Week 19 Fantasy Hockey winners and losers

With Week 19 in the books, there were a few farewells and a few hellos as teams made big changes heading into Wednesday’s trade deadline. The biggest reunion this week, however, was between fantasy players and Jonathan Quick. He returned to the ice after missing 59 games.

By Victoria Beaver
Special to Yahoo Sports

Winners:
Center: Mikael Backlund, Calgary Flames
Last week’s stats: 4 games, 4 goals, 1 assist, 11 shots, owned in Yahoo: 42%

Backlund recorded five points in four games. Actually, he accomplished those in his first three games, and then went pointless in the fourth on Sunday. Largely on the back of this effort, the Flames are on a four-game winning streak. Backlund currently is the second-most productive scorer on the Flames with 19 goals, putting him one behind Sean Monahan.

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Winger: Radim Vrbata, Arizona Coyotes
Last week’s stats: 3 games, 3 goals, 2 assists, 9-game point streak, owned in Yahoo: 22%

With 15 goals and 46 points, Vrbata is the leader of the pack in Arizona. Martin Hanzel held a two-goal advantage over Vrbata on the team leaderboard, but as of Sunday he is now a member of the Minnesota Wild.

Week 19 was filled with rumors of trade deals for Vrbata and/or Hanzel, and with the agreement for Hanzal, Vrbata is probably safe. His security might also lie in this week’s three goals and two assists. That is part of a career-high nine-game points’ streak that is currently the longest in the league. Vrbata might not get traded in the NHL, but he should be on more than 22 percent of leagues.

Defenseman: Jake Gardiner, Toronto Maple Leafs
Last week’s stats: 3 games, 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 game streak, owned in Yahoo: 50%

Gardiner recorded at least one point in each game this week, with a goal and three assists. He is on a four-game point streak, which is his second longest of the season and a firm indicator of his momentum.

Goalie: Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings
Last week’s stats: 1 game, 1 win, 1 shot against, owned in Yahoo!: 93%

A resounding hurrah from the West Coast signaled Quick’s return Saturday night. The Kings suffered 59 games without him after Quick pulled a groin muscle in the first period of opening night. Quick was victorious in his first contest back with the Kings and showed no signs of rust. They defeated the rival Ducks 4-1 as he stopped 33 of 34 shots.

One game doesn’t mean Quick will stay healthy, so the Kings dealt for Ben Bishop with concerns about the playoff run. It will be interesting to see how the two veteran goalies are used down the stretch. Having Bishop will allow L.A. not to have to push Quick too far too fast.

Losers:
Center: Kevin Hayes, New York Rangers
Last week’s stats: 4 games, 0 goals, 1 assist, owned in Yahoo: 49%

The third-year center has 15 goals and 43 points this season, which is only two points away from Hayes’ personal best. Any excitement centering on his recent return from injured reserve has worn off, however. Hayes missed five games after suffering a left leg injury in January and returned in Week 17 with a vengeance. In his first four games back, he scored two goals and had five assists. Since then he has had one assist in six games.

Winger: Jaromir Jagr, Florida Panthers
Last week’s stats: 4 games, 0 goals, 0 points, owned in Yahoo: 61%

After completing a five-game point streak during which the 45-year-old veteran recorded his 1,900th point, Jagr has slowed, not tallying a point in his last four games.

This week, he had 11 shots on goal and earned zero defensive points. This was only the second time this season that Jagr has gone four consecutive games without a point. That simultaneously shows his incredible potential and how disappointing it is when he loses his momentum.

Defenseman: Jeff Petry, Montreal Canadiens
Last week’s stats: 3 games, 0 points, -3, owned in Yahoo: 46%

Petry is riding a streak, but it is not the type owners want. He has ended each of the last seven games with a -1 ranking. That has eroded his once respectable +12 to +5. While this is still above the league average of -0.3, Petry is an expensive player that isn’t making a return on investment on either the defensive or offensive end of the ice.

Goalie: Michal Neuvirth, Philadelphia Flyers
Last week’s stats: 2 games, 2 losses, 8 goals against, owned in Yahoo: 31%

Neuvirth let in four goals apiece in his two Week 19 starts. He faced 29 shots on goal in each game and ended those nights with identical save percentages of .862. Saturday’s loss is especially disheartening since it occurred during a Stadium Series game against the team’s cross-state rivals, the Penguins. Six of the eight goals allowed were shot at even strength. The final goal in Saturday’s matchup came off of a Philadelphia defensive zone faceoff.