Yahoo Daily Fantasy Hockey: Thursday picks

By Chris Morgan

While it’s not as busy as your typical Thursday in the NHL, there’s still seven games on the slate, which provides plenty of fantasy options. We’re here to help you parse those matchups to find the best values, and also the players to avoid…

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GOALIE

Corey Crawford, CHI vs. BUF ($36): The Sabres only average 2.19 goals per game, which ranks 28th in the NHL. That’s good news for Crawford, who doesn’t really need the help, as he’s got a .927 save percentage to go with a 2.31 GAA. Plus, while the Blackhawks have had some struggles on the road, they are 13-4-4 at home.

GOALIE TO AVOID

Braden Holtby, WAS vs. CLM ($35): No disrespect to Holtby, who has an excellent .926 save percentage, but he’s going up against a Columbus team that’s second in goals for and first in goals against and power-play percentage. Oh, and they’ve won 16 games in a row. Now, Columbus is bound to lose eventually, but right now there’s no need to bet against them given Holtby’s high price tag.

CENTER

Ryan Johansen, NAS at TAM ($17): After a rough December, Tampa’s Andrei Vasilevskiy gave up five goals in his first start of 2017. On top of that, the Lightning rank 23rd on the penalty kill. Johansen, for his part, has 13 power-play points, so he seems like a good bet to take advantage of Tampa’s penalty-kill issues, not to mention Vasilevskiy’s recent struggles.

CENTER TO AVOID

Nicklas Backstrom, WAS vs. CLM ($24): As previously noted, the Blue Jackets are the best team in the league when it comes to goal prevention. Sergei Bobrovsky has a 1.92 GAA and a .934 save percentage. Backstrom is having a fine season, but his 6.8 fantasy points per game are fewer than most of his high-priced compadres. Combine that with this tough matchup and the Swede is definitely one to steer clear of Thursday.

WING

Marian Hossa, CHI vs. BUF ($21): Hossa is returning to action Thursday after missing five games with an upper-body injury. It’s a good time for it, because the Sabres are giving up 32.4 shots on goal per game and they have the league’s worst penalty kill. Hossa was playing well before his injury, as he’s notched 16 goals in 37 games. If he’s no worse for the wear, this is a great matchup for the veteran.

Jonathan Drouin, TAM vs. NAS ($18): Drouin had a December to remember, posting 15 points in 13 games. He added an assist in his first game of January for good measure. Eleven of Drouin’s points have come with the extra man, making him a real power-play threat as well. The Predators are middle-of-the-pack in goals allowed (15th) and penalty kill (14th), so the matchup isn’t too daunting for Drouin.

WINGS TO AVOID

Zach Parise, MIN at SAN ($21): The Sharks are giving up an average of just 26.6 shots on goal per game, which is a big reason why their team GAA is 2.16. That will make things difficult for Parise, who has had trouble staying healthy this season and is averaging his lowest ice time in a decade. He’s also only notched four power-play points, which puts him on a worse-than-average pace. The Sharks and their 11th-ranked penalty kill probably won’t help.

Jaden Schwartz, STL vs. CAR ($20): Schwartz is apparently dealing with an illness, but beyond that he has zero points and only three shots on goal in his last four games. The Hurricanes are only giving up 27.2 shots on goal per game, so it seems unlikely that Schwartz, healthy or not, will get much of a chance to turn things around here. Plus, in addition to Schwartz only having four power-play points, the fact Carolina has the league’s top-ranked penalty kill also works against him.

DEFENSEMEN

Drew Doughty, LOS vs. DET ($19): The Wings are the only team playing on back-to-back nights Thursday, which should benefit Doughty and the Kings. Although, to be fair, both of Detroit’s healthy goalies have GAAs over 3.00, so this would be a good matchup either way. Doughty has notched 89 shots on goal, and he’s scored six goals in the process. Additionally, he’s averaging 3:23 of power-play time, and without Jimmy Howard the Wings’ penalty kill is less formidable.

Ryan Ellis, NAS at TAM ($14): Ellis is averaging 6.2 fantasy points per game. To get another blueliner averaging over six fantasy points per game, you’d need to go with Alec Martinez, who costs $17. Ellis has taken 44 shots on goal and blocked 59, and Tampa Bay gives up 30.1 shots and takes 30 per game, so Ellis should have a chance on both ends of the ice. At this price, Ellis is a low risk, since he doesn’t have to do much to prove a good value.

DEFENSEMEN TO AVOID

Zach Werenski, CLM at WAS ($23): Werenski is having an impressive rookie season but hasn’t scored a goal in his last 12 games. He’s also been held to one shot or less in eight of his last 10, and has to go against Holtby and his 2.06 GAA and .926 save percentage.

John Carlson, WAS vs. CLM ($20): Of course, things aren’t going to be any easier for Carlson and the Caps. Bobrovsky’s numbers are even better than Holtby’s, and as a team the Jackets are only allowing 2.03 goals per game. For a while, Carlson was unlucky, but he’s got four goals on the year now and his shooting percentage is no longer unsustainably low. That said, he’s unlikely to find much luck against Columbus, who will be amped up for the opportunity to tie the NHL’s all-time winning streak record Thursday.

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