Vegas Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury plays against the Nashville Predators in the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Welcome back hockey fans. Thursday brings us a big nine-game slate so let's jump in and take a look at some of the top cash, GPP, and value plays at each position. Then head over and check out our projection system and lineup optimizer to assist you in making winning lineups. Questions? Make sure to join me in the Member Chatroom.
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Opponent - OTT
Proj Pts FD - 19.42 DK - 15.72
After two days off, Fleury is expected back between the pipes tonight in a plus matchup as a -290 favorite against the Senators who sit near the bottom of the league in offense scoring just 2.4 goals per game. Fleury is coming off a big loss to the Preds where he allowed five goals but it was only the second time in seven games he has allowed more than two goals and has an impressive .922 save % to start the year. As long as he continues to see 30+ shots per game(5 of 6 starts) he has big-time value in all formats with a high floor and ceiling.
Opponent - NJ
Proj Pts FD - 15.47 DK - 11.25
If you are looking to go the value route tonight, Rangers backup, Alexander Georgiev will be getting his second start of the season after impressing with a 31 save win over Ottawa back on October 5. The game opens as a pickem with the Rangers going into New Jersey but the matchup lines up as the Devils are the only team that has yet to record a win while averaging just 2.2 goals per game. Trusting a backup goalie on the road is not the best way to go for cash games, but Georgiev gives us a ton of salary relief in a plus matchup and is an excellent option in GPP formats tonight.
Opponent - NJ
Proj Pts FD - 15.53 DK - 10.98
Opponent - LA
Proj Pts FD - 15.23 DK - 10.65
It will be very hard to not build a lineup with one of these two centers tonight. Let's start with Zibanejad who has tallied an insane eight points in his first three games and has also provided a nice floor with 12 shots and four blocks as well. For Eichel, he has already tallied nine points in six games as the Sabres have looked dominant early in the season. Both players have also averaged a ton of powerplay time(over 3.5 minutes each) on Top 5 powerplay units and face teams in the Kings and Devils who not only rank bottom 3 in overall defense but are also tied for 10th in minor penalties taken. Both are elite plays in all formats but due to the price and wanting to play both, I will have most of my exposure to Zibanejad on FanDuel and Eichel on DraftKings.
Stack Zibanejad with: Artemi Panarin, Pavel Buchnevich
Stack Eichel with: Sam Reinhart, Victor Olofsson
Opponent - WPG
Proj Pts FD - 9.88 DK - 7.06
My favorite PTS/$ play at the position is Brock Nelson who centers the Islanders second line and powerplay unit. Let's start with the floor as he has opened the season with 20 shots in six games with a 16.6 iCorsi/60 and he has also provided upside with five points while averaging 13.7 scoring chances per 60, 6.3 of which have come in the high danger area(stats via Natural Stat Trick). He and the Isles also get a plus matchup against a very thin Jets defense that is giving up over 34 shots per game and ranks 25th in defense giving up 3.8 goals per game. All things considered, Nelson is a great play in all formats.
Stack with: Anthony Beauvillier, Oliver Wahlstrom(DK only)
Also Consider: Max Domi(MTL) as a mid-tier option in all formats or Cody Glass(VGK) as a value play who is skating on the top powerplay unit
Opponent - MIN
Proj Pts FD - 12.81 DK - 9.39
Opponent - MIN
Proj Pts FD - 6.76 DK - 4.95
The Habs are in a great spot tonight as -160 home favorites and one of my top overall teams to target. Let's start with the matchup against the Wild who have allowed four or more goals against in five of their first six games while allowing just under 32 shots per game as well. This lines up perfectly for Gallagher who is a shot volume machine averaging 13.8 shots/60 and is backed up by an elite 24.1 iCorsi/60. The points haven't been consistent but he has flashed big upside with a couple three-point efforts already while averaging a whopping 16.1 scoring chances/60. From a PTS/$ perspective, he is one of my favorite wingers on this slate.
For value, I will once again turn to Jordan Weal who has jumped up to the second line and is still getting run on the top powerplay unit. He has also recorded three or more shots in four of his first six games. His best value comes on DraftKings under $3K but is in play on both sites as a one-off or as a part of a Habs powerplay stack.
Opponent - STL
Proj Pts FD - 13.73 DK - 10.62
With the Sedin twins out of the picture now for the second season, it is clear who the future of the franchise is with Boeser and Pettersson. Both are excellent options stacked together but what stands out tonight is the price differential between the two sites as Boeser is still $5K on DraftKings. I am not interested outside of a low-owned Canucks stack on FanDuel but on DraftKings he is in play in all formats after opening the season with points in four of five games with 14 shots on goals. The shot volume is also sustainable as shown by his high 17.6 iCorsi/60.
Stack with: Elias Petterson, J.T. Miller
Also Consider: Mark Stone/Max Pacioretty(VGK) as a high floor/high upside two-man stack in a plus matchup or Tyler Toffoli(LAK) as a value who has opened the season with elite shot volume(11.7 shots/60, 22.7 iCorsi/60)
Opponent - WPG
Proj Pts FD - 6.96 DK - 5.57
I play mostly cash games on a daily basis so I will start with a player who offers tremendous PTS/$ value in that format. Adam Pelech lacks offensive upside having never tallied over 21 points in his career but what he does offer is a very high floor at his price. Over his first six games, he has tallied a combined three or shots/blocks in every game and is averaging 5.3 per game on the season. More than enough to lock in as a cash game d-man.
Opponent - NYI
Proj Pts FD - 10.43 DK - 8.18
If it's upside you are after, Josh Morrisey is who we should be focusing on here. With Byfuglien on a "leave of absence" from the team to start the season, Morrisey has performed very well as the top guy as he enters tonight's game with points in all but one of his first six games while also recording 16 shots(four per game). As the top guy, he is also getting almost 25 minutes of ice-time per game with almost 4.5 minutes of that coming on the powerplay which sets him apart in this price range, especially on DraftKings.
Also Consider: Roman Josi(NSH) or Jacob Trouba(NYR) as top-tier plays in all formats or Travis Hamonic(CGY) as a high floor cash play in the value range
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