I didn’t think the Bruins luck in the shootout could get any worse. That was until I saw Brad Marchand‘s attempt last night. How will Toronto fair without Morgan Rielly for upwards of eight weeks? Could Tampa Bay actually win the Atlantic? The Islanders need to right their ship. Could Columbus actually knock on the door of a wildcard spot? The Blues are now sitting atop the league standings. Things are razor-thin in the Pacific Division, with two points separating four teams. Looking forward to Zack Kassian‘s return to the Oilers lineup, which will conveniently occur against Matthew Tkachuk and the Calgary Flames on January 29th. OK, let’s take a look at some DFS options for another packed night in the NHL.
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Center
Brayden Point (TB): $7,000 vs LA
Point’s season got off to a slow start. He began the year on IR, and then could not quite get up to speed in the early going. Perhaps a microcosm of the Tampa Bay season thus far. Nevertheless, Point has really come alive. He has 14 points in his previous 11 games. He is solidified as the top-line center in between Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov. He is also playing the middle on the top power-play unit. After rattling off ten straight wins, Tampa lost an odd game to the Devils this past weekend. I expect them to come back strong tonight against the lowly Kings.
Wing
Dominik Kubalik (CHI): $4,600 @ OTT
The 24-year-old rookie might be playing his way into a Calder nomination. This year he has 16 goals, 10 assists, for 26 points. However, he’s picked up 12 of those points in his last 10 games. Right now, Kubalik is skating on the “top” line alongside Jonathan Toews and John Quenneville. He is also seeing time on the second power-play unit. Tonight the Blackhawks visit the Ottawa Senators, who have surrendered the third-most goals per game in the league. It seems like a good spot for Kubalik to keep this hot streak going.
Brad Marchand (BOS): $7,700 @ CBJ
What happened to Brad Marchand last night may never happen again in the NHL. It was an embarrassing freak accident. For those of you who didn’t see it, Marchand needed to score to keep the shootout going in the fifth round. As he approached the puck, he picked his head up and overskated it. Unfortunately, by rule, because the puck did technically advance, this is a failed attempt. Like him or hate him, Brad Marchand is an extremely prideful player. He is also one of the best players in the league. He has 20 goals, 43 assists, for 63 points in 47 games. He is pacing towards a 110 point season. Call it a “gut instinct” I suppose, but I expect Marchand to bring his very best this evening.
Defense
Tyson Barrie (TOR): $5,500 vs NJ
I think this will be a very popular play in DFS this evening, but I can’t help myself. With the injury to Morgan Rielly, it’s time for Tyson Barrie to take the reins of the Toronto defense. Barrie saw an uptick in production after the exit of Mike Babcock, but I expect him to take it to another level with the increased responsibility. He should assume a full-time role on the top power-play unit, and likely log close to the most minutes on the team. Barrie is in a contract year, and this is the perfect opportunity to show what he can do as the backbone of a defense. New Jersey gives up the second-most goals in the league, and Toronto is coming off an embarrassing loss in Florida this past weekend. Expect a good performance from the team, and from Barrie specifically.
Goalie
Frederik Andersen (TOR): $8,300 vs NJ
Andersen to me was the cheapest option of the elite goaltenders this evening. The Maple Leafs are a massive -260 favorite home to the Devils. Finding wins is paramount, and Andersen has solid peripherals as well, with 21 wins, a 2.82 GAA, and a .912 SV%. The risks are certainly there tonight. The Devils are coming off a shocking win against the Lightning this weekend, breaking their ten-game winning streak. Andersen was pulled in his last time out, and Morgan Rielly is now injured. However, I trust the sportsbooks on this one. The Maple Leafs should win tonight after their embarrassing loss on Sunday.
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Chris Genova is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Chris, check out his archive and follow him @FantasyOneTimer.
