Fantasy All-Access: Available options on waiver wire

Every Monday, NHL.com contributor Matt Sitkoff identifies waiver-wire pickups, roster trends, schedule notes and a prospect to watch in fantasy hockey.

The fantasy playoffs are upon us, and if you are one of the lucky ones still playing for fantasy glory, one reason you're there could be bounce-back players you stole in the later rounds or on the waiver wire.

The MVP of bounce-back players is Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby. After two straight 23-win seasons, the 25-year-old has 35 wins and a .924 save percentage this season. His eight shutouts this season are equal to the total he had in the previous two seasons. He was drafted on average in the seventh round of Yahoo leagues.

The Calgary Flames defense has been their strength this season and one of their leaders has been Dennis Wideman. The 32-year-old has passed his Flames totals for his first two seasons combined with 13 goals and 46 points this season. He was the third Flames defenseman taken in most drafts.

And a waiver-wire find who is owned in seven percent of Yahoo leagues is Vancouver Canucks forward Alexandre Burrows. The 33-year-old has 14 goals in 60 games after scoring 18 in 96 games during the past two seasons.

WAIVER-WIRE WATCH

Benoit Pouliot, Edmonton Oilers (owned in 3 percent of Yahoo Leagues) -- The Oilers have 17 goals in their past five games and have been led by the top line of Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Benoit Pouliot. Despite Taylor Hall returning, Pouliot remained on the top line. He has three goals, three assists, 10 shots on goal and a plus-4 while averaging more than 16 minutes of ice time per game. The Oilers this week play Monday, Wednesday and Friday, usual light days on the schedule.

Matt Dumba, Minnesota Wild (owned in 7 percent of Yahoo Leagues) -- The 20-year-old scored his first career overtime goal last week; it set a Wild record for fastest overtime goal on the road (22 seconds). The seventh pick of the 2012 NHL Draft has yo-yoed back and forth from the Wild to the American Hockey League this season, but in 25 games since his most recent recall Jan. 29, he has five goals, 22 hits, 29 blocked shots and a plus-14 rating. The Wild have a busy week, with four games scheduled, at the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders and home against the Calgary Flames and Los Angeles Kings.

Thomas Greiss, Pittsburgh Penguins (owned in 5 percent of Yahoo Leagues) -- The offense has continued to struggle, but that obviously is not the reason you should be picking up their backup goaltender. The reason is the Penguins have three sets of back-to-back games left on the schedule. Because coach Mike Johnston has played starting goalie Marc-Andre Fleury in both games of a back-to-back once in nine instances this season, we expect to see Greiss in those games. The 29-year-old has been playing better of late, with a 3-2-0 record and 1.98 goals-against average and .922 save percentage in his last six games.

ROSTER TRENDS

Justin Williams

STATS PRIOR TO MAR. 23 GAMES

GOALS: 18 | ASST: 18 | PTS: 36
SOG: 146 | +/-: 2

Goals, points, assists -- It is very rare to find a fantasy player who leads their team in the three big categories of goals, assists and points. This season there are four players this season that are in that position: Center John Tavares of the New York Islanders, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Nick Foligno, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel and injured Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane. These players are fantasy gold and great players to target in keeper/dynasty leagues as they're very rare players to find.

Marko Dano

STATS PRIOR TO MAR. 23 GAMES

GOALS: 7 | ASST: 7 | PTS: 14
SOG: 64 | +/-: 6

Marko Dano, Columbus Blue Jackets -- The 27th pick of the 2013 NHL Draft started the season with the Blue Jackets, but after he had two points in his first eight NHL games, he was sent to the American Hockey League. He responded with 10 goals in 37 AHL games, prompting a call-up in mid-February due to injuries. Lately he has been the hottest player on the team, with four goals, four assists, 23 shots on goal, a plus-6 rating, 25 hits and eight penalty minutes in his past nine games, while averaging more than 14 minutes of ice time a game. Playing on a line with veterans Nick Foligno and Scott Hartnell have made the 20-year-old a must-own in all fantasy formats.

---