Ice hockey is one of the most popular and exciting sports globally. In India, while not as widely played, interest in ice hockey is steadily growing. With the emergence of online fantasy gaming platforms, Indian fans now have new ways to engage with ice hockey even without hitting the ice rink. This article will provide the top tips for playing fantasy ice hockey and winning on fantasy sites like Wolf777 – one of India’s most popular online fantasy gaming destinations.
Choose Your Players Wisely
As with other fantasy sports, drafting the right players is key to success in fantasy ice hockey. Here are some factors to consider when selecting your fantasy ice hockey roster:
- Offensive Production: Focus on players from top NHL teams who consistently score goals and notch assists. Superstars like Connor McDavid, Alex Ovechkin, and Sidney Crosby are always safe picks due to their elite offensive abilities.
- Shooting Percentage: In addition to total points, consider a player’s shooting percentage — their ability to convert shots into goals. Snipers like Auston Matthews and David Pastrnak have high shooting talents.
- Power Play Role: Special teams scoring is vital in ice hockey. Draft skaters who quarterback main power play units for their NHL clubs.
- Multi-Category Upside: Instead of just point-getters, consider well-rounded players who can also contribute in categories like hits, blocks, or faceoff wins for your fantasy lineup.
- Injury Risk: Check a player’s injury history before selecting. Undrafted guys with durable track records like Patrice Bergeron carry less risk.
- Salary Cap Fit: In cap-based fantasy formats, choose a lineup that fits under the set spending limit. Leave room for mid-season pickups as needs change.
Pay Attention to Daily Line Combinations
Ice hockey coaches frequently juggle line combinations based on opponents, power play units, injuries, and other factors. It’s important to track daily ice time and line deployments so your fantasy players are starting in optimal situations. Websites like DailyFaceoff.com are great resources for keeping tabs on the latest lines. Adjust and add/drop accordingly to stay ahead of coaching decisions impacting production.
Focus on Special Teams Units
As mentioned above, goals scored on the power play and penalty kill vastly boost fantasy point totals. Check in-depth stats to identify players who logged top minutes with the man advantage and on the penalty kill. Deploy these impact skaters in your fantasy lineups whenever their teams draw power plays.
Monitor Goalie Rotations
Most NHL clubs employ a 1A/1B goalie tandem that may frequently rotate starts. Be proactive in streaming the scheduled starter for each night to maximize saves, wins, and shutouts versus a backup netminder. Also, explore goalies on hot streaks carrying clear upper hands on their team’s crease like Igor Shesterkin.
Capitalize on Daily Contests
Many fantasy hockey platforms host 24-hour or “single-day” games in addition to full-season leagues. Craft optimal daily lineups around favorable player matchups, home games, goalies starting the second of back-to-backs, or skaters returning from injury. Target lighter slates with fewer player options for better odds of winning prizes in these quick contests.
Basketball, Cricket in India, and Hockey – What’s the Connection?
While field hockey remains popular in some parts of India like Punjab, it’s basketball and cricket that enjoy wider national fan followings. However, the recent rise of online fantasy gaming is creating a new crossover appeal. Platforms like Wolf777 allow users to play fantasy versions of different sports including ice hockey. This lets Indian fans stay engaged with NHL action without necessarily watching live broadcasts. The easy registration on mobile apps further lowers barriers. Familiarity with fantasy team-building concepts from other games also helps when trying ice hockey formats. Over time, as interest and knowledge grow, more Indians may start actively following the NHL and growing the game locally too.
FAQs about Fantasy Ice Hockey in India
Q1. Do I need to know a lot about ice hockey to play fantasy?
A: No prior experience with ice hockey is required. Fantasy is designed for fan engagement. Basic research on stats, players, and trends is enough to construct competitive rosters. With games, your knowledge will expand organically over time.
Q2. How do games work – is it similar to fantasy cricket?
A: The overall structure is alike – you draft/pick a virtual team within a set budget against others. Points are scored based on real-life player performances. But hockey uses more unique categories like goals, assists, and penalty minutes instead of runs/wickets. Over multiple days, the fantasy manager with the highest total points wins prizes.
Q3: What are some good Indian sites for ice fantasy?
A: Wolf777 is one of the top platforms for a variety of sports like cricket, kabaddi, football, and ice hockey. Offering contests in Hindi with secure payment options, it has become very popular. Mobile apps make playing on the go simple. You can enjoy different types of games at your own pace.
In summary, fantasy hockey provides an exciting new way for Indians to engage with one of the world’s premier professional sports. Platforms like Wolf777 lower entry barriers to learn and immerse in every NHL game and season through gamification. With fun contests, research skills grow organically over time. So sign up, start playing, and see yourself become a fantasy hockey expert in no time!
