Saturday is an almost full plate of NHL action and there are more than a few ways to put your fantasy team together. So, instead of doing what I typically do, I’m going to take a slightly different approach.
Normally, I’d try to suggest specific players that I’d look at taking to increase your odds of success. Today, I’ll try helping you by suggesting a couple players who could be paired together. Sometimes forwards as a group or defense pairings are the way to go in fantasy play and there are a few combinations in Saturday’s games that could be worth a look.
Related – Fantasy Daily Cheat Sheet: Oct. 21, 2016
Yesterday’s Picks
It was a night in the NHL of home team victories. I loaded up on Chicago Blackhawks and that didn’t turn out well for me. Chicago lost a 3-2 decision to the Blue Jackets and only Jonathan Toews had a point. Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin and most of Chicago’s big money players were unproductive.
Mike Fisher had a goal and four shots on net, while Mike Green had an assist. It wasn’t enough to get me over the hump and I wound up empty-handed.
Tonight’s Games
Carolina Hurricanes at Philadelphia Flyers
Colorado Avalanche at Florida Panthers
Minnesota Wild at New Jersey Devils
Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins
New York Rangers at Washington Capitals
San Jose Sharks at Detroit Red Wings
Tampa Bay Lightning at Ottawa Senators
Toronto Maple Leafs at Chicago Blackhawks
Columbus Blue Jackets at Dallas Stars
Pittsburgh Penguins at Nashville Predators
St. Louis Blues at Calgary Flames
Vancouver Canucks at Los Angeles Kings
Forwards
Tomas Plekanec ($4700) and Brendan Gallagher ($6500)
Plekanec registered two assists and four shots on goal during Thursday’s 5-2 victory against the Coyotes. He has been a reliable option in fantasy play with decent point production in two of his last three games. Plekanec has three points in four games for the Canadiens. Gallagher meanwhile had an assist and nine shots on goal in 5-2 Montreal victory over Arizona.
The combination of these two players, who are projected to play on Montreal’s top line, is good value. Neither are among the higher priced forward options, but both should earn some points with the potential to over-produce at their sticker-price. Boston always brings out the best in Montreal and with an Oilers versus Jets Heritage game being played Saturday, perhaps the Bruins and Canadiens want to show NHL fans which rivalry has more meat on its bones.
Nazem Kadri ($4900) and Willam Nylander ($5100)
Kadri and Nylander had big games in a victory over the Winnipeg Jets the other night and while they were less productive in a follow-up game against the Wild on October 20th, both players could be ready to produce again versus a struggling Chicago Blackhawks team.
William Nylander appears particularly positive right now and is one of the young core Toronto plans to build around. As DraftKings.com describes in his profile:
Nylander might not be garnering the buzz he deserves with all the talented young players on the Toronto roster, but he has four points through the first three games of the season, and his plus-3 rating and nine shots are solid supporting marks. Skating with Auston Matthews is also a fantasy boon, and don’t forget, Nylander capped off the 2015-16 season with 11 points over his final 12 games.
Defense
Mike Green ($5600) and Danny DeKeyser ($3300)
Green has been a fantasy point producing machine and DeKeyser has been a steady value pick good to earn your team at least a couple points in every game. Detroit has won three in a row and playing at home to a San Jose team that has most of their team’s points coming from defenseman Brent Burns. If the Red Wings can somehow find a way to limit Burns’ fantasy points, Green and DeKeyser could be great adds to any fantasy team.
Goaltender
Jimmy Howard ($7400)
Mrazek got the start last night in Detroit’s win over Nashville, so it’s safe to assume that in the back-to-back, Howard gets the start against the San Jose Sharks. Howard saved 32 of 33 shots to register his first win of the season Wednesday against the Rangers.
San Jose is a tough opponent and back-to-backs are always tricky, but Detroit is on a roll right now.
