NHL GPP Plays: Tuesday, January 27th
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, 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 – This play isn’t for the faint of heart. Emery has certainly struggled this season (3.27 GAA, .809 SV%), but we only need him to be good tonight. Emery was outstanding in his last start, stopping 33 of 35 shots in an overtime win against Pittsburgh. Tonight’s opponent is nowhere near as lethal as the Penguins, Arizona has lost six straight games and they are not a team that travels well. The Coyotes have averaged 2.22 goals per game this season which is the third worst total in the NHL. Emery is inexpensive and has a great shot at a win tonight, making him a great roll of the dice in your GPPs.
Other Goalies To Target – Michael Hutchinson, Devan Dubnyk, Petr Mrazek, Carter Hutton
CENTER
Sean Monahan, Calgary Flames – Monahan has been dynamite for the Flames of late. In his last four games, Monahan has tallied four goals, five points and 12 shots on goal. Monahan centers the Flames’ second line at even strength and their top powerplay unit. The Buffalo Sabres have been awful on the road (4-17-1) and have allowed the most shots per game (35.1) and goals per game (3.53) this season. Monahan seems to fly under the radar in most GPPs, let’s see if that trend continues tonight with a plus match-up versus the Sabres.
Tomas Plekanec, Montreal Canadiens – Plekanec has nine points in eight January games and seems to have found a home on the Habs’ top line alongside winger Max Pacioretty. The two have displayed great chemistry at both even strength and the powerplay. The Dallas Stars continue to play poor defensively, allowing 33 goals in their last 10 games. Montreal is a very good team on home ice (15-5-2) and I expect them to score some goals tonight. Plekanec has a very moderate price and multi-point upside.
Other Centers To Target – Ryan Johansen, Mike Ribeiro, Bryan Little
WINGERS
Gustav Nyquist, Detroit Red Wings – Nyquist has been tearing it up recently with three consecutive multi-point games. The Red Wings’ top line of Gustav Nyquist, Henrik Zetterberg and Justin Abdelkader has really started to click and has helped Detroit win five straight games. Despite his recent success, I don’t see Nyquist being a popular play tonight versus a tough Panthers club on the road. A talented, red hot sniper, who should be under-owned is exactly what you are looking for in your GPPs.
Brayden Schenn, Philadelphia Flyers – The Flyers will be a popular team to target tonight as they face a struggling Arizona squad on home ice. Schenn plays on the Flyers’ top line alongside superstars Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek, and also suits up on Philadelphia’s number one powerplay unit. The Coyotes have lost six straight games and have been a defensive disaster all long. The Desert Dogs have allowed the sixth most shots per game (32.0), second most goals per game (3.33) and have the NHL’s 27th ranked penalty kill. Schenn gives you cheap exposure to one of the most potent lines in hockey, who happen to be in a terrific spot to produce tonight.
Josh Bailey, New York Islanders – Bailey has registered six points in his last three games and continues to reap the benefits of playing with John Tavares on the Islanders’ top line. With the injury to Kyle Okposo, Bailey has also been promoted to the Islanders’ top powerplay unit. The match-up may not be ideal, but the Islanders have dominated the Rangers this season and Bailey provides tremendous value at his price.
Other Wingers To Target – Andrew Ladd, Ryan Callahan, Radim Vrbata, Taylor Hall
DEFENSE
Dustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg Jets – Byfuglien has been much better offensively since moving back to his natural position of defense, scoring eight goals and 22 points in his past 23 games. Most surprising is his +11 rating in the month of January. The Pittsburgh Penguins are once again decimated by injuries and could be missing Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang for tonight’s game. The Jets are a sneaky GPP team tonight and Byfuglien is capable of a monster game.
Andrei Markov, Montreal Canadiens – Markov has four points in his last two games and continues to fly under the radar. Markov doesn’t get the notoriety that Max Pacioretty and P.K. Subban do, but he can be just as productive on any given night. Markov logs over 24 minutes of ice time per game and mans the point on the Canadiens’ top power play unit. The Dallas Stars have not only struggled defensively all season, but have allowed opposing defensemen to light them up.
Other Defensemen To Target – Johnny Boychuk, Sami Vatanen, Ryan Suter
Good Luck Grinders!
Pepsi7