Saturday night once again and we have a meaty 10 game slate on or hands to attack this evening. This time of year I like to focus specifically on teams that are vying for playoff positions. Listen, do guys play hard every night in the N.H.L.? Yes. Do they play harder if they are on the verge of making the playoffs against a team that is already making their tee times for mid-April? Yes again. I look to some players that are older and have been through it before really seem to save another gear for these next two months in the lead up to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Sounds like common sense, but to have to remember, people are dumb and can be poor gamblers so taking 10 minutes to construct a sound line-up that is really just a complex puzzle. Finding ways to make the puzzle fit together with players of value while over-performing is the ultimate goal. Tonight we have some top-notch value plays that we think you should give a look when constructing your lineup:
J. Jokinen $4,200
I have a feeling that this line is getting ready to do some damage as a unit the way it did last year. Now that the Panthers are healthy again look for them to find the identity as a team they had when they made the run in the first round of the playoffs. The Trocheck-Jokinen-O’Reilly line was one of the main reasons for their success. Tonight I Like Jokinen as a one-off or as a unit if you are playing a tournament. I like the Panthers at home tonight against a poor defensive Dallas team that ranks almost last in goals allowed at even-strength. The Panthers are holding on to al the hope they can muster and need every point they can get. Only 2 points out of a wild-card spot, the Panthers can jump over two teams with a win and but more teams in their rear view mirror as April draws nearer. Fortunately, we know this and want to exploit this by having a piece of this game to fit nicely in our roster puzzle.
T. Pearson $5,500
Playing on a line with one of the best in the game is never a bad thing, especially when your opponent happens to be the Vancouver Mumps. Seriously;y though, this team is done, given up and thrown it in for what it’s worth. They are battling to stay healthy and avoid the mumps disease that has torn them apart. O the other side of this line equation is Tyler Toffoli, who at one point last year, wears a core cash game player for me-third of the season. At home against Vancouver I like the Kings to exploit them and the fact that they have played back to back and have been on the road, in L.A. No less. Not sure who is in net, but LeftWingLock.com has Bishop as playing his first game in net at home…his NEW home.I am all in on Bishop tonight if he does play, so you can grab him or I like Cam Talbot at home against the Detroit Red Wings, who also have been on a Canadian trip.
M. Gaborik $3,900
I realize Gaborik only has a few points but this price has been ridiculous since he has come back and played better, even scoring a few game ago. I have been using him as a stop-gap for almost a week now and it seems he was promoted to the top line with Gaborik and Iginla. This line has boom or bust written all over it and tonight i think it finds its rhythm and produces some points against a Canuck team that is in the dregs defensively.
D. Byfuglien. $6,200
Paying of for B-fug will be a solid play as they host the Avalanche, a favorite of the DFS to pick on and at home tonight I like him to see his usual 25 plus minutes of ice. Offensively the Jets are ranked in the top 10 but struggle in net. That said this game should hit the over 5.5 goals projected total and should be a nice game to stack from the Winnipeg side.
L. Draisaitl. $5,700
I am not sure why his price is below $6k but I will take it especially at home against a sub-par Detroit team ranked in the bottom 5 defensively. If the price does do it for you, the fact that Draisaitl is back o the line with McDavid should automatically be the kicker to put you over the top. With 23 goals and 31 assists this year, the big German is making a mark for himself while playing alongside one of the best player I have seen in some time. This line stacks well with some of the teams above as Draftkings seems to Laizze-faire attitude once again in there pricing player department, so pay attention to prices.
B. Little. $5,400
While every one looks to roster Wheeler or Ehlers, a sneaky play at a below $6k price is Brian Little from the Jets. Little is the cog between Ehlers and Wheeler without the price tag although if you want to go ahead and stack this line too. With Winnipeg chasing teams for a Wild-card and only trailing by 4 points in the West, I am looking to this game to be the highest scoring as the Jets secure a much-needed two points for their race to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
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.