Top Goalies
Ben Bishop (DAL)
Bishop’s first two starts have left a lot to be desired as he’s allowed three and six goals in the contests respectively. This is a good bounce-back spot against the Wild who are 26th in the league so far with 2.33 goals per game and average a shade under 30 shots per contest. After a poor road trip, the Stars are welcoming the start of a homestand, and that includes Bishop specifically. The netminder was 20-8-2 with a .931 save percentage and a 2.12 GAA at home last season.
Pekka Rinne (NSH)
On a night with good offensive clubs rolling out, Rinne and the Preds travel to Calgary to take on the Flames. Rinne has allowed just one goal in his last two starts and is cheap on DK at $7,700. On FD, Rinne is in play as well where all of the goalies are priced up a bit anyway. In his lone start at the Saddledome last season, Rinne threw a 32-save shutout against the Flames. I expect him to get some offensive support tonight and him to limit the damage against the Flames.
Key Two Skaters
Tyler Seguin (DAL)
Seguin is a shot machine with six, eight, and nine shots in his last three games respectively. The Wild allow nearly 40 shots on goal per game and for Seguin, who hasn’t scored a goal in three games, this is a prime spot for the leader in shots per 60 minutes (18.42) in the NHL. In 24 games against the Wild, Seguin has 10 goals, 19 assists, and 4.29 shots per game.
Vincent Trocheck (FLA)
Vinnie has been fucking us all season to this point and it’s frustrating as hell. With that said, I love this spot for him tonight against the Caps, a team who he’s had success against in the past. In 10 career games against Washington, Vinnie has four goals, five assists, and three shots per game. When he’s right, Vinnie is all over the ice, firing shots, using his speed, and finding soft spots in the offensive zone. We have yet to see that this season from the 25-year-old but tonight he’ll show up.
Favorite Line Stacks
Dallas Stars First Line
Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Alexander Radulov
I love Seguin tonight, whom I mentioned above, but his linemates are in great spots as well. Benn has gone scoreless over his last two games but does have four goals and four assists on the season. The left-winger is fourth in the league among the position with 7.99 HDCF/60. Benn does it all down low on this line while being sixth in the league in goals/60 minutes (2.13) and 11th in primary assists/60 minutes (2.13) at the left wing position. Radulov started off the season hot, slowed down a bit, and was recently banged up as he’s missed some practice time. He’s back and ready to roll tonight though and is back on the top line after a brief stint on the second line, which I’m glad was brief. He has four goals and five assists at home this season in four games. All three of these skaters are also together on the top power-play only aiding their upside.
UPDATE: Radulov appears to be OUT tonight. Roope Hintz is slotted in on the top line. He’s basically a min price punt play but if you need the value, he’s fine to plug in with Seguin and Benn.
Florida Panthers Second Line
Jonathan Huberdeau – Vincent Trocheck – Mike Hoffman
First off, this line showed some signs of life in their last game against the Flyers after a VERY slow start. Hoffman had a goal his last time out and is averaging three shots per game as he is still fitting in with the Panthers in his first season. Huberdeau is a much better player than what he has shown with just one goal on the season. Look for him to get on track. Trocheck, who I touched on above is the glue that holds this line together. Both Hoffman and Huberdeau present tremendous value making it easier to build around them.
UPDATE: Hoffman was moved down to the fourth line in an effort to create more scoring balance. In his case, he’s still worth a look as a one-off. As far as this line stack goes, I would consider Vinnie and Huberdeau a good mini-stack.
Nashville Predators First Line
Viktor Arvidsson – Ryan Johansen – Filip Forsberg
One of the better lines over the last couple of seasons in the NHL has been solid to start this campaign. Johansen, who was acquired a few years ago from Columbus for Seth Jones has a goal and four assists over his three-game point scoring streak. He centers this line at a great value on both sites as a more than adequate playmaker. Forsberg, who was acquired a while back from the Capitals for Martin Erat (I just laughed really hard) has three goals and 10 shots in his last two games. Viktor Arvidsson is off to a bit of a slow start for his standards but does have three goals and two assists to this point. These three forwards skate on the top power-play unit that has underwhelmed thus far as they’ll have a tough test against a very good Calgary penalty kill.
Washington Capitals First Line
Alex Ovechkin – Evgeny Kuznetsov – Chandler Stephenson
This line is all Ovechkin and Kuzie, that’s just the way it is. Stephenson is a nice piece to add in at a great value to fit in Ovie and Kuzie’s steep salaries. Ovechkin has six goals already and two in his last game and I have no idea why I’m justifying this guy as an option. Kuzy has turned a corner and become one of the better centers in the league. While his even strength defense is still a work in progress, he makes up for his mistakes often times with his speed and facilitates with his playmaking ability. He has five assists in six games thus far and has shown an ability to score with four goals. Kuzie and Ovie skate on the top power-play unit. As I mentioned, they are the focal point here with Stephenson being a throw-in if you find yourself needing some value.
Top Positional Plays
Not including players mentioned in “Key Three” section.
Center
Aleksander Barkov (FLA) – He can’t be ignored, especially paired up with Evgenii Dadonov who he’s formed great chemistry with.
Sean Monahan (CGY) – Speaking of chemistry, Monny and Johnny Gaudreau are one of the better one-two punches in the Western Conference, if not the league.
Kyle Turris (NSH) – If not rolling with Nashville’s first line, Turris centers the second unit and has a point in back to back games with a goal and an assist.
Lars Eller (WAS) – Reaching down for value, Eller centers one of the better third-lines in hockey.
Wing
Evgenii Dadonov (FLA) – Has two goals, two assists, and seven shots over his last three games. He’s way too cheap at $5,500 on DK and $6,500 on FD.
Johnny Gaudreau (CGY) – Goals in back to back games. Great correlation play with Monahan.
Craig Smith (NSH) – Third among all forwards with 10.25 HDCF/60 and skates on the Preds top power-play unit.
Matthew Tkachuk (CGY) – Has been a good facilitator of the puck, including a beautiful pass on a Mickael Frolik goal the other night. In six games Tkachuk has two goals and seven assists.
T.J. Oshie (WAS) – Nice pivot down to the second line to save some salary. Oshie’s upside is aided skating on the top power-play unit.
Kevin Fiala (NSH) – Has no points in six games to this point. Fiala was a very productive player last season and is bound to make his way onto the scoresheet. He presents great value skating on the second line and is fine to consider as a one-off.
Andre Burakovsky (WAS) – Cheap pairing with Eller on the Caps’ third line.
Defense
John Carlson (WAS) – He’s been one of the better defensemen so far with three goals and six assists.
Matt Dumba (MIN) – Crazy value on both sites for a guy that gets pucks to the net, blocks shot, and has two goals on the season.
Mark Giordano (CGY) – Sub-5K on DK is just asinine.
John Klingberg (DAL) – Has four goals and two assists in six games thus far.
Roman Josi (NSH) – has a goal, 11 shots, and four blocked shots in his last three games.
Matt Niskanen (WAS) – Producing adequate numbers as a pivot off of Carlson.
Esa Lindell (DAL) – Sub-4K on DK makes for a nice value. He skates on the top pairing with Klingberg, sees power play time, blocks shots, and moves the puck well.
Keith Yandle (FLA) – Has four assists in his last three games with 11 shots over that span.
T.J. Brodie (CGY) – Always in play as a value on the blue line playing big minutes, getting pucks to the net, and picking up assists. Brodie has four assists in six games this season.
GOOD LUCK!!
