Joel Dorcas | December 12th, 2019
Another 12 game slate awaits us for Thursday, December 12th. The headlines continue to be dominated by coaches being fired as yet another one got dismissed this week. Jim Montgomery was relieved of coaching duties by the Dallas Stars. A bit of a surprise considering the Stars are playing better over the last month. We will have to monitor how these teams fair with their new bosses going forward. For tonight it’s Columbus at Pittsburgh, Winnipeg at Detroit in the second leg of their home-and-home, and the New York Rangers continuing their west coast swing in San Jose. Let’s break it down and make some Ice Picks!
CORE MUST-HAVES ⭐
Evgeni Malkin C PIT $8,300
The Pittsburgh Penguins will be in a good spot to bounce back after a 4-1 home loss to Montreal Tuesday night. Until the defeat, the Pens had racked up five straight victories. The Blue Jackets broke a four-game losing skid last time out December 9th versus the Capitals 5-2. Pittsburgh is scoring 3.30 goals per contest over their last 10. Columbus is allowing 3.54 goals against per game on the road. Penguins center Evgeni Malkin has been dynamite for the Pens ever since Sid the Kid went down due to injury. Dating back to last season, in six games versus Columbus, Malkin is averaging a point-a-game. In his last five, he has two goals and four assists as well as 12 shots.
Mark Scheifele C WPG $8,200
Man-alive, we got almost a 2K price increase on Scheifele, who was listed at 6.6K Tuesday. Well if you can, find room for him. Detroit should be better at home after getting drubbed 5-1 Tuesday to the Jets but realistically it’s gonna be tough sledding. The Jets are averaging 3.30 goals for while allowing just an average of 1.90 against during their recent 7-3 stretch. As for the Wings, how about 12 straight defeats. They are allowing 4.70 goals against over their last 10. Scheifele notched a goal against Detroit Tuesday and has five goals and 16 shots over his last four games.
Artemi Panarin W NYR $6,900
The New York Rangers will have plenty of opportunities to pounce on a defensively challenged team in the San Jose Sharks Thursday. They are in the midst of a five-game losing streak and have given up 4.40 goals a game during the process. As for the Rangers, they are 6-4 in their last 10 and 4-1-1 on the road in their last six matches. The Rangers’ best player, Artemi Panarin has a goal in three of his last five games.
VALUE PLAYS
John Marino D PIT $3,300
In steps in Dan Marino’s long-lost brother, Penguins defensemen John Marino. For real though, who is this guy? The numbers are actually decent for Marino who is getting top D pair minutes alongside Kris Letang. Over his last five games, Marino has a goal and an assist, averaging 21.86 minutes. What’s really to like are the 10 shots and 10 blocks.
*Neal Pionk D WPG $5,000*
Pionk’s price increase puts him out of the value tier but should be considered if you have the budget. He is logging heavy minutes as he has reached at least 23 in four of his last five games. He also has 15 shots and three assists over the time frame.
Kaapo Kakko W NYR $4,100
The Rangers have high expectations for their 2019 2nd overall draft pick. The production has been fare to-date but rest-assured better days await. One of those days might be against this Sharks squad who ranks 29th in goals against per game at 3.42. Kakko is getting first-line minutes with Mika Zibanegad and Panarin. He is also a part of the first PP unit. Kakko has a point in three of his last four games. He is also coming off an eight-shot performance versus the L.A. Kings December 10th.
STACK ‘EM
- Pittsburgh Penguins– Malkin(C), Guentzel(W), Schultz(D), Rust(W)
- Winnipeg Jets– Scheifele(C), Wheeler(C), Laine(W), Pionk(D)
- New York Rangers– Panarin(W), Zibanejad(C), Kakko(W), Kreider(W)
*All prices listed are from DraftKings*
Good luck to everyone tonight, keep grinding out those lineups!
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