NHL Thursday: Teams to Target on DS

by landsharkhockey Last Updated 2012-04-05 18:57:43

Only 2 teams sit idle tonight, so you basically have a whole league worth of players from which to pick when setting your lineup on Draftstreet tonight. You could diversify and take the best dollar-per-point value you can with each spot, or you can stack a team or two. Better yet, do both. With mulit-entries allowed in the GPP and NHL nights running short, be sure to jump in early and often tonight. Here are my picks for teams to target this evening if you’re looking to stack up a line or two.

1. Tampa Bay @ Toronto

Both teams seem completely disinterested in playing defense this season. The likely starters in net: Roloson with a 3.71 GAA and Scrivens with a 3.28. Neither team as a thing to play for at this point in terms of winning games, but Toronto would sure love to please the fans in their last home game of the year with an offensive display. Meanwhile, Stamkos is gunning for 60 goals and 100 points to close out the year. Here are the top picks to focus on:

• Steven Stamkos – (see above)
• Marty St. Louis – permanent fixture on the wing with Stamkos. Could finish with a point-a-game yet again.
• Teddy Purcell – 3rd wheel on this line has produced like a champ since the trade deadline.
• Ryan Malone – has been hot this past week with 5 goals over two games

For Toronto (if you dare):

• Phil Kessel – Already topped 80 points, with an outside shot at his first 40 goal season.
• Tyler Bozak – Kessel’s setup man has 4 points in the last 2 games
• Matt Fratin – just recorded the ole’ Gordie Howe hat trick on Tuesday on Kessel’s line

2. Colorado vs Columbus

The Jackets abandoned the concept of defense around 2009 and haven’t looked back. They have nothing to play for but the hope of a few more shots of the canon in their final contest of the season. I wouldn’t stack anything in Columbus, but Rick Nash is still worth a play. As for the Avs, they still have a slim hope of playoff dreams, so they’ll be desperate. If they get down, they’ll open it wide up. Here are your top Av selections for tonight:

• Gabriel Landeskog – The leading goal scorer for Colorado makes his final case for Calder consideration. He has 4 points in his last 4 games
• Ryan O’Reilly – The Avs leading point getter centers Landeskog’s line each night
• Mark Olver – The other rookie on this line had a goal in his last game and comes very cheap on DS ($7.5k)
• Erik Johnson – the leading threat from the back-end is coming off a 2-point night

3. Chicago vs Minnesota

Good luck finding something positive to say about Minnesota at this point in the season, but there is plenty to be optimistic about from the home team tonight. The Hawks have an entourage of offensive weapons to consider:

• Patrick Sharp – the leading goal scorer for Chicago has 16 points in the last 15 games
• Marian Hossa – the leading point scorer for Chicago has delivered 13 points in the last 12
• Patrick Kane – it’s been an off-year for Kane, but he is coming off 3 goals in the last 2 games
• Victor Stalberg – manning the opposite wing on Sharp’s line, Stalberg is playing well with 10 points in 11 games. Cap hit is under 10k

Wildcard:

Winnepeg @ NY Islanders

The Jets have had some wildly entertaining run and gun games this season, so why not one more against a team with the 3rd worst defense this season. Add to the fire a top line in New York that has been hard to shut down in the past two months, and it’s the makings of a potential barn-burner. Pick a side, or pick both sides, there is likely to be a lot of points on the board to go around. For Winnepeg:

• Bryan Little – start with Little in the middle, who has had a bunch of multi-point games in March
• Andrew Ladd – the captain has found many ways to put up fantasy points lately. 2 goals versus FLA, 17 PIMS against Tampa Bay, 4 points in his last 4 games.
• Blake Wheeler – the final piece on the top line, Wheeler is coming off a 2-point game
• Evander Kane – the top Jet threat has 24 points in 22 games to close the season
• Dustin Byfuglien – he’s pricey for a defenseman, but he scores like a forward. 3 points in the last 2 games.

For the Isles, the top 5 forwards are worth consideration:

• John Tavares – team’s leading point scorer pressing for 80. 4 points in 3 games.
• P.A. Parenteau – most pleasant surprise has had a career year for New York
• Matt Moulson – Isle’s top goal scorer has 4 points in last 3 games.
• Frans Nielsen – ran off a 5 game scoring streak recently
• Kyle Okposo – value pick ran off 5 straight games with a goal recently

In Net Tonight:

28 names to pick from (assuming you can guess the starter). Here are my top options:

1. Cory Schneider (VAN) vs CGY — Despite the loss of Daniel Sedin, the Canucks are winning games these days with defense. Schneider is scheduled to get the nod. His cap hit scares me a little at 26k.

2. Cory Crawford (CHI) vs MIN – hard to pass up that salary at 14.8k

3. Ilya Bryzgalov (PHI) vs BUF – will face a tough opponent in Buffalo, but Bryzgalov has been solid lately and has a fair pricetag (15.7k)

Value Pick: Ben Bishop (OTT) vs Boston – at just 11.3k, it’s worth consideration. The Bruins have nothing to play for tonight and may start to rest some stars.

NHL DraftStreet Lineup: 04/05/2012

Here is my first go at a stacked up lineup for GPP play tonight. The more I look at the Winnepeg/New York contest, the more I like it: