NHL Daily Plays: Tuesday, October 28th
It’s Big Tuesday in the NHL Grinders, which means we have a packed schedule throughout the league. As we approach the end of the first month of the 2014-15 regular season, there are some juicy matchups to exploit tonight with 12 games on the schedule. Let’s take a look at some of my top plays tonight to help build that bankroll up before NBA begins:
Goalies
Make sure to check the RotoGrinders Starting Goalies Page to confirm that the goalies listed below are starting prior to puck-drop
Ryan Miller – Vancouver Canucks – After a disappointing season last year playing for the Sabres and Blues, Miller has a new home in Vancouver and has been as good as expected for the Canucks. His .906 SV% isn’t anything to write home about but he has compiled a 5-1 record for the ‘Nucks and will take on an injury-plagued Carolina Hurricanes team that remains winless on the season and will likely compete with Buffalo for the league’s worst record when all things are said and done. Miller likely won’t win you any GPPs unless he earns a shutout tonight because of the low amount of shots he’s expected to face, but his moderate price and great matchup will have me targeting him in my cash games tonight.
Jonathan Bernier – Toronto Maple Leafs – After being pulled in his last start against the Bruins, Bernier will have a great opportunity to turn things around tonight against the lowly Buffalo Sabres, who are averaging just over one goal per game and are on the tail end of a long road trip. Despite Bernier’s reasonable price tag, I still can’t trust the guy in my cash games; however, he makes for an intriguing tournament play with the amount of low-percentage shots should face tonight.
Defense
Disclaimer: Erik Karlsson, Mark Shattenkirk, Keith Yandle, Duncan Keith, Mark Giordano, Kris Letang, and P.K. Subban are elite defensemen and are always in play.
Brent Burns – San Jose Sharks – After spending most of last season at forward, San Jose has moved Brent Burns back to the blue-line this season where he has transitioned nicely with 10 points in as many games. Burns won’t be cheap, but he has a knack for scoring with 31 shots on the year and his increased ice-time allows him more opportunities to score. Tonight Burns and the Sharks will be taking on the Avalanche, who are among the league’s worst puck-possession teams, allowing close to 35 shots per game. Colorado is also one of the most penalized teams in the NHL, which should give Burns plenty of opportunities to light up the box score as the quarterback on San Jose’s lethal top power play unit.
Cody Franson – Toronto Maple Leafs – If you’re looking to save on defense tonight, look no further than Cody Franson, who is featured on Toronto’s top power play unit and has a great home matchup against the Sabres. The Sabres enter tonight’s game among the league leaders in penalty minutes and their 36.7 shots allowed per game lead the league. Franson is not a world-beater by any means, but he did post decent numbers at home last season with 24 points and averaged close to two shots per game.
Top Value Plays: Alexander Edler (VAN), Tim Erixon (CLB)
Center
Disclaimer: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, John Tavares, Steven Stamkos, Claude Giroux, and Ryan Getzlaf, Tyler Seguin, and Logan Couture are elite fantasy centers and are always in play.
Jeff Carter – Los Angeles Kings – Centering “That 70’s Line” between two prolific young scoring threats in Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson, Jeff Carter has enjoyed a fantastic start to the season with five goals, seven assists, a +12 rating, and 19 shots on goal in just eight games to open the year. Tonight he will be taking his former team in the Flyers, who remains one of the league’s worst defensive teams, averaging 3.5 goals allowed this season. Carter is also featured on LA’s top power play unit, and should be heavily involved in the Kings’ scoring tonight in a game they aim to start an East-Coast road trip off the right way.
Ryan Johansen – Columbus Blue Jackets – After holding out during contract extension negotiations this pre-season, Johansen is showing the Blue Jackets why he deserves to be paid. Currently riding an 8 game point streak to open the year, Johansen is quickly becoming one of the league’s most dangerous scoring threats. With Columbus dealing with a number of injuries throughout their offense, you can expect Johansen to be heavily involved tonight against an Ottawa Senators team that is among the league’s worst defensive teams.
Top Value Plays: Nazem Kadri (TOR), Sean Monahan (CGY)
Wing
Disclaimer: Corey Perry, Jamie Benn, Patrick Marleau, Zach Parise, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, and Max Pacioretty are elite fantasy forwards and are always in play.
Phil Kessel – Toronto Maple Leafs – In what appears to be a “must-win” game for head coach Randy Carlyle and the Leafs, Kessel has been paired with struggling second-liners Nazim Kadri and Joffrey Lupul for tonight’s game. I generally take the wait and see approach when coaches shuffle up their lines, but a home matchup against the Sabres is simply too good to pass up on. Kessel is the best pure goal scorer on the team and will still receive top power play minutes, which is why I will have him in several of my lineups tonight.
Patric Hornqvist – Pittsburgh Penguins – In his inaugural campaign with Penguins, Hornqvist has looked incredible skating on the Pens’ top line alongside Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz. His 5.14 shots per game leads the NHL and with and is making Penguins fans quickly forget the loss of James Neal. Hornqvist is featured on the league’s top power play unit and will be taking on a New Jersey Devils team that is allowing over 32 shots per game and is dead last in penalty kill percentage. Taking Hornqvist is a cost-effective strategy to get exposure to Sidney Crosby and he should be heavily involved in Pittsburgh’s scoring tonight.
Radim Vrbata – Vancouver Canucks – Brought in to help shore up Vancouver’s scoring woes from a season ago, Vrbata has looked terrific skating alongside the Sedin Twins on Vancouver’s top line and top power unit. Vrbata is currently among the league leaders in shots per game and already has 10 points in just eight games to open the season. Tonight he will be taking on a Carolina Hurricanes team that is a complete dumpster fire, making Vrbata an excellent mid-range salary play tonight.
Tomas Hertl – San Jose Sharks – If you’re looking for value on forward tonight, Hertl is my top option throughout the industry. He tallied an assist in first game back on San Jose’s top line, and I expect the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Hertl” to get plenty of opportunities to score tonight against a Colorado Avalanche team that constantly turns the puck over and gives up too many shots. The only downside to taking Hertl is that he doesn’t receive top power play minutes, but he is a wizard with the puck and should have no problem paying off his bargain price tonight in a game I expect San Jose to dominate.
Top Value Plays: Jonathan Drouin (TB), Michael Frolik (WPG), Tommy Wingels (SJ), Linden Vey (VAN)