After a nice start to the regular season with frequent slates ranging from five to eight games we now have our second double digit sized slate this week with fourteen games tonight. Just about everyone except for the Seattle Kraken are in play, but if they were actually to throw out a team of managers tonight against some of these teams they could probably score 3 or 4 goals. Scoring remains up everywhere and unlike Tuesday night I would expect a line combination or two to have a massive night somewhere today. Finding that might feel like a challenge, but I am here to guide you along the way.
Every single game that doesn’t involve Canadien teams playing tonight with exception of Tampa Bay vs Carolina is the back-end of a B2B with the same teams. As I have mentioned before, you can give a bump to any home team who lost the previous meeting in their games tonight and for any games which went under in the first meeting, look for a slight offensive bump tonight.
STACKS
Montreal Canadiens
Nick Suzuki – Josh Anderson – Jonathan Drouin
The style of play in this match-up should suit the Canadiens second line quite well. Montreal gets a solid PP boost tonight against a poor Flames PK unit, so look to get either this full line stack in or at least Suzuki/Drouin as they are on the top PP unit along with Shea Weber on defense.
Las Vegas Golden Knights
William Karlsson – Jonathan Marchessault – Alex Pietrangelo
After a game which the Knights started very slow on Tuesday they managed to fight back and send it to OT only losing 5-4. Expect the Knights to come out much stronger today as they’re a better 60 minute team than the Blues and this line should not get shutout two games in a row at home.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Edmonton Oilers
John Tavares – Mitch Marner (TOR) & Leon Draisaitl (EDM)
These two high powered offenses met in Toronto for two games which only combined for 10 goals total in the two games. They’re capable of beating that number in a single game today, and this should be a popular game to target with two fast teams and dynamic skaters. The Tavares/Nylander price tag for a team who is rolling having won three in a row now and should post 4 goals today.
For Edmonton, you can’t go wrong with any of their big 3 forwards, but four straight games with a goal from Leon Draisaitl and he remains cheaper than McDavid, so it’s the logical play today.
Other spots to target if doing multiple lineups
- NY Islanders 2 – Nelson / Bailey
- Pittsburgh 1 – Crosby / Rust / Guentzel
- Dallas 1 – Pavelski / Radulov & pair with Klingberg
POSITIONAL ONE OFFS
These are plays not mentioned as part of the stacks above.
C – Mika Zibanedjad (NYR) – $6,800
I really love this game tonight but it’s a little challenging to just blindly stack it as both teams should get production all over. We finally got our Eichel goal on Tuesday and so I want to get the value that is Zibanejad who is normally an 8k player, but will be discounted until he has that big multi-point game. With the Sabres struggling overall against centers, he should find a way to get it done tonight.
Other top centers: Jack Eichel (BUF), Brock Nelson (NYI), Bo Horvat (VAN), John Tavares (TOR)
Value Centers: Kevin Hayes (PHI), Nick Suzuki (MTL)
W – Taylor Hall (BUF) – $7,600
The reason I didn’t write up a Buffalo full line stack above is because Hall and Eichel alone will cost you similar to what the EDM/TOR game would cost and for correlation purposes I’d rather go there. But make no mistake Hall is someone who has 2G upside today as he’s likely back with Eichel on the top line.
Other top wingers: Ryan Nugent Hopkins (EDM), Alexander Radulov (DAL), Johnny Gaudreau (CGY), Gabriel Landeskog (COL)
Top value wingers: Timo Meier (SJ), Jonathan Marchessault (VGK), Josh Bailey (NYI)
D – Cale Makar (COL) – $6,000
Makar was one of the top rookies in the NHL a year ago, but has yet to find a way to light the lamp in this short season. The other signs are great and the way Colorado is rolling right now it’s only a matter of time before he has a multi-goal outburst. Makar generated 3 assists in their 7-3 drubbing of the Sharks on Tuesday in 20 minutes of ice time, look for another solid outing today.
D – Zach Werenski (CLS) – $4,800
Zach and Seth Jones were up there as my top D the other day along with Klingberg (who is great again tonight) and once again I will lock button in Werenski even though he and the Blue Jackets were poor the other night on defense. Look for a great bounce back for someone who has had a great history against the Panthers.
Other top defenseman: John Klingberg (DAL), Alex Pietrangelo (STL), Jared Spurgeon (MIN), Shea Weber (MTL)
GOALIES
Elvis Merzlikins (Columbus)
Florida just isn’t the same high powered offense this season and Columbus blew a lead the other night before losing in the shootout. I expect Columbus to bounce back and win this one tonight.
Petr Mrazek (Hurricanes)
Mrazek should see a lot of SOG today and with these teams being behind on games played due to COVID-19 protocols we can take a shot on him delivering at a discounted price tag.
SLAP … SHOTS!
LINE LOCK OF THE NIGHT: Nick Suzuki – Josh Anderson – Jonathan Drouin (Canadiens)
ONE OFF STUDS: Mika Zibanejad (Rangers), Taylor Hall (Sabres)
CONTRARIAN ONE OFF: Cale Makar (Avalanche)
ONE OFF VALUE WINGER: Josh Bailey (Islanders)
TOP DEFENSE-MAN: Cale Makar (Avalanche)
GPP FADE TEAM OF THE NIGHT:
FAVORITE BETS:
- Flames/Canadiens O6
- Rangers/Sabres O6
- Leafs/Oilers O6.5
- Columbus ML (-117)