🏒SM Daily Notes: NHL 12/4 🥅
A daily report of everything you need to know in the NHL
Happy Thursday, Skiers! We have another 10-game slate on Thursday night for us to dive into with plenty of great games across the evening. As always, we will run through everything you need to know from last night + today and give a buy or sell on the most added waiver wire targets in Yahoo! Fantasy leagues. Let’s get to it!
Wednesday Recap
Jake Oettinger made 30 saves for his second shutout this season and 14th of his career in the 3-0 win for the Dallas Stars over the New Jersey Devils. Miro Hesikanen had a goal and an assist and Jamie Benn and Esa Lindell each had two helpers.
Cole Caufield stole the show with an assist to extend his point streak to nine games and the deciding goal in the shootout to give the Montreal Canadiens a 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets.
The Philadelphia Flyers scored three goals in under one minute of play as they cruised to a 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Bobby Brink, Travis Konecny, and Noah Cates each had a goal and an assist.
Karel Vejmelka made 27 saves for his first shutout of the season in a 7-0 win for the Utah Mammoth over the Anaheim Ducks. JJ Peterka had four points, Clayton Keller had a goal and two assists, and Dylan Guenther recorded a goal and an assist which ended Utah’s four-game losing streak.
Ryan Leonard recorded four points for the Washington Capitals in their 7-0 win over the San Jose Sharks which extended their winning streak to six games. Alex Ovechkin scored two goals and Matt Roy had three assists in the winning effort.
Top Props of The Night
Yesterday: 0-3 | All-Time Record: 1-5
Gabriel Landeskog 1+ Points (-115 DraftKings)
Landeskog is on a four-game point streak tallying seven points (3 G, 4 A) over that span. He has consistently been skating in a top-six forward role at even strength and has been one of the main sources of offense on the power-play unit. He has one of the top five hardest shots recorded this season (92.08 MPH) and is in the top 20 % in offensive zone time (45%). He has collected 14 points in 18 career games against the New York Islanders.
Brady Tkachuk 1+ Points (-140 DraftKings)
In three games since returning from injury, Tkachuk is up to three points with 13 shots on goal. They have been easing him back into the lineup, but is still getting minutes in a top-six forward role and on the man advantage. Tkachuk had two goals and an assist in the three meetings between Ottawa and New York last season and has 19 points (9 G, 10 A) in 18 career games against the Rangers. The Senators have the fourth-best power-play % at home this season (26.5%).
Patrick Kane 1+ Points (-140 DraftKings)
Kane had a pair of assists when the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings squared off at the end of November in a 4-3 OT win for Detroit. Kane has been the “boogey-man” for Columbus since he entered the league as his 88 points (28 G, 60 A) in 65 games played is his highest tally against any NHL franchise. He has collected at least one point in five of his last six games with seven points. He has been seeing a lot of time on the first power-play unit and on a top-six forward role.
Best DFS Plays
Erik Haula (NSH, C, $3,000 DK)
Haula has been a sneaky source of offense for the Nashville Predators this term as he has four points (1 G, 3 A) in his last four games and is t-2nd on the club in assists with 11 on the season. The Florida Panthers have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to centers this season and rank in the bottom-half of the league in goals allowed per game and penalty kill. He had an assist in the lone game against the Florida Panthers earlier this season and should get plenty of ice time skating in the top six forward role and on the power-play unit.
Shayne Gostisbehere (CAR, D, $5,500 DK)
Gostisbehere has been one of the main sources of offense for the Carolina Hurricanes as he has five points (2 G, 3 A) over the last four games while leading the power-play unit and skating on the top defensive pairing. His 15 assists are second on the club and he leads all Carolina defenseman in points. He missed their meeting earlier this campaign, but did have a goal and an assist in his lone game played vs. Toronto last season. Look for him to be on the attack often as his 49.4% offensive zone time ranks in the 99th percentile.
Jeremy Swayman (BOS, G, $7,500 DK)
Swayman gave up five goals in the loss on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings and I expect a bounce back performance tonight against a St. Louis Blues side that ranks third-worst in goals scored per game (2.56). He is back on home ice where he has been more productive, with a .919 SV% and a 2.27 GAA mark. 77.8% of his starts this season have come with a SV% >.900, that ranks in the top five of all goalies this season. Look for Swayman to put up the wall tonight in crease.
Fantasy Waiver Wire Adds: Buy or Sell
In this section, we highlight the most added player at each position in Yahoo! Fantasy Hockey leagues and discuss whether you should add or leave on the wire.
Ryan Leonard (WSH, RW, 16% rostered)
Leonard has been on fire over the last week with seven points (2 G, 5 A), a +4 rating, three power-play points, 12 SOG, and seven hits for the Washington Capitals. He is currently on a four-game point streak and is coming off a four-point performance against the San Jose Sharks last night. If he continues to see a top-six forward role and time on the power-play, he should be set-up on the second-highest scoring team in the league. I would buy this file and ride until he gets cold.
Josh Manson (COL, D, 11% rostered)
Manson has been interesting over the last couple of weeks as he has one goal and one assist, a +8 rating, nine SOG, and 22 hits. For Manson, he is currently on the last defensive pairing and does not see any power-play time. In banger leagues, he is a valuable asset to have from a high-scoring offense and will pick up points here and there. I would sell this file unless desperate for hits.
Brandon Bussi (CAR, G, 14% rostered)
Bussi has been one of the highest-ranked goaltenders over the last two weeks with three wins, a 1.31 GAA, and a .930 SV%. Bussi should see plenty of opportunities to start with four games over the next five days with teams like the Nashville Predators and Columbus Blue Jackets representing some easier tests for Bussi. It seems like the Hurricanes trust Bussi with the majority of starts and I am inclined to buy this goalie who is behind a solid defense.