Frozen Fantasy: Predicting Lord Stanley

We're past the halfway point in this shortened season, at least for every team not named Dallas. Some teams are surging and others are stumbling. And some continue to be meh.

Just like every other season.

What's not like every other season is the playoff seeding and the path to Lord Stanley. So let's pull out the crystal ball and make some crazy predictions.

Why not?

Vegas and Tampa Bay are the class of the league. But will they meet for the Cup?

Vegas should come out of the West, although Colorado will push them hard. St. Louis is fine, but unspectacular. Minnesota is a fun story, but it won't last.

Tampa is the toast of the Central. I still think Dallas drags itself into the fourth seed, but that will exhaust them. Chicago will make it tough on them. Florida and Carolina play exciting hockey, but Tampa is Tampa. Their goal differential was plus-40 on Saturday. Wow.

Washington could emerge from the East. So could Boston or Pittsburgh. But the New York Islanders play a complete game and come the playoffs, the Trotz-D becomes truly dangerous. I've hated the Isles a long time, but they are hard to deny.

Toronto was the clear best in the North, but they have gotten sluggish. And that's kind. Auston Matthews right wrist isn't right and Frederik Andersen hasn't been right all season. Edmonton is coming on and Connor McDavid torches Winnipeg. But I wouldn't count Carey Price and Montreal out.

Anyone could emerge from the North – they really could. Regardless, they lose… unless Carey Price becomes the hero. He could singlehandedly beat Tampa, because that's who the North winner will play.

That leaves Vegas versus New York. Edge to Vegas because of its net. But I won't have any fingernails left after that series.

The Cup? Vegas will be the bridesmaid again if they play Tampa. But they win against Montreal, even if Price wins the Conn Smythe a la J.S. Giguere.

None of this matters. And it could all be wrong – none of us really knows how good each team will be outside its own division. That's why these exercises are fun. And frustrating, too.

Now let's take a look at who caught my eye this week.

Casey DeSmith, G, Pittsburgh (20 percent Yahoo!) – Two words: spot starts. The Pens are a playoff team that was 7-2-1 in 10 games heading into Saturday night. DeSmith is 2-1 during that span with just three goals allowed. And those games weren't all against the lowly Sabres. Then he rolled up a one-goal win against the Devils on Saturday night. DeSmith is the kind of goalie that can help you at just the right moment, that is if you have the roster flexibility to stream guys in and out of your lineup.

Robby Fabbri, LW/RW/C, Detroit (3 percent Yahoo!) – Fabbri's performance Thursday was a thing of beauty. The edgy and skilled forward delivered a win over the Stars with a natural hattie, and now has six points - including four goals - in his last five games heading into weekend play. There's always a risk of bad plus-minus and other questionable drags when you roster guys from lower teams. But Fabbri is hot enough right now to temporarily erase those concerns.

Mario Ferraro, D, San Jose (4 percent Yahoo!) – Ferraro has shown remarkable poise as a sophomore playing on the Sharks' top pair with Brent Burns. He skates well and plays much bigger than his 5-foot-11 frame. Plus he's putting points – four in five games to go with 14 hits and nine blocks heading into Saturday. There's no power-play production, but his warm is warm.

Travis Hamonic, D, Vancouver (2 percent Yahoo!) – Why, you ask? Two words: blocked shots. Those that need them know how hard they can be to find. Hamonic delivers them in bunches, so you might score a half-dozen in a single game. It's a bit of a dice roll because he won't give you anything else. But category desperation can lead to strange choices.

Calle Jarnkrok, LW/RW, Nashville (3 percent Yahoo!) – Jarnkrok has suddenly warmed this week – maybe he's hoping a hot streak will earn him a trade away from the train wreck in Music City. I'll take it, whatever it is. Jarnkrok rode a three-game, seven-point streak heading into Saturday. It included three goals. And perhaps most impressively, he did it against the high-flying Panthers and Lightning. That's not easy.

Jonas Johansson, G, Colorado (1 percent Yahoo!) – Johansson sprinted out of Buffalo on Saturday night so fast he probably forgot his bags. The twinetender went from an abysmal situation to a real shot at Lord Stanley. Johansson is better than his current record shows and the Avs will use him as their backup. It's a great situation and he could surprise. Johansson is an interesting speculative grab if you have roster room.

Jason Spezza, RW/C, Toronto (6 percent Yahoo!) – The old man may have slowed down, but those hands – oh, those hands. Spezza doesn't get more than 10 minutes of ice time, but he contributes a lot in the time he's given. His goal Saturday night was a laser – there was a 1x3 window top shelf and he found it far side over David Rittich's left shoulder. From below the dot. Wow. That's two-straight with a goal. Spezza can be depth filler when hot.

Jimmy Vesey, LW/RW, Vancouver (1 percent Yahoo!) – Vesey's ice time in Vancouver will be double it was in Toronto. He's creative and offensively talented – that should be enough to get him on your radar. Vesey could be a fine fantasy fit if he clicks with J.T. Miller and Jake Virtanen. Or not. But I can't wait to see how he does.

Scott Wedgewood, G, New Jersey (4 percent Yahoo!) – I pay more attention to Wedgewood than I should. He's on my roster of a daily head-to-head league and I've gotten lucky with him in the blue paint. Yes, he lost Saturday, but he only allowed four goals over his previous two games. Wedgewood isn't a star, but he's worth a desperation look if you need help.

Travis Zajac, C, New Jersey (2 percent Yahoo!) – The veteran's overall stats aren't great, but he's a single category booster in faceoff wins. Zajac had 68 FW in his last six games heading into Saturday. That alone could be a difference maker. But he topped those up with seven points, including six assists, and a handful of hits. Bonus! Like most waiver snags, Zajac isn't a long-term play, but he's worth a short-term look.

Back to the predictions.  

It's always fun to make them. But like every other season, they're probably half wrong.

Predicting the NHL is like that. It's the league where getting into the postseason really does give you a chance to win it all and that always results in crazy games.

And for all the hatred we've all had for the one-plays-eight format, I think we will miss it come playoff time. At least I will.

Round One has always been the best because the underdogs often bite the big dogs in the behind. But there's a whole lot of parity between one and four in most divisions right now.

Homogeneity makes for boring hockey. I hope I'm wrong.

Until next week.