In many ways, your
friends define who you are. The story is
no different when it comes to scoring in the NHL. It's no secret that who a forward plays with
dramatically impacts his production. An
average winger getting a regular shift with an elite center can transform his
game, at least temporarily. The
challenge is in keeping up with current line formations, as they tend to change
faster than Southeast division coaches.
Even through the course of a single game, many coaches will mix and
match lines. However, if you can spot a
trend, you can often cash in on a value-priced forward in the short term, while
he rides the tide in and earns you a few points. Here are a few players to target this week on Fanduel.com,
based on recent beneficial line configurations:
Jakub Voracek (PHI) - $5,700
With injuries to
Jagr and van Riemsdyk, Jakub Voracek has earned the honors of riding shotgun in
the Claude Giroux show. Hartnell has
already seen tremendous benefit on this bandwagon, and now it's Voracek's turn
on the other wing. Since teaming up
here, he's been on a roll, with 11 points in his last 10 games.
Jochen Hecht (BUF)
- $6,100
Hecht went straight
from the IR to the top line in Buffalo.
After sitting out the first 6 weeks of the season, he's spent the last
three games running with the big dogs, setting up the likes of Vanek and
Pominville in Buffalo. So far, he has
just 1 goal, but has fired 7 shots on net.
He's not a scoring machine by any means, but can squeeze out some points
in this situation.
Viktor Stalberg (CHI) - $5,900
Stalberg has been a
steady fixture along side Toews for the past few games, partnered with either
Patrick Sharp or Marian Hossa on the other side. That's a fine recipe for a boom. He's got a nice little run going, with 3
points in the last 2 games, and 8 in 9 games.
Michael Ryder (DAL) - $6,200
Ryder earned the
sweet spot in Dallas a few weeks back and has managed to stay put by putting
the puck in the net. Nestled between
Benn and Eriksson, you're looking at three big goal scoring threats. With two goals versus Colorado on Monday, he
has five points in five games.
Adam Henrique (NJ) - $5,500
If you're looking
for a cheap fill-in at center, take a chance with rookie Adam Henrique. How can you go wrong with the likes of
Kovalchuk and Parise, two of the most talented wingers in the league, running
at your side? It's just a matter of time
before he enters the Calder conversation.
He has an impressive 7 points in 7 games.
Ruslan Fedotenko (NYR) - $5,000
What better place to
play than on the wing with Brad Richards dishing you the puck? And at 5k, it's tough to find value on
Fanduel. With nearly 20 minutes on the
line with Richards against the Caps this weekend, Fedotenko netted a couple of
goals. Don't bank on a long-term
offensive explosion here, but he's a value pick worth considering in the short
term.
Colin Greening (OTT) - $4,500
You're scraping the
bottom of the barrel in this price range, but to make cap on Fanduel, you often
have to fill in a bargain pick. Greening
in currently riding shotgun with Spezza and Michalek on a regular shift. He netted goals in two straight games in this
configuration late last week.
Steve Sullivan (PIT) - $5,600
Since Crosby's
return, Sullivan has looked like his younger self, socring 3 goals in those
four games. The odd thing is that he's
getting most of his time along side Malkin and Neal. Not too shabby no matter what line
combination Bylsma cooks up.
Pascal Dupuis (PIT) - $6,400
Dupuis is enjoying
the finest production of his career with the Pens this season. He has 7 points in the past 5 games, being
used in all types of situations. He's
most often paired with Crosby and Kunitz.
Bylsma mixes his lines more than just about any coach, and will do so
even more now that he's got a full line up of healthy stars. Dupuis may even see some time as the third
line center.
Alex Burrows (VAN) - $6,700
Burrows isn't as
cheap as others on this list, but you have to include him in the conversation,
as he is the most likely candidate to get the sweet spot along side the
Sedins. 2 goals in 4 games over the past
week.
Troy Brouwer (WAS) - $5,300
Now that Ovechkin is
freed from the shackles of his "oppressive coach", don’t be surprised
to see a sudden boom in his production.
And who may benefit most from the sudden surge? Consider Brouwer. He's been running with Ovie and Backstrom
lately. Unless Hunter mixes up the line
combinations, you can get some points on the cheap over the next week here.
For more on daily
fantasy hockey, check out my articles on the Fanduel Insider at http://www.fanduel.com/insider
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daily fantasy hockey on Fanduel,
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