Mike Babcock has paid the price in Toronto. It’s panic mode down the road in Buffalo. Dallas has run off to an 8-1-1 streak that puts them back in a Wild Card spot. Can Arizona hold their playoff position? As we inch towards American Thanksgiving, things are starting to shape up. Let’s take a look at another busy Thursday night in NHL DFS.
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Center
Auston Matthews (TOR): $8,500 @ ARI
This one just writes itself, doesn’t it? Matthews is returning to his hometown in Arizona. The Maple Leafs have fired Mike Babcock. Seems like a good recipe to me.
One major change I expect Sheldon Keefe makes will be to Matthews’ minutes. Babcock was often criticized for not allowing him to skate upwards of 22 minutes a night. This should change.
Kyle Dubas has now used his one hammer in firing the coach. The players must realize it’s now or never for this season. That starts with Matthews. Not to mention, he has 14 goals and 27 points in 23 games as it is.
Wing
Andre Burakovsky (COL): $5,000 @ MIN
It has been well documented that the Colorado Avalanche have been decimated by injuries. Nathan MacKinnon has lost both of his wingers in Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog. The positive thing is that between MacKinnon’s utter dominance and the impressive contributions of replacements Andre Burakovsky and Joonas Donskoi, this line has not missed a beat.
Burakovsky has scored in three straight games, with six points over that span. He is solidified on the top power-play unit and he should chip in with shots on goal as well. Minnesota surrenders 3.33 goals per game, so expect the Avalanche to get on the board with involvement from the top line.
Andrei Svechnikov (CAR): $6,600 vs. PHI
Svechnikov was selected second overall by the Hurricanes in 2018. The 19-year-old Russian chipped in last season with a modest 37 points, but he looks ready to break out this year.
He is averaging over a point per game with 23 points in 21 games. A big piece of that is his power-play contributions, where he already has nine points on the man advantage. He’s particularly hot lately, riding a five-game point streak with eight points over that span. I don’t see him slowing down any time soon.
Defense
Matt Grzelcyk (BOS): $4,000 vs. BUF
When Torey Krug went out, it was Matt Grzelcyk that was promoted into the top power-play unit. It took a little time, but now it looks like he’s ready to flourish. He has three points in his previous three games, chipping in with several shots and blocks as well. He’s coming off his first two-goal performance of his career and is averaging over 20 minutes a night, so I anticipate him to stay hot against Buffalo tonight. Torey Krug looks to return on Saturday.
Nate Schmidt (VGK): $4,400 vs. SJS
Schmidt got a late start to this season due to injury. He has chipped in eight points in 11 games since returning, including a four-point night against the Flames on Sunday. You can count on Schmidt to shoot the puck and block shots. He is playing well over 20 minutes a night and is quarterbacking the top power-play unit.
The Sharks come to town surrendering the fifth-most goals per game in the league with 3.55. Vegas is starting to turn it up and I expect Schmidt to be involved tonight against the Sharks.
Goalie
Joonas Korpisalo (CBJ): $7,600 vs. DET
Korpisalo has played well of late, with a .922 SV% and 2.3 GAA in the month of November. He has won three of his last four. The Red Wings are in town and the Blue Jackets are heavily favored at -175. The under is juiced at u6 -120, so it’s not expected to be a high scoring affair. Of the “bargain” options, I think Korpisalo is the best bet.
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Chris Genova is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Chris, check out his archive and follow him @FantasyOneTimer.