DFS Alerts
Top line center far too cheap against struggling defense
Buffalo continues to bleed goals after the All-Star break as they have allowed a league-high 3.84 goals against per game. Even with Matt Duchene and Mark Stone on other teams now, Ottawa has found some success offensively. They put up four on Saturday in Edmonton, four in Vancouver and in their last home game 10 days ago, Ottawa buried six goals. Colin White hadn’t played in two weeks, but suited up last time out and logged nearly 20 minutes of ice time, recording a power play assist. White is just $3,700 on DraftKings which opens up salary for someone like Connor McDavid.
Goalie draws nice spot against upset-minded visitors
The Kings, to the surprise of many, doused the Flames last night 3-0 in Calgary. A team lacking depth and with no rest, the Kings figure to struggle to duplicate their performance tonight in Edmonton. While there is nothing attractive about Edmonton’s defensive capabilities, Mikko Koskinen has been solid on home ice, going 13-7-2 with a 2.51 GAA and .920 SV% (a stark contrast from his .896 SV% on the road). Koskinen checks in at a very attractive $7,800 on FanDuel and his price on DraftKings ($7,900) is certainly playable too. The Kings are averaging the second-fewest goals per game (2.14 GF/G) on the road, and Edmonton is allowing 30-plus shots against per contest. Koskinen works in all formats.
Vancouver forward returns after lengthy absence
Sven Baertschi returned from a two month absence and logged nearly 17 minutes of ice time for the Canucks in their 5-0 defeat to Columbus. As a winger on the second line with Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser, Sven Baertschi will have an opportunity to produce, especially on home ice against a poor Anaheim team. Baertschi’s price tag across the industry (DraftKings – $4,200 and FanDuel – $4,000) really brings down the affordability of Vancouver’s second line in this plus matchup.
This winger has been a ridiculous goal-scorer this season
Viktor Arvidsson has been scoring on an incredible rate this season with 31 goals in 52 games. While the Nashville Predators haven’t been a high-scoring team this season — just the 17th most goals in the NHL — but they have two of the more efficient scorers in the NHL this season. The other is Arvidsson’s opposing winger with Filip Forsberg scoring 26 goals in 58 games. Their centre Ryan Johansen rounds out the top line and there is just so much talent on here that they should have more success than they have had. The Nashville Predators visits the Minnesota Wild tonight and the struggling Devan Dubnyk will be between the pipes.
Other tagged players: Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen
This center has become quite underpriced
Sean Monahan has seen his price drop across the industry, considering how dominant this line has been this season. Monahan is centering Johnny Gaudreau and Elias Lindholm on the Calgary Flames top line as they host the Los Angeles Kings tonight. He is having a career season tying his career-high in goals so far, while surpassing his career-high in assists and points. The Flames have the fourth-best CF/60 over the last month with a 64.69 rate and they have a league-best 57.21 CF% over the same time period.
Other tagged players: Johnny Gaudreau, Elias Lindholm 
This center has entered beast mode over the last two weeks
Since being reunited with William Nylander 7 games ago, Auston Matthews has been dominant. He has put up 5 goals and 9 points while firing an incredible 38 shots (5.43 per game). The two are playing with Andreas Johnsson and they have been a line that looks dominant each and every time they are on the ice even if they aren’t getting on the scoresheet. The unfortunate aspect of this line stack is that Matthews is on the top PP unit while the other two are on PP2, so the power play correlation is minimal. However, they are so good at even strength that they are still a top stack tonight.
Other tagged players: William Nylander, Andreas Johnsson 
Heavy minutes for Pittsburgh winger
The Rangers surprised many people with their 2-1 victory in Toronto on Saturday night, but this is still a poor defense which should struggle with Pittsburgh’s top line. Though Rust does not see power play time, he should do damage at even-strength against a New York team which spends a majority of their time on the ice in their own end. Rust is moderately priced across the industry and makes Pittsburgh’s top line with the expensive Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel more affordable. Look for the Penguins to do damage tonight at Madison Square Garden.
New Jersey native takes on struggling defense
In the game no one is dying to tune into, Kenny Agostino makes for a cheap filler against a Buffalo team which has allowed the most goals per game after the All-Star break. At just $2,800 on DraftKings, Agostino seems worthy of a roster spot given his production of late. Over his last seven games, Kenny has three goals and two assists while taking at least two shots on goal in all but one of them. With Nico Hischier and Kyle Palmieri skating with him at even-strength and on the top power play, the line makes for an cheap, low-owned target in tournaments.
Winger still to cheap given his talent
Toronto has struggled this month, including Saturday night’s poor effort against the New York Rangers, when they scored just a goal. Nylander took four shots on goal but did not find the scoresheet; however, a matchup with the Panthers who just gave up seven goals on home ice to Boston provides an opportunity for the Leafs to bounce back. Nylander checks in at just $3,900 on DraftKings and should see advantageous matchups alongside Auston Matthews. They make for a nice one-two punch in tournaments.
Montreal Blue liner is a big bargain
Jeff Petry is not producing much, but it is hard to ignore his cheap pricing across the industry. Petry is still relatively affordable on DraftKings ($4,600), but his price stands out like a sore thumb on FanDuel ($3,700) where the price gap between a top tier defenseman like Mark Giordano is significant. Buffalo has allowed the most goals after the All-Star break, and while Montreal’s forwards can be tough to peg down, production from the blue line is relatively consistent, despite Petry’s relative slump. He’s a nice cash game play at his current price tag, allowing one to grab an expensive forward or two.
Late night hammer with this winger
Provided Max Pacioretty is ruled out, which makes sense so as to not risk anything, Alex Tuch figures to slot into the team’s second line with Paul Stastny and Mark Stone. Tuch checks in at $5,300 on DraftKings and $4,400 on FanDuel which make him a great option in all formats. With the arrival of Stone, Tuch has been quiet in the second half (9 point in 22 games vs. 40 points in 44 Pre All-Star games), but an opportunity on the second line gives Tuch a chance to thrive. Additionally, Detroit’s quality falls off fast after the Larkin line which gives Vegas’ depth lines significant value. Tuch is a nice tournament target.
Veteran goalie draws nice spot
Anaheim has been playing better hockey including last night’s overtime victory over the San Jose Sharks, but if looking for a cheap goalie in a game environment not really screaming goals, Jonathan Quick makes some sense. The Kings play low event hockey, so while Quick is not likely to see many shots, he should be able to limit the damage and pick up the win. At just $7,200 on FanDuel and a reasonable $7,600 on DraftKings, Quick is an acceptable play in cash games.
This Defenseman Should Be Active This Evening
If you read today’s Grind Down you know that defenseman Shea Weber has been playing a little better of late. After missing the first 24 games Weber has come on to grab seven of his 30 points over the last 10 games. Are there better defensemen to choose from on today’s slate? Absolutely but Montreal’s match-up today would seem to favor a shooting defenseman that soaks up a lot of the extra ice time when the team draws a penalty. Since the beginning of the month Buffalo has given up 354 shots on goal, 37 goals and seven power play goals over the last 10 games they have played. Montreal has their play-off lives at stake so expect Weber and Company to come out flying in this one.
Hot Winger Looks to be Late Hammer
A lot of folks like to look for a late hammer and while Matthew Tkachuk or Elias Pettersson could certainly fit the bill you should probably look to another player for your consideration. With Anaheim playing in Los Angeles tonight you almost have to scour the Ducks roster to see if anyone there is remotely playable. Lo and behold we find Jakob Silfverberg. Not only did he rack up three points last night including the overtime winner against the Sharks, he also has collected seven goals and six assists over the last 12 games. The win was the team’s seventh over the last 11 games which would indicate they are playing for pride more than anything as Anaheim is on the verge of not making the play-offs this season. This is yet another match-up based play that could help you get the edge over your opponents in tonight’s contests.
This Center is in a Good Spot This Evening
I am pretty sure that I have never written up Connor McDavid as a LUHQ selection, but there is always a first time. Yes, we all know how high his salary is but man, this match-up against an Ottawa team that has given up 35 goals in their last 10 games is just too good to pass up. They have already given up 12 goals in their first two games on this three game west coast swing so what is another five going to hurt. Now you know that if Edmonton can even muster four goals that McDavid will have a hand in two of them and possibly three or more. The 107 points that McDavid has chalked up means that he has had a hand in over 50% of the teams 210 goals and that’s with not suiting up for four of the 74 games that the team has played. If you want to feel better about not paying the high price, just roster Zack Kassian with him and call it even.
Other tagged players: Zack Kassian