Chicago Hopes

It was a strange night in the National Hockey League. After no shutouts in nine NHL games on Tuesday, and zero in the past 20 games over the past three days, we had a couple of goaltenders standing on their head posting a pair of shutouts in just four games on Wednesday. The cupboard was anything but bare for fantasy owners on Hump Day, however, as Mikko Rantanen, Mark Scheifele, Corey Crawford and Marc-Andre Fleury shined through to post big fantasy points on a day which didn't appears to offer much before the games took place. Let's get started!




Chicago Blackhawks 1, St. Louis Blues 0

Brent Seabrook broke through for a power-play goal at 4:05 of the second period to break the ice in Wednesday's game against the Blues. Unfortunately for fantasy owners of the offensive players for Chicago and St. Louis, that was the only marker on the evening. The goal on the man advantage was the only goal allowed by Jake Allen on 19 shots in a hard-luck loss, as he took the L despite the fact he tied a season best with just the one goal allowed. He let in just one goal on 23 shots in a road victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 20. There's something about facing the Blackhawks that seems to agree with Allen, as he is 1-1-2 with a 3.47 goals-against average in four appearances against Chicago this season.



The only goal of the game came off the stick of Brent Seabrook. Vladimir Tarasenko was whistled for a hooking infraction 3:30 into the second period and Seabrook cashed in just 35 seconds later with a power-play goal, the only marker of the matching. It was a far cry from the first three meetings which saw 8.7 goals per game. Corey Crawford stopped all 28 shots he faced for his 24th shutout of his career, helping new head coach Jeremy Colliton to his first-career victory as a bench boss. His last shutout came Nov. 4, 2017, when he blanked the Minnesota Wild. It was an impressive showing since he had allowed 21 goals over his past five starts.

The only goal of the game came off the stick of Brent Seabrook. Vladimir Tarasenko was whistled for a hooking infraction 3:30 into the second period and Seabrook cashed in just 35 seconds later with a power-play goal, the only marker of the matching. It was a far cry from the first three meetings which saw 8.7 goals per game. Corey Crawford stopped all 28 shots he faced for his 24th shutout of his career, helping new head coach Jeremy Colliton to his first-career victory as a bench boss. His last shutout came Nov. 4, 2017, when he blanked the Minnesota Wild. It was an impressive showing since he had allowed 21 goals over his past five starts.

Brandon Saad was back in action after missing two games due to a right arm issue, but he was scoreless like most everyone else. Brayden Schenn (upper-body) was sidelined for a fourth consecutive outing.

Winnipeg Jets 3, Washington Capitals 1

It was all about Connor Hellebuyck, as he allowed just one goal on 28 shots against the defending Stanley Cup champions. While he hasn't posted a shutout so far this season, he is enjoying his best run of the season. He has rattled off victories in three consecutive starts, a season-high win streak, while the Jets have posted 13 goals of support for him while he allowed just five during the run.

Kyle Connor has picked up the pace this season, emerging as a solid fantasy option. He posted a goal with an assist, a plus-1 rating and two shots on goal in 16:26 of ice time. The Michigan native is up to eight goals with 15 points and a plus-5 rating in 17 games, emerging as a solid fantasy option in most pools of 12 or more teams. Mark Scheifele notched a power-play goal, posting a goal for the third straight outings. He has four goals with three assists and a plus-6 rating, as the Jets continue to roll up big numbers on offense. Scheifele has posted four goals with seven points across the past three outings. That's nothing compared to Blake Wheeler, however, as he has managed at least one point over the past 11 outings. He has two goals and 18 assists during the outstanding run.

Colorado Avalanche 6, Boston Bruins 3

Semyon Varlamov coughed up just three goals on 23 shots in Wednesday's home win, as he could solve everyone except for for Jake DeBrusk. David Pastrnak scored a goal with an assist, as he too woke up feeling rather dangerous. But DeBrusk bagged a pair of goals on his only two shots with a blocked shot and a hit over 16:53 of ice time. The left winger has a pair of two-goal games over the past four outings, picking up five points with three power-play points over his past five outings. Speaking of Pastrnak, he has at least one goal in three straight outings, posting five goals with eight points during the three-point goal run. In addition, Pastrnak is working on a five-game run with a total of five power-play goals, as the man advantage is clicking in Beantown right now.

As far as the Avalanche was concerned, the cash line was making that money on Hump Day. Gabriel Landeskog opened the scoring with his 12th goal, Mikko Rantanen added a power-play goal midway through the second period and Nathan MacKinnon notched a goal midway through the third period. The trio combined for three goals and six points with a plus-3 rating and nine shots on goal as the Avs doubled up the B's. Alexander Kerfoot got into the act with a goal and assists, too, while Samuel Girard posted a multi-point game with a pair of assists, a plus-2 rating and four blocked shots. Girard is starting to be known for more than just hunting down Dr. Richard Kimble. Hopefully you get that reference - lol.

Tuukka Rask was serving as the backup to Jaroslav Halak after missing the past two outings due to personal issues.

Vegas Golden Knights 5, Anaheim Ducks

Marc-Andre Fleury turned aside all 29 shots he faced to nail down his third shutout of the season and career No. 412, pushing aside the Ducks. Vegas is starting to pull it together, particularly at home, posting two consecutive shutouts at home. Alex Tuch and Nick Holden stepped up to help their goaltender, posting a goal and an assist each. Max Pacioretty also picked up a pair of helpers with a plus-1 rating while adding a pair of minor penalties and a hit over his 18:14 of ice time.

Cody Eakin managed to light the lamp for his sixth and seven goals of the season, posting a plus-2 rating on three shots with a blocked shot over 19:22 of ice time. He is now on pace to score 38 goals, which would be double his career best of 19 goals. He didn't notch his seventh goal of the season until Feb. 21 last year.

The Ducks were playing without Cam Fowler, as he remains sidelined due to a facial fracture. He was hit in the grille Monday night against the Nashville Predators, suffering an orbital bone, cheekbone and upper jaw bone fracture.