Chicago Blackhawks Vs. Nashville Predators

These teams are facing each other for the second time in as many nights. Most of us were expecting the Predators to steamroll Malcolm Subban and the Hawks, but that didn’t happen. This game remains a trap, but on a two game slate, we have to make some choices.

For Chicago, it’s top line or bust. Puis Suter is skating with Patrick Kane and Mattias Janmark, who has taken Andrew Shaw’s spot on the left side. You can go with all three in a stack and hope that Juuse Saros lets in a few soft ones, but it’s highly unlikely.

There’s no chance we see Subban back in goal, which should mean Kevin Lankinen should get the start. He’s actually been decent this season, so don’t fear throwing him into your GPP lineup. After what Nashville did yesterday, they aren’t a safe play to win the game.

On the flip side, Ryan Johansen was as advertised: a disappointment. He finished the night with one shot on goal, yet his price on DK has gone up by $600. No explanation as to why this would happen, but I want no part of him here. 

I’ll double stack both his wingers and hope they go off. Filip Forsberg didn’t hit value, but Viktor Arvidsson did some work, including hitting both the shot and blocked shot bonuses. Their price tags are respectable enough to use them on both platforms. 

On Defence, it was nice to see Roman Josi come up big. He’s the most expensive defenseman on DK, but that doesn’t mean we should fade him. If you need some salary relief, Ryan Ellise is an option, but Connor Murphy is where it’s at. He has five points in seven games for Chicago. It’s worth a shot on a short slate.

In goal, Juuse Saros is an option, but I don’t like paying up for him here. We’ll try to target whatever trash can is starting for Vancouver.


 

Ottawa Senators Vs. Vancouver Canucks

Speaking of the Canucks, they are at home to face off against the Ottawa Senators. The Senators are hoping for a better result tonight after giving up seven to their opponent just a few nights ago.

While Elias Pettersson continues to deal with his struggles early in the season, we are going to slide all the way down to the third line and go with Brandon Sutter. He’s coming off a three goal effort, and while nights like those ones will be few and far inbetween for him, at $3100 on DK, we might have to eat some of that chalk tonight. The salary relief alone let’s you pay up for Brock Boeser and/or J.T. Miller. 

In goal, we should expect to see Braden Holtby get the start. No part of me wants to play him, but the goalie options on this slate are worse than Vancouver’s defence, so we need to choose the least terrible option, and that seems to be Holtby. Ottawa can’t score goals, but who knows if they figure that out tonight.

If you do want to sweat the Senators, their top line continues to play well, specifically Josh Norris and Drake Batherson. Their price tags on DK aren’t very good, but you could get that top line at a discount.

If the top line doesn’t do it for you, a mini power play stack is also an option. Evgeni Dadonov isn’t $2500 anymore, but $3800 is still a very reasonable price tag for a player who’s off to a slow start. Pair him with Thomas Chabot, and you have yourself something decent.