Top Goalies
Roberto Luongo (FLA)
Generally going against Columbus on the road is a risky proposition and tonight is no different. However, the Jackets are dealing with a team-wide illness that has caused players to miss some games of late, most recently Cam Atkinson last week and tonight word is that Artemi Panarin will not play. Bobby Lu has won each of his last four starts allowing a total of six goals and seeing 30-plus shots in three of those contests. He’s a good value on both DK and FD tonight.
Devan Dubnyk (MIN)
The only issue I have with Dubnyk tonight is that I’m not sure he’ll see enough work to pay off his salary ($8,400 on DK, $8,800 on FD) on either site. With that said, this was a concern I had last night with Marc-Andre Fleury, but he ended up seeing 29 shots en route to a shutout. We obviously can’t expect or predict a shutout on any given night, but I think Dubnyk has the best chance of accomplishing the task. Expect a win here.
Pekka Rinne (NSH)
I have similar concerns with Rinne that I mentioned with Dubnyk tonight. With that said, I’m fine paying for him on DK at $7,900 but there is no chance in hell that I’ll pay $9,200 for him on FD. He’s 5-1-1 in his seven starts against Arizona and Nashville has shown to be a very good road team thus far.
Others to consider
Thomas Greiss (NYI), Frederik Andersen (TOR)
Key Three Skaters
Steven Stamkos (TB)
Stamkos has gone back to back games without a point but prior to that had seven points over a four-game stretch, including four goals and three assists. Against the Penguins, Stammer has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) over his last six regular-season games. The Pens have tightened up on D a bit, but are still susceptible to allowing a lot of production to high-powered offenses with a lot of scoring chances in a high-paced environment. For my money, Stamkos is just too inexpensive on DK ($6,800) for the opportunities he should see.
Sean Couturier (PHI)
Over the last four week the Devils, usually a stingy defensive team, have allowed the most fantasy points to centers. The numbers include 19 goals and 37 assists over a 12-game span. After a slow start to the season, Couts has come around, specifically over his last four games. Over that stretch, he has at least one point in each game while accumulating three goals and four assists.
Mikael Granlund (MIN)
Granlund went goes through these stretches where he simply cannot be stopped and we’ve seen it each of the last two season. Well, right now Granlund is quietly one of the hotter skaters going. Over his last 13 games, Granlund has nine goals, six assists, and 23 shots. Over that span he’s added four power-play points, which is worth noting as Vancouver have been one of the more penalized teams on a game by game basis averaging over 10 penalty minutes per contest. Also, they’re playing their third game in four nights, all of which are road affairs. Granlund has 13 points in 16 career games against the Canucks and Vancouver have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to right-wingers over the last month. We’ve said before that the Wild are a major pain in the ass night after night as pinpointing where the scoring will come from is always a challenge. Granlund seems like a slam dunk play tonight.
Favorite Line Stacks
Islanders First Line
Lee – Barzal – Bailey
In the last 10 matchups between the Islanders and Rangers, the Isles have average 3.9 goals per game. At home tonight I see the Islanders having their way with the Blueshirts again. Mathew Barzal, in five games against the Rangers last season, had three goals and seven assists. He’s accumulated 16 points this season and has four (one goal, three assists) over his last three contests. Josh Bailey has three goals in his last three games and has 18 points on the season. Anders Lee is a force down low, something that the Rangers will have a tough time handling with undersized defensemen. I expect these three skaters to lead the charge for the Isles tonight.
Flyers Third Line
Giroux – Couturier – Konecny
As mentioned before I really like Couturier tonight, especially with the news the Nico Hischier will miss tonight’s game. Claude Giroux has four goals and five assists in his last six games and the Devils have allowed 12 goals to left-wingers over the last 12 games. Konecny has four goals in his last five games against the Devils and holds good value skating on this line. All three of these guys are also together on the Flyers’ top power-play unit.
Panthers First Line
Dadonov – Barkov – Hoffman
The Blue Jackets are a mess right now and, as of now have two guys (Panarin and Bobrovsky) missing tonight’s game with an illness that seems to be trapped with the team. Barkov has three goals in his last three games and over his last eight against the Blue Jackets, he’s lit the lamp five times and dished out three assists. Mike Hoffman has been producing every night of late with at least one point in 13 straight games since being bumped up to this unit. Evgenii Dadonov has points in each of his last 12 contests with seven goals over that span. He and Barkov skate on the Panthers’ top power-play unit while Hoffman sees his man-advantage time on the second unit.
Predators First Line
Fiala – Johansen – Forsberg
With Vik Arvidsson out for the foreseeable future, look for Kevin Fiala to take advantage of being moved up to the top line. He has points in each of his last four games (one goal, three assists) and will benefit from more open ice chances with teams shifting their focus to Filip Forsberg. Forsberg, though, will still see his scoring opportunities and could, in fact, be in line for more shots with the absence of Arvidsson. Johansen should take advantage of the Coyotes who have allowed 16 goals and 23 assists over their last 12 games to centers.
Others to consider
Sharks Second Line: Tomas Hertl – Logan Couture – Timo Meier
These guys go one speed and can score from every direction. Meier is becoming one of the better scorers in the game at a young age with a ton of shots and high-danger chances. Couture has always been a score-first center, and Hertl has the ability to generate chances in the dirty areas while being a presence defensively, sort of how Gabriel Landeskog slides in on the 42o line for Colorado.
Wild Second Line: Zucker – Staal – Granlund
Again, relying on a Wild line (funny to think about; “Wild line”) is a risky proposition. However, this trio has everything. Staal’s ability to move the puck and present as a net-front presence while having the ability to score. Zucker’s ability to score goals in bunches, and Granlund, who I touched on, can seemingly do anything he wants with the puck. Staal, Granlund, and Zucker all skate together on the top power-play unit as well making this an affordable and high-upside stack.
Top Positional Plays
Players not included in “key three” or “favorite line stacks” sections.
Center
Dylan Larkin (DET) – The Senators have allowed the second-most fantasy points to centers over the last four weeks and Larkin comes in playing well with three goals and eight assists in his last eight games.
John Tavares (TOR) – Riding hot right now with points in each of his last six games with four goals and five assists over that span. His 5.86 high-danger scoring chances per 60 at 5v5 are 10th and his points per 60 (3.38) in 5v5 are sixth among all forwards.
Sean Monahan (CGY) – Montreal have allowed 15 goals and 28 assists to centers in their last 12 games. Monahan has nine goals and 10 assists on the season.
Eric Staal (MIN) – Good correlation play with Granlund at even strength and on the power play.
Wing
Johnny Gaudreau (CGY) – A great pairing with Monahan, Montreal have allowed 11 goals and 14 assists to left-wingers over the last four weeks attributing to the third-most fantasy points allowed to the position over that span.
Phil Kessel (PIT) – Tampa have allowed the second-most fantasy points to right-wingers over the last month. Phil is not line dependent whatsoever as a guy that can create his own offense, no matter who his linemates are.
Nikita Kucherov (TB) – Six goals and nine assists in 13 career regular season games against Pittsburgh.
Brendan Gallagher (MTL) – No points in his last three, but he’s always a threat as he’s among the league leaders in high-danger chances and shots per 60 minutes.
Evander Kane (SJ) – Two goals in his last four games and his speed should be a factor in what I would expect to be a fast-paced game.
Mitch Marner (TOR) – Leads all forwards with 2.25 primary assists per 60 minutes in 5v5 situations.
Patric Hornqvist (PIT) – Good salary and has five points in his last nine games against Tampa.
Defense
Shayne Gostisbehere (PHI) – The Devils have allowed the second-most fantasy points to defensemen over the last month, including 10 goals and 24 assists.
Morgan Rielly (TOR) – Rielly has been a monster. Among defensemen he’s fourth in shots per 60 (7.84), fourth in points per 60 (2.10), and first in goals per 60 (1.15) in 5v5 situations.
Mark Giordano (CGY) – In their last 12 games, Montreal has allowed nine goals and 20 assists to defensemen.
Thomas Chabot (OTT) – He has no points in his last two games, but on the season has five goals, 17 assists, and 53 shots, including six points on the power play. Chabot leads all defensemen in points per 60 minutes in 5v5 situations.
Keith Yandle (FLA) – Points in five of his last six games, quarterbacks the top power-play unit.
Matt Dumba (MIN) – Seeing a healthy amount of minutes and Arizona has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to dmen over the last four weeks. Dumba often pinches in on offense as he leads all defensemen in 5v5 situations with 2.02 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes.
Kris Letang (PIT) – No points in his last five games but does have 19 shots and 12 blocked shots over that span. The points will come against Tampa who have allowed 27 points to defensemen in their last 14 games.
Value
Nick Leddy (NYI) – Great value skating on the top power-play unit.
Noah Hanifin (CGY) – I mentioned Montreal’s struggles with defensemen and Hanifin is just $3,300 on DK and $3,900 on FD.
Ivan Provorov (PHI) – Good ice time, ability to score, and blocks enough shots to produce a stabil floor.
T.J. Brodie (CGY) – 3K on DK if you need a punt in a good matchup.
Jake Gardiner (TOR) – Always a viable value option for Toronto at the pace they play at.
Damon Severson (NJ) – He’s been producing all season and a goals and two assists in his last two games. His 2.42 points per 60 in 5v5 situations are second among blueliners.
Ryan Ellis (NSH) – Should see a bump in ice time with Subban out and has good history against the Coyotes.
GOOD LUCK!
