Nine games round out Tuesday’s NHL slate, offering dozens of prospects to sift through. Only three games were played on Sunday, but Boston and New Jersey each scored seven goals in dominant, high-scoring wins. After enduring a bit of a losing skid, Toronto held off Washington 5-3 for their third straight win, whereas the Capitals have now dropped three in a row. If the amount of scoring on Tuesday is anything close to what transpired on Sunday, there will be a lot of players who produce. However, this often means DFS lineups will only cash if you wind up rostering at least two or three top performers. In contrast, you can get by with rostering only one top performer on slates that lack massive offensive production.
My recommendations from Saturday ended up going .500 in terms of points and wins, which I will certainly take. Jeremy Swayman (G – BOS) and Cal Petersen (G – LAK) were solid in the net and led their team to decisive victories. Anze Kopitar (C – LAK) and Andre Burakovsky (LW – COL) each produced a point, including Burakovsky scoring a goal on his only shot, while Sam Bennett (C – FLA) sprayed six shots on goal to raise his floor despite failing to show up in the point column. On the other hand, Alex Ovechkin (LW – WAS), Thomas Chabot (D – – OTT), and Dante Fabbro (D – NAS) were disappointing and did little to show up in the stat sheet. Overall, the goaltending came through at a good value, while a few skaters did enough to satiate lineups.
I’ve found eight prospects who present good value and high-upside during Tuesday’s slate. Use one or more of them to build a strong foundation when constructing DFS lineups and save some money to use on a blue-chip ace player. Let’s jump in!
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Recommended Plays: DraftKings
DraftKings maximum salary is set at $50,000
Jack Hughes (C – NJ): $6,100
Riding a hot hand, 20-year old Jack Hughes has been the leading force behind New Jersey’s recent offensive prowess. The Devils have scored at least five goals in three straight games, and Hughes has been the focal point, generating four consecutive multi-point outings entering Tuesday’s road contest in Columbus. Hughes will attempt anywhere from two to five shots on goal and earns additional minutes on the Devils’ top powerplay unit, affording him frequent scoring opportunities. Hughes has only played 33 games but is second on the team in total points (38) and has the second-most goals scored (16) behind only Jesper Bratt (RW – NJ). Hughes will face Columbus’ third-string netminder Jean-Francois Berube (G – CBJ), who has surrendered at least three goals in each of his previous four starts. The Blue Jackets have limited defense, meaning Hughes should be a frequent flyer in the offensive zone, leading to his fifth consecutive multi-point game on Tuesday night. Hughes should be considered a blue-chip prospect, but his $6,100 salary is severely undervalued, so take advantage and plug him into lineups.
Cam Atkinson (RW – PHI): $5,700
Cam Atkinson’s first year in Philadelphia has been challenging, as the Flyers rank last in the Metropolitan Division with a 3-5-2 record across their last ten games played. The 32-year old winger skates on the first-line attack and top powerplay unit, which is why he is tied first for most points (39) alongside longtime Flyers veteran Claude Giroux (C – PHI). Atkinson just ended a rough three-game point drought with a two-point outing against Washington on Saturday, which included his 18th goal of the season. The Flyers do not have a potent attack and lack depth, so Atkinson draws most of the scoring or assist opportunities. He will face Edmonton goaltender Mike Smith (G – EDM) on Tuesday night, which gives Atkinson some appeal. Smith had one of his better performances against Carolina in his last start on Sunday, surrendering two goals on 29 shots. He has surrendered four goals in four separate starts in February, allowing Atkinson to build on his momentum from the weekend. Atkinson is a good value at $5,700, so plug him into lineups against a leaky goaltender.
Mikhail Sergachev (D – TB): $5,000
If you’re seeking a gritty assist machine, look no further than Mikhail Sergachev. The 23-year old defenseman earns minutes on the third defensive line and the second powerplay unit for the Lightning, but he is a hard-nosed grinder with elite vision in the offensive zone. Sergachev has three assists across his last three games played and took five shots on goal to elevate his finish despite not producing a point against Nashville during the outdoor stadium series this past weekend. In addition, Sergachev has at least two blocked shots in three of his previous five games and has attempted five or more shots on goal three times during this stretch. Sergachev benefits from skating on such a talented, deep roster, so take the value and the high floor he offers and insert him into lineups against an inferior opponent like the Ottawa Senators. Goaltender Matt Murray (G – OTT) surrendered four goals in a loss when he faced the Lightning in November, so Sergachev should produce quality numbers.
Nico Daws (G – NJ): $7,500
21-year old goaltender Nico Daws has seemingly burst onto the scene out of nowhere. He’s 3-1 in four starts for New Jersey this season and has been in the net during a 6-1 win against Pittsburgh and another 7-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night. He may be a bit tired, but the Columbus Blue Jackets have only managed to score two goals across their last two games played, so it’s the perfect time for Daws to build on his momentum against a low-scoring opponent. Plus, the Devils have been pouring in goals left and right, taking a lot of stress and pressure off of Daws by staying busy in the offensive zone. At $7,500, he is perhaps the best goaltender value on the nine-game slate. Take advantage and plug Daws into DFS lineups with confidence.
Recommended Plays: FanDuel
FanDuel maximum salary is set at $55,000
Jack Eichel (C – VGK): $5,900
After being sidelined with a neck injury, 25-year old star center Jack Eichel has begun to heat up for the Vegas Golden Knights. After spending all of his career seemingly wasting away in Buffalo, Eichel was traded to Vegas but only began earning minutes on February 16th. Since then, Eichel has had three assists and a goal, increasing his shot volume to total 12 shots on goal across his last three games played. He will get a relatively plus-matchup against San Jose goaltender James Reimer (G – SJ), who has been good for letting up three goals per game for much of the season. He did perform well in a 3-1 win over Seattle on Sunday, racking up 39 saves. Yet, the Kraken are a much lower-caliber team than the Golden Knights. Eichel also benefits from the personnel surrounding him on the first-line attack and top powerplay unit, so it’s a no-brainer to invest in his upside against the Sharks at home on Tuesday night.
Andrew Mangiapane (LW – CGY): $6,700
Andrew Mangiapane continues to be the leading goal-scorer for Calgary, as he has notched goals in back-to-back games against Vancouver and Minnesota. After hosting the Wild over the weekend, the Flames will travel to Minnesota to play them in the second game of the series doubleheader on Tuesday night. Mangiapane attempted at least four shots on goal in three of his previous four games, but he did not face Cam Talbot (G – MIN) in the net on Saturday, which presents a new obstacle to overcome. Talbot has been pretty good at times for the Wild, but he has allowed at least four goals in each of his previous three starts, which strongly appeals to rostering Mangiapane. He’s a talented player and has a knack for scoring goals, as he has a 3:1 goal to assist ratio. He’s a value even at $6,700, so plug Mangiapane into lineups for his goal-scoring ability against a goaltender going through some struggles at the moment.
Neal Pionk (D – WPG): $4,700
Winnipeg may not have the roster built to contend with the Western Conference powerhouses. Still, second-line defenseman Neal Pionk has been a steady contributor to their offense as of late. The 26-year old also earns additional minutes on the second powerplay unit for the Jets, which has allowed him to accrue 21 assists thus far. Pionk has at least one blocked shot in each of his last five games, which is more consistent than his fluctuating low shot volume. His knack for setting up scoring possessions is his primary appeal, as it should be with most defensemen. At under $5,000 on FanDuel, I like Pionk to return good value against Montreal at home on Tuesday night. Canadiens’ goaltender Samuel Montembeault did log his first shutout of the season against Buffalo in his last start, but he has a 3.53 GAA in 25 games played this season. Pionk should remain busy and find a way to earn his 22nd assist of the season.
Frederik Andersen (G – CAR): $8,200
Carolina overhauled their goaltending this offseason, and it appears to be paying off in a big way. 32-year old Frederik Andersen has made a seamless transition from defending the crease in Toronto to his new home with the Hurricanes, boasting a 2.03 GAA in 38 games played. He just logged his third shutout of the season against Columbus last week and has not allowed more than three goals since a 4-3 loss to Toronto back on February 7th. Factor in the talented offense skating in front of him, and Andersen becomes an obvious play against a Detroit team that has lost three of their last four games played. Andersen’s previous outing against the Red Wings resulted in a 5-3 win, where he faced 26 shots on goal, so expect a similar finish from Andersen in Hockeytown on Tuesday night.
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Matthew MacKay is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @Matt_MacKay_.
