(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Welcome back hockey fans. After a quiet two-game slate last night, we are back with a very busy Thursday with 10 games on the schedule. Let's jump in and take a look at some of my core plays at each position.
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Opponent - MIN
Proj Pts FD - 18.5 DK - 14.74
While the record doesn't show it(5-3-1), the Predators are off to a hot start ranked #1 in offense scoring 4.2 goals per game and all three regulation losses were with the backup goalie in net. Rinne has been terrific to start the year holding opponents to two or fewer goals in five of his six starts(.921 save %) while facing just over 29 shots per game. Tonight, he and the Preds get a plus matchup against a Wild team that has been terrible on the road going 1-5 while scoring just 1.7 goals per game. All things considered, Rinne is my top goalie in all formats.
Opponent - ANA
Proj Pts FD - 19.08 DK - 14.22
Right in the same price range on both sites is Ben Bishop who makes a nice GPP pivot off Rinne who is the likely chalk tonight. He hasn't been as good overall(2-4-1, .913 save %) but is coming off a 38 save win over the Flyers and is in a great spot at home tonight as a -150 favorite against the Ducks who rank 26th in offense scoring just 2.4 goals per game. I am definitely leaning Rinne in cash games tonight but if you have built a lineup you absolutely love and need the couple hundred in savings I wouldn't talk you off Bishop at all.
Also Consider: Jordan Binnington(STL) in all formats as a -195 favorite and his best value comes on FanDuel under $8K
Opponent - NYR
Proj Pts FD - 17.67 DK - 12.85
Since coming into the league in 2015, Eichel has improved on his point total every season(56, 57, 64, 82) and after a torrid start this year(14 points in 10 games), is well on his way to setting yet another career-high. For fantasy, he also adds value blocking shots and is third among centers with a combined 4.4 shots/blocks per game. The Sabres are right near the top of my list tonight facing a Rangers team that came out of the gate hot winning two straight but have since stumbled losing five straight while giving up an average of four goals per game. Eichel is the top projected center in the system and a great play in all formats.
Stack with: Sam Reinhart, Victor Olofsson
Opponent - SJ
Proj Pts FD - 12.71 DK - 8.87
The Canadiens offense has looked very good early on this season thanks to a three-line balanced attack where eight players have already tallied five or points. Right at the top is Max Domi who may not have the elite shot volume creating that high floor but he has been terrific with points in six straight with nine on the season(four on the powerplay). The Habs are top 3 in projected goals(3.7) goals tonight in an excellent matchup against a Sharks team that has given up four or more goals in six of their nine games and rank 26th in goals against overall. With the combination of matchup and price, Domi is one of my favorite PTS/$ centers on this slate and in play in all formats.
Stack with: Nick Suzuki
Also Consider: Sean Monahan(CGY) as a GPP pivot in a plus matchup vs. the Panthers 21st ranked defense or Brayden Schenn(STL) who has been terrific to start the season averaging a point per game and also gets a plus matchup vs. the Kings 31st ranked defense
Opponent - CHI
Proj Pts FD - 13.53 DK - 10.53
Opponent - CHI
Proj Pts FD - 7.45 DK - 5.63
Overall, it has been an up and down start for the young Flyers who are 3-3-1 on the season but the offense has most definitely shown huge upside. That offense is near the top of my list tonight as they get a matchup against the Blackhawks who have really struggled winning just two of their first seven games. I will start with Travis Konecny who despite being just 22-years-old is already in his fourth NHL season and primed for a breakout and already has 10 points through his first seven games. Speaking of youngsters, 19-year-old Joel Farabee is getting an opportunity to contribute for the Flyers after they called him up Monday. He skated on the third line with Kevin Hayes and picked up three shots on goal on just over 14 minutes of ice-time but what stood out more than anything is that he was placed on the team's top powerplay unit. If he is in the same role tonight, he is easily one of my top value plays and is in play in all formats.
Opponent - CBJ
Proj Pts FD - 12.25 DK - 9.66
The Hurricanes have looked very good early in the season with an excellent balance of goaltending, defense, and offense. The offense is very deep and a value play I am looking at tonight is Andrei Svechnikov who has seen his price come down after being held off the scoresheet in four straight but he most definitely has upside with multi-point efforts in four games already. He is also getting a ton of opportunity skating on the second line and top powerplay unit and against a Blue Jackets team that is giving up over three goals per game, he is in play in all formats tonight.
Stack with: Jordan Staal, Ryan Dzingel
Also Consider: Kyle Turris(NSH) gets a bump if Forsberg remains out on Thursday or Jeff Skinner(BUF) in all formats with his shot volume(16 shots/60, 19.9 iCorsi/60) and position on the top powerplay unit with Jack Eichel
Opponent - BUF
Proj Pts FD - 14.6 DK - 11.39
Trouba may not have the same ceiling as others in the top tier but what he does provide is the highest floor in fantasy hockey at the moment. He is getting all the ice-time he can handle(24.7 minutes per game) and comes into tonight averaging a league-leading 6.3 combined shots/blocks per game which is also 20% more than the next closest player. Not that he doesn't have any upside either as he already has six points in seven games and I expect that to continue as he is also skating on the top powerplay unit. The price is rising but is still a bit of a buy-low considering the elite production and I will have exposure in all formats.
Opponent - NYR
Proj Pts FD - 8.36 DK - 6.62
For value, I will be turning one of our top-rated PTS/$ plays at the position. McCabe has just three points on the season and getting just 21 minutes of ice-time per game but has multiple blocks in all but one game and sits second overall with 29 on the season. That creates a very high floor for cash games and at a sub $4K price tag on both sites, McCabe is my top cash game play at the position.
Also Consider: Roman Josi(NSH) or Rasmus Ristolainen(BUF)
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