NHL GPP Plays: Tuesday, January 12th
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, since GPPs are all about UPSIDE. We want players who can explode, as 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 and Lines Page prior to game time, to confirm that the goalies listed below are starting.
Semyon Varlamov, Cam Talbot and Louis Domingue – All three of these goaltenders have big game upside tonight and I will have exposure to them all in tournament play. If you are looking for huge save potential, Semyon Varlamov is your guy. The Colorado Avalanche’s lack of puck skills will lead to Varlamov seeing over 30 shots tonight and we know he is capable of stealing a game. If you are looking for a cheaper option in net, both Cam Talbot and Louis Domingue are in play. With Talbot being on the road, I expect him to see more rubber and be less popular in GPPs. Domingue has been sensational in goal for the Desert Dogs this season (2.06 GAA, .936 SV%, 2 SO) and his ownership continues to climb in large field tournaments.
Other Goalies To Target – Pekka Rinne, Alex Stalock, Cam Ward
FORWARDS
Tyler Johnson, Tampa Bay Lightning – Johnson continues to struggle for the Lightning, but he is just too talented to remain cold. Perhaps a matchup against the National Hockey League’s worst possession team will light a fire under him. The Colorado Avalanche’s lack of puck skills should allow the Bolts to control this game from puck drop and Johnson should have plenty of scoring opportunities to break out of his slump.
Mikko Koivu, Minnesota Wild – Koivu is having a solid season for the Minnesota Wild and he has played his best hockey on home ice (21 PTS in 22 GP). The 32-year-old Finnish native finds himself in a great spot to produce tonight. He is not only skating on the Wild’s top line and number power play unit, but he will also be facing a Buffalo Sabres team that has lost six of their last seven games, allowing 23 goals against in the process. Koivu has multi-point upside in this prime matchup.
Anders Lee, New York Islanders – Despite playing alongside superstar John Tavares at both even strength and with the man advantage, Lee has done very little offensively. However, he could go off tonight as the New York Islanders will face a Columbus Blue Jackets team that has been a disaster all season long in their own end.
Shane Doan, Arizona Coyotes – Doan has been shooting the lights out recently, racking up seven goals and three multi-point performances in his last six games. Thanks to the strong play of Doan and goaltender Louis Domingue, the Coyotes have won three straight games and four of their past five contests. The Edmonton Oilers are not only a weak defensive group, but they have also struggled badly on the road (5-14-2) this season. Doan once again has multi-goal upside in this plus matchup on home ice.
Sam Reinhart, Buffalo Sabres – Reinhart is coming of a hat-trick performance in the Buffalo Sabres’ 4-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday, and he now has four goals in four January games. Skating on the second line and top power play unit with Jack Eichel, Reinhart will continue to see a plethora of scoring chances. Reinhart should once again fly under the radar tonight with a tough matchup in Minnesota against the Wild.
Other Forwards To Target – Filip Forsberg, Josh Bailey, Elias Lindholm, Thomas Vanek, Jordan Eberle, Nathan MacKinnon, Frans Nielsen, Eric Staal, Artem Anisimov
DEFENSE
Nick Leddy, New York Islanders – Leddy has been extremely inconsistent this year and he does not shoot the puck nearly enough, but he is still hard to ignore tonight with his inexpensive salary and plus matchup. I think the Islanders’ offense breaks out tonight and you can bet Leddy will find a way to get involved.
Other Defensemen To Target – Justin Faulk, Shea Weber, Brent Seabrook, Andrej Sekera, Michael Stone