We’ve got a 13 game slate this evening, with Vegas looking for eight of those games predicted to see 5.5 goals or more. Here are some of the picks for my daily DraftKings lineup:
San Jose @ Columbus
Joe Thorton $5,600
Logan Couture $6,200
This game is projected to see 5.5 goals with San Jose slated to hit 2.95 goals scored. Columbus looked a bit shaky against Boston a few nights ago, but this isn’t Boston, this is San Jose coming in with a chip on their shoulder.
Thorton and Couture have been in fine form, and have their legs since both played in the World Cup coming home with the Gold for Canada. Tonight I want to split my players to give me exposure to both lines, but they do share the first power play unit together.
San Jose was a monster on the road last year and looks to pick up where they left off. This game could see upwards of 7 goals, easily.
(Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire)
NY Islanders @ Washington
Alex Ovechkin $8,400
Alexander Burakovsky $4,400
Braden Holtby $8,300
The Capitals are at home and projected to score 3.14 goals against a sub-par Islanders team that is sporting a 2.36 goals projection tonight. There is a a lot to be said about the power of a home crowd’s enthusiasm and its effect on play.
Ovechkin is expensive but he shoots the puck in his sleep. Coupled with playing at home tonight, that should be enough for a ten-shot, multiple-goals evening. Paying up for him but splitting the difference with the rostering of Burakovsky from the second line is the attack I like here. They share the same power play so there is the likelihood of congruent point sharing as well.
The Islanders are looking a projection in this game of 2.38 goals, so I think that slotting in Holtby is the strongest play. His high price also means most people won’t pay up for him. He is playing at home and is looking to avenge an a shootout loss to the Penguins. More fuel to the fire in this case.
(Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire)
Philadelphia @ Arizona
Jacob Voracek $6,300
Michael Raffl $3,800
Mark Streit $4,100
Finally with forwards I want to shoot out West, for the Flyers playing the Arizona Coyotes. We all remember how those games went last year. Yep, I’m picking on them again. Yes, yes, Mike Smith is in net, but I’m betting on the young kids being a bundle of nerves in their home opener. The Flyers are projected to score 2.78 goals and I think they will hit that mark and beyond.
I want to slot in Voracek here with Michael Raffl to set myself up to get points from both lines. You can also slot in Travis Konectny from the same line as Voracek, but then you limit yourself to only one line. It does get you the different power play units, so its really a judgment call. I went with differentiating lines here to cover more ground.
On the back end I am sticking with the Flyers and Mark Streit who is back and healthy and at a good price for the time on ice he garners plus the power play and the fact he plays with another top-notch young defenseman in Ivan Provorov. Look for the playmaker in Streit to start shining through.
New Jersey @ Tampa Bay
Yohann Auvitu $2,700
Our final defenseman is the Finnish Flash part two. This kid is fantastic, and for the Devils to trade Adam Larrson knowing they had this kid tells you how much faith they have in him. Against the Florida Panthers, he played 17-plus minutes and had power play time. For his price it’s a no brainer, plus it really differentiates yourself from everyone in a cash game.
