NHL Saturday Night Slate
Here is a breakdown of Saturday Night in the NHL from a fantasy perspective:
Philadelphia Flyers at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.
The Maple Leafs have won just four games since January 7 and are clearly in tank mode, but the players still have a lot to play for. ... P.A. Parenteau is riding a two-game goal streak and now has 15 on the season. As for everyone on the Leafs, the price tag is low. ... Up the middle, Nazem Kadri is a safe cash game play with nearly 200 shots on the season. ... Mark Arcobello has presumed second-line duties, tallying 19 shots, three goals and one assist in his last four games. He can be drafted in all formats thanks to his bottom-barrel salary. ... Morgan Rielly has been ice-cold, but Jake Gardiner has excelled playing over 20 minutes per game without Dion Phaneuf on the roster, racking up four points in six games ... Just about any legitimate player can be taken on Philadelphia against this AHL-like roster. ... Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds have the highest upside, but also the highest salaries. They've both been playing well in the new year. ... Nick Cousins is a great bargain having scored in two straight while centering the No. 2 line. ... Shayne Gostisbehere is on a 14-game point-streak and should be owned in all formats. ... Best to stay away from Leafs G Jonathan Bernier, though Michal Neuvirth or Steve Mason can be owned.
Prediction: Flyers 4, Maple Leafs 3
DFS MVP: Mark Arcobello
DFS Dud: Nazem Kadri
Detroit Red Wings at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
Ottawa has allowed the second most goals against to the entire league. Ironically, goaltender Craig Anderson has been on fire, posting a .920 save percentage or better in six straight games. ... In the other crease, Petr Mrazek will return to the city where he starred in junior. He's established himself as one of the premier young goaltenders in the game. ... Pavel Datsyuk has been reunited with Henrik Zetterberg as linemates, with the former riding a seven-game point streak. ... Ottawa's Mike Hoffman, Kyle Turris, Mark Stone, Bobby Ryan and Mika Zibanejad are a great young core, though vastly inconsistent in DFS circles. Recent call up Ryan Dzingel rounds out the top-six, making for an interesting bargain play. ... On the back end, there's nobody better than Erik Karlsson at moving the puck. His 65 points rank third in the entire league and his price is usually lower than most elite forwards. ... Karlsson isn't the only defender with a 70-point season under his belt. Mike Green isn't the D he used to be, but his 12 points with the man-advantage make him a good GPP play.
Prediction: Red Wings 3, Senators 2
DFS MVP: Pavel Datsyuk
DFS Dud: Bobby Ryan
Winnipeg Jets at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m.
Roberto Luongo has struggled since the All-Star break, but expect him to bounce back as Florida (18-9-3 at home) take on Winnipeg (12-15 on the road). ... Though youngster Connor Hellebuyck impressed, he's been sent down the minors with the return of Ondrej Pavelec, however, it'll be Michael Hutchinson guarding the cage - he has no cash game value. ... Both No. 1 centers (Bryan Little and Aleksander Barkov) are banged up. ... Nick Bjugstad has GPP value playing between Jaromir Jagr and Jonathan Huberdeau, though both have been cold without Barkov. ... Jussi Jokinen and Vincent Trocheck anchor the second line. They've combined for one point in the last four games, but were red-hot prior to that. ... Blake Wheeler is the only consistent producer on Winnipeg's roster. He's currently playing with rookie Nikolaj Ehlers and playmaker Mathieu Perreault, giving them decent value. ... It's surprising Andrew Ladd isn't on Winnipeg's top-line, as the Jets look to showcase their captain for a potential trade. He has five goals in his last eight games. ... Dustin Byfuglien's high salary should only be taken in a GPP. ... Brian Campbell is Florida's most valuable DFS defenseman with seven points in his last 10 games and a economical price tag.
Prediction: Florida 3, Winnipeg 0
DFS MVP: Roberto Luongo
DFS Dud: Dustin Byfuglien
New Jersey Devils at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m.
Expect a tired Devils team to show up on their second game of a back-to-back. Goaltender Cory Schneider is New Jersey's only hope. ... Braden Holtby on the other hand, is in line for the Vezina Trophy. He's the safest play among all goaltenders on Saturday. ... Alex Ovechkin is clearly too good for assists, potting 10 goals and just one helper in his last 10 games. ... Evgeny Kuznetsov is the center to roster since he's playing with The Great Eight, though Nicklas Backstrom, Andre Burakovsky and Justin Williams are no slouches as a second-line unit. ... On the back end, John Carlson has four assists in his last five games and can be drafted into any roster. ... With Mike Cammalleri out, don't even bother rostering anyone from New Jersey, with the lone exception being Schneider as a major contrarian between the pipes.
Prediction: Washington 2, New Jersey 0
DFS MVP: Braden Holtby
DFS Dud: Adam Henrique
Los Angeles Kings at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles is one of the best road teams in the NHL (18-10-2), but there's question marks swirling with C Anze Kopitar day-to-day. If he plays, he makes for a great contrarian against Pekka Rinne, who forgot how to play goaltender in the offseason. ... Jeff Carter is a great value play if Kopitar is unable to suit up. ... Jonathan Quick is just 1-1-1 in his last three games despite never posting a sub .935 save percentage. He's always a stellar play. ... Filip Forsberg has six goals and three assists in his last six games. He's clearly the Predator to roster up front if you choose to go in that direction, though it's not the smartest move. ... On the blue line, Roman Josi has eight points in his last nine games. He's usually a safe cash game play with 271 combined shots and blocks on the season, but he's GPP only with LA in town. ... Josi's partner Shea Weber has four goals in his last 10 games, but just one point in his last five. ... Drew Doughty is the best defenseman to roster, with nine points in his last eight games. His partner Jake Muzzin is no slouch either, although he's gone pointless in five straight games.
Prediction: Los Angeles 4, Nashville 2
DFS MVP: Drew Doughty
DFS Dud: James Neal
Boston Bruins at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m.
Athletes always seem to step-up for games against their former teams - and Tyler Seguin and Loui Eriksson, who were traded for each other back in 2013, are no exception. Both happen to be red-hot. ... The best contrarian to roster on the entire slate is Patrick Sharp. He hasn't scored since January 3, but he's been moved back to Dallas' top line alongside Seguin and Jamie Benn. ... Claude Julien will try and match Patrice Bergeron with this line, but Dallas will have last change on home ice. ... David Krejci is the Bruin center to draft, having put up 10 points in as many games. He quietly tallied 45 points in 48 games. ... Taking David Pastrnak is risky, but he plays with Eriksson and Krejci. ... Jason Spezza get's second-line minutes, but he plays on the first power-play unit and is always dangerous. ... With Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug struggling offensively lately, John Klingberg is the only defenseman worth consideration. ... With the potential for a high-scoring game, both goaltenders should be left alone.
Prediction: Dallas 6, Boston 3
DFS MVP: Tyler Seguin
DFS Dud: Patrice Bergeron
St. Louis Blues at Arizona Coyotes, 9 p.m.
Ken Hitchcock's well-structured St. Louis Blues are 5-0-1 in their last six games, allowing only eight goals over that stretch. Brian Elliott can be slotted into any lineup, though his ownership will be high. ... The strong defensive play of the Blues warrants ignorance to everyone on Arizona's roster not named Oliver Ekman-Larsson. OEL should only be taken as a contrarian - if at all. ... Jaden Schwartz has three goals and an apple in four games since returning from injury. He and Vladimir Tarasenko make for a lethal duo. Jori Lehtera is their center, but with just 25 points and 62 shots in 60 games this season, his floor is as low as a wine cellar. ... Alexander Steen is playing out of his element at center. His entire line should be avoided. ... Kevin Shattenkirk has the most upside among Blues defenseman, but with only has two points in his last 10 games, he should be faded. ... Rookie Colton Parayko has four assists in as many games.
Prediction: St. Louis 3, Arizona 1
DFS MVP: Jaden Schwartz
DFS Dud: Max Domi
Colorado Avalanche at Edmonton Oilers, 10 p.m.
Connor McDavid's return has done wonders for the DFS world, as well as the Oilers. The rookie sensation has 14 points in nine games since returning to the lineup. The biggest impact he's made has been on his linemates: Jordan Eberle and Benoit Pouliot. All can be taken in any format against Colorado, who will be starting the inexperienced Calvin Pickard between the pipes. ... Edmonton isn't the only team with plenty of fire power up front. ... Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon no longer play on a line together, but can be each be taken individually. ... The player with the most enticing set of linemates is Duchene, who centers the veteran Jarome Iginla and the raw, but super-talented Mikhail Grigorenko. ... Tyson Barrie has the most upside among any of the defensemen, but Francois Beauchemin and Erik Johnson have the highest floors thanks to consistent shots and blocks totals. ... Neither goalie is worth a look.
Prediction: Colorado 6, Edmonton 5
DFS MVP: Mikhail Grigorenko
DFS Dud: Cam Talbot