortunate to win, Hasek has probably overstayed his welcome, at least in Motown.

If this was indeed a swan song, it sure wasn't how it was supposed to be.

The Red Wings could very well go on to claim the Stanley Cup later this spring, but, barring injury, it will be with Chris Osgood, and not Hasek, kicking them out.

Fantasy owners who rolled the dice with Hasek may have lost any hope of winning their draft.

Thanks for the memories, Dom. Grab a seat on the bench. Oh, and here's your plane ticket.

The Nashville Predators, who weren't picked by many to push this series beyond the minimum four games, threw a scare into the Presidents Cup champions, taking it to six while being perhaps a bounce or two away from pulling the major upset.

Some would look at the Predators' valiant effort and think they actually matched up well with Detroit. Truth is, the only reason this thing wasn't over in four was because Hasek kept the Nashville Predators in the series.

Chris Osgood will now carry the mail for the Red Wings the rest of the way, thank you very much.

Two weeks ago, this was Dominik Hasek's job to lose. He lost it.

Is it the way for a legend, as unorthodox as he may have been, to make his exit? Probably not. But it's the way it seems destined to end.

Time catches up to everyone, so they say, so Hasek shouldn't take it personal. Looking for a little something to make you feel better? Check out that Martin Brodeur guy in Jersey.

Prior to this season, we weren't even sure if we would ever see Hasek play again, so be thankful. Fans were able to see another year of injuries and broken English.

Turns out it may have been one year too long.

NHL playoff pool may hinge on your own line-juggling

editor — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:01:30 GMT

Should you be looking for a plan of attack in your playoff fantasy draft as the quest for the Cup continues, it's time to put it all on the line.

As mentioned last week, one of the keys for playoff fantasy success is to narrow down your Cup favorites to the four teams you figure will advance to the Stanley Cup conference finals.

Now it's time to focus on the high-flying forward lines for those teams and stock up on as many as possible. Those combined points could have you in the driver's seat of your fantasy draft if they are still playing a few weeks from now.

Here are five units you may want to pay attention to if you can re-shuffle the deck in your pool round-by-round:

5. Ovechkin-Backstrom-Kozlov, Capitals

The explosive Alex Ovechkin may have been held in check in the early stages of this series, but it is probably only a matter of time before he finds another gear. OV is the obvious ringleader for this trio, but Backstrom is making a case for the Calder while Kozlov is taking advantage of a pretty ideal situation being paired with both of them. It is hit or miss whether the Capitals can sneak by a resilient Flyers' squad, and if they do, look out. Either way, this line will give goaltenders many a sleepless night in the coming years.

4. Michalek/Clowe-Thornton-Cheechoo, Sharks

Clowe's hot hand early in these playoffs earned him a promotion to the top line, but the way Joe Thornton has pulled another playoff disappearing act early on, it could be seen as a demotion. Well, maybe things aren't quite that dramatic, but the uncertainty of whether or not Thornton gets going bumps this unit down to the #4 spot. If Thornton can get untracked, and right now that is a very big if, Cheechoo and either of Clowe or Michalek are sure to cash in. Then again, if things remain status quo, it will be another early exit for the Sharks.

3. A. Kostitsyn-Plekanec-Kovalev, Canadiens

Kostitsyn and Plekanec have both benefitted from a rejuvenated Kovalev in Montreal and the Habs could very well be rewarded with an extended stay into the post-season. With Carey Price starting to stir up memories of a couple guys named Dryden and Roy and Montreal's top unit ready to pounce, they are thinking #25 in Montreal. If you need to know what that stands for, check your history book.

2. Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom, Red Wings

No, I am not dyslexic. These guys are actually ranked number two and you'll see why in a moment. That said, an argument could be made that this trio is the best in the league. We may find out soon enough, as it seems the Wings and Penguins are on a collision course to meet later this spring.

1. Dupuis-Crosby-Hossa, Malone-Malkin-Sykora, Penguins

You know the Penguins are stacked up front when they can come at you with two legitimate #1 lines. And these units aren't even etched in stone. The Penguins can throw any three of the six over the boards to knock down a goalie's save percentage a few digits, seemingly at will. If someone doesn't find a way to slow them down, the Pittsburgh Express could roll through everyone on their way to the Cup final.