I generally do not pick two players playing against each other in the same game for a daily fantasy hockey lineup. The same applies for a goalie and a player from opposite teams. You might see two players among the “value picks” from opposite teams, but that doesn’t mean you should take them both. No matter the value, you’re also likely cannibalizing points, so any gains made below a certain price point – the point where production and cost intersect – can be lost if production declines overall as well.
There are many things that determine value: The player’s history (both short and long-term), the price, recent production, opponent, line matching at even-strength, power play time and injuries are just some of the factors to consider. The “Top Value” doesn’t necessarily mean the cheapest player, either.
Finally, as far as goalies go, it’s the one position I’ll pay through the nose for if I really like the match-up. The same applies for back-ups with good match-ups. In a given night, with a full slate of games, I won’t have more than three different goalies across all my lineups, usually two. I’ll name the goalies I like specifically in the match-ups they appear in.
Here is today’s slate of games (and DraftDay values). Reminder: check Left Wing Lock for up-to-the-minute information on starting goalies.
Games are color-coded as follows:
Green means load up. Yellow means grab a couple of players. Red means value plays only.
New Jersey Devils at Buffalo Sabres
The Devils are coming off a 5-3 loss to Chicago last night that was actually an evenly-contested game from start to finish, it’s just Chicago have a guy named Patrick Sharp who’s on a pretty good tear. Also, Cory Schneider may have been able to make a save or two that Martin Brodeur can’t, but I digress.
Buffalo is coming off a lacklustre road game in Minnesota where they only mustered 20 shots on net and lost the game 4-1. The Sabres, for all their improvements, seem to still be a pretty bad road team. Thankfully, this one is at home.
If there’s a bright spot for the Devils last night it’s that they tallied on the power play for the first time in five games. Also good news was that it made four straight games for them that they haven’t given up a goal while short-handed. Not that they’d really have to worry about Buffalo’s power play, but it’s one less thing to necessarily worry about.
This has low-scoring game written all over it. I would avoid just about every skater in this game unless I was desperate to make a certain price-point work.
|
Top RW Value |
Top LW Value |
Top C Value |
Top D Value |
Bargain Bin |
|
(NJD) $5950 |
(BUF) $8100 |
(NJD) $8050 |
Jamie McBain $6250 |
(NJD) $5000 |
