We end the week with a big 12-game daily fantasy hockey slate with three clear top options that I will look to stack tonight.
New Jersey Devils @ Pittsburgh Penguins
Colorado Avalanche @ Chicago Blackhawks
Toronto Maple Leafs @ Arizona Coyotes
The Devils and Penguins are both on the second night of back-to-backs, and until further notice I’m using Pittsburgh skaters in both cash and GPPs. I’m no longer all that afraid of going after New Jersey. Last season they were one of the most difficult teams to score against (2.46 goals against per game), this season has been a different story (3.00 goals against per game) — on the road that number jumps to 3.17 goals per game.
In the 2015-16 season New Jersey’s CA/60 of 49.21 was only behind L.A. This season they have a team CA/60 of 54.38, just ahead of the Calgary Flames. This season New Jersey’s GA/60 is 2.62 — only Colorado is worse with 2.86. Last season New Jersey had a GA/60 of 2.03. We’re getting close to almost an entire full goal against per 60 more this season. In five on five situations New Jersey has allowed 782 shots on goal — eighth-most in the NHL. Last season New Jersey allowed the fourth-fewest shots on goal against in five on five situations. They aren’t the same team we should avoid.
Over their past six games New Jersey has allowed 21 goals. Even though these teams are coming off very different outcomes last night (Pittsburgh lost 7-1, New Jersey won 4-0) I’m going with a Pittsburgh team I think will look to stem some of the embarrassment from last night. I never like to take emotion into account when constructing DFS lineups, but a team as talented as Pittsburgh could come out on fire tonight. And we have a big Vegas favorite in Pittsburgh tonight (-220) with a 6 over/under.
Tonight I’ll start my lineup construction with