NHL Schedule Analysis: All-Star Break Week

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With the All-Star break approaching, there are just 41 games on the docket for this week. While nearly half of the NHL will play one game or less, we we're able to hone in and find a trend this week to pick apart.

Back-to-Back Jacks

While you will certainly not want to place any investments during the short week on Buffalo, who is currently on a nine-day stretch without a game, there are 13 organizations that are scheduled for two games. Here are seven teams that will play on a b2b occurrence, so a backup goalie might arguably be the most serviceable sleeper this week.

Boston's Niklas Svedberg is likely the draw the back end of b2b road games in Colorado.

Ottawa's got two in as many days as well and Robin Lehner will likely pick up one start. With Craig Anderson fully rested he will likely take on the Rangers when they visit the Garden.

While we don't care for Minnesota goalies (Devan Dubnyk, Darcy Kuemper, Niklas Backstrom), maybe you like the match-ups (Columbus, Detroit), so pick your poison wisely between the pipes. Considering how well Dubnyk has done since arriving, it's possible Minnie starts him in both games, but unlikely. Mikael Granlund (wrist) could resume practice this week.

Chicago's Antti Raanta is currently slated on our grid to draw Pittsburgh, but we believe Chicago will look to end the first half on a high note against the Pens with Corey Crawford.

We're applying the same logic on Pittsburgh's end of the big tilt with Chicago on Wednesday, with Marc-Andre Fluery likely ending up with the marquee match-up and Thomas Greiss to play on Tuesday against the Flyers.

Philadelphia's Rob Zepp has been more dependable than Ray Emery and could play both games as a result. Jason Akeson has been recalled due to injuries (Braydon Coburn, Scott Laughton) on the blue line. Michael Dell Zotto delivered two assists in Saturday's win over Buffalo. After being told he's no longer experiencing blood clots in his lung, Kimmo Timonen will consult with multiple doctors this week to determine if he can return.

Vancouver's Eddie Lack looks to possibly draw Florida as the Canucks head south for a Florida swing. Kevin Bieksa had his first multi-point outing of the season on Friday.

A Pair

With the schedule chopped in half, this week Three of a Kind becomes two teams with a pair of favorable or unfavorable percentages.

Hold 'Em

Columbus can make a big swing for momentum as they play on the road before heading home for the weekend festivities. Curtis McElhinney was good in Saturday's win, but will likely yield to Sergei Bobrovsky this week.

Losers of four in a row, Toronto needs these two wins more than any team in the NHL. A 4-1 loss to Carolina and a 5-3 win over Ottawa earlier this season are the only substantial results we have to go on, but we're sticking with our gut, the Leafs are capable of righting this ship and starts with these two games. David Booth (upper body) did play with a full face shield in Saturday's loss to the Blues while Leo Komarov (shoulder) did not play.

Fold 'Em

Calgary has the Kings (0-2) and Ducks (1-1). Need we say more? Well, maybe a little more since the Flames are part spoilers this year, but still, this stopping point appears to be a sour note on progress.

Ottawa has been playing uninspired (4-4-2) hockey again. While they contest with the Rangers for the first time this season and have lost (5-3) to Toronto, neither of these teams have been sure bets either. Either way, of the three teams it seems the Sens have less fire.

Table Talk (chatting with Phil Naessens show, https://phillipnaessens.wordpress.com/)

1). Listeners wanted to know about picking up Eric Fehr (Caps), Brett Ritchie (Dallas) and David Savard (Columbus)

-All three have 28 games in February and March.
-Over the course of 30 games between January and March of last year, Savard managed just three points and a minus-9 rating
-Don't get me wrong, I'm rooting for the pedigree in him and the underdog , but those numbers are enough for us to stay away
-Fehr is another that seems to wear down as the season grows old
-Last February, was limited to just five games, but throughout his career, March is a good month and you might have to stick it out, but he seems to be on the edge of finally fulfilling some of  that first round expectation.
-There are only two games between now and after the break, so we would wait until after the AS break, but 14 games a month in February and March and he's a decent speculative pick up.
-*Ritchie has obviously made a name for himself quick
-The fact that he's taking up first line minutes should make any one pay attention, much less the fact he's with Benn and Eakin. 
-Love that line, love this guy's shot and long term future. He's first on our list if a spot is open

*was placed on IR not long after this conversation and Curtis McKenzie (13 points in 16 games for AHL Texas) has been recalled..

2). Is it time to drop Brock Nelson (Islanders) and Sean Monahan (Flames)?

-Talk about two guys on different sides of the spectrum
-Nelson also had his February cut short last year and his lack of career stats makes that a tough call, but the Isles have a 15 game schedule in February, that's more bang for your buck. Come March he comes down to 13 games.
-Monahan has a short February schedule (12 games) but has a busy March (15 games) ahead of him and last year he put up a decent eight points in 16 games in the month of March.
-In a perfect world, you drop Monahan this month and pick him back in March when you drop Nelson.