Saturday Night DFS: Predators look to get right against Devils
Saturday, we meet again.
After suffering my first truly bad week of the year last week, I’m coming in looking for a little redemption.
Here are my lineup recommendations for the nine-game NHL DFS slate on Yahoo.
The Value Guys
These are the players that are not the most or least expensive on the board, but solid options for your lineup.
C Mathew Barzal, NYI at DAL ($25)
With four points in his last four matches, Barzal has been a consistent contributor to a New York Islanders club that has won three of its last four contests. A road date against the Dallas Stars, who own the third-highest Corsi against over the past two weeks, should allow the talented centre to continue his success. Although Barzal hardly ever goes off for a massive performance, he’s about as consistent as they come.
W Filip Forsberg, NSH vs. NJD ($24)
I had Forsberg in this exact same spot last week, and while he did record seven (7!) shots on goal, he failed to put one past Florida Panthers netminder Chris Driedger. I’m backing the Nashville Predators winger once again as he gets a great matchup at home against a New Jersey Devils squad that will be playing its second game in as many nights.
D Ryan Pulock, NYI at DAL ($18)
Currently quarterbacking the Islanders’ top power-play unit, Pulock notched his first power-play goal of the season in his last outing against the Vegas Golden Knights. Over his past three games, the blueliner has notched four points and has played at least 21 minutes in each game. The Stars have taken 24 penalties over their past seven games, which means Pulock should get some chances to play on the man advantage.
G Pekka Rinne, NSH vs. NJD ($30)
I’m really liking this home spot for the Predators on Saturday. The Devils have to travel to Nashville after playing at home on Friday while the Preds got to enjoy a nice night in. Rinne’s numbers haven’t been great as a whole this year, but prior to surrendering three goals against the Tampa Bay Lightning in his last outing, he shut out the Carolina Hurricanes.
Offences to Stack
When a team is having a good night offensively, you want to have as many pieces as possible. Stacking offences can be a rewarding strategy.
New York Islanders
C Mathew Barzal ($25) + C Brock Nelson ($19) + W Anders Lee ($17) + D Ryan Pulock ($18)
The Islanders’ offense doesn’t boast a plethora of big-name talent, which allows you to stack them without breaking the bank. They battle the Stars, who have been fairly leaky defensively recently, allowing 49.9 shot attempts per game over their past seven contests.
Tampa Bay Lightning
C Steven Stamkos ($27) + C Brayden Point ($27) + W Nikita Kucherov ($33)
This stack will cost you big bucks and a good percentage of your budget, but it’s hard to not like this offence at home against Martin Jones and the San Jose Sharks. Stamkos has struggled as of late, hence why his price is the second cheapest it’s been all year. Now is a good time to buy low on this offense.
Expensive, but Worth it
Sometimes you can’t help but spend a decent amount of your budget to get elite fantasy production.
Nikita Kucherov, TBL vs. SJ
Earlier this week, I noted how prolific Kucherov has been in the month of December during his career. In 78 career December contests, the Lightning winger has 99 points. Last season, he notched 26 points in 14 games during the month, and that’s why I don’t mind paying up for him, especially against the Sharks, who will have Jones between the pipes.
Chasing the Cheap Win
It may be silly, but when selecting a goalie, the first question running through your mind should be: what is his team’s chance to win?
Nobody
That’s right. This week I am not a big fan of any of the cheaper goaltending options. As I mentioned earlier in the article, I think Rinne’s $30 price tag offers some value, but that is as cheap as I am going for my lineup this Saturday.
Cash Savers
Spent some major cash on some potential game-changers? These inexpensive players can help fill out the rest of your lineup.
C Anthony Cirelli ($14)
C Ryan Johansen ($13)
W Jeff Carter ($15)
W Calle Jarnkrok ($14)
W Ross Johnston ($10)
W Pontus Aberg ($10)
D MacKenzie Weegar ($14)
D Dennis Cholowski ($10)
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