Top Goalies
Connor Hellebuyck (WPG)
With the Caps playing their second game in as many nights, this seems to me like a spot where Helly and the Jets will take advantage. We know that the Jets are a better team at home and with Helly playing better of late than he did earlier in the season, I expect him to pick up a victory while posting a solid save number.
Marc-Andre Fleury (VGK)
I don’t worry about Fleury picking up a win because, in a good spot at home with Fleury playing well, a win seems in some ways like a foregone conclusion. I worry about the upside the MAF can bring with him and thus the amount of shots he’ll see. The Knights do a good job of limiting opponents shots (26 per game, lowest in the league) and the Ducks (25.5 shots per game) hold the lowest average amount of shots per game of any team. While Fleury, again, should be solid and pick up a win, I wouldn’t expect a high volume of shots thus limiting his upside.
Other to consider: Semyon Varlamov (COL)
Key Three Skaters
Vladimir Tarasenko (STL)
Tarasenko and the Blues highlight the slate with the national game as they take on the Blackhawks in Chicago tonight. Tarasenko, not someone who’s afraid of the spotlight has four goals and 20 shots in three games against Chicago this season. The Blackhawks have allowed the second-most points to right-wingers this season. The Blues are near the top in the league in goal per game and Tarasenko, the best scorer on the team should be a productive skater tonight.
Mark Scheifele (WPG)
Scheifele has been hot of late, specifically over his last two games with three goals and three assists. He has nine goals and 10 assists on the campaign with 40 shots. The Caps come into Winnipeg playing their second game in as many nights and have already struggled against the center spot recently. Over the last four weeks Washington has allowed 16 goals and 20 assists in 12 games putting Scheifele in a great spot tonight to produce.
Mikko Rantanen (COL)
We love the 420 line at home and Rantanen has been a major part of their production. He leads all forwards this season with 4.44 points per 60 minutes at even strength while also leading in primary assists per 60. His 16:41 of even strength ice time per game leads all wingers and is ninth among forwards overall. Using Rantanen is a good way to get exposure to one of, if not the best line in hockey at a more than fair salary.
Favorite Line Stacks
Blues First Line
Schwartz – O’Reilly – Tarasenko
Jaden Schwartz provides a ton of value to a line with Tarasenko and O’Reilly, two guys who you’re going to have to spend a pretty penny on. Schwartz has three points in his last two games and has been moved up to the top power-play unit further increasing his value. The Blackhawks have really struggled with the center spot of late allowing the fifth-most fantasy points over the last four weeks. O’Reilly comes in with five goals over his last five games and has connected well with Tarasenko. I mentioned Vlad above but I’ll further emphasize that he’s my favorite play of the night.
Jets First Line
Ehlers – Scheifele – Wheeler
The Jets’ “newish” top line with the shift of Ehlers to the top along with mainstays Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler has been productive suggesting that the speed element that Ehlers brings has made a difference. The young left-winger has a goal in each of his last three games and four in his last seven games after starting the season with no goals in his first nine contests. Wheeler, the team captain, has points in each of his last 10 games (two goals, 17 assists) showing to be more of a facilitator down low. Scheifele is the glue that holds this line together and has been productive of late, which I noted before. He and Wheeler both skate on the Jets’ top power-play unit while Ehlers sees his time on the second unit.
Others to consider
Avalanche First Line
Landeskog – MacKinnon – Rantanen: One of the better lines in the league shouldn’t be overlooked, even in a matchup that, on paper is a tough one. Boston has been stingy defensively and Jaro Halak has been great between the pipes, but this line at even strength and on the power-play has proven that they can produce with the best of them, especially at home.
Capitals Second Line
Vrana – Backstrom – Oshie: Using the Caps second line is a good way to save some salary while still bringing some upside. Backstrom and Oshie correlate well together at even strength and also on the top power-play unit. Vrana fits in as a decent value play.
Top Positional Plays
Plays not included in “key three” or “favorite line stacks” sections.
Center
Jonathan Toews (CHI) – Toews has four goals in three games against the Blues this season and comes in with a great price, especially on DK.
William Karlsson (VGK) – Wild Bill is showing some signs of life after a slow start with four points in his last three games.
Tyler Bozak (STL) – He’s a salary-saving pivot off of O’Reilly, centers the second line, and skates on the top power-play unit.
Evgeny Kuznetsov (WAS) – If you’re not a believer in Hellebuyck like I am tonight, Kuzie’s value is very good, especially on DK. He has points in seven of his last eight games.
David Krejci (BOS) – Good value and has points in each of his last four games.
Wing
Jonathan Marchessault (VGK) – His price has dropped to points we haven’t seen in a while on DK. For a site that boosts high-volume shooters, Marchessault (16 shots in his last four games) is a good value with goals in two of his last three contests.
David Pastrnak (BOS) – Pasta has six goals in his last six games and is among the leaders in shots per 60 minutes.
Patrik Laine (WPG) – He has five goals in his last six games and is the 10th-highest priced winger on DK and the eighth-highest on FD. Great value for a guy with the upside he has.
Max Pacioretty (VGK) – Good value and seeing time on the Knights’ top power-play unit.
Patrick Kane (CHI) – Not my favorite play at this spot, but worth a look always, especially against the Blues whom he’s scored four goals and dished out two assists against in his last three games.
Alex Steen (STL) – If pivoting down to Bozak at center, Steen is a good winger to pair him up with.
Jake DeBrusk (BOS) – He’s somewhat line-dependant making a cheap pairing with Krejci viable. He does, however, have two goals and two assists in his last four games and is seeing time on the top power-play unit.
Defense
Alex Pietrangelo (STL) – The scoring is starting to come with goals in back to back games after a very slow start. Chicago has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to defensemen over the last four weeks.
Shea Theodore (VGK) – It’s a tough matchup, but he shoots a ton – near the top in the league in terms of defensemen – while quarterbacking the top power-play unit. Nice value on both sites in a revenge game for Theodore.
Torrey Krug (BOS) – Points in five of his last six games.
Dustin Byfuglien (WPG) – Has points in each of his last six games with at least four shots in five of those contests.
Value
Duncan Keith (CHI) – At 4K on DK skating as many minutes as he does in a fast-paced game I’ll take that value any day.
Erik Johnson (COL) – Always has a solid floor at a good value with his shooting and shot blocking ability. On the season, EJ averages over two shots per game and 1.5 blocks per game with a goal, six assists, and 20 plus minutes per game.
Matt Niskanen (WAS) – Still has good offensive ability and is seeing an increased amount of ice time, even with John Carlson back from a brief injury absence.
Colin Miller (VGK) – Three points in his last three games, is blocking shots and seeing some power-play time.
Brandon Montour (ANA) – At $3,600 on DK and $3,900 on FD, he’s worth a punt value play.
Dmitry Orlov (WAS) – Top pairing with Carlson and has the ability to produce on offense, evidenced by his two-goal effort last night. Spoiler alert: I would not expect two goals from him ever again, but at his salary, he’s worth a look.
GOOD LUCK!!
