NHL Daily Plays: Sunday, December 21st
We have a great 6-game slate on the schedule today, compared to the 3- and 4-game slates Sundays have typically been bringing us.
We all know the huge money is in play on the NFL today, so let me help you take advantage of the guys doing no research and throwing a NHL team together in the last few minutes. Here are my favorite picks.
Goalies
Be sure you check the lineup page here on RotoGrinders to make sure that the goalie you roster is indeed playing tonight.
Tuukka Rask – Boston Bruins – This price tag certainly will hurt paying up for, but I will try to provide some value in the forward section. While Boston is having a disappointing season to their standards, this matchup is too good to ignore. Rask comes into this game with a less than stellar save percentage of .918 on this season. The Bruins just got their “Top line center” back and should turn things around soon. The defensive style they play should lead to Tukka facing enough shots, but not many good scoring chances. I think he is the safest goalie to get those crucial points for the win tonight.
Others To Target (Cash Games) – Henrik Lundqvist
Others To Target (Tournaments) – Kari Lehtonen, Petr Mrazek
Forwards
Kris Versteeg – Chicago Blackhawks – Versteeg is skating with one of the best playmakers in the game in Patrick Kane on even strength. Versteeg’s price tag will not break the bank and he in very envious position on the top power play unit for Chicago. Toronto is coming off of a terrible performance, giving up 7 goals to the Flyers last night, and had to travel to Chicago. That is a very tough spot to be in, and I like Chicago a lot tonight to keep up their good play. Versteeg provides the type of value you look for with 24 points in 29 games this season.
David Krejci – Boston Bruins – Krejci comes in as a great value play on DraftKings at only $4,600. This is a bargain no doubt. Buffalo travels to Boston, where the Bruins traditionally dominate. Boston is certainly the type of team that can take advantage of a team on a back to back with their physical style of play. Look for Boston to get plenty of power play opportunities, as Buffalo comes into this game with the 24th ranked penalty kill – that is a place where Krejci can really exploit.
Others To Target (Cash Games) – Pavel Datsyuk, Blake Wheeler
Others To Target (Tournaments) – Taylor Hall, Martin St. Louis
Defense
Niklas Kronwall – Detroit Red Wings – Kronwall has extreme home/road splits this season, having 15 points in 20 home games and only 3 points in 13 road games. He also seemingly never leaves the ice on the power play for the league’s 7th ranked unit. This all bodes well for Kronwall at Joe Louis Arena against the Avalanche, who come into this game having spent the 5th most amount of time on the man disadvantage.
Dougie Hamilton – Boston Bruins – At $3,600 on DraftKings, you are getting a bargain today. While he has been cold and held pointless in his last 5 games, he remains on the point of the Boston power play. I thought that he would lose his job when Zdeno Chara returned from injury, but Claude Julien is sticking with the youngster. He is never afraid to join the rush and in fact his flaw is that he does it a bit too much. For fantasy on sites that don’t count +/-, this is a great attribute to have, as he is always looking to get involved in the offense.
Others To Target (Cash Games) – Ryan McDonagh, Trevor Daley
Others To Target (Tournaments)- Erik Johnson, Mark Streit