Weclome to the NHL Daily Focus.Tonight were looking at the late slate. I’m going to try something different today to help out with the picks process. I like this way of presenting the information rather than just picking a few plays at each position. Going forward I am going to attempt to provide a more “grind down” style article to give more options while taking a look at the way each team is preforming as well. This article will be released before lines and scratches come out so as usual make sure you use your twitter account to monitor injury news. (This applies to staring goaltenders)
Penguins @ Habs
Total Goals 5 Home Line -115
Penguins
They have been struggling to score over the last few games and going into Montreal doesn’t really give them a better chance than they’ve had over these last games. Injuries have made them shuffle lines around but there are some cheap options playing top time with Crosby who isn’t scoring much himself but puts up assists when they do score. Crosby isn’t worth it tonight in this tough match up so GPP only as with probably the whole Pens team. Guys like Sutter, Perron, and Downie are almost all near min or min price ans could provide salary relief. Fluery isn’t too safe tonight and there is a better option right around his price tonight,
Habs
Carey Price is the ultimate pay up for goalie GPP option tonight. Going up against this offense is a tough job for any goalie but he has been playing out of his mind for the last 10 games and almost blanked them in Pittsburgh last time out. Pacioretty has scored a point per game in the last 10 and isn’t too expensive. If you want a min salary guy Dale Weise is a winger that has been playing on the second line with Plekanic and Desharnias and has a three game point streak going. Pacioretty and Gallagher are also worth a look but this could be a low scoring game.
Senators @ Coyotes
Total Goals 5.5 Home Line -115
Senators
They haven’t scored much lately but the line suggests they will. I think both teams are in for 3 or 4 like the last match ups. Erik Karlsson is always in play but is also one of the most expensive defenders. Having exposure to the top lines with PP time would be the way you play this team out. Bobby Ryan, Kyle Turris, Clark MacArthur, and Mike Hoffman all get this time are on the top two lines. Lots of value to be had with this team.
Coyotes
Here’s a team that gets a lot of production from their defenders. Yandle and Ekman–Larsson have a great match up as Ottawa is the worst in the league in giving up fantasy points to defense. Both of them get the most PP time on the team, they may be the only exposure you need from this team tonight. The top two lines have played well in the last few games and highest point total has come from a min salary guy Tobias Rieder, but Doan, Boedker, and Vermette get the top line time and PP and they are all super cheap.
Islanders @ Blue Jackets
Total Goals 5.5 Home Line +100
Islanders
Strome, Tavares, Nielsen, Lee, and Boychuck all have at least a goal and an assist in the last four games. It’s been tough playing against the Blue Jackets for this team so I’m not expecting a lot of offense from these guys tonight. GPP plays for sure as the season has shown the Islanders playing well on back to back nights and they can score. If Halak is in net he’s worth a GPP look but i don’t think he is in for a win tonight.
Blue Jackets
The Hartnell, Foligno, Johansen line has been on fire. 16 points between the three of them. They are becoming expensive but if you get 18 DK fantasy points out of them again as you have for almost three nights in a row there worth it, there’s min salary guys in good spots. Go ahead, take a chance. Dubinsky is a bit cheaper at Center if you want to save but get a guy who’s played almost as well as the three above. Connauton in D is a cheap option who played really well on the last home stand but is a boom or bust option.
Red Wings @ Capitals
Total Goals 5.5 Home Line -135
Red Wings
Jimmy Howard should be back in net and isn’t really cash game safe hes a great GPP play. Detroit is a well disciplined team tough on the PK and don’t give up a lot of dumb penalties. He’s got a chance at a W and a good bunch of saves. Teemu Pulkkinen was recalled from the minors where he led the league in goals and it’s a crazy min salary GPP option. The Abdelkader, Zetterberg, Nyquist line is the one you want a piece of right now.
Capitals
Eric Fehr has posted six goals in his last six games and was on a crazy point streak until that game in Philly. He’s price didn’t go off the charts still so he’s worth a look. OV is expensive as usual but something like 5 DK points seems to be his floor. John Carlson is an assist machine seems to have one every game. If he doesn’t Mike Green will and he’s less expensive. Sorta of a pay up for OV or grab the values around him.
Hurricanes @ Blues
Total Goals 5 Home Line -220
Hurricanes
Don’t have to many recommendations here. The Blues have been crushing everything they touch lately and the Canes may not have a chance tonight. They don’t play well against good teams and the blues are a good team. I think GPP only and you play Eric Stall or the whole top line and hope they go off. They probably won’t.
Blues
Best Goalie play of the night would be Elliot. Biggest favorite in a low total game aganist a Carolina team barley putting up 2 goals a game and your offense has been insane over the last three games. Light him up whatever the price. The put all the blues you can afford in. Cam Ward is not so good on the road having only won three games in 14 chances. It’s almost impossible to start all these guys now so if you want exposure and don’t just take Oshie or Backes or Steen take Taresenko Lehtera Stastny instead and call it a night.
Flames @ Canucks
Total Goals 5.5 Home Line -175
Flames
Last night’s game against the Panthers was an anomaly. That was a ton of goals but I would expect so many tonight. They have lost three in a row and haven’t beat Vancouver in 9 straight meetings. They have been held to less than two goals in that stretch expect for once. You know, one of those anomalies. I wouldn’t play anyone from this team tonight.
Canucks
Second best goalie of the night is Miller. He lost the last game but still made 27 saves. He is playing great and should be in line for an easy win. As far as the offense you go all Sedin’s and Vrbata because that’s where most of the offense comes from. They never cost you too much and put up good numbers at home and against this team.
Rangers @Sharks
Total Goals 5 Home Line -115
Rangers
The Rangers have won four games in a row and the are 12-1-0 in their past 13 games and can go for the sweep of Cali teams tonight. Lundqvist is another guy always worth a look with the team playing so well in front of him and him playing so well with himself. (See what I did there) He is near the top but is worth a GPP look. It is hard to pinpoint guys cause they have all played well on the road trip but Brassard has racked up the most points on his line with Nash and St. Louis on his line. Defender Dan Boyle has scored a point per game on the trip as well. Brassard’s price is great and St. Louis isn’t off the chart either. Nash is expensive so just grab Brassard and/or St. Louis. With the total being this low is hard to cash game these guys but GPP’s yes. The Rangers PP has been hot and the Sharks PK has been cold as well.
Sharks
They have a tough match up tonight but play well and can score at home. Pavelski has been on fire and may be worth paying up for. Couture as well and Brent Burns takes more shots that anyone in hockey and that represents a lot of opportunity. These three have scored 21 points in the last 6 games. Wingels and Marleau are much chaper than the others and have some upside on their lines as well. Just not as much.
Jets @ Kings
Total Goals 5 Home Line -165
Jets
After a loos to the Coyotes they come out to an even tougher place to play and they haven’t had any success against the Kings in there last few meetings. Little’s streak was stopped in Arizona bur that dones’t mean we ever play him again. No, we do and Little and Ladd have put up most of the offense recently. Quick hasn’t been rock solid so “a little” Little and Ladd. Wheeler had 3 assisit in his last 4 games but I don’t think they are going to score much.
Kings
This offense has been pretty spread out so it’s hard to tell where it’s coming form. Kopitar played the best of late with 5 assists in 4 games and King and Williams have been the ones lighting the lamp. Those two are on the third line. Play them if you wish they are cheap but going with Carter and Kopitar gives you PP and top line exposure and two guys playing well over the last week.
Hope you like the new format and would love some feedback if you wish. @theynostaydead on the twitter. Good Luck tonight Grinders!
