NHL GPP Plays: Thursday, February 19th
Every Tuesday and Thursday I am going to give you my top tournament plays for all Daily Fantasy Hockey GPPs (guaranteed prize pool). GPPs are a general term used across the industry for your big money tournaments.
GPPs are very different from your cash games and you use a different strategy with them. In our GPPs we are not interested in safe plays, as GPPs are all about UPSIDE. We want players who can explode, all-or-nothing type players can become GPP gold, and your value players are just as important as your star players. You need your players to have huge nights in order to take down these big tournaments.
My goal is to provide players who will be under-owned and have that big game upside you are looking for. I will also try to find as much value as I possibly can. Now, let’s get to the NHL GPP Plays!
GOALTENDERS
Make sure to check the RotoGrinders Starting Goalies Page to confirm that the goalies listed below are starting prior to game time.
Ray Emery, Philadelphia Flyers – Yes I know it is hard to trust Ray Emery, but here he is again in a tremendous spot at an inexpensive price. After all, he is facing the pitiful Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo is easily the worst offensive team in hockey, ranking last in every major category. The Sabres have won a measly five games on the road all season long and I don’t see them winning their sixth tonight in the City of Brotherly Love. Why pay up for the likes of Carey Price, Pekka Rinne and Marc-Andre Fleury when Emery could have similar numbers at a huge discount? He is always a roll-of-the-dice, but tonight I think it pays off.
Other Goalies To Target – Cameron Talbot, Kari Lehtonen, Antti Niemi
CENTER
Jason Spezza, Dallas Stars – Many thought Dallas was in a lot of trouble on offense with the loss on Tyler Seguin, but Jason Spezza had something to say about that. Spezza had a monster game (3A, +2, 4 SOG) in the Stars’ upset win in St. Louis on Tuesday night and he will look to stay hot tonight versus the Sharks. San Jose has lost five of their past six games, giving up a whopping 26 goals in the process. Spezza is a very talented and underrated player, and not only is he now centering the Stars’ top line and number one power-play unit, but he gets to skate alongside stud Jamie Benn. Spezza may very well roll out his second consecutive multi-point performance tonight.
Other Centers To Target – Derick Brassard, David Desharnais, Mike Ribeiro
WINGERS
Wayne Simmonds, Philadelphia Flyers – We had Simmonds in our article on Tuesday and he did not disappoint with a goal and five shots on net. Simmonds is one of the few Flyers who is playing well offensively these days with four goals and seven points in his last six games. The Buffalo Sabres allow both the most shots against (34.7) and goals against (3.39) per game this season and have the NHL’s worst penalty kill. With Philadelphia’s top line and entire offense struggling right now, but look for the Flyers to score on the powerplay, where Simmonds is a beast.
James Neal, Nashville Predators – Neal has scored in three of his last four games, and continues to be the Predators’ best scoring threat on a nightly basis. Nashville has the sixth-most goals per game on the year, the third-most goals per game in the month of February and have scored the fifth-most goals on the road in the NHL this season. The Predators have very quietly been one of the best and most consistent offenses all season long. Despite their winning ways, the New York Islanders have not been a very good defensive unit of late and Jaroslav Halak has been very inconsistent in goal. Halak has a lousy .900 SV% since December 1st and has allowed nine goals in his last two starts. Neal plays on the Predators’ top line and number one power-play unit and has more upside than any other Nashville forward tonight.
Andre Burakovsky, Washington Capitals – Burakovsky has the luxury of skating alongside Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Ovechkin on the Capitals’ top line and he is also seeing time on Washington’s second power-play unit. The Winnipeg Jets have allowed 25 goals in their past eight games (3.13 per game) and are not playing their best hockey right now. Burakovsky is a talented young player and my top punt play of the night.
Other Wingers To Target – Brayden Schenn, Chris Kreider, Troy Brouwer, Blake Comeau
DEFENSE
Ryan McDonagh, New York Rangers – McDonagh had a huge game versus the New York Islanders in the “Battle of New York” Monday night, scoring two goals and firing six shots on goal. McDonagh now has multi-point performances in two of his last three games and has looked fantastic since becoming the Blue Shirts’ power play quarterback. McDonagh may be overlooked with so many great offensive teams in play tonight and he certainly has big game upside.
Andrei Markov, Montreal Canadiens – Markov’s offensive game has really improved lately with six points and 29 shots on goal in the month of February. Despite playing in back-to-back games, Markov should see an increase in playing time with P.K. Subban unlikely to play tonight. Markov already logs a ton of ice time at even strength and should see all the powerplay minutes against the Florida Panthers tonight.
Other Defensemen To Target – James Wisniewski, Derrick Pouliot, Michael Del Zotto
Good Luck Grinders!
Pepsi7