DailyFaceoff DFS Cheat Sheet – January 25th
Tonight is the second last day before the NHL All Star break and there are four games.
- There is a Centennial Classic rematch in Detroit, which hopefully the whole game is as good as that third period and overtime were.
- Henrik Lundqvist, who has won three in a row will look to make it four vs. the Flyers.
- Two bottom feeders will do battle in Colorado as the Avalanche host the Canucks.
- Finally, John Gibson should be back in goal as the Ducks welcome Connor McDavid and the Oilers to town.
This Cheat Sheet includes DraftKings and FanDuel salary as well as SaberSim dfs projections. These projections don’t tell you exactly what’s going to happen. One game samples have too much randomness to pin down exact predictions. Rather, the projections represent what a player’s performance would look like on average if that particular matchup were played over and over again. There is a wide range of possible outcomes, and the projections represent the average of those possibilities for each player.
Forwards
Mats Zuccarello – vs. PHI – (DK-$6,600 / FD-$6,700)
SaberSim Projection: DK-3.81 / FD-13.78
Zuccarello has been on a tear recently, at least in terms of helpers. Zuccarello scored on Monday and has picked up nine points (1G / 8A) in his last eight games and has also averaged an impressive 3.75 shots on goal per game over that span. The Rangers top line is clicking and they draw a strong matchup tonight vs. the Flyers. Steve Mason has had a tough time keeping the puck out of his net, making Zuccarello, Derek Stepan (DK-$6,700 / FD-$6,700) and Chris Kreider (DK-$6,500 / FD-$6,800) good plays tonight.
Nathan MacKinnon – vs. VAN – (DK-$5,700 / FD-$7,200)
SaberSim Projection: DK-3.86 / FD-13.82
MacKinnon is riding a five-game goalless drought, while picking up four assists and firing 20 shots (4.0 S/PG) on goal. His shot volume is high and it won’t be long before he gets back in the goal column. The Avalanche are a bottom feeder, but MacKinnon is a solid play with a digestible salary—not to mention they will face Jacob Markstrom, who has given up 2.48 goals per game en route to a 3-7-1 record on the road this season.
Andreas Athanasiou – vs. TOR – (DK-$4,500 / FD-$4,700)
SaberSim Projection: DK-3.24 / FD-11.67
Athanasiou has speed for days and he comes into Wednesday playing very well. The 22-year-old has scored six goals with three assists (nine points) in his last 10 games and is coming off of a career-high 19:06 TOI last night. With Dylan Larkin out and Anthony Mantha struggling, Athanasiou should see big minutes again and the potential return of Thomas Vanek make him an even more intriguing option tonight.
Zach Hyman – @ DET – (DK-$4,400 / FD-$5,000)
SaberSim Projection: DK-2.12 / FD-7.54
Hyman has two goals in his last three games and has averaged 2.57 shots on goal per game in his last seven. Hyman is averaging around 17:00 TOI per game alongside rookie sensation Auston Matthews (DK-$7,400 / FD-$7,800), who leads the Maple Leafs in goals. Hyman has two assists in the Centennial Classic vs. Detroit and he is a strong value play tonight.
Defensemen
Mike Green – vs. TOR – (DK-$5,000 / FD-$5,200)
SaberSim Projection: DK-2.58 / FD-9.12
Green has been great since returning to the Red Wings lineup and has picked up two goals, four assists and is averaging 2.38 shots and 1.75 blocks in eight games. Green is really the Red Wings’ only offensive threat from the blueline and sees heavy minutes on their power play, even if it’s an anemic power play. Green has as much upside as almost every defenseman, but comes with a much lower salary than the “elite.”
Mark Streit – @ NYR – (DK-$4,000 / FD-$4,400)
SaberSim Projection: DK-1.40 / FD-4.88
Streit has picked up two assists, nine shots (2.25 S/PG) and four blocks (1.0 BS/PG) in four games since returning to the Flyers’ blueline. Streit plays big minutes on the Flyers’ blueline and with Michael Del Zotto out, Streit will continue to anchor their second power play unit. He is a talented offensive defenseman and a strong value play on the blueline.
Martin Marincin – @ DET – (DK-$3,100 / FD-$3,600)
SaberSim Projection: DK-1.43 / FD-4.89
Marincin isn’t known for his offensive prowess, but with Morgan Rielly out he is playing 20-plus minutes a night right now. Marincin has two shots and eight blocks in two games since returning to the lineup. He is extremely cheap and a big time shot blocker. Tonight’s game should be high scoring, giving Marincin plenty of opportunities to pick up a helper or two during his 20 minutes of ice-time.
Goalies
Henrik Lundqvist – vs. PHI – (DK-$8,200 / FD-$8,900)
SaberSim Projection: DK-5.31 / FD-21.26
Lundqvist allowed just two goals on 38 shots in the Rangers win over the Kings on Monday. After a number of tough starts, Lundqvist has now won three in a row while turning aside 80 of 84 shots (.952 SV%) including one shutout. Lundqvist appears to have turned a corner and tonight he faces a Flyers team that has lost five of their last seven games. He is also 2-0-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .946 SV% in two games vs. Philadelphia this season.
Frederik Andersen – @ DET – (DK-$7,800 / FD-$8,800)
SaberSim Projection: DK-4.51 / FD-18.06
Andersen is coming off of a 26-save shutout and tonight he’ll face a Red Wings team that basically has no power play and has been extremely inconsistent from night-to-night. Andersen walked away with the win in the Centennial Classic, but will be looking to limit the damage at Joe Louis Arena tonight.