Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey: Lundqvist, Nylander good Sunday plays
By Sasha Yodashkin
Sunday’s modest NHL slate features just three games, meaning it’s imperative to pinpoint the likeliest goalscorers. The Lightning and Red Wings figure to provide lots of value with playing against the Blue Jackets and Maple Leafs, respectively. Whether they hail from those two teams or one of the other four, the players spotlighted below are in position to outperform their respective values.
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GOALIE
Henrik Lundqvist, NYR vs. PIT ($40) – The Penguins have alternated wins and losses over their last seven games, putting them on pace to lose to Lundqvist and the Rangers on Sunday. Lundqvist is 19-4-2 with a 2.11 GAA at home, making him highly likely to win his first home matchup against the Penguins.
Goalie to Avoid:
Ben Bishop, TB at CLS ($42) – Despite failing to win either of his last two starts, Bishop is still the night’s most expensive goaltender. It’s far from guaranteed that he’ll get off the schneid against a Columbus team that is 5-4-1 in its last 10.
CENTER
William Nylander, TOR at DET ($14) – Those looking for a cheap option at center should look at Nylander, who heads into the weekend with goals in two of his last three games. The rookie’s offensive potential exceeds those of other player in his price range, so those looking for a low-risk, high-reward option at the position should look no further than the second-liner facing a Red Wings team that has allowed 18 goals in its last five games.
Center to avoid:
Steven Stamkos, TB at CLS ($23) – Stamkos has cooled down of late, with 3.0 or less fantasy points in five of his last six games. His poor recent form makes the sniper not worth his exorbitant price, even against the lowly Blue Jackets.
WING
Carl Hagelin, PIT at NYR ($17) – Hagelin has gotten on the scoreboard in each of his last four appearances, including a Mar. 3 game against the Rangers in which he picked up an assist. The speedy Swede has plenty of motivation to perform against his former team, and his combination of momentum and opportunity make the second-line winger a worthwhile play considering his low price and lack of alternatives.
Justin Abdelkader, DET vs. TOR ($17) – Abdelkader is the only member of Detroit’s first line not listed as a center, making him the option of choice for those looking to fill out the wing position against Columbus’ 27th-ranked defense. He has two goals and two assists in his last three games, so the American is also hot coming into this contest, yet can still be had for merely $17.
Wing to Avoid:
Ryan Callahan, TB at CLS ($20) – Callahan’s offensive freefall continues, as his pointless streak has now reached six games. His price is still high at $20, making the former Ranger a terrible option in terms of bang for the buck Sunday.
DEFENSEMEN
Kris Letang, PIT at NYR ($27) – Letang’s recent consistency makes him worth a play, even if he is far and away the night’s most expensive defenseman. He has topped 6.0 fantasy points in 11 of his last 13 games, while reaching 5.0 in another. No other blueliner offers anything resembling Letang’s mix of high floor and upside, making him a worthwhile play even in a tough road matchup with the division-rival Rangers.
Seth Jones, CLS vs. TB ($17) – Jones has 15 points in 27 games as a member of the Blue Jackets, as the young defenseman has taken on a larger offensive role since his move from Nashville. He has topped 11.0 fantasy points three times in his last six games, and facing a Lightning team that has dropped three straight presents the blueliner with a strong opportunity to rack up another double-digit performance. At just $17, Jones’ affordability makes him all the more enticing.
Defensemen to Avoid:
Keith Yandle, NYR vs. PIT ($21) – While he has managed to get on the scoresheet lately, Yandle hasn’t finished with a positive plus/minus rating in any of his last 12 games dating back to Valentine’s Day. His minus-10 rating in that span has dragged the former Coyote’s value down significantly, and things don’t project to get much better against a Penguins team that saddled him with a minus-3 mark less than two weeks ago.
Victor Hedman, TB at CLS ($20) – Hedman has been a disaster on the offensive end, with just a single point in his last 11 games. He’s bound to break out at some point, but banking on a turnaround is tough considering his total of nine shots over the last six games don’t indicate any increase in aggressiveness from the normally productive blueliner.
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