Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey: Lundqvist, Backes solid Sunday plays
by Sasha Yodashkin
Sunday’s five-game Valentine’s Day NHL slate offers non-stop thrilling action, with a 7:30 p.m. EST divisional battle between the rival Rangers and Flyers capping off a day that starts with a pair of 12:30 games. There are plenty of high-end fantasy options available, but the players listed below have the best chance of delivering value.
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GOALIE
Henrik Lundqvist, NYR vs. PHI ($40) – Lundqvist is rolling with eight wins in his last 10 starts, including two against the hapless Flyers. Don’t expect anything different this time, as the NHL’s sixth-worst offense has been held to two goals or less in four of its last five games.
Goalie to Avoid:
Steve Mason, PHI at NYR ($35) – Mason has scored just 19.5 total fantasy points in two losses to the Rangers over the last month. With the Flyers dropping four of their last five contests, don’t expect much of an improvement.
CENTER
David Backes, STL at TB ($14) – Backes came alive with a goal and an assist in Friday’s win over the Panthers, but can still be had for the bargain price of $14 due to some prior struggles. His five seasons of 24 or more goals suggest the center is capable of consistently outperforming that price, making him well worth a look if you’re looking to spend big at another position.
Center to Avoid:
J.T. Miller, NYR vs. PHI ($21) – Miller has cooled down the last two games, failing to find the scoresheet while taking only three shots on goal in that span. The Flyers held him to 3.0 fantasy points on Feb. 6 and look primed for a similar result once again.
WING
Nikita Kucherov, TB vs. STL ($24) – With 16 goals and 18 assists since Dec. 5, Kucherov has been one of the most productive players in the league following a slow start. The Russian winger doesn’t come cheap, but should be well worth his $24 price considering he’s looking for his fourth straight multi-point home game. Until he cools off, Kucherov should earn heavy lineup consideration every time the Lightning play at home.
Jarome Iginla, COL at BUF ($18) – Iginla’s recent form and cushy matchup make him a high-end option at the reasonable price of $18. The former Flames captain has six points in his last five games and has strong odds of staying hot against the eighth-worst defensive team in the league. Those in search of a DFS soulmate could do much worse this Valentine’s Day.
Wing to Avoid:
Vladimir Tarasenko, STL at TB ($26) – Despite two recent strong performances, Tarasenko still has only three goals and two assists in his last 12 games. Spending $26 on him in hopes that his recent turnaround is permanent is a risky play, especially against a top-10 defensive unit.
DEFENSE
Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI at NYR ($22) – Despite being in the midst of a rookie-defenseman record 11-game point streak, Gostisbehere is still priced at just $22. With a 35-game sample under his belt, it’s safe to say Gostisbehere’s offensive production is here to stay. All other blueliners scoring at similar rates are priced at least in the high-$20s, making the youngster a steal at his price considering he makes up for a blocked-shot deficiency with a solid plus/minus rating.
Victor Hedman, TB vs. STL ($24) – The night’s most expensive defenseman has been living up to that billing with six points and a plus-4 rating in his last five games. His production throughout the season has shown Hedman to be essentially matchup-proof, so don’t let the strong Blues defense act as a deterrent to you icing a player with the potential to be a major difference-maker Sunday.
Defensemen to Avoid:
Alec Martinez, LA at NJ ($19) – Martinez’s 123 blocked shots represent a large portion of his value, but those should be hard to come by against a Devils team that generates by far the fewest shots on goal in the NHL. Look for more offensively-oriented options to maximize value Sunday.
Francois Beauchemin, COL at BUF ($19) – After significantly outpacing his career offensive output, Beauchemin has come crashing back to earth with just two points in his last 10 games. Don’t let the veteran’s fluky early-season scoring rate fool you into overpaying for him, as his recent results are much more in line with the 0.34 point per game average he has accrued through 731 NHL games.
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