NHL Daily Plays: Monday, January 12th
Ah yes, Mondays. Although we don’t look forward to them very often, at least we have some daily fantasy hockey to help get us through the day. I refer to Mondays as the calm before the storm. The NHL usually has a quiet Monday night of games, before exploding on Tuesday night. That is the case this week as we have a three-game slate this evening followed by a ten-game schedule on Tuesday.
With only six teams hitting the ice, our options are a little bit limited for cash games. There is much less room for error when paying up for your studs and your value plays become extremely important. As far as GPPs go, I find them even more fun on a short slate. You can easily get a piece of all six teams in action for your tournament play. If you are looking to go contrarian, look to some of the team’s second lines in order to separate yourself from the pack.
GOALTENDERS
Make sure to check the RotoGrinders Starting Goalies Page to confirm that the goalies listed below are starting prior to game time.
Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings – Although Quick has struggled recently, he is still one of the best goalies in the world and has a plus match-up tonight on home ice. The reigning Stanley Cup Champions are 14-5-4 at the Staples Center, and they will face a Maple Leafs team that has lost seven of their last ten games and are really struggling in both ends of the rink. Although Toronto ranks second in the NHL in goals per game, they are clearly not the same offense away from the ACC. The Maple Leafs have scored at a rate of 3.62 goals per game at home, but only 2.61 while on the road. Quick has been at his best when playing at home (2.14 GAA, .923 SV%) and I think that trend continues tonight. Look for Quick to have a bounce back game and get back in the win column.
Other Goalies To Target (Cash Games) – Braden Holtby, Ben Bishop
Other Goalies To Target (Tournaments) – Semyon Varlamov, Ray Emery
CENTER
Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings – Despite losing three games in a row, Kopitar has been very effective with six points in those losses. Kopitar has really picked up his offensive game over the last six weeks accumulating 22 points in 18 games over that span. The Kings’ top line of Marian Gaborik, Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams is really starting to click, and they should continue to produce tonight against the Maple Leafs. Toronto gave up the sixth-most goals against in the month of December and have allowed 16 goals in their first four games in January. Kopitar has played his best hockey on home soil (27 PTS, +8 in 23 GP) and I think we see more of the same tonight.
Other Centers To Target (Cash Games) – Steven Stamkos, Claude Giroux, Nicklas Backstrom, Tyler Johnson
Other Centers To Target (Tournaments) – Matt Duchene, Tyler Bozak, Jeff Carter
WINGERS
Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals – They are who we thought they were. The Avalanche are just a bad defensive hockey team, allowing the second most shots per game this season (34.1) and we have watched those totals actually get worse in the month of January (37.4 worst in the league). In what many see as a down year for Ovechkin, the “Great Eight” still leads the NHL in shots on goal and sits fifth overall in goals scored. There are not many nights where I suggest you pay up for Ovi, but this is one of them. Fade him at your own risk.
Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning – Kucherov has put up very impressive numbers for Tampa Bay this season (17 G, 41 PTS, +26, 97 SOG in 43 GP) and he seems to get better every game. In his last 19 games, the 21 year old Russian has produced 21 points along with an incredible +16 rating. The Lightning’s so called second line (Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov) has become one of the most productive and explosive lines in the NHL this season. Look for Kucherov and his linemates to take advantage of a struggling Flyers team with their back up goalie in net tonight – Ray Emery and his 3.21 GAA and .889 SV%.
Troy Brouwer & Marcus Johansson, Washington Capitals – Getting some more exposure to the Capitals at home to the Avalanche tonight is a recipe for success. Washington is no longer a one line team as Brouwer and Johansson have provided the Capitals with consistent production all year long. They may both play on the Caps second line, but they also join Ovechkin and company on the number one powerplay unit. In this plus match-up, both Brouwer and Johansson make great value plays.
Other Wingers To Target (Cash Games) – Jakub Voracek, Marian Gaborik, Justin Williams
Other Wingers To Target (Tournaments) – Phil Kessel, Gabriel Landeskog, Brayden Schenn
DEFENSE
Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings – Doughty is coming off a multi-point effort versus the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night, and now has points in four of his last five games. With the Maple Leafs defensive issues, Doughty becomes my top play on defense tonight. Doughty should easily find his way onto the scoresheet tonight and don’t be surprised if he has another multi-point game.
Other Defensemen To Target (Cash Games) – Mike Green, Victor Hedman, Mark Streit, Jake Muzzin
Other Defensemen To Target (Tournaments) – John Carlson, Tyson Barrie, Cody Franson, Matt Niskanen
Good Luck Grinders!
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