The National Hockey League has nine games scheduled for Tuesday’s slate, creating ample opportunity to construct winning DFS lineups. Saturday’s recommendations fared well, as five of the eight prospects wound up with at least one point or a goaltender win. Specifically, Brayden Schenn (C – STL) and Andrew Mangiapane (LW – CGY) wound up combining for a goal and two assists, while both were available to roster at under a $7,000 salary. While it’s important to always seek out a blue-chip player who can return value despite the high salary, many lineups are determined by mid-tier players and their associated value on DraftKings and FanDuel.
I like to focus on matchups where oddsmakers expect at least six total goals to be scored. Tuesday’s slate features six games with odds that either favor over six total goals scored or have the over/under set at 6.5 goals. It’s easier to list the matchups that predict a lower goal total, such as Boston at the New York Rangers, Buffalo hosting the New York Islanders, and Washington at Nashville. This is not to suggest avoiding players in these particular games. Instead, it’s a friendly reminder to exercise caution whenever you’re exploring players within these three matchups.
Here are some of my favorite prospects to target when constructing DFS lineups ahead of Tuesday’s nine-game slate.
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Recommended Plays: DraftKings
DraftKings maximum salary is set at $50,000
Sidney Crosby (C – PIT): $7,400
Generational talents are rare. Sidney Crosby continues to beat “Father time” with the incredible skillset he possesses in his 16th season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Crosby has played six fewer games than Jake Guentzel (LW – PIT) but is only six points (44) behind Jake Guentzel as the team’s point leader. Crosby earns additional minutes on the top powerplay unit, but I’m fascinated by the recent stretch of production he’s generated. Crosby has a six-game point streak intact heading into Tuesday’s home game against Carter Hart (G – PHI) and the Philadelphia Flyers. This streak includes two goals and four multi-point finishes. At under $7,500 salary on DraftKings, Crosby becomes a massive value and a must-add prospect in lineups on Tuesday night.
Alex Tuch (RW – BUF): $4,900
Alex Tuch is a 25-year old first-line winger playing in his first season with the Buffalo Sabres. This season, Tuch has only played 15 games, but he’s already tied fifth in assists (11) and has six goals to match. He earns additional minutes on the Sabres’ top powerplay unit, and he’s been on a tear in the last four weeks, scoring five goals and nine assists across 12 games since January 13th. The New York Islanders will deploy Ilya Sorokin (G – NYI) to defend the crease on Tuesday, which gives Tuch an even greater appeal in DFS lineups. Sorokin has allowed at least three goals in four of his previous five starts, leading to a 2-3 record. You will hardly ever encounter a talented first-line winger available under a $5,000 salary, so take advantage of the value and insert Tuch into lineups.
Adam Fox (D – NYR): $5,700
The return of one of the New York Rangers’ best players is a notable occurrence to track. 23-year old Adam Fox has been a great draft pick for the Rangers, as he has produced at least 34 assists in each of his three seasons in the league. Skating on the top defensive line and top powerplay unit, Fox has already amassed 40 assists and seven goals, despite missing his last three games due to suffering an upper-body injury against Columbus. Fox is a walking assist, as he has at least one in each of his previous seven games played. He will face Jeremy Swayman (G – BOS) in the net for the Bruins. It’s not the easiest matchup, as the 23-year old netminder did post his second shutout of the season against Ottawa over the weekend. However, Swayman did surrender three goals in a loss to Pittsburgh before his shutout. Fox should set up a scoring possession to rack up his 41st assist of the season in his first game back off Injured Reserve. This, plus his willingness to dive and block opposing shots, raises his floor significantly. At $5,700, Fox is smashing value and should be prioritized in DFS lineups.
Igor Shesterkin (G – NYR): $7,800
Sticking with the New York Rangers, goaltender Igor Shesterkin is available at an extreme discount against the Boston Bruins. I’m not sure why this is unless the Rangers opt to deploy reserve netminder Alexandar Georgiev (G – NYR). For now, grab one of the leading candidates for the Vezina Trophy at a great value against a Bruins team that has scored three goals only once in their last six games played. Shesterkin has not allowed more than two goals in each of his previous two starts while racking up at least 36 saves in each win. Save yourself some money and add one of the best goaltenders on the slate into your lineups. Then, spend the money saved elsewhere, perhaps on a blue-chip prospect who can elevate your lineup by producing a point or two.
Recommended Plays: FanDuel
FanDuel maximum salary is set at $55,000
Brayden Point (C – TB): $8,300
Tampa Bay has one of the deepest teams in the league, and they are attempting to go for the vaunted “triple crown” or “three-peat” by winning the Stanley Cup for the third consecutive year. Brayden Point is a significant contributor on the Lightning’s first-line attack and top powerplay unit, earning 20 minutes average time on ice in his last two games played. The presence of a healthy Nikita Kucherov (RW – TB) raises Point’s ceiling, which is evident in the previous three games he’s played. Point has four points in three games entering Tuesday’s road contest against the New Jersey Devils. He attempts two to five shots on goal and has scored goals in back-to-back games, which is an encouraging sign ahead of facing Devils goaltender Jon Gillies (G – NJ). A week ago, Gillies has been sub-par since a strong showing against Montreal, allowing seven goals across his last two starts against St. Louis and Pittsburgh. However, Tampa Bay has too much talent to waste, and Gillies will be the victim, as he surrendered three goals to the Lightning in a loss back on January 27th. Point has a steep salary, but it reflects his recent momentum and the talented personnel that surrounds him on the first line.
Gabriel Landeskog (LW – COL): $9,000
Typically I stray away from Colorado because their top players are so expensive. However, I am making an exception for Tuesday’s slate and encouraging everyone to pay up and add Gabriel Landeskog to as many DFS lineups as possible. The 29-year old has spent his entire career on the Avalanche, and he’s currently third on their point leaderboard with 49 points, including 22 goals. Landeskog scored seven goals during his previous six games, being held without a point only once during this impressive streak. Playing alongside Nathan MacKinnon (C – COL) and Mikko Rantanen (RW – COL) elevates Landeskog’s ability to produce at a frantic pace. The Avs will play the second game of their doubleheader against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night, but primary goaltender Jake Oettinger (G – DAL) will return to defend the crease. Landeskog buried two goals on three shots against Braden Holtby (G – DAL) on Sunday, but Oettinger has surrendered at least three goals in each of his previous three starts. Landeskog is too talented to fail, so insert him with confidence despite the high salary.
Noah Hanifin (D – CGY): $5,400
Calgary has one of the more impressive defensive depth charts, with three of their defensemen ranking fifth through seventh in total points scored. One of these players is a seventh-year, first-line defenseman, Noah Hanifin. The 25-year old sees over 21 minutes average time on ice and earns additional minutes on the Flames’ second powerplay unit. Most importantly, he has assembled a three-game point streak entering Tuesday’s home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Hanifin has four assists, and a goal during this streak and will face a vulnerable netminder in Joonas Korpisalo (G – CBJ). Korpisalo has not received a start since a 6-3 win against Montreal at the end of January, where he still surrendered three goals while facing 35 shots. However, the Flames are firing on all cylinders, and Hanifin will have plenty of opportunities to extend his point streak to four games. Hanifin also adds a cushion via blocked shots, justifying his $5,400 salary even if he does wind up finishing without a point, which remains highly unlikely against an inferior opponent like the Blue Jackets.
Jonathan Quick (G – LAK): $7,600
36-year old goaltender Jonathan Quick is experiencing a resurgence in the late stages of his illustrious career. He helped the Kings win two Stanley Cups back in 2012 and 2014 and is now defending the crease with the same enthusiasm and skill he displayed a decade ago. Quick has been bailed out by the amount of offense the Kings have been generating in his recent starts, overcoming three goals allowed against Detroit back on February 2nd in his last start for Los Angeles. He has had a couple of weeks to rest and prepare to face the Edmonton Oilers, who are currently 7-2-1 in their previous ten games and a completely different team than the last time Quick faced them, where he held them to one goal in a 5-1 win on December 5th. I still like Quick to play a quality game thanks to the rest he’s received, and the Oilers still have the propensity to come out flat from time to time. After all, Edmonton has only scored more than three goals once in their previous six games played. At a $7,600 salary, I have my eyes set on Quick to perform well while saving money for other high-salaried first and second-line prospects.
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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_.