Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey: Wednesday picks
By Chris Morgan
It’s a pretty typical Wednesday in the NHL. There are three games on the schedule, which is more than Monday’s two, but it still doesn’t leave daily fantasy players with many options. There will still be some players to avoid, and some to target, though, which is what we’re here for…
GOALIE
Chad Johnson, CGY vs. TOR ($26): The goalie selection isn’t great Wednesday, but here’s why we are high on Johnson: For starters, while he struggled in his last start he’s raised his save percentage to .922 on the season. Secondly, the Maple Leafs will be on their second night of a back-to-back, which means Jhonas Enroth is projected to start, and he’s currently sporting a .866 save percentage. That said, Johnson is the cheapest goalie available in a matchup with a good shot for a win.
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GOALIE TO AVOID
Aaron Dell, SAN at LOS ($32): Dell has been great this year with a .931 save percentage. However, he’s only played in four games. Not just four games this season, mind you, but four games total in the NHL. He’s almost a blank slate. The Sharks will be on the second night of a back-to-back on the road taking on the Kings. As the second most expensive goalie, Dell is a risky proposition.
CENTER
John Tavares, NYI vs. PIT ($25): Tavares is a bit on the pricier side, but not so much that it makes selecting him a burden, especially since Marc-Andre Fleury, who has a 3.38 GAA and a .901 save percentage, is projected to be in net for the Penguins. Tavares is a former Hart finalist who has 17 points in 21 games and is very reliable, which makes it easier to spend a few extra bucks on him.
CENTER TO AVOID
Joe Thornton, SAN at LOS ($17): Thornton is still a playmaker (he has 11 assists) but that’s about all he’s done. In addition to having only two goals, Thornton has only taken 23 shots on net in 23 games. The Kings are ninth in goals allowed, and they’d be even better without Jeff Zatkoff’s numbers pulling them down, so Thornton isn’t a great option Wednesday.
WING
Conor Sheary, PIT at NYI ($18): Injuries to Patric Hornqvist and Chris Kunitz have pushed Sheary up the depth chart. In his last three games, for example, he’s played over three minutes a night on the power play. The Islanders are 24th in goals allowed, and 21st in penalty-kill percentage, which bodes well for Sheary in his increased role.
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Josh Bailey, NYI vs. PIT ($15): While the Islanders have been lackluster offensively, at least Bailey can chalk it up in part to bad luck. He’s taken 42 shots on goal and only lit the lamp three times, which gives him the lowest shooting percentage of his career — suggesting an uptick. Plus, he has nine assists and averages more than three minutes per game on the power play, so with a bit more luck, Bailey could really pay off at this price.
WINGS TO AVOID
Patrick Marleau, SAN at LOS ($17): Marleau, unlike some other veterans, can’t seem to capture his former glory anymore. While he has six goals, he’s playing more than two fewer minutes per game, and his power-play time is way down too. The Kings are a stout defensive team, and Peter Budaj has performed well in Jonathan Quick’s stead, making this an unfavorable matchup for the 37-year-old.
Tanner Pearson, LOS vs. SAN ($17): While we don’t know if Aaron Dell is necessarily for real, the Sharks are third in goals allowed and 10th in penalty-kill percentage. It’s not exactly an easy matchup for the Kings. Pearson got off to a hot start after starting the season with a two-game suspension, but he’s cooled down recently, especially in terms of shots on net. He’s only registered three in the last four games which doesn’t bode well for fantasy purposes.
DEFENSEMEN
Jake Gardiner, TOR at CGY ($15): The Flames are the second worst team in the NHL when it comes to the penalty kill. Gardiner averages about two-and-a-half minutes per game with the extra man, which puts him in a nice spot if Calgary gets into penalty trouble. In addition, he has four goals and nine points in total, and he’s notched 31 points in two of his last three seasons.
Nick Leddy, NYI vs. PIT ($14): Speaking of bad penalty kills, the Penguins are only slightly better than the Flames at 28th overall. Leddy plays 3:19 a night on the power play, and he usually receives around 23 minutes in total. In addition to taking 42 shots on goal, he’s blocked 33 shots which could come into play against a team bursting with firepower.
DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID
Calvin de Haan, NYI vs. PIT ($16): De Haan won’t be taking advantage of Pittsburgh’s penalty kill issues, as he doesn’t play on the power play. He also doesn’t contribute much offensively (one goal) but blocks a lot of shots. That said, would you really want to pay more for de Haan than either Gardiner or Leddy? You can find better value elsewhere.
Jake Muzzin, LOS vs. SAN ($16): Muzzin has slipped behind Drew Doughty and Alec Martinez in production this season. While he’s had at least 40 points in his last two seasons, he only has six points through 22 games. The Sharks are a formidable foe in what will likely be a heated rivalry game, making Muzzin one to avoid Wednesday.
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