Each day I will be providing my recommended player picks for your FanDuel daily fantasy hockey lineups.
My FanDuel NHL Plays will be broken down by player positions, and will include picks for cash games (50/50s/double-ups/head-to-head) and GPPs (guaranteed prize pool tournaments).
__________
Are you new to Daily Fantasy Hockey? Check out these strategies documents first for tips and recommendations to craft your winning FanDuel hockey lineups:
Daily Fantasy Hockey Primer: 2014-15 Season
Winning Strategies for Cash Games (head-to-head, 50/50s)
Winning Strategies for GPP Tournaments
Advanced Tips for Winning by Utilizing Vegas Odds and Line Combinations
FanDuel Daily Fantasy Hockey Research and Strategy Tools
_________
Welcome back, daily fantasy hockey players! A break is always nice, but five days off is way too long. I am really itching to get back at it and I can’t wait for the games to start tonight.
The NHL starts the second half with an 11-game schedule. There is already a ton of money in play due to the All-Star break, so tonight may well be the biggest fantasy hockey night of the season. With all the volume in cash games and many huge tournaments rolling, there is plenty of opportunities to make some big money this evening. Hopefully my FanDuel picks will help you make a decent profit tonight.
GOALTENDERS
Make sure to check the RotoGrinders Starting Goalies Page to confirm that the goalies listed below are starting prior to game time.
Jonas Hiller, Calgary Flames, $8,500 – Hiller temporarily lost his starting job due to his poor play in January (3.81 GAA, .867 SV%). Prior to his recent slump, Hiller had a superb month of December (2.02 GA, .923 SV%), and I think he gets back on track starting tonight. The Sabres have been awful on the road this season (4-17-1) and own the league’s worst offense. Buffalo is dead last in both shots per game (23.1) and goals per game (1.77). The Sabres have now lost 11 consecutive games and I don’t see them breaking that streak tonight. Hiller is your safest bet for the win and your best shot at a shutout too.
Other Goalies To Target (Cash Games) – Ben Bishop, Carey Price, Ray Emery
Other Goalies To Target (Tournaments) – Michael Hutchinson, Carter Hutton, Devan Dubnyk
CENTER
Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers, $8,100 – Giroux scored the game-winning goal in the Flyers’ overtime win against the Penguins prior to the All-Star break and also added 10 shots on net. He now has points in seven of his last nine games and sits fourth overall in NHL scoring. Arizona has been a defensive disaster all season long, allowing the sixth-most shots per game (32.0), second-most goals per game (3.33) and having the NHL’s 27th-ranked penalty kill. All signs point to the Flyers having a big offensive game, and if so Giroux will lead the way.
Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals, $7,000 – Backstrom has five points in his last three games and continues to dish out helpers with the best of them. Backstrom has the fifth-most assists in the NHL this season and he is a big reason why Ovechkin scores so many goals. The Blue Jackets have struggled defensively all year long, and have allowed the fourth-most shots on goal (33.0) and the fifth-most goals per game (3.13) this season. The Jackets will also be without elite goaltender Sergei Bobrovksy due to injury. I think the Capitals score at least three goals tonight and that Backstrom will be heavily involved in their attack.
Other Centers To Target (Cash Games) – John Tavares, Ryan Getzlaf, Mikko Koivu
Other Centers To Target (Tournaments) – Ryan Johansen, Bryan Little, Mike Ribeiro
LEFT WING
Max Pacioretty, Montreal Canadiens, $8,900 – Pacioretty is as hot as any sniper in the NHL right now. In his last 10 games, Pacioretty has racked up seven goals, 10 points and 37 shots on goal. Dallas has really struggled in their own end this season. The Stars have allowed 33 goals in their last 10 games and have given up the fourth-most goals (3.26) on the season. Mad Max has been a beast at home all season long (12 G, 27 PTS, +16 in 22 GP) and I expect that trend to continue tonight.
Zach Parise, Minnesota Wild, $7,800 – Parise broke out of his slump with a multi-point performance against the Sabres on January 15th and has been on a heater ever since. In his last four games, Parise has registered five goals, six points and 23 shots on goal. Edmonton has played much better hockey in the month of January, but they are still not a good team. The Oilers are still allowing too many scoring chances and have given up the third-most goals in the NHL this season. Look for Parise to extend his goal scoring streak to five consecutive games.
Other Left Wingers To Target (Cash Games) – Alexander Ovechkin, Filip Forsberg, Johnny Gaudreau
Other Left Wingers To Target (Tournaments) – Taylor Hall, Andrew Ladd, Brayden Schenn, Gustav Nyquist
RIGHT WING
Jiri Hudler, Calgary Flames, $5,500 – Hudler started the season off with 36 points in his first 38 games, but has since cooled off with only two points in his last seven games. Still, Hudler remains on the Flames’ top line and number one powerplay unit. The Buffalo Sabres are easily the worst defensive team in the NHL, having allowed the most shots per game (35.1) and goals per game (3.53) this season. Hudler has a very moderate price and the perfect matchup to remedy his slump.
Other Right Wingers To Target (Cash Games) – Jakub Voracek, Corey Perry, Jason Pominville
Other Right Wingers To Target (Tournaments) – Blake Wheeler, Nick Foligno, Ryan Callahan, Radim Vrbata
DEFENSE
Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames, $7,100 – Giordano is having a career season (11 G, 40 Pts, +19, 115 SOG in 47 GP) and leads all NHL defensemen in scoring. The Flames’ team leader has been the best all-around defenseman in hockey this season, and playing at home versus the hapless Sabres should only add to his impressive numbers this year. He won’t come cheap, but he won’t get a better matchup this season. Look for a multi-point performance from the captain tonight.
Andrei Markov, Montreal Canadiens, $3,700 - Markov has four points in his last two games and continues to fly under the radar. Markov doesn’t get the notoriety that Max Pacioretty and P.K. Subban do, but he can be just as productive on any given night. Markov logs over 24 minutes of ice time per game and mans the point on the Canadiens’ top powerplay unit. The Dallas Stars have not only struggled defensively all season, but have allowed opposing defensemen to light them up on a regular basis.
Other Defensemen To Target (Cash Games) – Shea Weber, Mark Streit, Victor Hedman, P.K. Subban
Other Defensemen To Target (Tournaments) – Dustin Byfuglien, Johnny Boychuk, Ryan Suter, Sami Vatanen