Kasperi Kapanen Daily Fantasy News, Rankings, Projections

Auston Matthews, Andreas Johnsson and Kasperi Kapanen always looks like a threat when they are on the ice together, even if they aren't putting the puck on the net. This is encouraging, despite the difficult matchup tonight. They are taking on the Calgary Flames, in Calgary, with Dave Rittich in net. Matthews and Johnsson would make for an interesting mini-stack as they are on the same power play unit together with Johnsson taking Nazem Kadri's place. The Leafs PP has been better as of late with a 22.9 percent conversion rate since February 1st.

Auston Matthews is always in play on home ice, as he generally draws the opponent’s weaker lines. Tonight Toronto welcomes Buffalo, who is playing their second game in as many nights. Matthews will be centering the young talent of Kasperi Kapanen, and Andreas Johnsson. Toronto has posted an impressive 66.27 CF/60 over the past two weeks, only behind Vegas in that time frame. With Toronto’s top line getting the task of shutting down Eichel, Matthews and company should have no problem finding the score sheet tonight.

Andreas Johnsson is tied for the league-lead among rookies since January 1st with 17 points. In addition, he is second in the NHL among rookies in points per game behind only Elias Pettersson. He's playing with Auston Matthews and Kasperi Kapanen at even strength and this line has been dominant at times. In addition, he is playing on the top power play unit with Nazem Kadri on the shelf which gives him more upside as well. This full line stack is a great play against Edmonton at even strength and with his temporary spot on the top PP unit, there is plenty of upside.

In some ways it is remarkable the Washington Capitals sit where they do in the standings (73 points), but that is mostly credit to their efficient offense. Defensively, the Washington Capitals are alowing the most scoring chances against per 60 minutes (29.16 SCA/60) at 5-on-5 of all Eastern Conference teams. Tonight Washington will have their hands full with a Toronto team averaging 3.41 goals per game on home ice. Of course, the problem with Toronto is their depth, but Kapanen has been quite productive over his last five games, picking up three assists iand three goals while taking 13 shots on goal. He makes for a nice one-two punch with Auston Matthews in tournaments.

Matthews has 3 goals in his last 4 games (just 1 goal in his previous 13), and is averaging 4 shots per game over this recent scoring surge. With that said, it seems that Matthews has come out of his scoring slump. He is back playing with Patrick Marleau and Kasperi Kapanen, a line that he had plenty of success with earlier in the season, so we hope he can continue that success tonight. Unfortunately, neither Marleau nor Kapanen are on the top power play unit with Matthews which is discouraging. So this is a line that needs to thrive at even strength, or using Matthews as a one-off play is also reasonable.

With just one goal in his last seven games, Auston Matthews is in a bit of a goal-scoring drought. With Zach Hyman back in the lineup, Mike Babcock has not only switched up the lines at even strength by putting Matthews between Andreas Johnsson and Kasperi Kapanen, he has also switched up the struggling power play units. Matthews is now on PP1(b) with Johnsson, Marleau, Nylander and Gardiner. This is actually okay for DFS because you now have Johnsson on the same power play unit as Matthews for some correlation. With Kapanen now playing on PP1(a) with the other big guns, this line stack is still an elite one due to their even strength play and presence across the two power play units.

With the Christmas break over, Auston Matthews could finally be back to full health. As he took some time to get back up to speed following his shoulder injury, the final games before Christmas he was looking more like his old self and we could see an explosion moving forward — as if he wasn't dominant enough as it was. He'll be lining up with Kasperi Kapanen and Patrick Marleau, which has been a solid even strength line. However, the fact that neither winger plays on the top PP unit makes it a bit less desirable. Matthews as a one off play is always an elite one and is perhaps the move to make tonight.

Auston Matthews makes for the perfect core play here as his line mates in Kasperi Kapanen and Patrick Marleau could provide some salary relief if you choose to match them up in the 5x5 situations. The Maple Leafs however should be able to jump start a power play that has connected just five times over the last nine games. The Rangers on the other hand have given up eight power play goals in their last seven games which is the reason for the optimism. Matthews has collected 33 points in the 21 games he has suited up for with a third of those points coming with the extra attacker. Toronto is one of the more explosive teams in the league which should favor them this evening against a Ranger team that has won just four of the 15 road games they have played this season.

Although it's been just two games, Auston Matthews has returned to his early-season form since returning from injury. He's put up three goals and four points in those two games and looks as good as ever. He's lining up with Patrick Marleau and Kasperi Kapanen as the team takes on the Buffalo Sabres — a team on the tail-end of a back to back. Because neither of Matthews linemates play on the power play with him, that hurts the value of the stack a bit, but he's been so good at 5-on-5 that the line is still a great play and Matthews makes for a fantastic one-off play as well.

It is uncertain who will play with Auston Matthews tonight — he was playing alongside Patrick Marleau and Kasperi Kapanen before his injury — so the play is to use Matthews and his corresponding linemates, whomever they end up being. Matthews was on a torrid pace prior to his injury as had 10 goals and 16 points in 11 games. Obviously that goal pace would slow down considerably and the point pace would also see a decrease, but he was showing the league that he belonged among the best handful of players, without question. The Toronto Maple Leafs host the San Jose Sharks — a team coming off a loss to the Buffalo Sabres last night — they kept trucking without Matthews and look to continue their dominance with him back in the lineup.