Key Skaters
David Pastrnak (BOS)
- Before you people say “wait, Rob, he’s $8,100, are you crazy?”, look at his start to the season. I said to play him last night based on his production against Tampa and he showed up in a big way.
- Since November 10th of last season, Pasta has faced Toronto 11 times, including playoff games and has eight goals (four on the power-play), seven assists, and 50 shots on goal.
- Toronto’s defense hasn’t gotten better over that time and, if anything, it’s gotten worse and they’ve allowed the third-most fantasy points to right-wingers per game thus far this season.
Matt Duchene (NSH)
- Centering the second line thus far Duchene has two goals and seven assists in seven-game with the Preds along with 18 shots.
- Florida played an up and down game last night at home against Colorado now have to travel to Nashville to play one of the better teams in the Western Conference in one of the better home venues in the league.
- In seven games this season, the Panthers have allowed four or more goals four times now.
Steven Stamkos (TB)
- There are a hand full of games tonight that I can see going to the moon and this is definitely one of those games.
- Stammer has been rolling to start the season as he’s made the transition to wing seamless (like so many elite scoring wingers have) and just like I said would be the case two years ago, but I digress.
- The Lightning captain has scored a goal in four of seven games this season, has five assists, and three or more shots in four games.
Favorite Line Stacks
*Note: Lines are subject to change depending on morning skate lines. Revert to the chat and/or look for updates here for any impact they may have.
Toronto Maple Leafs
First Line: Johnsson – Matthews – Nylander
- With Tavares being out for an extended period of time, this line will be depended on to step up in all situations, especially against top Eastern Conference talent.
- All three skaters will correlate on the top power-play unit; Matthews will play a point with Nylander and Johnsson down low. Nylander will take the spot previously occupied by J.T.
- Matthews’ shot volume and production make him worth his salary, even in a tough spot. Nylander and Johnsson’s value makes this line easier to fit in as the upside is extremely high in a fast-paced affair.
Nashville Predators
Second Line: Forsberg – Duchene – Granlund
- This line continues to be one of the more productive trios in the league ranking near the top in goals scored as a unit.
- Forsberg and Duchene skate together on the top power-play unit with Granlund on the second unit.
- Florida coming in after an up and down overtime affair last night at home should be a bit beaten up which will do them no favors against one of the better teams in the Western Conference.
- Forsberg has a goal in all four home games, Granlund, who’s $4,100 has three points at home, and Duchene has points in every home game (eight total) this season.
Vegas Golden Knights
First Line: Marchessault – Karlsson – Smith
- I don’t love the idea of playing Vegas on the road often, but I’ll offset that with the idea that the Pens are playing their second game in as many nights.
- The top line for Vegas has scored the third-most goals as a unit at even strength this season.
- Pittsburgh defense is garbage, I don’t really care what the numbers say in this situation, they allow fast teams to get by them and generate scoring chances, both of which play into Vegas’ hand here.
- All three correlate on the power-play, albeit on the second unit, but Vegas uses both power-play units as much as any team in the league.
Top Positional Plays
Center
Patrice Bergeron (BOS)
Sean Monahan (CGY)
Jack Eichel (BUF)
Sean Couturier (PHI)
Derek Stepan (ARI)
Wing
Evander Kane (SJ)
Claude Giroux (PHI)
Nikita Kucherov (TB)
Mitch Marner (TOR)
Phil Kessel (ARI)
Matthew Tkachuk (CGY)
Defense
Roman Josi (NSH)
Mark Giordano (CGY)
Oliver Ekman-Larsson (ARI)
Ivan Provorov (PHI)
Torey Krug (BOS)
Shea Theodore (VGK)
Value Defense
Shayne Gostisbehere (PHI)
Travis Hamonic (CGY)
Nick Leddy (NYI)
Charlie McAvoy (BOS)
Top Goalies
Marc-Andre Fleury (VGK) – Comeback tour in Pittsburgh. Give me all the MAF.
Pekka Rinne (NSH) – Price is up there but should see plenty of work and I expect Nashville to win.
Andrei Vasilevskiy (TB) – Could see close to 40 shots here. At home, I’m ok with Vasi even though 420 has the ability to destroy him, and every other goalie in the league for that matter.
Ben Bishop (DAL) – Bishop I liked last night but the Stars decided to go with Khudobin instead. So, tonight with Bishop at $7,100, I think he pays that off easily.
GOOD LUCK!!
