Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey buyer's guide for Monday
By Neil Parker
RotoWire Hockey Writer
With Thanksgiving Thursday, it is an atypical schedule in the National Hockey League this week. There are seven games Monday.
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GOALIE
Braden Holtby, WAS vs. EDM ($36) - The Capitals are rolling to start the season (13-5-1) and boast a 7-3-1 record at home. Holtby has also gone 7-2 with a .928 save percentage and a 1.90 goals-against average in his own barn. With Edmonton 3-7 and averaging just 2.3 goals per game on the road, view Holtby as a high-end goalie option and ripe value Monday.
Goalie to Avoid:
Henrik Lundqvist, NYR vs. NSH ($42) - Statistically, Lundqvist is priced appropriately, and if there were fewer options in the goalie pool, he would warrant roster attention. However, the price point is so high you're limiting your ability to spend up at other positions. Plus, Nashville is an admirable opponent (11-5-3).
CENTER
Claude Giroux, CAR at PHI ($19) - It is becoming commonplace for Giroux to let down his owners this season, and he is riding a two-game point drought with just four shots on goal. Still, his early season struggles land his cap hit in profit territory, and the Hurricanes enter on the wrong end of back-to-back games. The star is down the price depth chart far enough to take another speculative stab.
Center to Avoid:
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, EDM at WSH ($21) - Being separated from Taylor Hall and Leon Draisaitl is a hit to Nugent-Hopkin's fantasy stock, and the pivot has a single assist with just three shots on goal over his last three games. The Capitals allow just 2.32 goals per game in their rink, too.
WING
Vladimir Tarasenko, STL at BUF ($24) - It is an interesting group of wingers Monday, and spending up for Tarasenko and budgeting with your other two flanks is a sound strategy. Buffalo has dropped four consecutive games and allows 3.0 goals per game at home, and Tarasenko has six goals and three helpers over his last six games with 21 shots on goal.
Jonathan Huberdeau, FLA vs. LA ($16) - Huberdeau has found the score sheet in six of his past seven games with 21 shots on goal during the span. He is logging an average of 19:10 minutes per game over the stretch and grabs the Kings on the wrong end of back-to-back road games. The cap hit doesn't match Huberdeau's current form or upside, either.
Wing to avoid:
Rick Nash, NYR vs. NSH ($22) - While Nash has 10 points in his last 10 games, he has been held off the score sheet in six of those 10 outings, which makes him the ultimate boom-bust play. The shot volume aids his high floor, but the Predators have allowed only 2.2 goals per game in their last five, and you're not spending up for shots.
DEFENSEMEN
Alex Pietrangelo, STL at BUF ($16) - The minutes-eater has failed to land on the score sheet in each of the last six games and owns a minus-7 rating during the span. He has chipped in the peripheral categories, though, with 16 shots and 10 blocked shots through his last six showings. It projects as a favorable matchup Monday, which should allow Pietrangelo to curb his slump.
Aaron Ekblad, FLA vs. LA ($18) - The rearguard has registered three goals and three assists in his last six games with an average of 22:30 minutes of ice and 19 shots on goal. Los Angeles enters on the wrong end of consecutive road games, and Ekblad's salary hasn't caught up to his recent production.
Defenseman to Avoid:
Colton Parayko, STL at BUF ($23) - The rookie returned from injury with three shots and three blocked shots through 19:35 minutes of ice. Most of his offensive production came with Kevin Shattenkirk out of the lineup, and now that Shattenkirk is back in the fold, Parayko's usage is unknown, and his offensive upside could be limited.
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