NHL Daily Plays: Wednesday, November 5th
After an exciting 12-game schedule on the ice last night, we’re faced with a typically slow Wednesday night. While there may only be three games on the docket, there are still several matchups to exploit, so let’s get to the picks.
Goalies
Make sure to check the RotoGrinders Starting Goalies Page to confirm that the goalies listed below are starting prior to puck-drop
Dustin Tokarski – Montreal Canadians – With Carey Price having been lit up by the Blackhawks last night, it’s highly likely that Michel Therrien will stick Tokarski between the pipes for the dream match-up against the Buffalo Sabres. We haven’t seen much of Tokarski, but he’s been serviceable in limited action for the Canadians. The important thing is that he’s dirt cheap, has a solid chance to get the “W” against the offensively inept Buffalo Sabres, and his teammates should be fired up after an embarrassing loss last night. If he gets the start, he’s nearly an auto plug-and-play for cash games this evening.
Others To Target: Jason LaBarbera, Henrik Lundqvist
Forwards
Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf – Anaheim Ducks – Simply put; they’re both studs and I want both of them in my lineups tonight. The remainder of these forward picks are value options that make this possible.
David Desharnais – Montreal Canadiens – Montreal is in a bit of a free-fall right now as they’ve lost four of their last five games. However, a date with the Buffalo Sabres should help cure their ailments. Desharnais centers both the team’s top scoring line as well as their struggling #1 power-play unit. The talented center thrived away from Montreal last season, posting 12 goals and 21 assists in 41 road games. He also had plenty of success against Buffalo last year, scoring a goal and adding three assists in their four meetings. He’s very reasonably priced on several sites ($5,100 on FD for instance) and I expect the Canadians to come out with a vengeance.
Justin Abdelkader – Detroit Red Wings – Playing alongside Datyuk and Zetterberg on Detoit’s top line has risen Abdelkader to fantasy relevance. He’s scored a pair of goals and added three assists over the last three games and should continue to rack up points as long as he stays alongside those two playmakers. His speed makes him a weapon everytime he hits the ice and he leads this Detroit team in hits thus far.
Derick Brassard – New York Rangers – Brassard is another guy who’s fantasy stock has shot up recently thanks to his talented linemates. Skating alongside Martin St. Louis and Rick Nash is clearly helping Brassard as he’s posted four goals and five assists over the last nine games. He’s logged over 22 minutes of ice-time in both of the last two games (both OT games) and is seeing a healthy dose of playing time as the center on the Ranger’s #1 power-play unit.
Patrick Maroon – Anaheim Ducks – Maroon returned from a knee injury last week and immediately found himself not only on the wing of the Ducks top scoring line (alongside Perry and Getzlaf) but also on the wing of their very dangerous #1 power-play unit. He logged over 17 minutes of ice-time and picked up an assists in Anaheim’s last game and is grossly underpriced on several sites.
Other Value Options: Brock Nelson, Devante Smith-Pelly, Tomas Tatar, Anthony Duclair
Defense
Sami Vatanen – Anaheim Ducks – Vatanen has been held off the scoresheet in each of the last five games, but he’s still logging well over 20 minutes of ice-time per game and comes with a rather reasonable price-tag on most sites ($4,300 on FD). He racks up big minutes on the point of the Duck’s #1 power-play unit where he leads this team in power-play points (7) thus far. With a matchup against the Islanders absolutely dreadful (and league worst) 64.7% Penalty Kill, he’s my favorite option on the blue-line this evening.
Dan Girardi – New York Rangers – With Ryan McDonagh out with a shoulder injury, Dan Girardi will be leaned on very heavily by Alain Vigneault. He’s logged well over 30, yes thirty, minutes of ice-time in each of the last two games and has taken over McDonagh’s spot on the point of the Rangers top power-play unit. While he likely won’t have the same offensive production that we saw from McDonagh, he’ll certainly have the opportunities. He’s dirt cheap and well worth consideration tonight against a tired Detroit team.
Others To Target: P.K. Subban, Niklas Kronwall, Andrei Markov, Cam Fowler, Nick Leddy
Best of luck tonight!
JMBWngFn (@JBritt2 on Twitter)