Tonight we a have 5 games on the slate and kick it off with Columbus going in to Pittsburgh where not many teams have not fared well this season. The Pens are are whopping 21-3-2 at home and Vegas likes this game to shootout with a goal total of 6. Defensively, Pittsburgh has really struggled and playing against a Columbus team that ranks in the top 5 offensively, I have to like them to score a few goals specially on the power play where they rank first in the league. Matt Cullen ($4,200) has to be one of the top value plays tonight due to him getting a bump up to the top line with Horny and Crosby to replace an injured Connor Sheary. Cullen isn’t known for his remarkable scoring prowess but any time yo are flanked by the best player in the world with anther dynamite player in Hornqvist($5,800), good things happen.
Over in Carolina Cam Talbot comes in to rescue his Oilers from back-to-back losses. Talbot boasts an impressive 4-0 record wth 2 shut outs and a .097 GAA average vs. the Carolina Hurricanes in his career. The Oilers are 7-2-1 in their past 10 games despite losing twice this week and being shut out last night. While the Canes boast one of the best penalty kills in the league, i cant help but lean towards the Oilers finding their scoring against a Hurricanes team that May it Lack in net if Ward doesn’t feel better after being injured last game. If so, all guns are firing and I am definitely getting a full line exposure to this game if Lack plays but other wise I think tonight’s line may call for the old 1-2 punch of the German and the Kid, Draisaitl ($6,000)and McDavid($8,200). Or you can split up them for exposure to two lines or keep the correlation tight and run them together. I am assuming that the second line of Carolina will be a popular play with Aho coming off the hat trick and he line in general producing at a better rate than the other lines. Task and Skinner have been disappointing so far this year and not commanding the respect they deserve re when their game is on point. Tonight could see them find their game and find the back of the net and both are definitely in play but i think i look elsewhere playing only a single lineup.
Looking at the Florida/Anaheim game, not to much pulls me in to either of these teams and i think with Florida struggling to score and Anaheim’s lack of trust they pose in terms of who does the score, if any, has me looking elsewhere tonight.
At the Joe Louis Arena, the Islanders get to play hockey on some real ice that is actually frozen. Its a miracle and their home/away record reflects that something is definitely wrong in that arena in Brooklyn. And needs to be fixed. Vegas seems to like this game to see goals with a 5.5 total projected here from the boys in the desert and i tend to agree. The Islanders come in playing well and have won their past 7 under the new coach Doug Weight. Grease is playing superb with a 5-0-1 record in his past 6 and looks to help Jason Chimera who is playing in his 1000h hockey game tonight. A commendable accomplishment and one that is not hard feat, Chimera will be fired up and leads the Narrative tonight in the NHL. Cal Clutterbuck ($3,900) and Hickey ($3,800) return to the Isles tonight and look to jump right in with Hickey paired with Boychuck on the first Defensive pairing. Cal Clutterbuck always finds his way on the scoresheet and may be a sneaky play especially on the same line as Chimera, as the two could spark some fireworks at the Joe tonight. What a better way to celebrate your 1000th games by closing the Joe Louis Arena and scoring a goal and winning?! Now that’s a Gordie Howe hat trick. I like this Islanders team to run through the Wings who are still searching for their identity. Good thing they will have all summer to look.
Finally we have the Devils hosting the Flames with the Jersey boy Gaudreau back in his home state. The Devils are struggling to score goals but Kyle Palmieri looks to have fond his heartbeat and the back of the net in his last game so he has started to show promise. Hopefully thats a good sign of things to come. His price is way to cheap and getting time on the first power play along with a $4200 price tag makes him a nice change tonight and a way to get cheap exposure to this game which cold fool you if the Devils catch Calgary sleeping after traveling across country. Hall paired with Palmieri and/or Henrique mixed in may be a nice way to get some exposure here at a price that opens space for a better defenseman or higher priced forward. I am not sure I will be looking towards Calgary in this game and will most likely mix up the Columbus/Devils/Isles/Edmonton teams on a small correlated type stick that I can make work.
On the back end tonight i feel that using one of the Islanders defenseman in a correlation is the right play because I think they have some extra motivation for Chimera and their new coach Dougie Weight. Boychuck is a strong play and with Hickey paired, paying $3,100 is a nice way to offset some cost if you don”t want to pay for Boychuck and his price tag of $4,200. I think I am following suit with Greeks in net for me this evening. While a lot of people will be looking to Gibson or even Murray if they think the Pens can hold the Blue Jackets to two goals and a ton of shots, then i am in. But i am running with Greiss and the evenings narrative for Chimera and the Islanders on some excellent ice, i am looking to them to get the job done and put up goals on a slumping Marseilles who has been trying to find last years form after losing 7 in a row. I see a snow man in the future for him. I think you can be safe and run a few Devils, either Palmieri at $4,400 and/or with Henrique ($4,600). This splits the line and the power play or you can use Hall ($6,100) with Palmieri since they share the first line and special teams play together. It’s gonna be tough to fade the Columbus team even though i know there will be goals scored. I think the Pens shut the door tonight defensively and stay under the 6 goal total but its gonna be close. Remember to try to differentiate yourself from the sheeple by think about what is going to happen rather than what did. Sounds stupid and it is so try to stay ahead of the curve and just have fun and don’t over extend yourself and your money cause it’s a marathon not a sprint. And remember….Tonight’s the night!
Update
Jonathan Huberdeau is going to be playing in his first game tonight along with Barkov who is also returning from injury. Keep an eye on this duo along with their usual line mate, Jagr, as they can get hot at a moments notice .
Macaulay Scott Renner began playing ice hockey at age 6 in the Brick Hockey Club, N.J. in 1978 and then moved on to Christian Brothers Academy High School (alumnus include Trevor/James VanRiemsdyk). After lettering in varsity all 4 year, he moved on to play college hockey in the ACHA for both Johns Hopkins University for two years and finishing his eligibility at Monmouth University. In 2002, he worked for NBC in Broadcast Operations for NBC Sports covering all men’s Olympic ice hockey games in SLC, Utah. In 2003 took over the Commercial Coordinator job (that his father helmed for 19 years) with the NHL at the NJ Devils in 2002-2003. A diehard DFS NHL/PGA/NFL grinder playing since its inception in 2000, he is a world traveler, surfer, and golfer of 35 years. He currently resides in South Philadelphia with his girlfriend Micha and cat Rosie. He can be found on DraftKings playing under CrossCzech and MissCalculated(the tuna fishing boat) and is always willing to help answer any type of hockey/strategy/DFS questions.