Joel Dorcas | January 29th, 2019
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The NHL is finally back in action. The schedule has been very light with only two games played last night. Tonight we have just three games to break down, so every game is in play. The Jets/Bruins has the chance of being a high event game, followed by Flyers/Rangers and Sabres/Blue Jackets to round out the card. Let’s get to it!
At the Core
Brad Marchand W BOS/ $6,700
Marchand at this price is a favourite pick for me tonight. He is playing alongside Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak forming arguably the best line in hockey. The Jets on the season rank sixth in the league in goals allowed per game but with an abundance of star players on both sides a combined goal total of over six is definitely in play.
Sean Couturier C PHI/ $5,200
There are a few players that I could feature as core players from the Flyers who have won four consecutive games but Couturier’s price and top-notch production are too hard to pass up. A team-high, eight points over the last five contests along with leading the forward group in ice time over that period gets my endorsement.
Mike Zibanejab W NYR/$6,600
Zibanejab has been on a tear of late notching five goals and four assists over his last five games. The Rangers are playing better of late winning three straight and four out of their last five and they get a boost as they will face back up goalie Anthony Stolarz in this one. On the season Stolarz is 2-3-2 with an ugly 3.90 GAA an a .880 SV%.
Artemi Panarim W CBJ/ $6,600
Interesting news out of Blue Jackets camp stating that because his deal is up after the completion of the season the Jackets may want to get something for him if they feel they can’t come together on a new deal(@Phiil7 has more, Does Panarin want out of Columbus? Looking at possible destinations ) Either way Panarim is committed to the team in the meantime and has been the Jackets best contributor over the last five and won’t cost you as much as linemate Cam Atkinson.
Stacks
1.New York Rangers. The Rangers play much better at home than on the road and get the advantage of playing one of the worst defensive teams in the NHL. Additionally, they get to face Stolarz who gets the not in goal for the Flyers.
Zibanejad(C), Kreider(W), DeAngelo(D), Shattenkirk(D)
2.Columbus Blue Jackets. The Buffalo Sabres and the Colorado Avalanche are two teams that I will be fading for the remainder of the season. Tonight’s opponent for the Jackets, the Buffalo Sabres, are a middle of the pack defensive team ranked 15th giving up almost three goals a game(2.98). The Jackets have plenty of firepower notching 3.21 goals per game, good for 9th in the league.
Dubois(C), Panarin(W), Werenski(D), Jones(D)
Value Plays
Nolan Patrick C PHI/ $3,900
All the sudden Nolan Patrick has played up to lofty expectations, albeit just over the last five games(four goals, two assists). Patrick a former first-round selection has had a very underwhelming season with just nine goals and eight assists on the season. The Rangers give up the 27th most goals per game on the season at 3.38 per game. Patrick gets limited minutes playing compared to others playing on the third line but perhaps his last five games are a sign of better things to come for the highly touted second-year pro.
Wayne Simmonds W PHI/ $4,300
Nolan Patrick’s linemate has played well of late notching four points over his last five games. What’s really to like with Simmonds is his first line power play minutes playing alongside the likes of Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier.
Anthony Deangelo D NYR/ $4,300
Deangelo gets first line minutes(19.3 per game over last five games), as well, he is playing on the first power play unit for the Rangers. In the five most recent games Deangelo has two goals and an assist as well as putting 14 shots on goal.
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