Joel Dorcas | January 21st, 2020
We have an abbreviated schedule this week around the NHL as many teams will be on their “bye” weeks, something the league has just recently implemented into the schedule. Also of note, the All-Star break will begin later on in the week and into the weekend. For tonight, two games are on the radar. The Vegas Golden Knights visit the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks play host to the Florida Panthers. Get out the smelling salts and lace ’em up, we’re making some Ice Picks!
Vegas Golden Knights(25-19-7) at Boston Bruins(28-10-12)
The Knights will enter this one having secured just a single victory in their previous six contests. Vegas seems to be out of sink since the curious dismissal of former head coach Gerard Gallant. The team is perhaps in the midst of an adjustment period with newly appointed coach Peter DeBoer.
As for the Bruins, who hope to rid themselves of struggles of their own, will bring a very impressive 16-2-9 record as well as an equally impressive 28.1 PP% on home ice to the table. The Knights are 5-5 and have killed just 65.4% of opponents’ power-plays over the last 10 games.
All Bruin players featured on the number one PP unit are firmly in play. Winger David Pastrnak continues to lead offensive production. Over his last five, he leads the team in shots on goal(18) and goals(4).
Winger Jake Debrusk is finally living up to expectations. Debrusk is now getting first-line PP minutes and is slowly maturing into yet another offensive weapon for the Bruins. 3G, 3A, 13shots over the last five, dating back over the last 10; 5G, 4A, 23shots.
Florida Panthers(27-16-5) at Chicago Blackhawks(24-20-6)
This could very well be the game of the night. The Panthers have reeled off five consecutive victories in which they have averaged over five goals a game(26 in five games). The resurgent Blackhawks have also won five straight and have averaged just over four a game(22 goals in five games).
On the whole, both teams have had some degree of struggles defensively this season. The Panthers rank 25th in GA/GP with a mark of 3.27. Meanwhile, Chicago has managed to put up a more respectable GA/GP of 3.06, good enough for 16th.
If playing the hot hand is your thing(very common in the world of DFS) look no further than Dominik Kubalik and Jonathan Toews. Kubalik leads the team in shots on goal(20) and goals(7) over the last five. Dating back over the last 15 games he has 13 goals and six assists. As for “Captain Serious”, he has gone off for a very impressive 4G,8A in the last five and has amassed 30 points in his last 24 games.
A sneaky value play to fill out your lineup(despite having just three points in the last 10) is Adam Boqvist. As per dailyfaceoff.com, Boqvist is listed as the point man alongside Patrick Kane on the Hawks number one power-play unit, (one would think that Boqvist has a better chance of getting in on goal production). Fellow D man Connor Murphy is in play as well. The declining Ducan Keith and injured Brent Seabrook are “paving the way” so to speak for the next wave of talent that includes Boqvist, Murphy, and Erik Gustafsson.
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