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 DraftStreet values). Reminder: check Left Wing Lock for up-to-the-minute information on starting goalies.
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Games are color-coded as follows:
Green means load up. Yellow means grab a couple of players. Red means value plays only.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Buffalo Sabres
The Penguins won on Monday night and absolutely shelled the Senators with 48 shots but only managed two goals. This is a team that is shooting 10.1-percent as a team on the season and has shot just 6.6-percent over their last five games. Every team goes through stretches where they don’t score at the rate they should, that’s just hockey. However, history tells us that the Penguins can shoot at least 10-percent as a team consistently so there’s no reason to think their stretch should sustain itself for an extended period. It should be noted that Brian Gibbons again made it through most of the game on Sidney Crosby’s line.
Buffalo has three regulation or overtime wins since Christmas and they have just two wins in their last 11 games. Since Christmas, this team is also 1-4-3 at home and their lone win was a 2-1 win over New Jersey. In short, this is a team that has shown pretty much what it is; a team that is missing scorers and depth all over the place. Lately, their special teams have come to life and not completely in a good way: their power play has scored in four straight games but the penalty kill has also given up four goals in their last four games.
There have been two previous meetings this year and the Penguins won them both by a combined score of 7-1 and they outshot the Sabres 69-45. Basically, as long as Marc-André Fleury is solid, the Pens should walk away with this game.
Keep note that the Penguins haven’t really blown out the Sabres this year. There was a 3-0 game and a 4-1 game and that 4-1 game was 2-0 with 10 minutes left in the third period. The Pens can blow out any team in the NHL but they haven’t proven it against Buffalo yet this year.
|
Top RW Value |
Top LW Value |
Top C Value |
Top D Value |
Bargain Bin |
|
(PIT) $14,357 |
(PIT) $5642 |
Brian Gibbons $5924 |
(PIT) $7450 |
(PIT) $4759 |
