The Shot Dude: Finally Friday

Published on 5-Dec-2015 by MunkeBiz8

NHL    NHL Daily Stake

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The Shot Dude: Finally Friday

I'm not sure about you, but your favorite Shot Dude has had a long week!

Friday has swept in, and I hope you're looking forward to a weekend filled with friends, family, and fantasy winnings.

Without further ado, let's take a look at today's seven-game NHL schedule with the help of the Bovada data tool that's located on our Home page:

NHL Schedule 4 Dec 2015

Q: What are the best types of games for a beginner to play on FanDuel?
-- from David M
A: I would stick to the 50/50 and head-to-head games as a beginner because your chances of winning are greater. Once you get your feet wet, you can try a large-field tournament. Thank you for the question, David.

Now for today's fantasy player suggestions:

Forwards

Alexander Steen, St Louis ($7900) ... has taken the second-most shots on the Blues with 76 in 25 games. Dude skates on the second scoring line but gets power play time with the top unit. His 21 total points are also second on the team, but he's scored the most power play points with 7 so far. The further the season goes, how much rest hockey teams get has a direct effect on winning. The Islanders are playing their fifth game in eight days, while St Louis has had three days' rest, with this being their third game in that same span.

Patrick Sharp, Dallas ($7100) ... has the same amount of total points as Steen but has played an additional game. Sharp has scored 9 goals on 71 shots, including 2 game winners. In fact, this Dallas team has the highest goals per game average at 3.50, and features 6 different players who have scored at least 5 goals or more. Dudes are matchup-proof, and tonight, they square off against defensively-challenged Edmonton. The Oil ranks third-worst in the NHL with the 79 goals surrendered in 26 games. Sharp will get you exposure to this potent offense but not at too high an expense.

Lee Stempniak, New Jersey ($3300) ... is your Shot Dude's value player of the day. Dude's taken 57 shots through 25 games, which has resulted in 5 goals, including a game-winner in overtime. The 14 assists, 16 penalty minutes and 7 power play points Stempniak has registered are more typical of a player priced in the mid-$5000 range, so he's a steal for a second line player with this history of production. Stempniak just happens to play on both the Devils' No 1 scoring and power play lines. New Jersey is home against Philadelphia, who give up the second-highest total of shots to opponents at 32.5 per game.

Defensemen

Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Arizona ($5800) ... is leading the Coyotes with 74 shots taken in 25 games. He also tops this team with 6 power play points and 3 game-winning goals. You'd expect this from an offensive-minded forward, but dude's proving to be one of the best scoring defensemen in the NHL at present. He's scored at least a point in 7 of his last 10 games and happens to be the point man for Arizona's top power play line that faces a Buffalo club that ranks third-worst in penalty kill average at just 74.6 per game.

Colin Miller, Boston ($3500) ... is a value defensemen who doesn't have the scoring potential of Ekman-Larrson but will also save your salary cap $2300. Miller is a member of the Bruins' second power play unit and has accrued 4 power play points and 24 penalty minutes to date. Toss in the 8 assists and 2 goals on the 34 shots he's launched this season, and that's why your favorite Shot Dude likes Miller's chances to add to those totals tonight against putrid Calgary, who ranks dead last in the NHL with 89 goals given up in 25 games.

Goaltender

Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus ($8800) ... has been a hot netminder lately by winning 6 of his last 9, including 4 of his last 5 home games. This looks to be a perfect spot for Bobrovsky, as he'll likely defend his home crease against Florida, who just played last night in Nashville. Florida ranks fifth-worst in the NHL with an average of only 28.1 shots taken per game. This plays right into the glove of Bobrovsky, who in his last 4 home wins has an astounding .965 save percentage.

Your favorite Shot Dude sincerely hopes you enjoy the weekend and keep the questions coming, I'll do my best to help out.

FanDuel scorecard

Make it a safe weekend and remember to give it your best Shot!

You can follow me on twitter@fsofia8