Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey: Nyquist, Dubinsky smart plays for Monday

by Neil Parker

It is a busier-than-usual Monday in the National Hockey League with 10 teams in action and a deeper player pool. 

There are a handful of noteworthy storylines, too. 

Pittsburgh will play their first game after firing Mike Johnstone against Washington, and the Oilers head to Beantown with a five-game winning streak on the line. 

Additionally, the Lightning visit the Blue Jackets in a tilt between two of the most disappointing teams in the Eastern Conference.

The final two games feature Buffalo visiting Detroit and Ottawa hosting Los Angeles.

Here are a number of values to provide wiggle room to fit some stars under the salary cap.

GOALIE

Petr Mrazek, DET vs. BUF ($34) – Barring an unexpected backup start, Mrazek — who has already been confirmed — will be tied for the cheapest goalie available in the player pool Monday. And while Mrazek hasn’t been quite as sharp of late with 10 goals allowed over his last three outings, he has won all three and still has a .924 save percentage and a 2.38 goals-against average for the season. Buffalo is capable and average 2.57 goals per game on the road, but they’re also 5-7-2, whereas Detroit is 4-0-2 in December.

Goalie to Avoid:

Craig Anderson, OTT vs. LA ($36) – The Ottawa backstop has allowed at least three goals in six of his last eight starts and is 3-5 with a .903 save percentage during the stretch. He has shown flashes of greatness this season, so a bounce-back showing against the potentially low-scoring Kings isn’t out of the question. However, Los Angeles had a six-game winning streak snapped last time out and projects to give Ottawa a strong test Monday. Ottawa is allowing 3.3 goals per game over its last 10 outings, too.

CENTER

Brandon Dubinsky, CLS vs. TB ($14) – Strictly a value lean, Dubinsky has just two assists and 12 shots through his eight games since returning from an upper-body injury, including a helper last time out. Prior to the injury, he notched eight points — three goals — through nine games with an average of 19:26 minutes of ice, and he was a key cog for coach John Tortorella. Dubinsky has significant upside with a salary almost at basement value.

Center to Avoid:

Steven Stamkos, TB at CLS ($23) – Riding an eight-game goalless drought, Stamkos is difficult to spend up for Monday. More concerning, though, is he has just six shots in his last five games. And while Stamkos has been chipping in offensively in the assist column with five helpers in his last six games, it isn’t enough to return a profit on his cap hit. Aim higher Monday.

WING

Gustav Nyquist, DET vs. BUF ($19) – The game-to-game consistency has been a little spotty, but Nyquist sits with four goals, four assists and 19 shots in his last eight games. Buffalo enters allowing 3.2 goals per game over its last five outings and 2.79 on the road. Plus, the Sabres only kill penalties at 76.0 percent, and eight of Nyquist’s 20 points this season are of the power-play variety. He is priced for earnings, too.

Beau Bennett, PIT vs. WSH ($15) – The winger has seen his ice time increase in four consecutive games, which includes a role next to Sidney Crosby at even strength. While it is an incredibly daunting matchup with Washington allowing just 2.21 goals per game this season, Bennett has two goals and two helpers with 15 shots over his last five games, so he presents nice upside at a discounted salary.

Wing to avoid:

Tyler Toffoli, LA at OTT ($20) – After scoring nine goals through his first 10 games and 26 shots of the season, negative regression has slapped Toffoli in the face. He has just two goals in his last 19 games and 50 shots, and he is reeling along a seven-game point drought. The pendulum will swing back for Toffoli, and the Senators allow 2.9 goals per game for the season, but still, you’re spending up for a winger in extremely poor form and counting on the “due” factor Monday.

DEFENSE

Niklas Kronwall, DET vs. BUF ($16) – With Kronwall’s salary still trailing his recent form, there is nice upside Monday. The veteran blue liner has two goals and four helpers in his last eight games with a plus-2 rating, 10 shots and 10 blocked shots. He is also rolling with the No. 1 power-play unit, which draws a favorable matchup against Buffalo who kill penalties at just 76.0 percent.

Defensemen to Avoid:

Erik Karlsson, OTT vs. LA ($28) – Riding his longest-point drought of the season, Karlsson typically would project for a bounce-back showing Monday. However, the Kings are extremely stingy, and at Karlsson’s cap hit, he needs a multi-point showing to return value. Los Angeles allows just 2.07 goals per game, which paces the league, and its possession prowess could hurt Karlsson in the plus/minus department. He is a minus-4 over his last two outings, after all.

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