Podcast 111-2021 NHL Playoffs: Honda West Division Playoff Preview (Update)

This is Honda West Playoff Preview.

Colorado Avalanche vs St.Louis Blues

Key Players: COL-F: N.MacKinnon, M.Rantanen, G.Landeskog, N.Kadri, Alex Newhook, A.Burakovsky, J.Donskoi | D: C.Makar, S.Girard, D.Toews, R.Graves

STL-F: R.O'Reilly, V.Tarasenko, J.Schwartz, B.Schenn, D.Perron, R.Thomas, M.Hoffman | D: T.Krug, J.Faulk, C.Parayko, V.Dunn

X-Factor: Tyson Jost (COL), Jordan Kyrou (STL)

Goalies: P.Grubauer (COL) vs J.Binnington (STL)

The Colorado Avalanche have owned the season series against the St.Louis Blues, winning 5 out of the 8 games. St.Louis certainly knows what it takes to win the Stanley Cup but Colorado is not a good first-round matchup for them.

The Colorado Avalanche is led by Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Gabriel Landeskog and Cale Makar, and have a great supporting cast which includes players such as Nazem Kadri, Alex Newhook, Joonas Donskoi, Sam Girard, Devon Toews, and Andre Burakovsky. Philipp Grubauer has had a tremendous regular season and is a potential Vezina Trophy nominee. Colorado has tons of offensive talent, but when they face a more physical team, they could struggle.

The St.Louis Blues are led by 2019 playoff Conn Smythe winner Ryan O'Reilly, who has the most consistent Blue this season. If St.Louis wants to beat Vegas, players such as Vladimir Tarasenko, Brayden Schenn, and Jaden Schwartz will need to step up. Jordan Binnington had a rocky regular season but finished the season strong, which is good for St.Louis.

Colorado should win this series easily because St.Louis just hasn't played Colorado well this year

Prediction: COL win 4-1

Vegas Golden Knights vs Minnesota Wild

Key Players: VGK-F: M.Stone, M.Pacioretty, J.Marchessault, W.Karlsson, R.Smith, A.Tuch, C.Stephenson | D: S.Theodore, A.Pietrangelo, A.Martinez, B.McNabb, Z.Whitecloud,

MIN-F: K.Kaprizov, M.Zuccarello, K.Fiala, J.Eriksson Ek, J.Greenway, M.Foligno, V.Rask, Z.Parise | D: J.Spurgeon, R.Suter, M.Dumba, J.Brodin

X Factor: Tomas Nosek (VGK), Nick Bjugstad (MIN)

Goalies: R.Lehner/M-A.Fleury (VGK) vs C.Talbot (MIN)

The Minnesota Wild is perhaps the biggest surprise of the season, so it would be shocking if they upset the Vegas Golden Knights. Minnesota actually has the advantage in the season series 5-3, but the team both have scored 24 goals apiece.

The Vegas Golden Knights are led by Mark Stone, a Selke nominee, and is having the best statistical season of his career. The William Karlsson line with Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith was having a quiet year, but they usually are productive come playoff time. Regardless of which goalie plays, the Golden Knights should feel comfortable because both are proven, playoff goaltenders.

Minnesota Wild are viewed as the underdogs in this series, and the Wild will very likely take that to their advantage. The Wild are led offensively by Kirill Kaprizov and have a bruising checking line, which is centered by Joel Eriksson Ek.

Minnesota has a solid defensive core and a red hot goalie in Cam Talbot, which could give Colorado some issues in the series.

The Minnesota Wild is a tough opponent for Vegas, but I think they have enough firepower to win the series.

Prediction: VGK wins 4-2

FANTASY HOCKEY WAIVER WIRE PLAYERS TO PICKUP

C Sean Couturier -After missing 2+ years, Sean Couturier is back and it seems like he hasn't missed a beat. Believe it or not, Couturier has been one of the top centers in the league so far with his all-around play, putting up 2 goals, 3 assists, 2 PPP, 63 FW, 24 SOG, and 1 SHP. Despite showing that he is still an elite center, Couturier is only owned in 20% of fantasy leagues. Pick him up now, while you still can. Ryan Johansen - Serves as the Avalanche's 2nd line center and plays on their all-world 1st pp unit. Despite not being the player he used to be, Johansen is still a valuable fantasy asset because of the players he plays with. Johansen has 4 goals and 4 PPPs along with 63 FW so far this season. He is owned in 29% of fantasy leagues. Sean Monahan - Someone must have gotten a time machine and put Sean Monahan in it because he is playing like he was back when he was in his prime. Monahan has been arguably the best player on Montreal this year, with 3 goals, 6 points, 2 PP

FANTASY HOCKEY WAIVER WIRE PLAYERS TO PICKUP

Here are some players you should pickup in Fantasy Hockey, sorted by position. Center Colton Sissons Colton Sissons is one of the best 4th line centers in the league, but in fantasy hockey, he could be even more valuable than he actually is in real life because of what he provides in the peripheral categories. So far this season Sissions has 5 goals, 1 PPP, 1 SHP, 12 PIM, 20 SOG, 89 FW, 15 hits, and 9 blocks. This is a terrific stat line and although you can't count on Sissons scoring a ton, he will fill out the FW, Hits, and blocks usually. Sissons is owned in 6% of fantasy leagues, snag him up while you can. Nick Bjugstad Nick Bjugstad is having an excellent year so far with the Arizona Coyotes, in fact he has played so well that he earned himself a promotion to play on the 2nd line along with Mattias Maccelli and Lawson Crouse. Bjugstad also gets time on Arizona's 2nd PP unit and 2nd PK unit. Bjugstad may not be a name who stands out to casuals, but his fantasy stat line is

Fantasy Hockey Forwards to Trade For

Here is a list of Players who you should consider trading for in Fantasy Hockey. Tage Thompson Tage Thompson had very high expectations of him heading into this season but has been a massive disappointment to this point in the season with only 7 goals, 8 assists, 4 PPP, 60 SOG, and 99 FW. Thompson has been better after coming back from injury and you would think that he is going to eventually start putting points in bunches. Because of how bad Thompson's statline is this season. it would be a good idea to trade for him because you may not have to give up a lot in return. Elias Lindholm Elias Lindholm is another player who has had a slow start to the season with only 7 goals, 10 assists, 3 PPP, 68 SOG, and 297 FW so far this season. Lindholm is definitely going to want to play better if he wants to increase his value for his next contract and also showcase himself for a trade at the deadline. If Lindholm gets dealt to a contending team, his fantasy value would drastically improve b

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