I will mention that I generally do not pick two players playing against each other in the same game for a daily lineup. The same applies for a goalie and a player from opposite teams. You might see two players among the “value picks” from opposite teams, but that doesn’t mean you should take them both. No matter the value, you’re also likely cannibalizing points, so any gains made below a certain price point – the point where production and cost intersect – can be lost if production declines overall as well.
There are many things that determine value: The player’s history (both short and long-term), the price, recent production, opponent, line matching at even-strength, power play time and injuries are just some of the factors to consider. The “Top Value” doesn’t necessarily mean the cheapest player, either.
Finally, as far as goalies go, it’s the one position I’ll pay through the nose for if I really like the match-up. The same applies for back-ups with good match-ups. In a given night, with a full slate of games, I won’t have more than three different goalies across all my lineups, usually two. I’ll name the goalies I like specifically in the match-ups they appear in.
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Here is today’s slate of games (and DraftStreet values). Reminder: check Left Wing Lock for up-to-the-minute information on starting goalies.
Games are color-coded as follows:
Green means stack for GPPs. Yellow means targets for cash games. Red means value plays only.
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers
The difference so far this series has been two things, both of which are somewhat surprising.
First, the Rangers have gone 0-for-the-century on the power play since Game 2 of the first round. While they weren’t a power play powerhouse in the regular season (15th in efficiency), their efficiency rating these playoffs (8.1-percent) is less than half what it was in the regular season (18.2-percent). If they can’t take advantage of the opportunities given to them to score, they have little hope in this series. Secondly, the Penguins have had the better of the puck possession in the first two games of the series (93-66, 58.5-percent possession) in shot attempts at 5v5. The Rangers were one of the top 5v5 teams in the East this year and have not been playing like it this series.
The Rangers should be starting to wear down. Tonight’s game will make five games in seven days for New York and having been outplayed at even strength so far this series, I don’t know if that turns around in this one. I would expect better match-ups coming from Rangers’ coach Alain Vigneault but I’m not sure how big of an effect it has.
On back-to-back nights, it is a bit of a crapshoot on how tonight goes. Perhaps the Penguins are a bit slower while the Rangers can feed off the crowd early. I do expect a couple of tired teams though and that means more goals. I will avoid the goalies and pick apart lines I expect not to be matched against each other.
Top RW Value | Top LW Value | Top C Value | Top D Value | Bargain Bin |
Rick Nash(NYR)
$9171 |
Benoit Pouliot(NYR)
$7549 |
Jussi Jokinen(PIT)
$10,093 |
Kris Letang(PIT)
$8441 |
Beau Bennett(PIT)
$5724 |