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 York Islanders at Dallas Stars
The Islanders continue their six-game road trip tonight in Dallas, and they have started the trip off right with back to back wins against Toronto and Colorado. Their last home game was a win against this very Dallas team and the Islanders put up a seven-spot, their highest single-game goal total this season.
Dallas has been on a pretty big slide, losing five straight to start the calendar 2014 year and allowing 22 goals against in those games. The Stars have allowed five power play goals against in those five games, though that’s not been the big problem; the problem has been team defense, as they’ve given up an average of 37 shots against in their last three games (and gave up 43 to this very Islanders team).
In that game a few nights ago it was the Peverley line, not the Seguin line, that was matched up against the Tavares line and it lasted for most of the game. Tavares himself ended up with a hattrick and five points overall while the Peverley line was kept off the score sheet at even strength.
I don’t really see why this game should be much different from the last one in terms of goals scored. Of course I don’t expect ten total goals, that’s a bit ludicrous. I do expect this to be a 4-3 game or something of that nature, so I will have quite a few skaters but neither of the goalies.
|
Top RW Value |
Top LW Value |
Top C Value |
Top D Value |
Bargain Bin |
|
Valeri Nichushkin $7100 |
(DAL) |
Frans Nielsen |
(DAL) |
(NYI) $5000 |
