The Shot Dude: Choices Galore
A large slate of NHL games presents many player choices for fantasy mavens.
With 20 teams in action tonight, what's the best way to narrow down the alternatives to create a winning lineup?
There's no definitive answer, but for today, your Favorite Shot Dude has decided to use skaters from teams on winning streaks and pick on teams going in the other direction.
The 10 game-schedule is available for you to research anytime before game time by using the Bovada data tool on our Home page:
One thing that never changes is our friends at FanDuel have great array of NHL fantasy games for you to enter.
Forwards
Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis ($9100) ... is a player I could use on my fantasy squad every night due his shot volume. Dude currently ranks sixth, not only with 138 shots on goal, but 39 points in 37 games.Tarasenko is a steady force right now, gathering 12 points in his last 10 games. Nashville comes to town tonight and just gave up a goal to Tarasenko on Thu 17 December. He's also in a great situation; his Blues play outstanding at home with 12 wins, while the Predators' road record is sub-.500.
Patrick Sharp, Dallas ($7800) ... is one of four Stars players with over 100 shots on goal to date. Dude's 106 salvoes have resulted in 13 goals in 37 games. Three of those goals and eight points total have come in the last five games alone. This must be a contributing factor for Dallas' upward trend, as they've won 7 of their last 10 games. Heading the other way is tonight's opponent -- Columbus -- losers of three straight and only victorious in 2 of their last 10 contests.
Jiri Hudler, Calgary ($5700) ... has an assist in three straight games and 6 total points in his last 9 contests. Dude now has 20 points in 32 games and sees over 17 minutes of ice time per. Incidentally, it was tonight's tilt in Calgary that gave me the idea for teams heading in opposite directions: the Flames have won two straight and 8 of their last 10, while Anaheim comes in with only 4 victories in 16 road games played.
Defensemen
Justin Faulk, Carolina ($6800) ... has been productive in his last 10 games by registering 12 points, including 6 goals. That gives him 14 markers as the Hurricanes' shot leader with 107 through 36 games. I expect a defensive-minded contest between Carolina and New Jersey, so Faulk shouldn't be on the minus side and has only had a negative score on FanDuel once in his last 10. Carolina begins the night as a winner of their last two and 6 of 10, while New Jersey has only 4 wins in their 10 most recent contests.
Alec Martinez, Los Angeles ($4200) ... like Hudler, also has an assist in three consecutive games, giving him 7 points in his last 9 contests. Dude's truly picked up his scoring pace, as he only had 7 total points in his first 25 games. The Kings are also on the uptick, winning two straight and 6 of 10, with 11 road victories, and having scored 14 more goals than they've given up. Tonight's opponent, Edmonton, is one a two-game downer and owns a dreadful -18 goal differential on the season.
Goaltender
Roberto Luongo, Florida ($8900) ... just might be piloting the ship of the hottest hockey team in the league. Not only have the Panthers won six in a row and 7 of 10, they've climbed within one point of Montréal for second place in the Atlantic Division. Dude's responsible for five straight wins, giving up only eight goals in those games. He now ranks sixth among goalies who've made at least 25 starts with his .924 save percentage. Coincidentally, Florida's opponent tonight is the Canadiens, who've only won 2 of their last ten.
Your favorite Shot Dude hopes your fantasy account takes a positive trend upward with a winning night.
Always give everything you do your very best shot!
You can follow me on twitter@fsofia8.