NHL Daily Plays: Monday, December 15th
For the second day in a row, the NHL delivers just a three-game schedule this evening. However, that doesn’t stop the action, so let’s take a look at some options that can help you separate yourself from the pack tonight.
Goalie
Make sure to check the Starting Goalies Page to confirm that the goalies listed below are starting prior to game time.
Jaroslav Halak, New York Islanders – On nights with a short slate, securing a “W” from your goalie becomes all the more important. Of the six goalies between the pipes this evening, Halak looks to have the best chance for a win with the struggling New Jersey Devils making the trip to Long Island. Halak turned away 34 of the 35 shots the Devils through his way when he defeated them earlier this season and sports a 9-3-0 record at the Nassau Coliseum this season.
Others Goalies To Target (Cash Games): Robin Lehner
Other Goalies To Target (GPPs): Jhonas Enroth
Centers
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins – With Crosby sidelined with the mumps, the Penguins will need Malkin to step up his game offensively. He’s picked up three assists in the two games that Crosby has been sidelined and is routinely logging well over 20 minutes of ice-time per game. He’s been dominant on home-ice this season, posting 8 goals and 14 assists in just 15 games at the Consol Energy Center. He also lit up the Lightning last season, scoring a pair of goals and adding five assists in three meetings.
Frans Nielson, New York Islanders – Nielson enters tonight’s game sporting some rather drastic home vs road splits, and luckily for him tonight’s game is at home where he’s tallied four goals and eight assists in 14 games. Dating back to the beginning of last season, he’s posted three goals, three assists and a +4 in six games against New Jersey. He’s picked up a goal and four assists over the last seven games and looks to be one of the better bargains at center tonight.
Other Centers To Target (Cash Games): John Tavares, Steven Stamkos, Kyle Turris
Other Centers To Target (GPPs): Tyler Ennis, Zemgus Girgensons, Brandon Sutter
Wingers
Bobby Ryan, Ottawa Senators – Bobby Ryan’s time in Ottawa has been a bit disappointing thus far, but he finally looks to be getting things rolling. He’s picked up one goal, added four assists and is a +4 over the last four games and has a nice matchup on tap tonight against the Buffalo Sabres. He is averaging 19 minutes of ice-time per game during the month of December and sees a healthy dose of playing time on the Senator’s #2 power-play unit.
Blake Comeau, Pittsburgh Penguins – If you’re going to roll with Malkin, you might as well grab his very inexpensive linemate as well. Comeau is playing nearly 20 minutes per game alongside Malkin and has now scored in back-to-back games. Over the last nine games he’s registered five goals, three assists and is a +4. Tampa Bay is a much less threatening team away from home, making Comeau my favorite value play.
Other Wingers To Target (Cash Games): Patrick Hornqvist, Ryan Callahan, Kyle Okposo
Other Wingers To Target (GPPs): Brock Nelson, Matt Moulson, Nick Spalding, Nikita Kucherov, Jaromir Jagr
Defensemen
Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators – While frankly I’m not a fan of his real life work as a defensemen, you certainly can’t deny his offensive ability. There isn’t a more aggressive offensive defenseman in the league and he should have plenty of opportunities to carry the puck against this Buffalo team who ranks dead last by Corsi/Fenwick standards. He scored a pair of goals against the Sabres last season and has already tallied 13 power-play points this season. The concerns surrounding his ugly +/- are lessened tonight against the Sabres, pushing him barely above Kris Letang as my favorite option on the blue-line.
Marek Zidlicky, New Jersey Devils – The biggest weakness of the New York Islanders is their absolutely dreadful league worst penalty kill, so who better To Target than a value defensemen that is tied for the New Jersey team lead in power-play points thus far this season? Zidlicky is a mortal lock to play north of 20 minutes tonight and had plenty of success against the Islanders last season, scoring one goal and adding three assists in their five meetings.
Other Defensemen To Target (Cash Games): Kris Letang, Victor Hedman, Christian Ehrhoff, Nick Leddy
Other Defensemen To Target (GPPs): Damon Severson, Lubomir Visnovsky, Codi Ceci