Welcome back, Marksmen. It’s been awhile. But we are back and looking to make some cash tonight. We are wrapping up a kind of bizarre week in the league. The highest scoring team in the NHL managed just one goal through three games against the Leafs. Slightly tilting. The Minnesota Wild won six games in a row, before losing two to the Golden Knights. And maybe the biggest surprise of all, the Chicago Blackhawks. Sitting fourth in the Central Division, Chicago has silenced doubters as Patrick Kane continues to make a case for the Hart.
Looking to this evening. We have a six-game slate on tap. Featuring some high-powered offenses. Without any team from the north taking action, there is no need to worry about paying up for Auston Matthews or Connor McDavid. Generally the two highest owned players on any slate. Let’s dive into the best plays at each position.
Center
Nathan MacKinnon (COL): $8,900 vs. ANH
– Will take part in morning skate to see if he is able to play after a hit from two nights ago
– Highest priced center by $1,200 and projects to score the most DKFP – Top offensive player on the slate
– The Ducks rank 7th in the NHL in xGA
– Colorado ranks first in CF% (all strengths)
Brayden Schenn (STL): $6,000 @ LA
– Should avoid tough matchup against Anze Kopitar, facing the weaker second line
– Will play on top power-play unit and positively correlates with winger David Perron
– Is nearly on a point per game pace with 11 goals and eight assists through 23 games
– L.A. Kings rank 31st in HDCF% at 42.19
Chandler Stephenson (VGK): $4,200 @ SJ
– One of the top value considerations on the slate
– Will center the top forward line and PP1 for Vegas
– San Jose ranks among the bottom 10 teams in the league in all defensive categories
– Vegas should be one of the highest scoring teams on the slate and Stephenson will easily chip in, given the surrounding talent
Wing
Mikko Rantanen (COL): $7,700 vs. ANH
– Coming off a strong outing, scoring two goals and two assists against San Jose
– Has now recorded 22 points through 20 games played
– Anaheim has allowed the sixth most HDCA
– If MacKinnon plays tonight, COL1 should be the highest prioritized line in DFS
Mark Stone (VGK): $5,700 @ SJ
– The second highest prioritized line in DFS is VGK1
– Mark Stone is priced down, considering his slate-breaking upside
– Coming off a two point performance, Stone now has 24 points through 19 games
– Martin Jones should start for San Jose and owns a 3.72 GAA with a .884 SV%
T.J. Oshie (WAS): $4,000 @ BOS
– A tough matchup and now playing on the third line has reduced his price to a value
– Provides a high floor of fantasy production with the shot upside
– Logs time on the top power-play unit
– Should see easier matchup playing on the third forward line
Defense
Shea Theodore (VGK): $5,900 or Alex Pietrangelo (VGK): $6,100 vs. SJ
– Pick your poison – you’ll probably be wrong and wish you chose the other guy
– Theodore correlates better with a VGK1 stack and Pietrangelo with VGK2, based on power-play lineups
– Both are great options based on offensive production who contribute with blocked shots
– Both average well over 20 minutes of ice-time per game
Calvin de Haan (CHI): $3,400 vs. TB
– Currently ranks third in the NHL in blocked shots – five against Tampa Bay in their last game
– Averaging 20 minutes of ice-time per game
– Will generate shots on goal, averaging 1.32 per game
Ryan Sutter (MIN): $3,300 @ ARI
– Will log time on top defensive pairing and PP1 for Minnesota
– Has yet to score a goal, but continues to shoot pucks on net, averaging 1.65 per game
– Given the opportunity and matchup, Sutter is due for positive regression in the goal scoring department
– Provides plenty of salary relief for the expensive stacks
Goalie
Jordan Binnington (STL): $7,700 @ LA
– St. Louis enters this game as a -135 road favorite
– The Kings have scored just 34 5v5 goals on the season (26th)
– Binnington owns a 2.62 GAA and .910 SV%
– While a shutout is not likely, the win is, being one of the safer goalie options under $8,000
Fantasy Marksmen 