NHL Daily Plays: Tuesday, February 24th
What’s up Grinders!? After a big week during the NBA All-Star Break, the NHL schedule is normalized once again, with a massive 11 game slate tonight. There are several great matchups to target tonight and with so many games to choose from, there are a myriad of strategies to consider when making your lineups tonight. Fortunately there is a plenty of value to be had throughout every position tonight, which should balance player ownership levels, especially tournament-wise. Here are some of my top plays for Tuesday, February 24th:
Goalies
Make sure to check the RotoGrinders Starting Goalies Page to confirm that the goalies listed below are starting prior to puck-drop
Pekka Rinne – Nashville Predators – The safest option on the board for me tonight is Pekka Rinne, who is having a renaissance season for the Predators; entering tonight’s game first in the NHL in wins (34), and second in both GAA (2.01), SV% (.931). He will have a great opportunity to improve upon his strong play against an inconsistent Avalanche team that ranks 29th in the NHL in road Corsi . After a brief stint on injured reserve prior to the All-Star break, Rinne has returned to form to post a 7-2 record which includes a stellar .935 SV over his last 10 starts for the surging Nashville Predators. Rinne shutout Colorado in his previous start against the Avs and he should have no problems continuing his Vezina-worthy season tonight.
Scott Darling – Chicago Blackhawks – If you’re looking for value in net tonight, Scott Darling is the guy for me as the ‘Hawks look to end a 3 game losing streak. Darling has had quite an interesting career path after being kicked off his college team and struggled with substance abuse, but he has persevered and has made the most of his second chance with a 5-2 record to go along with a 1.97 GAA and a .937 SV% in 7 starts this season. Checking in at 6’6, Darling is a massive presence in net and will be taking on a Panthers team that takes plenty of low-percentage shots each game. With many turning to Forsberg in net against the Sabres, I expect Darling to fly under the radar, making him a sneaky value play with tremendous upside tonight in a big game for the ‘Hawks.
Defense
Disclaimer: Mark Giordano, Shea Weber, Roman Josi, P.K. Subban, Drew Doughty, Alex Pietrangelo, Duncan Keith, Ryan McDonagh, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson are elite fantasy defensemen and are always in play.
Johnny Boychuk – New York Islanders – My top price-play defenseman tonight is Boychuk, who is having a great year in his first season in Long Island with 28 points in 51 games. With a rocket shot from the point, Boychuk is heavily featured on the Islanders’ top power play unit and will be taking on an Arizona team that ranks 5th in penalty minutes and 26th in penalty kill percentage entering tonight’s game. He only has 3 points in his last 10 games, but he ranks in the top 5 of defenseman tonight averaging 4 shot attempts per game over his last 15 games, which is a sign of good things to come. In a game the Islanders should dominate, Boychuk should be heavily involved in the Islanders scoring as the team’s best overall defenseman.
Ryan Suter – Minnesota Wild – Another stud defenseman with a moderate price that I like tonight is Suter, who is perennially among the league leaders in ice time per game. Not known for his offensive prowess, Suter is a guy that can help your team out in other areas outside of goals, especially in plus/minus and blocked shots. Tonight Minnesota will be back on home ice where they play their best hockey, and a plus matchup against an Edmonton team that can’t stop anyone from scoring will have me playing Suter tonight with his reduced price across most of the industry.
Top Value Plays: Cody Franson (NSH), Nick Leddy (NYI)
Center
Disclaimer: Jonathan Toews, Pavel Datsyuk, Patrice Bergeron, Ryan Johansen, Claude Giroux, and David Backes are elite fantasy centers and are always in play.
John Tavares – New York Islanders – With 13 points in his last 10 games, few players in the NHL are playing better than John Tavares these days. Without playmaker Kyle Okposo in the lineup, Tavares has stepped his game in a big way, averaging over 4 shots on goal per game over his last 15 games. Tavares should have no problem finding his way in the score sheet tonight in a game I believe the Isles will dominate from start to finish, making him a center I’ll be targeting heavily throughout my lineups tonight.
Jeff Carter – Los Angeles Kings – Reunited with Tyler Toffoli on LA’s 2nd line, “That 70’s Line” which also features new member Dwight King has been the most dominant lines in all of hockey recently. Carter is the glue that holds the line together, and with 10 points in as many games, including 34 SOG, there appears to be no end in sight for him as the Kings make another trademarked late season run heading into the playoffs. A matchup against a stout defensive team like the Red Wings isn’t ideal, but they will be without star forward Henrik Zetterberg, which will give head coach Darryl Sutter the ability to keep Carter and the 2nd line away from two-way center Pavel Datsyuk throughout much of this game..
Top Value Plays: Jori Lehtera (STL), Mike Ribeiro (NSH)
Wing
Disclaimer: Patrick Kane, James Neal, Vladimir Tarasenko, Alexander Steen, Jamie Benn, Phil Tyler Toffoli, Jakub Voracek, Max Pacioretty, and Patrick Sharp are elite fantasy forwards and are always in play.
Rick Nash – New York Rangers – After struggling throughout parts of his tenure with the Rangers, Rick Nash is finally playing like the superstar the Rangers is expected in his first full season in the Big Apple with 58 points in as many games for the Rangers. He’s currently 2nd in goals and 4th in shots on goal and will be taking on a Calgary Flames squad that has the third worst Corsi % on the road this season. In addition to Calgary’s poor puck possession numbers, Nash will up against Calgary’s top line which has a negative differential in scoring chances this season, making Nash a solid play with his big game potential.
Zach Parise – Minnesota Wild – Arguably the league’s hardest working forward, Parise is one of my favorite players to watch, as he never takes a shift off, which leads to his consistent production night after night. With 8 points in his last 10 games, “Captain America” will look to continue his terrific all around play against an Edmonton team that is among the worst in the league defensively; allowing close to 30 shots on goal per game on the road this season. Parise has one of the highest floors of any player in the league because he takes a high volume of shots each game and always seems to find himself involved when the Wild score. He was also moved off the top line which should allow him to get paired up against Edmonton’s second line that allows among the most scoring opportunities per game in the NHL.
Filip Forsberg – Nashville Predators – Another talented young forward in the midst of a breakout season is Forsberg, who can be had for a relative bargain tonight given his production this season. With 51 points in 60 games this season, Forsberg is about as consistent as they come for a player without much NHL experience, and is almost a lock to with the Calder Trophy as the league’s best rookie. Now back on Nashville’s top line at even strength, home ice advantage will allow head coach Peter Laviolette to match Forsberg and Nashville’s productive top line against one of the weaker defensive lines for the Avalanche, making him an excellent play at his moderate price across most of the industry.
Jeff Skinner – Carolina Hurricanes – If you’re looking for a high-upside player that will fly under the radar, consider taking Jeff Skinner tonight. Skinner loves to shoot the puck and he should get plenty of opportunities to fire away tonight against a Flyers team that allows close to 30 shots on goal per game at home this season. With 4 goals in his last 10 games, he’s starting to heat up and his 4 shots on goal per game during that span gives me reason to believe a breakout is imminent. With a moderate price and decent power play minutes, Skinner is a guy that has the upside to carry you to the top of a GPP if you aren’t looking to stack him with any of his linemates.
Top Value Plays: Anders Lee (NYI), Jiri Tlusty (CAR), Dwight King (LA), Nino Niederreiter (MIN)