NHL Daily Plays: Friday, March 20th
We have a typically quiet Friday night in the NHL with three games on the schedule. Three-game slates can be a blast in GPPs as you can easily get a piece of all six teams in action. On the flip side, separating your cash game lineup from others may be a difficult task tonight.
The New Jersey Devils, Anaheim Ducks and Tampa Bay Lighting are your favorites tonight, while the Detroit Red Wings and the Colorado Avalanche are both playing on consecutive nights.
Good luck in your games throughout the next week, I will be on a beach finally getting some sun in Varadero, Cuba. See you on March 30th.
GOALTENDERS
Make sure to check the RotoGrinders Starting Goalies Page to confirm that the goalies listed below are starting prior to game time.
Keith Kinkaid, New Jersey Devils – I don’t really care for the other two matchups tonight in net and I think Kinkaid is your safest option for the all important win. Kinkaid has looked good in four of his last five starts and makes for a great value play in goal tonight versus the Sabres. Buffalo has the NHL’s worst offense, ranking dead last in many offensive categories, including shots per game (23.2) and goals per game (1.80) this season. With this matchup and at his price, Kinkaid is the way to go in all formats tonight.
Other Goalies To Target (Cash Games) – Frederik Anderson, Ben Bishop
Other Goalies To Target (Tournaments) – Semyon Varlamov, Jimmy Howard, Anders Lindback
CENTERS
Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks – Getzlaf has picked up his offensive game recently with three goals, four points and 14 shots on goal in his last four games. Colorado rolls into the pond playing on the tail end of a back-to-back, which is never an easy task especially against one of the league’s best teams on home ice (24-10-3). Getzlaf leads the Ducks in both assists (42) and points (65) and I expect him to add to those numbers tonight against the defensively challenged Avalanche.
Other Centers To Target (Cash Games) – Steven Stamkos, Henrik Zetterberg, Scott Gomez
Other Centers To Target (Tournaments) – Tyler Johnson, Ryan O’Reilly, Matt Duchene, Travis Zajac
WINGERS
Michael Cammalleri, New Jersey Devils – The New Jersey Devils are a tough team to trust on offense, but Cammalleri is a guy I really like tonight versus Buffalo. Cammalleri is the only true sniper the Devils have and I expect him to be their top producer tonight. The Buffalo Sabres are the NHL’s worst defensive team and even the Devils should be able to score a few goals and dominate them tonight. Look for Cammalleri to score at least one goal and fire three or more shots on goal in this one.
Patrick Maroon, Anaheim Ducks – Maroon has a goal and two assists in his last three games and continues to skate on the Ducks’ top line alongside Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. The Avalanche remain one of the weaker defensive teams in hockey and they should be a tired team after playing last night in Arizona. Along with the New Jersey Devils, Anaheim is a team we want a lot of exposure to and Maroon provides excellent value tonight against Colorado.
Tyler Ennis and Matt Moulson, Buffalo Sabres – The last time I wrote up Tyler Ennis and Matt Moulson they went off for a combined two goals, six points, +6 rating and eight shots on goal. Now, I am not suggesting they will do this again, but they are both very talented players and Buffalo is a much better team on home ice. Both Ennis and Moulson are likely better plays in your GPPs than your cash games, but with only three games tonight, you will need to separate yourself from the pack somehow. Ennis and Moulson have both shown they have big game upside, despite playing for an awful team.
Other Wingers To Target (Cash Games) – Corey Perry, Gabriel Landeskog, Ryan Callahan,
Other Wingers To Target (Tournaments) – Alex Tanguay, Jarome Iginla, Nikita Kucherov, Gustav Nyquist, Steve Bernier
DEFENSE
Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning – Hedman had a big night in Tampa Bay’s 4-1 win over Montreal on Monday, registering a goal and an assist. Hedman has 24 points in 26 home games and finds himself back on the Lightning’s number one power-play unit. The Bolts lead the NHL in goals per game this season and are one of the best teams on home ice (27-7-1). Look for Hedman and the Lightning to stay hot against a Red Wings squad playing on consecutive nights.
Other Defensemen To Target (Cash Games) – Eric Gelinas, Tyson Barrie, James Wisniewski
Other Defensemen To Target (Tournaments) – Niklas Kronwall, Rasmus Ristolainen, Marek Zidlicky
Good Luck Grinders!
Pepsi7