Max Pacioretty Daily Fantasy News, Rankings, Projections

It has certainly taken time for Mark Stone to establish himself on the Vegas Golden Knights and it is obvious that he is still not quite comfortable. Considering the upgrade as linemates, his 4 goals and 10 points in 17 games leaves a lot to be desired. However, Vegas is still a dominant possession team with their 55.66 CF% and 61.64 CF/60 both ranked fifth over the last month. In addition, their opponent the Arizona Coyotes have struggled with a 22nd ranked 47.71 CF% and 59.07 CA/60. Stone will be playing with two others who have their first season in Vegas in Max Pacioretty and Paul Stastny.

He's put up just five points in seven games for Vegas since being traded there, but this is still a great spot for him and the Vegas Golden Knights tonight. They visit the Dallas Stars who are on the tail-end of a back to back in which they played in Minnesota last night. Over the last month, the Knights have a league-best 68.05 CF/60 and the second-best CF% with a 55.68 rate. The Stars, on the other hand, have the fifth-worst CA/60 with a 61.77 rate and their 46.31 CF% is 26th. While Mark Stone plays on the top power play unit with his linemates relegated to PP2, this still makes for an elite line stack in this matchup.

This is essentially a first line that is in a second line role for the Vegas Golden Knights. Max Pacioretty, Paul Stastny and Mark Stone are a stacked second line and with their depth, Vegas is not getting the hype that they had last year. But, they could be a sneaky force in the playoffs. This is certainly a difficult matchup as the Golden Knights host the Calgary Flames, one of the best teams in the NHL. As of right now, the Flames goalie is unknown but both have struggled since January 1st. David Rittich has just a 3.07 GAA and .893 SV% while Mike Smith has a 2.81 GAA and .904 SV%. This bodes well for this line stack at even strength which has elite upside.

This will be his second game with the Vegas Golden Knights and after settling in, he's going to be playing with Max Pacioretty and Paul Stastny. Pacioretty scored twice last game but Stone was unable to pick up any points. Vegas, despite their lackluster point total this season, has actually been pretty dominant from a possession standpoint. They should pick up the pace the remainder of the season and into the playoffs. Over the last month, the Golden Knights have a 52.61 CF% (6th) and a 61.24 (7th) as they host the Florida Panthers. The Panthers have been a middling team for most of the season, but a struggling Roberto Luongo expected in the net, Vegas should have few issues piling up the goals. Luongo has an ugly 3.09 goals against average and a .897 save percentage this season which doesn't bode well against a team with possession numbers as strong as the Golden Knights.

The Vegas Golden Knights have been playing at an elite level as of late. Over the last month, they have a 55.84 CF% which is the second-best mark in the NHL and a 66.84 CF/60 which is the best. They're hosting a Nashville Predators team that is elite, but has given up a lot of Corsi-against as of late. Their 59.38 CA/60 over the last month is the 10th-highest which certainly benefits the Knights tonight. The second line is preferred tonight with Paul Stastny centering Max Pacioretty and Alex Tuch. All three of these players have at least a point per game over the last month. They play on the same power play unit which gives them full-game correlation and elite upside.

Since the Christmas break, the second line of the Vegas Golden Knights has been fantastic. While Max Pacioretty missed a few games, all three of the players slated to skate on line two today have been a point-per-game or better since then. Alex Tuch has 3 goals and 11 points in 9 games, Paul Stastny has 4 goals and 10 points in 9 games and Pacioretty has 2 goals and 5 points in the 5 games he has played. The three played on the same power play unit last game so if that is the case again tonight, this full-line stack has elite upside due to having full-game correlation. They take on a Winnipeg Jets team that have won four straight home games and have been leaning a bit more on Laurent Brossoit as of late with Connor Hellebuyck's struggles.

With the Vegas Golden Knights not exactly performing at the same level as they did last year, there is naturally been some struggles for the teams' top line. However, the second line of Alex Tuch, Cody Eakin and Max Pacioretty has been on fire as of late. Tuch has 11 points in his last 10 games, Pacioretty has 13 in his last 10 and Eakin has 9. They take on the Washington Capitals — a team that sits 24th in the NHL with just a 47.48 CF% — in what is a solid matchup. The Tuch-Pacioretty mini-stack is definitely in play as they play on the top power play unit together and Eakin is relegated to PP2.

After an abysmal start to the season Pacioretty has almost single-handedly lifted the Vegas Golden Knights from the ashes as he has pointed in eight of the last nine games. He has been able to register five multi-point games over that time frame as the chemistry seems to be forming between him, Alex Tuch and Cody Eakin. Edmonton has been playing a bit better on defense of late but it probably won’t be able to stop a line that has scored 14 goals to go along with 13 assists over the last eight games. This is your late hammer of the evening.

All indications point to Alex Tuch rejoining the Vegas lineup tonight. Tuch recently signed a seven year contact and will be welcomed to a Golden Knights' second line which has done next to nothing this season. Max Pacioretty has mustered a mere point despite seeing top power play minutes, and as a result, his price is the lowest we have seen in quite some time as DraftKings has him priced at just $4,500. With the Golden Knights' top line certain to be popular given their home dominance, Vegas' second line offers a pivot in tournaments. Pacioretty is a proven goal scorer who has upside in this matchup against the road-weary Canucks.

The Montreal Canadiens are not an offense I target often, but their number one line should definitely be on your radar tonight in all formats as they face the defensively challenged New York Islanders. The Islanders remain the National Hockey Leagues worst defensive team, sitting at or near the bottom of the league in almost every relevant defensive statistic. Despite the Canadiens troubles scoring goals this year (29th overall in goals per game), I still think their top line has a big night tonight at the Bell Centre. In cash games, Max Pacioretty is the top draw here, with the moderately priced Jonathan Drouin and the inexpensive and underrated Artturi Lehkonen also making fine plays. In GPPs, this line has as much potential as any line in hockey this evening, so I suggest you get at least some exposure to them.