Joel Dorcas | January 16th, 2020
Tuesday’s and Thursday’s continue to be a big night in the NHL and tonight is no different. When building your lineups tonight, these three select games might be “chalky” but they also may yield less risk. Grab your note pads and pens and jot down some beauties, it’s time for Ice Picks!
Los Angeles Kings(18-25-5) at Florida Panthers(24-6-5)
The Panthers continue to quietly put up heavy goal totals. They currently rank 2nd in the league in goals per game with a mark of 3.62. At home, it’s even better, nearly 4.0(3.96). The Kings are just 7-15-4 away from the Staples Center. The Panthers powerplay chimes in at 23.53 at home. L.A. is killing penalties at just a 76.6% rate on the road and gives up an average of 3.38 goals per game whereas the overall tally on the season sits at 3.08.
The Panthers offense is running on all cylinders of late as they are putting up 4.0 goals per contest in their last 10. Los Angeles is just 3-7 in their last 10 and have lost the last two games.
Winger Evgenii Dadonov is leading all Panther players in shots on net(17) and goals(5) over the last five games. Another winger to keep an eye on is former Bruin Noel Acciari. Although Acciari isn’t featured with the man advantage he is filling the blocks and shots categories nicely with a combined total of 26 in the last five. He has also sniped four times during this span.
New Jersey Devils(17-22-7) at Washington Capitals(31-11-5)
Starting goalie MacKenzie Blackwood is still listed as questionable with an upper-body issue. Back-up Louis Domingue was scorched for five goals on just 19 shots before getting pulled in Toronto Tuesday night. Cory Schneider might get thrown into the fire after getting extended time in the minors (He hasn’t been relevant in quite some time). If Blackwood is a no-go, Schneider could very well get the call. The Devils have allowed 3.8 goals agaisnt per game in their previous five and rank second-last overall in GAA(3.46) for the entirety of the season to date.
As for the Caps, they will look to break a mini-goal-scoring slump. Just five goals in their last three after scoring 22 in their previous five(4.4 GF/GP).
Dating back 10 games, the “great eight”(Alex Ovechkin) has fired 45 shots while registering five goals and four assists.
We can find some value with the Caps as well. Although they are listed on the second unit for powerplay correlation, center Lars Eller and defensemen Dimitry Orlov are great complementary pieces. Over the last 10, Eller has actually matched Ovie in points(4G, 5A). As for Orlov, he continues to be very solid for the Caps. A steady stat line of a goal and seven helpers to go along with 21 shots and 11 blocks over the 10 game block.
Buffalo Sabres(21-19-7) at Dallas Stars(27-15-4)
Even though the Dallas Stars play to a defensive-first mentality, they should be able to capitalize against the Buffalo Sabres who rank 20th in goals given up per contest at 3.15. In the previous 10 Sabre games, they are yielding an average of 3.30 goals per contest.
The Stars have been getting great powerplay success of late. dating back over the last 10, they have been successful on 32.26% of their opportunities with the man advantage. The Sabres have had some struggles this season with the penalty kill, they come into this one with a ate of 74.8% which is just 28th of the league’s 31 teams.
We can find tons of value littered throughout Dallas’ lineup. Jamie Benn is cheaper than Tyler Seguin and has been slightly better in production over the last five. Benn has been good for 2G,2A,18sh,5blk. Seguin; 1G,2A,20sh,1blk.
Dallas’ D core is fully in play as well tonight. Esa Lindell is a fine value/mid-tier option as he has approached 24 minutes along with notching seven helpers to go along with seven shots and seven blocks in his last five. Miro Heiskanen will cost you a bit more dough, his upside is slightly higher. Heiskanen is currently listed on the Stars’ top powerplay unit.
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