Fantasy picks: Erik Karlsson due for big game
Senators defenseman could break out against Predators, among Nov. 8 DFS targets
By
Ben Zweiman @BZweimanNHL / NHL.com Staff Writer
C -- Sidney Crosby, PIT ($7,800)
Crosby will face off against Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers for the first time Tuesday, so he'll want to show the 19-year-old that he's still the best in the NHL. The Pittsburgh Penguins captain probably wouldn't be happy to learn that McDavid costs $400 more than him in DraftKings even though Crosby has eight goals and two assists on a six-game point streak. There's no reason Crosby's price tag should be this low, and there's no reason he shouldn't be in your lineup. He's averaging 6.6 DraftKings points per contest over the streak.
C -- Travis Zajac, NJD ($4,400)
Zajac had an assist against the Carolina Hurricanes in a 4-1 win on Sunday and is on a three-game point streak (one goal, two assists). The New Jersey Devils get the Hurricanes at home Tuesday, and Carolina likely will be without top defenseman Justin Faulk. Although a lot of Zajac's production comes on the power play, which the Hurricanes are great at killing off (87.9 percent; sixth in NHL), the center plays in all situations and is second among New Jersey forwards in average ice time (19:25). If the Devils offense clicks against the Hurricanes again, Zajac could be a solid play in tournaments considering his low price.
W -- Jamie Benn, DAL ($6,800)
The Dallas Stars continue to struggle (1-3-2 in their past six games) but get a soft matchup against the Winnipeg Jets, who have allowed 12 goals in their past three games. Benn has five assists in his past four games and has seven goals and 18 points in 19 career games against the Jets. Since Oct. 27, Benn's cost has dropped $1,000, but he's still the same player that was a Hart Trophy finalist last season with 89 points in 82 games. Chances are his eight-game goal drought will come to an end, and he has the upside to produce elite DraftKings points at a bargain price.
W -- Mikko Rantanen, COL ($3,800)
Since being recalled from the American Hockey League, Rantanen has averaged 18:03 of ice time in six games. That amount of playing time hasn't translated into points, but Rantanen has been generating shots on goal (14), with at least two in each game. The Colorado Avalanche have struggled to score since Oct. 20 but get the Arizona Coyotes, who are last in the League in goals-against per game (3.82). This could be the game Rantanen breaks out, making him a decent home-run play in tournaments.
D -- Erik Karlsson, OTT ($7,300)
Karlsson is due. Normally, the Ottawa Senators defenseman would be closer in salary to top-priced defenseman Brent Burns ($8,300), but he hasn't produced at the same level as last season. Karlsson does, however, have back-to-back games of five blocked shots, and the Nashville Predators are ninth in the League in shots-against per game (31.4). The Predators also have struggled to kill penalties (75.7 percent; 27th), and Karlsson usually makes his money on the power play. A multipoint night with a high volume of SOG and blocks seems likely for Karlsson against Nashville.
D -- Noah Hanifin, CAR ($4,000)
With Faulk going for an MRI and unlikely to play against the Devils, Hanifin will have to step up, particularly on the power play. Faulk leads the Hurricanes in ice time on the man-advantage (3:18 per game), and Hanifin (2:08 on PP) would be bumped up to the top unit and could see more than 20:00 of ice time overall. Hanifin assisted on Carolina's only goal in a 4-1 loss to New Jersey on Sunday and has three SOG in two of his past three games. Points may be hard to come by against the Devils, but the opportunity is there for Hanifin to provide value as a No. 1 defenseman for bargain pricing.
G -- Braden Holtby, WSH ($8,100)
It's surprising to see Holtby as the third-highest priced goaltender for Tuesday contests, particular with a great matchup against the San Jose Sharks, who have scored four goals during a three-game losing streak. Holtby has allowed eight goals and has made 110 saves on 118 shots (.932 save percentage) on a four-game winning streak. San Jose is fourth in the NHL in shots per game (31.9), so Holtby should get plenty of saves with a high win probability; the Capitals are 4-1-0 at home.
G -- Frederik Andersen, TOR ($7,500)
After Andersen struggled to start his first season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he has rebounded nicely. In his past five games, Andersen is 4-1-0 and has made saves on 167 of 177 shots (.944 save percentage). The Maple Leafs have been providing Andersen with plenty of goal support (11 goals in past three games), and the Los Angeles Kings are 28th in the League in goals per game (2.25). It's unlikely Andersen keeps Los Angeles off the scoreboard, but he should face plenty of shots. The Maple Leafs are at home, and the Kings are 1-4-0 on the road this season.
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