NHL Daily Plays: Monday, December 29th
I hope everyone had a great holiday break. Tonight we get a rare treat for a Monday, with a 12-game slate on tap. It certainly makes going back to work a lot more fun when you can dive into a big night of NHL action.
With 24 teams hitting the ice, we have several big favorites on the board (Tampa Bay, St. Louis and Ottawa) and only the Toronto Maple Leafs are playing on consecutive nights. There will be plenty of great options for your cash games and an unlimited amount of combinations for your GPPs. I will do my best to help you with the top plays at each position and some of the better value plays available on this busy night in the NHL. So, fasten your seatbelts, sit back and enjoy the ride on one the busiest, most action packed nights of the hockey season.
GOALTENDERS
Make sure to check the RotoGrinders Starting Goalies Page to confirm that the goalies listed below are starting prior to game time.
Craig Anderson, Ottawa Senators – Ottawa has a .500 record this season and Craig Anderson is the reason they have even been that good. Anderson has been outstanding in goal for the Senators all year long (2.43 GAA, .928 SV%). And this is despite the fact that Ottawa has allowed the 6th most shots per game in the NHL (33.6), and are not a very good defensive club. The Sabres have certainly improved since the beginning of the season, but they are still a very weak offensive group. Buffalo remains dead last in both shots on goal and goals per game. Anderson should turn in another strong performance and possibly earn himself a shutout this evening.
Other Goalies To Target (Cash Games) – Ben Bishop, Tuukka Rask, Martin Brodeur
Other Goalies To Target (Tournaments) – Pekka Rinne, Henrik Lundqvist, Devan Dubnyk
CENTER
Derek Stepan, New York Rangers – Stepan is playing lights out right now. He is coming off a hat trick versus the Devils on Saturday night and now has points in five straight games. The Dallas Stars may be the worst defensive team in hockey, they give up an absurd amount of scoring chances and are 2nd last in goals against per game this season (3.38). I could see another multi-point effort from Stepan tonight, making him a great play at his moderate salary.
Jori Lehtera, St. Louis Blues – Despite losing four consecutive games, St. Louis is a big favorite tonight and they are an excellent team on home ice (12-4-1). The Blues’ offense is really clicking in the month of December, they sit 8th in the league in shots per game (31.5) and 2nd in goals per game (3.55). Lehtera plays alongside Russian phenom Vladimir Tarasenko and continues to see time on the Blues’ top powerplay unit. In a plus match-up tonight, Lehtera is one of the best value options available at center.
Other Centers To Target (Cash Games) – John Tavares, Claude Giroux, Anze Kopitar
Other Centers To Target (Tournaments) – Tyler Johnson, Kyle Turris, Bryan Little
LEFT WINGERS
Marian Gaborik, Los Angeles Kings – The line of Marian Gaborik, Jeff Carter and Anze Kopitar is one of the hottest lines in hockey. Gaborik is riding a six game scoring streak and has amassed seven goals and 10 points along the way. The Flames have lost eight of their past 10 games and have allowed the 8th most goals per game in the month of December. Look for this trio to stay hot and for Gabby to find his way onto the scoresheet for the 7th straight game.
Brock Nelson, New York Islanders, (C/LW) – Nelson has been quiet the last two games, but he continues to play great hockey and fire shots on net (10 shots in those two games). Nelson and his linemates have provided the Islanders with consistent secondary scoring, which New York has not had in years. As long as he continues to see time on the top powerplay unit, Nelson is in play on a nightly basis. The Islanders are one of the best teams on home ice (13-4) and average 3.29 goals per game when playing at the Nassau Coliseum. Nelson has a very moderate price, making him one of the best value plays on the board tonight.
Other Left Wingers To Target (Cash Games) – Jamie Benn, Alexander Ovechkin, Rick Nash, Alexander Steen
Other Left Wingers To Target (Tournaments) – Zach Parise, Andrew Ladd, Clarke MacArthur, Ondrej Palat
RIGHT WINGERS
Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues – Tarasenko scored his 21st goal of the year Saturday night against the Stars and he now has 38 points in 35 games. Tarasenko has been a cash game beast all season long and I love him again tonight versus a defensively weak Avalanche squad. The Avalanche have been better of late, but still struggle mightily in their own end. Colorado has allowed the 4th most shots per game and the 10th most goals per game this month.
Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning – Another young Russian having a break out season (15 G, 34 PTS +22, 83 SOG in 37 GP), Kucherov now has points in seven of his last eight games, including three multi-point performances. Tampa’s so-called 2nd line has been carrying the Bolts’ offense of late and I doubt the Maple Leafs slow them down tonight. Toronto gave up six goals to the Panthers last night and are in the bottom 3rd in almost every defensive category in the NHL. Kucherov has been an underrated value play all season long and tonight is no different.
Other Right Wingers To Target (Cash Games) – Jakub Voracek, Kyle Okposo, Filip Forsberg
Other Right Wingers To Target (Tournaments) – Patrick Kane, Blake Wheeler, Bobby Ryan
DEFENSE
Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators – Karlsson is one of the most gifted offensive players in hockey and leads all defensemen in shots on goal. Karlsson is due for a breakout game and I expect it to happen tonight. Buffalo does not travel well (4-11-1) and have given up 4.00 goals against per game on the road. The Sabres have also allowed the most shots against per game in the league with an average of 35.7. In addition to that, Buffalo is the 3rd most penalized team in hockey and have the 4th worst penalty kill. All signs point to a big game from powerplay specialist Erik Karlsson.
Nick Leddy, New York Islanders – If Erik Karlsson is out of your price range, Nick Leddy makes a nice value play on defense. Leddy scored last game and has taken over as the Islanders’ powerplay quarterback. I spoke earlier about the Islanders’ offensive upside, especially on home ice. Look for Leddy to be involved in the Islanders attack tonight.
Other Defensemen To Target (Cash Games) – Mark Giordano, Victor Hedman, Kevin Shattenkirk
Other Defensemen To Target (Tournaments) – Keith Yandle, Alex Pietrangelo, Andrei Markov
Good Luck Grinders!
Pepsi7