Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) skates during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Happy Saturday DFSR crew! Sadly this is our second last weekend of the regular season and I say sadly as I am a fan of a team that is most likely not going to be playing in the post-season. On the bright side, I might just be a bigger fan of daily fantasy.
We have a split slate today with two games in the afternoon but we will be turning our attention to the six-game main slate for this article. There are some nice narratives tonight with so many playoff spots up for grabs. Looks like a ton of great plays on the board. Let's jump right into the picks.
Hockey is back and with it come our NHL projections which help inform these picks every night. When you purchase a DFSR NHL subscription to our base hockey projections you also get access to our brand new NFL DFS suite of tools including full projections, optimal NFL lineups and our Player Lab, which includes filters to help you create NFL lineups for FanDuel and DraftKings for any format. It’s a set of tools well beyond anything we’ve ever had, and something we feel will help our users *ahem* tackle the NFL season.
If you want to see the numbers behind our projections, create lineups with a single click, or research as deeply as your heart desires, click the button below to test out yourself.
Opponent - NJ
Proj Pts FD - 18.06 DK - 4.52
The Flyers were the team I was referring to as not having a great chance to make the playoffs as they pretty much need to win out with some help. While I am not optimistic they will pull off the miracle, I do think mason makes a great option tonight. The Flyers are at home vs. the Devils who haven't had anything to play for in awhile as the Eastern Conference's worst team. They have been horrible on the road(12-21-6), have lost five straight games, and now play a second of back to back nights on the road. Lock Mason into your lineups in all formats.
**Update - Michael Neuvirth is starting over Steve Mason tonight. Sorry folks. Wrote the goalie up last night. Neuvirth is GPP only as he has struggled recently(2-8 last 10 games with .883 save %. If you are looking for a cash game goalie I would consider Frederik Andersen coming off a 29 save win vs. the Predators.**
Also Consider: Craig Anderson(OTT)
Opponent - DET
Proj Pts FD - 14.32 DK - 4.12
The Leafs are one of the team's that can move up or down in the standings the most. The sit one point back of Ottawa for 2nd in the Atlantic and just one point ahead of Boston for the final spot in the division. They get a great spot on Saturday night to grab two points and at least remain in their position. The Detroit Red Wings come to town, losers of two straight and owners of the 25th ranked defense in the league. Matthews is coming on strong down the stretch with goals in three straight and points in seven straight games. He also provides a high floor with shot volume so lock him in all formats tonight.
Stack with: William Nylander
Opponent - EDM
Proj Pts FD - 13.82 DK - 4.01
Getzlaf returned from his lower-body injury last game but was held off the scoresheet and recorded a -2 rating with just one shot on goal. He should be back to full health tonight in a crucial matchup vs. the Oilers who they are just one point ahead of in the Pacific Division. Connor McDavid is much more expensive and will most likely be higher owned as well. This has me turning to Getzlaf who has filled the scoresheet in the second half with 28 points in 24 games. He has also tallied six points in four games vs. the Oilers this season.
Stack with: Rickard Rakell, Patrick Maroon
Opponent - WPG
Proj Pts FD - 11.09 DK - 3.28
Next up, another team fighting for their playoff lives in the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division. Turris has bounced back in a big way after a disappointing 2015/16 season where he recorded 30 points with a -15 rating. He is back up to a -5 which is much better considering he isn't a standout two-way player. He is known for his offense and he has delivered with 51 points including seven in his last 10 games(5 on the PP). What is also enticing is his shot volume lately as he has tallied 32 shots in those 10 games. To cap it off, he gets a matchup vs. the Jets who love to take penalties, have nothing to play for and rank 28th in defense.
Opponent - MON
Proj Pts FD - 16.48 DK - 4.77
I lead off with Kucherov for a few reasons. He burned people last time out as he came down with an illness and missed the game. He also has a tough matchup tonight vs. the Canadiens. Add these two things up and you have an elite player who is going to be low owned. Sign me up for tournaments. These two teams haven't played since the Bolts beat the Habs 4-3 in OT here in Tampa back at the end of December. They may get a lift as well tonight as there is word Steven Stamkos could make his return.
Stack with: Brayden Point, Ondrej Palat
Opponent - DAL
Proj Pts FD - 14.16 DK - 4.07
If you are playing on DraftKings and looking for a player safe in all formats, consider Skinner tonight. The Hurricanes still have an outside shot at the playoffs so you can fully expect a 100% effort tonight, especially from Skinner who has been carrying the offense lately. Over his last 10 games, he has tallied nine goals and 12 points and the best part about it all is that he has fired 37 shots on goal. He is more expensive on FanDuel but still an excellent GPP play with huge upside vs. the 29th ranked defense in Dallas.
Stack with: Derek Ryan, Lee Stempniak
Opponent - NJ
Proj Pts FD - 9.64 DK - 2.76
From a PTS/$ perspective, Jordan Weal is an elite play tonight. The sites have failed to correctly price him since he has stepped into a Top 6 role with the Flyers. He started out on the top line but with the team offensive woes, the Flyers coaches have shaken the lines up and he is now skating with newly acquired Filppula and Simmonds on the second line. He comes into tonight with goals in three straight games and has 11 shots over his last four games. Hard to argue with a sub $4K price tag. Lock him into your lineups as a high upside punt play.
Stack with: Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn
DEFENSEMEN
Opponent - DAL
Proj Pts FD - 10.82 DK - 3.25
Faulk may not have the elite offensive upside of Byfuglien, Karlsson, and Hedman tonight but he comes at a discount and is neck and neck for PTS/$ value. What he has been providing is tremendous shot volume as he has recorded 33 shots over his last 10 games and had back to back multi-point efforts vs. the Red Wings early in the week. He will get a nice boost tonight facing the Stars and their second to last defensive rating.
Opponent - WPG
Proj Pts FD - 8.2 DK - 2.45
From a PTS/$ perspective, Ceci has been one of my favorite value punt plays down the stretch. Despite picking up points in two straight games coming into tonight, he isn't going to scare anyone offensively but does provide a safe floor with a nice balance of shots and blocks. For me, it is much more about what his salary relief and what it allows us to put in our lineups in other roster spots.
Also Consider: Shayne Gostisbehere(PHI)
Hockey is back and with it comes our NHL projections which help inform these picks every night. When you purchase a DFSR NHL subscription to our base hockey projections you also get access to our brand new NFL DFS suite of tools including full projections, optimal NFL lineups and our Player Lab, which includes filters to help you create NFL lineups for FanDuel and DraftKings for any format. It’s a set of tools well beyond anything we’ve ever had, and something we feel will help our users *ahem* tackle the NFL season.
If you want to see the numbers behind our projections, create lineups with a single click, or research as deeply as your heart desires, click the button below to test out yourself.
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