Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey: Bargains and values for Friday

by Jason Chen

All eyes likely will be on the Lightning-Penguins matchup Friday night, with two teams trying to salvage their seasons after disappointing starts. The Penguins are finally heading in the right direction with four consecutive wins, and Sidney Crosby is on a tear with 14 points in his last eight games, fully capable of carrying the team in absence of Evgeni Malkin (lower body), who had been their most consistent and best player this season. The Lighting, meanwhile, are also making some noise, winning six of their last seven games, including a 5-4 triumph over the Pens on Jan. 15, thanks to Vladislav Namestnikov's hat-trick.

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The Lighting will give Marc-Andre Fleury all he can handle, but they will also have to provide Ben Bishop with some defensive structure, since the big goalie has fared very poorly against the Pens, posting a career 0-2-0 record with a 4.93 goals-against average and .856 save percentage. History indicates that this game should feature more than a few goals, though the counter-argument is that both teams may concentrate more on limiting the other's team offense and end up slugging it out in a tight-checking, low-scoring game. Given that Pittsburgh's defense isn't very deep and Tampa Bay's not playing to its full potential, I'd bet on seeing some fire-wagon hockey. 

GOALIE

Karri Ramo, CGY vs. CLS ($32) - Defense hasn't been a problem for the Flames lately with just five goals allowed in their last three games, but scoring certainly has. Ramo has stopped 78 of 83 shots during that span, doing his best to give his team a chance to win, and the Blue Jackets are playing the second half of a back-to-back. In their last five games, the Flames have won both of the games in which they scored first, so if the Jackets get the first goal, just hope that Ramo faces a lot of shots at the end of the day. Ramo provides some upside for DFS players wishing to spend their cap elsewhere, and also remember the Flames are one of the best teams at home in the Western Conference. 

Goalie to Avoid:

Ben Bishop, TB vs. PIT ($40) - The last time I recommended a goalie to avoid because their opponent was too good, Roberto Luongo shut out the Blackhawks, so what do I know ... but that doesn't happen too often, right? Right?! Bishop has been one of the league's best recently, but his track record against the Pens isn't very good (see above), and he faces an offense that isn't anything like the conservative outfit Mike Johnston deployed earlier this season. Frederik Andersen ($36) may be the better bet against Arizona. 

CENTER

Sidney Crosby, PIT at TB ($30) - When he's scoring like he is (eight-game points streak, four points in his previous game), there's just no stopping him. Maybe the Pens offense will be easier to fend off with Evgeni Malkin out of the lineup, but it'd be an act of insanity to bet against him, a player who is once again entering the conversation as the league's best player. He's probably the surest thing Friday night. 

Center to Avoid:

Jordan Staal, CAR at WPG ($19) - He just had his four-game points streak snapped Wednesday against Calgary, and even with his 12-point January, Staal is a hard sell. Since leaving Pittsburgh he's been just average offensively, failing to score 20 goals in any season despite recording four in six seasons with the Pens. Ryan Getzlaf ($22) and Mark Scheifele ($21) offer much more upside for just a few dollars more, while Sean Monahan ($17) and Tyler Johnson ($16) provide even better value.

WINGs

Johnny Gaudreau, CGY vs. CLS ($27) - Johnny Hockey's recorded a point in three straight games six times this season, and if he records a point against the Blue Jackets he'll make it seven. Sean Monahan and Gaudreau ran the table against the Hurricanes and could very well do the same Friday, especially with the BJ's coming off a game against Vancouver the night before and still without the services of their top two goalies.

Nikolaj Ehlers, WPG vs. CAR ($18) - This is my bargain pick of the day. The Danish puck wizard is on a five-game points streak with seven points during that span, including his first career hat-trick. Although the odds are stacked against the Jets, don't count them out just yet. Against a mediocre Hurricanes defense and goaltending, Ehlers should do some damage. His playing time has worked against him in the past, but not so anymore. He played a season-high 19:04 against the Devils as recently as Jan. 23 after playing 18:45 in the previous game. 

Wingers to Avoid:

Nick Foligno, CLS at CGY ($22) - Flash in the pan or the real deal? After posting 73 points in 79 games the previous season, Foligno's production has been chopped in half with just 26 points in 43 games. After recording an average shooting percentage of 17.1 over the last two seasons, Foligno's efficiency has dipped to a career-low 5.9 percent. It likely means he'll improve on the six goals he scored prior to the All-Star break, but that turnaround hasn't come yet with just two assists in his last five games. 

Brandon Saad, CLS at CGY ($25) - I'd hate to single out the Blue Jackets because they've got a nice group of top-six players and have unfortunately been on the wrong side of Lady Luck this year, but their wingers just aren't very appetizing. Although he's received some criticism for failing to deliver this season, Saad is actually on pace for another 50-point season, but at that price his production comes at too much of a premium, especially when Ehlers, Nikita Kucherov ($24) and Patric Hornqvist ($23) come slightly cheaper. Cam Atkinson ($22) is the better value play if DFS players are committed to a Blue Jacket; he has five points in his last three games, including a hat-trick effort against Montreal. 

DEFENSE

Kris Letang, PIT at TB ($27) - When healthy Letang's among the league's best and the Lightning defense won't be able to deny him. True, the Lightning have been pretty solid in their own end this year, but the Pens are flying as high as ever this season with Crosby leading the way. Not having Evgeni Malkin will hurt a little, but it shouldn't affect Letang's effectiveness, especially on the power play. Letang had 14 points in January and was named the third star of the month.

Mark Giordano, CGY vs. CLS ($28) - Usually it's not wise to spend all the cap space on defensemen, but Giordano and Letang are clearly two of the best given how well they've been playing. Giordano has seven points in his last six games, and without the services of Dennis Wideman may have to play even more minutes for Bob Hartley. Oliver Ekman-Larsson ($22) could be part of the conversation for Friday's top two defensemen, but he's facing a Ducks squad that's caught fire recently, winning five of their past six. If Giordano is too pricey, T.J. Brodie ($18) is a viable alternative.

Defensemen to Avoid:

Sami Vatanen, ANH vs. ARI ($19) - The Ducks are winning games (finally) but Vatanen hasn't quite jumped aboard yet. The talented Finnish defender has just one assist in his last five games and four shots on goal in his last four games, offering little in terms of peripherals. He's still playing a big role for the Ducks, but until that offense comes a little more consistently, it's best to look elsewhere for options. 

Jaccob Slavin, CAR at WPG ($16) - Slavin has been on the radar of the Blue Line Buzz for some time, but there's a time to be optimistic and a time to be realistic. The fourth-round pick from Colorado College has been a pleasant surprise for the Hurricanes and will be a key piece of their revamped defense, but he also has just one assist in his last six games and just 10 shots on goal in that span. His ice time continues to increase, showcasing Bill Peters' growing trust in him, so believe the hype but just a friendly reminder he's not a Justin Faulk ($18) or even Noah Hanifin ($12). 

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The Penguins are finally heading in the right direction with four consecutive wins, and Sidney Crosby is on a tear with 14 points in his last eight games, fully capable of carrying the team in absence of Evgeni Malkin (lower body), who had been their most consistent and best player this season. The Lighting, meanwhile, are also making some noise, winning six of their last seven games, including a 5-4 triumph over the Pens on Jan. 15, thanks to Vladislav Namestnikov's hat-trick.

[Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey contest now]

The Lighting will give Marc-Andre Fleury all he can handle, but they will also have to provide Ben Bishop with some defensive structure, since the big goalie has fared very poorly against the Pens, posting a career 0-2-0 record with a 4.93 goals-against average and .856 save percentage. History indicates that this game should feature more than a few goals, though the counter-argument is that both teams may concentrate more on limiting the other's team offense and end up slugging it out in a tight-checking, low-scoring game. Given that Pittsburgh's defense isn't very deep and Tampa Bay's not playing to its full potential, I'd bet on seeing some fire-wagon hockey. 

GOALIE

Karri Ramo, CGY vs. CLS ($32) - Defense hasn't been a problem for the Flames lately with just five goals allowed in their last three games, but scoring certainly has. Ramo has stopped 78 of 83 shots during that span, doing his best to give his team a chance to win, and the Blue Jackets are playing the second half of a back-to-back. In their last five games, the Flames have won both of the games in which they scored first, so if the Jackets get the first goal, just hope that Ramo faces a lot of shots at the end of the day. Ramo provides some upside for DFS players wishing to spend their cap elsewhere, and also remember the Flames are one of the best teams at home in the Western Conference. 

Goalie to Avoid:

Ben Bishop, TB vs. PIT ($40) - The last time I recommended a goalie to avoid because their opponent was too good, Roberto Luongo shut out the Blackhawks, so what do I know ... but that doesn't happen too often, right? Right?! Bishop has been one of the league's best recently, but his track record against the Pens isn't very good (see above), and he faces an offense that isn't anything like the conservative outfit Mike Johnston deployed earlier this season. Frederik Andersen ($36) may be the better bet against Arizona. 

CENTER

Sidney Crosby, PIT at TB ($30) - When he's scoring like he is (eight-game points streak, four points in his previous game), there's just no stopping him. Maybe the Pens offense will be easier to fend off with Evgeni Malkin out of the lineup, but it'd be an act of insanity to bet against him, a player who is once again entering the conversation as the league's best player. He's probably the surest thing Friday night. 

Center to Avoid:

Jordan Staal, CAR at WPG ($19) - He just had his four-game points streak snapped Wednesday against Calgary, and even with his 12-point January, Staal is a hard sell. Since leaving Pittsburgh he's been just average offensively, failing to score 20 goals in any season despite recording four in six seasons with the Pens. Ryan Getzlaf ($22) and Mark Scheifele ($21) offer much more upside for just a few dollars more, while Sean Monahan ($17) and Tyler Johnson ($16) provide even better value.

WINGs

Johnny Gaudreau, CGY vs. CLS ($27) - Johnny Hockey's recorded a point in three straight games six times this season, and if he records a point against the Blue Jackets he'll make it seven. Sean Monahan and Gaudreau ran the table against the Hurricanes and could very well do the same Friday, especially with the BJ's coming off a game against Vancouver the night before and still without the services of their top two goalies.

Nikolaj Ehlers, WPG vs. CAR ($18) - This is my bargain pick of the day. The Danish puck wizard is on a five-game points streak with seven points during that span, including his first career hat-trick. Although the odds are stacked against the Jets, don't count them out just yet. Against a mediocre Hurricanes defense and goaltending, Ehlers should do some damage. His playing time has worked against him in the past, but not so anymore. He played a season-high 19:04 against the Devils as recently as Jan. 23 after playing 18:45 in the previous game. 

Wingers to Avoid:

Nick Foligno, CLS at CGY ($22) - Flash in the pan or the real deal? After posting 73 points in 79 games the previous season, Foligno's production has been chopped in half with just 26 points in 43 games. After recording an average shooting percentage of 17.1 over the last two seasons, Foligno's efficiency has dipped to a career-low 5.9 percent. It likely means he'll improve on the six goals he scored prior to the All-Star break, but that turnaround hasn't come yet with just two assists in his last five games. 

Brandon Saad, CLS at CGY ($25) - I'd hate to single out the Blue Jackets because they've got a nice group of top-six players and have unfortunately been on the wrong side of Lady Luck this year, but their wingers just aren't very appetizing. Although he's received some criticism for failing to deliver this season, Saad is actually on pace for another 50-point season, but at that price his production comes at too much of a premium, especially when Ehlers, Nikita Kucherov ($24) and Patric Hornqvist ($23) come slightly cheaper. Cam Atkinson ($22) is the better value play if DFS players are committed to a Blue Jacket; he has five points in his last three games, including a hat-trick effort against Montreal. 

DEFENSE

Kris Letang, PIT at TB ($27) - When healthy Letang's among the league's best and the Lightning defense won't be able to deny him. True, the Lightning have been pretty solid in their own end this year, but the Pens are flying as high as ever this season with Crosby leading the way. Not having Evgeni Malkin will hurt a little, but it shouldn't affect Letang's effectiveness, especially on the power play. Letang had 14 points in January and was named the third star of the month.

Mark Giordano, CGY vs. CLS ($28) - Usually it's not wise to spend all the cap space on defensemen, but Giordano and Letang are clearly two of the best given how well they've been playing. Giordano has seven points in his last six games, and without the services of Dennis Wideman may have to play even more minutes for Bob Hartley. Oliver Ekman-Larsson ($22) could be part of the conversation for Friday's top two defensemen, but he's facing a Ducks squad that's caught fire recently, winning five of their past six. If Giordano is too pricey, T.J. Brodie ($18) is a viable alternative.

Defensemen to Avoid:

Sami Vatanen, ANH vs. ARI ($19) - The Ducks are winning games (finally) but Vatanen hasn't quite jumped aboard yet. The talented Finnish defender has just one assist in his last five games and four shots on goal in his last four games, offering little in terms of peripherals. He's still playing a big role for the Ducks, but until that offense comes a little more consistently, it's best to look elsewhere for options. 

Jaccob Slavin, CAR at WPG ($16) - Slavin has been on the radar of the Blue Line Buzz for some time, but there's a time to be optimistic and a time to be realistic. The fourth-round pick from Colorado College has been a pleasant surprise for the Hurricanes and will be a key piece of their revamped defense, but he also has just one assist in his last six games and just 10 shots on goal in that span. His ice time continues to increase, showcasing Bill Peters' growing trust in him, so believe the hype but just a friendly reminder he's not a Justin Faulk ($18) or even Noah Hanifin ($12). 

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