Good morning, and man, does it feel good to be back! I hope that everyone had a very enjoyable Christmas break as we head into the New Year. I have been out of town since last Tuesday and have not seen one minute of puck in that timeframe…I was at the Miami Dolphins game last Sunday, but I don’t think that counts. Anyone want to play a De’Von Achane one-off here tonight? Still, although I haven’t been able to watch any hockey live, I have kept my eye on the league and think we can make some money on these five gamers tonight.
Slate Preview
Florida Panthers
It’s been a while since we’ve had a good ol’ fashioned Florida night, hasn’t it? Lately it’s been Edmonton one this, Colorado one that, and that means no Florida lineups. I think that could change here tonight as the Panthers host Montreal, and what’s drawing me to Florida is the second line. Heat check here, Sam Bennett has seven points in his last six games, and Brad Marchand has 13 points in his last eight. The issue I’m running into is that Carter Verhaeghe on that line has been cold, so even though $6,100 might be a little rich for me, I’ll consider a full stack if he can join in on the fun. To be honest with you guys, this is a game that I might throw into a lineup because it’s one that I just flat out want to watch. A little Panthers/Habs with the new bourbon glass that came in a Christmas stocking is calling me like the Green Goblin’s mask in Spider Man. In multi-entry, I could see this being a game-stack scenario as well if you wanted to take parts of the Montreal second line into a lineup as well, I think that’s something that could be in play here.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Okay so the last game I want to watch…this one…maybe not so much, but I do have some interest in the Leafs on this slate. New Jersey is allowing 32.2 shots per game and that my friends is resulting in around two goals against per game. If trends our are friends, then I don’t mind the Leafs here, but it’s not the top line that interests me, but the second line. John Tavares has been playing better in his last three games, along with Matthew Knies. I probably won’t be going all-in here if William Nylander is in the lineup and Auston Matthews might be a little expensive for me tonight at $8,800 (he’s a game-time decision). Still, I’ve rostered Matthews in fantasy plenty in the past and eventually the 20 points in like 10 games has to happen eventually…right? I like Toronto’s second line in single entry or multi and can see pairing them with something in the Montreal/Florida game for a lineup option.
New York Islanders
I know I said that I haven’t watched any hockey in the past week, and that’s true. However, my best buddy is a Pittsburgh fan and went to the Penguins/Hawks disaster this past weekend and texted the group, “The Penguins have scored more points than the Steelers”. While that’s just a funny text, it does paint a picture of this Blackhawks club that the Isles will be facing, and I’ve been saying this for about a month now, what if the Islanders are good? I’m here for a New York stack tonight, but it might not be the line you’d expect. Sure, the top line for New York is fully correlated going up against a Hawks club that is 4th in PIMs this season, but the second line is also fully correlated as the Isles split their power play time evenly, and that’s the line that’s arguably been playing better of the two in the Islanders last three games. Anders Lee ($4,800) – Mathew Barzal ($6,300) – and Simon Holmstrom ($3,300), are in a great spot and likely may go a tad bit overlooked as a full-stack tonight. You can do a ton with this lineup like add in an expensive stack or, what I would do, is pay up for a defenseman or two on a small slate. That’s a strategyI like to try and incorporate on four or five gamers, and the Islanders second line could be a possible play for that type of build.
Defense
Lane Hutson at $5,700 or Matthew Schaefer at $5,600 would be my spend-ups tonight, as there are some good options in the middle price range that also could fit into a lineup. Seth Jones at $4,600 has been playing great lately, so I don’t mind him at $4,600 and like his teammate Aaron Ekblad at $3,700. For a $3K or below option, I think Alexander Nikishin makes some sense on a good Carolina top power-play unit.
Goalies
Brandon Bussi (if he starts) is the spend-up play tonight at $8,200 and right behind him is Dave Rittich who played outstanding all last week sitting at $8K tonight. I don’t love spending up in net, but tonight’s slate may just be one of those where you have to pay up a little bit more in net. Thatcher Demko would be my cheaper option at $7,500, but I worry about volume from the Philadelphia side. Pickings are slim tonight!
That’s it for now, best of luck tonight everybody!
For continued fantasy news and notes, follow me on Twitter @ndySanz.
