The NHL finally returns to action tonight after a five day break for the All-Star Game. I’m going to give you some fades as these players either should not be in your lineup or tread carefully if you want them on your FanDuel squad. We will also be updating the goaltending matchups at the bottom of the column all season (up to the 7pm start times for most lineups) so check the column and Rotoworld’s daily blurbs for the latest updates.
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Braden Holtby G (Washington) - $9,600
It looks as if Philipp Grubauer is getting the start against Florida as Holtby played on Sunday in the All-Star Game and the Capitals still have to play 35 games in the last 71 games of the regular season due to a couple of postponements and their regular schedule. Holtby has been the best goalie in the NHL this season, so if he starts, throw this comment out the window.
Carter Hutton G (Nashville) - $8,400
It’s very hard to believe that FanDuel has Hutton as a more valuable goaltender than Jonathan Quick, Tuukka Rask, John Gibson, Pekka Rinne and Devan Dubnyk, but they do. He’s not even getting the start, but if he was, there are far better plays tonight than Carter Hutton who is 5-2-1 with a 2.36 GAA and a .916 save percentage this season while backing up Rinne all year.
Alex Pietrangelo D (St. Louis) - $5,900
Pietrangelo is having a terrible season with only three goals and 21 points in 52 games, well below his average from previous seasons. It could just be an off-year offensively although he is also a minus-six. Pietrangelo has a couple of assists in his last six games but both happened in the same game against Detroit on January 20. He is the sixth ranked blueliner tonight while teammate Kevin Shattenkirk, who is $300 cheaper and better, is a much better play.
Colton Parayko (St. Louis) – $5,100
Parayko got off to a great start this season and flourished when Kevin Shattenkirk missed 10 games with an injury he excelled, but it’s been tough sledding ever since as he sees second unit power play time. He has only a goal and five points in 26 games over the last two months so I would pass at this time on the rookie blueliner.
Marian Hossa RW (Chicago) - $6,100
Hossa has only eight goals and 25 points in 48 games this season and has only one assist in his last five games. The 37-year-old is nearing the end of his career and while he is capable of a great game or two, he has been a minus FanDuel player in three of his last five games.
Drew Stafford RW (Winnipeg) - $5,300
Stafford has not scored in his last six games and has only two assists to show in that same time span. His 14 goals and 24 points are nothing special in 46 games while his minus-nine rating and only 14 penalty minutes are hurting his fantasy value in FanDuel. Stafford is a top-six forward but has not been playing like one.
Filip Forsberg LW (Nashville) - $7,000
Forsberg has only three goals and nary an assist in his last nine games and his overall totals of 14 goals and 30 points in 50 games with a minus-six rating, doesn’t exactly inspire a lot of confidence in paying $7,000 for the left winger. He did get off to an outstanding start last season but was only average the rest of the way. He is a nice player but there are far better plays tonight on the left side.
Alexander Ovechkin LW (Washington) - $9,500
Ovechkin is not allowed to play as he missed the All-Star game and per NHL rules, he must sit out the first game back following the break. Not everyone is aware of this and I’m sure some novices will be using The Great Eight in their daily pool.
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Jonathan Toews C (Chicago) - $8,100
For the same reason as above as Toews sat out the All-Star Game, he will not play Tuesday. Toews has not been having a great season with only 35 points in 51 games, so he may have been on this list anyway, but do not put him in your lineup for tonight’s game.
John Tavares C (New York Islanders) - $8,500
Putting Tavares on this list is tough as he is such a good player but his season has been mediocre by his standards as he has only 34 points which is tied for 57th best in the NHL heading into action Tuesday. While that would be great for most players, Tavares finished second in scoring last season by one point, and Jamie Benn needed a four point night on the last day of the regular season to overtake Tavares. He could break out but his dollar value is too high to warrant a ‘could be’.
Goaltenders
Toronto (James Reimer) confirmed @ Boston (Tuukka Rask) confirmed
New York Rangers (Henrik Lundqvist) confirmed @ New Jersey (Cory Schneider) confirmed
Minnesota (Devan Dubnyk) confirmed @ New York Islanders (Jean-Francois Berube) confirmed
Montreal (Mike Condon) confirmed @ Philadelphia (Steve Mason) confirmed
Ottawa (Craig Anderson) confirmed @ Pittsburgh (Marc-Andre Fleury) confirmed
Florida (Al Montoya) confirmed @ Washington (Philipp Grubauer) confirmed
Dallas (Antti Niemi) confirmed @ Winnipeg (Connor Hellebuyck) confirmed
St. Louis (Brian Elliott) confirmed @ Nashville (Pekka Rinne) confirmed
Chicago (Corey Crawford) confirmed @ Colorado (Calvin Pickard) confirmed
Columbus (Joonas Korpisalo) confirmed @ Edmonton (Cam Talbot) confirmed
Los Angeles (Jonathan Quick) @ Arizona (Louis Domingue) confirmed
San Jose (Martin Jones) confirmed @ Anaheim (Frederik Andersen) confirmed