Sidney Crosby takes on what’s become an exploitable Montreal defense
Good afternoon to all my friends and followers. What a last few days of NHL hockey we have had. Yesterday alone must have been national “leave your goalie at home” day. Goals were plentiful to say the least. Tonight we have a small slate in which to build a cash game lineup with. I will give you a lineup that can be used in most 50/50 and Double Up games on FanDuel. Each player will also include a brief description. Please feel free to use this lineup as-is or change it to make it your own.
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Center
Sidney Crosby (PIT): $9,300 @ Montreal
Crosby is the biggest star in the NHL and one of the most consistent DFS players today. A month or two ago I might have worried about this game due to Price playing lights out. Now it seems like his lights are out. Crosby had a goal and three assists in his last game and a goal an seven assists in his last five. I feel Crosby will control this game and score two goals.
Connor McDavid (EDM): $8,800 vs Florida
McDavid has yet to score a goal in 2017. McDavid gets to face the Panthers and their 22nd ranked defense. The two story lines in this game will be Roberto Luongo going for career win 450, and the fact McDavid has scored only 19 of his league-leading 51 points at home. He will have as good of a game as Crosby in order to maintain his league lead over Crosby.
Wing
Leon Draisaitl (EDM): $6,800 vs Florida
We are using Draisatil for two big reasons. He is on McDavid’s line, and he has three goals and two assists in his last five games. His game has really taken a big upswing once placed with McDavid. I feel a big game is coming for him tonight with a goal and two assists while taking three shots on goal.
Conor Sheary (PIT): $5,600 @ Montreal
Like Draisatl, Sheary is Crosby’s most productive linemate. With four goals and two assists (two goals in his last game), Sheary has found a home on the Pens top line. He will help Crosby inch closer to the NHL lead in points with two more assists tonight while adding a few shots on net.
Gustav Nyquist (DET): $4,900 vs Boston
Nyquist is an up and down player, but he has hit a bit of a hot streak. In two of the last three games that Coreau has started in net, Nyquist has two goals and three assists. Could it be a direct correlation? Maybe. Nyquist looks more comfortable when he has faith in his goalie. I foresee a goal and four shots on net with a blocked shot.
Alex Burmistrov (ARI): $3,400 vs Winnipeg
This is a punt play of all punt plays. Yet there is a method to this madness. Burmistrov is a former first-round draft pick of the Jets, and he never showed his worth. He has yet to score this season, but this is a revenge game for him. He wants to prove to the Jets that they made a mistake. I think he gets his first goal of the season while leading the team in ice time. He’s a great GPP punt play as well.
Defense
Toby Enstrom (WPG): $4,000 @ Arizona
The good thing about using Winnipeg defensive players is that the Coyotes are the worst team in the NHL in stoping defensive players. Enstrom averages nearly 23 mins of ice time and near 1.5 blocks per game. Tonight he will add an assist and three shots on net, giving us around 14.5 points, nearly five points above his average.
Nathan Beaulieu (MON): $4,300 vs Pittsburgh
Like Enstrom above, I am attacking one the NHL’s worst teams in stopping opposing defensive players. The Pens rank 24th in the NHL, and this bodes well for Beaulieu. He wants to reverse his last game, which had him dropped to the third defensive pairing mid-game, dropping his ice time to 15 minutes. I hope he got the message and comes out firing. I figure him to block four shots, have three shots on net and chip in an assist.
Goalie
“Always check before lock to verify your goalie is starting”
Jared Coreau (DET): $7,900 vs Boston
Most people will see he is playing Boston and their high-powered offfense and will fade him. Look at his stats, though, and you will understand why I am not. He just shutout the Montreal Canadians and also best the Penguins the game before that. He has two shutouts in his last four games with a 1.50 GAA and a. 926 save percentage. I think he surprises the Bruins and keeps them at bay. I feel he will have 32 saves on 34 shots and get the win, giving us 29.6 points. Consider him for your GPPs as well.
I want to wish everyone good luck, and remember if you have any questions please feel free to contact me on Twitter.
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James Capone is a correspondent for FantasyPros. For more from James, find his work at www.draftshot.com and follow him @MrPucks77.
