NHL GPP Plays: Tuesday, March 17th
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, since 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 underowned 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.
Andrew Hammond, Ottawa Senators – What can we say about Andrew Hammond? The Hamburglar has been nothing short of spectacular with a 10-0-1 record, while posting a 1.39 GAA, .955 SV% and two shutouts on the year. Hammond has yet to allow more than two goals in a game this season and he has single handedly put the Ottawa Senators back in the playoff hunt. The Carolina Hurricanes offensive game has been much better recently but they are still not an elite offensive team. Carolina should fire 25 plus shots on goal, and if Hammond continues to slam the door, he should once again be one of the top goalies of the night.
Other Goalies To Target – Niklas Svedberg, Dustin Tokarski, Eddie Lack, Dan Ellis
FORWARDS
Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames – Gaudreau is rolling right now with points in six of his last seven contests. During those seven games, Johnny Hockey has racked up four goals, nine points and 18 shots on goal. The Calgary Flames’ top line (Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Jiri Hudler) is one of the hottest lines in the NHL right now and they all make sneaky plays tonight in your GPPs.
Nick Bjugstad, Justin Huberdeau, and Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers – All three of these young and talented Panthers are in play for me tonight. The Montreal Canadiens will be playing on consecutive nights and are starting their back up goalie Dustin Tokarski in net tonight. Tokarksi has been shaky in net for the Habs this season and he has allowed three or more goals against in six straight starts. This Panthers trio all skate on Florida’s top powerplay unit and have big game upside.
Ryan Spooner, Boston Bruins – The problem with the Boston Bruins is that they are a very well balanced team with three lines that can score. It is a great in real life, but frustrating in the fantasy world. It’s not a question of whether Boston will score tonight, but what line? While many will zig with Patrice Bergeron and company, perhaps you should zag with Ryan Spooner and the Bruins’ second line. Spooner has points in nine of his last 12 games and plays on the Bruins’ top powerplay unit. Spooner is extremely inexpensive and will be highly underowned in tournament play.
Michael Frolik, Winnipeg Jets – Frolik is currently skating on the Winnipeg Jets’ top line and is a very underrated player. Frolik has really picked up his offensive game recently with points in eight of his last nine games. During those nine games, Frolik has sniped five goals and fired 25 shots on net. Look for the Jets to score a few goals tonight and for Frolik to remain hot.
Other Forwards To Target – Bobby Ryan, Milan Lucic, Elias Lindholm, Alex Galchenyuk
DEFENSE
Dennis Wideman and Kris Russell, Calgary Flames – Both Dennis Wideman and Kris Russell have been on fire recently. They have developed great chemistry together and they not only play together at even strength but are now manning the point on the Flames’ top powerplay unit. Calgary has scored more goals (4.14 GPG) than anyone else in hockey in the month of March and Wideman and Russell are a big reason why. The match-up tonight versus Brian Elliott and the St. Louis Blues is not ideal, but these two are scorching hot and will be underowned in GPPs.
Other Defensemen To Target – Aaron Ekblad, Eric Gelinas, Justin Faulk, Alexander Edler
Good Luck Grinders!
Pepsi7