Welcome to the machine! As we head into November, there is still a ton of uncertainty as far as Daily Fantasy Hockey is concerned. It may possibly be until Thanksgiving where a better handle on new data is established. Until then, there are frankly a few tendencies, some hunches, and, of course, in your face fantasy hockey advice. You would expect nothing less from The Fantasy Fix. When you get right down to it, there are several teams that seem to scream “obvious target.” However, there are some risk/reward type of scenarios and then ones to possibly run far away from.

As always, make sure to check out LeftWingLock for goalie confirmations and let’s begin. 

Teams to Target

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Let’s look at this eight game slate as a medium schedule with potential for enhancements. If you looked at Wednesday’s slate, you cringed and then some. This is a little bit different. Short slates have limited options yet can still go all over the place. GPP and cash win thresholds usually have more variance as well.

Tampa Bay and Colorado seems to be a popular destination especially given how easy Florida disposed of Colorado without having Jaromir Jagr for most of the game due to a hamstring injury. Colorado is literally a walking mess defensively and offensively. Here is a team that cannot kill penalties, gives up too many chances at almost any time, and has talent that just cannot get it together. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has had its moments as well, but they are a very dangerous team that can pile on goals at home. That 32-8-1 home mark last year was not an accident. The Tampa first and second lines can very much be a play here.

St. Louis is another potential team to target. For one, they can hold teams down shot wise but even with injuries, they have that one dynamic line with Alexander Steen, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Jori Lehtera. They still have a little balance, and though Kevin Shattenkirk will not play, at least Colton Parayko is still out there for possible salary relief.

The New York Islanders also have to be considered. Carolina has the potential of getting lots of shots on goal but their suppression methods can also backfire. For as good as Cam Ward has been at times, he still only has a .908 save percentage, which is again below league average. New York retooled their lines a little against Calgary and that resulted in a 4-0 win. Ironically any of the first three lines can be modest targets but do watch the second line with Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen wreaking havoc against the opposition. Jaroslav Halak might even be a pretty good play also.

Rolling the Dice

There are always the gambles and looking at some Las Vegas odds, the numbers get to be a little tempting. Pittsburgh on the surface is a -240 favorite against Buffalo but is on the back end of a back to back, which should mean a little something. However, a big win on Wednesday night can still be a little cause of concern. Pittsburgh’s second line with Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel is the likely play but some will always roll Sidney Crosby and the first line just because it is Buffalo. The second line could be good in either GPP or cash but the first may be an easier cash play.

Chicago and Winnipeg has the potential to be pretty crazy offensively. Winnipeg can score goals but give them up against Chicago as well. The Blackhawks line two and Jets line one are the usual suspects here. Do not be afraid to fade the goaltending here. It is okay. The near even money line gives out that possibility of goals to be had.

Lastly, the Dallas-Vancouver game could have a little of everything with the Stars duo of Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn always dangerous, but do watch for even the second and third lines as possible moderate plays. Vancouver’s Radim Vrbata is once more together with Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin. Anyone who is anyone realizes that, yes, there may be some other plays. Dallas has a -150 money line but Vancouver has a little offensive pop as well. The third line is one that might give Dallas headaches while the Mattias Janmark and Ales Hemsky might surprise in this one.

Player Rankings

Ranking are price sensitive

 Centers

1. Jori Lehtera–$4000—St. Louis Blues
2. Frans Nielsen–$4600–New York Islanders
3. Bryan Little–$5300–Winnipeg Jets
4. Tomas Plekanec–$6000—Montreal Canadiens
5. Tyler Johnson–$5600–Tampa Bay Lightning
6. Jason Spezza–$6000—Dallas Stars
7. Artem Anisimov–$3800-Chicago Blackhawks
8. Tyler Seguin–$8400—Dallas Stars

Wingers

1. Patrick Kane—RW–$7800—Chicago Blackhawks
2. Vladimir Tarasenko—RW–$7600—St. Louis Blues
3. Ryan Callahan–RW–$5400–Tampa Bay Lightning
4. Brendan Gallagher—RW–$5400—Montreal Canadiens
5. Radim Vrbata–RW–$5700–Vancouver Canucks
6. Nikita Kucherov–RW–$5400-Tampa Bay Lightning
7. Max Pacioretty—LW–$7600—Montreal Canadiens
8. Mike Cammalleri—LW–$5200—New Jersey Devils
9. Blake Wheeler–RW–$7200–Winnipeg Jets
10. Artemi Panarin—LW–$4700—Chicago Blackhawks

Defenseman

1. Colton Parayko–$3300—St. Louis Blues
2. John Klingberg—$4900—Dallas Stars
3. Andrei Markov–$4700—Montreal Canadiens
4. P.K. Subban–$6000—Montreal Canadiens
5. Mark Streit – $4600– Philadelphia Flyers

Goalie

1. Jake Allen–$7200–St. Louis Blues
2. Jaroslav Halak–$7200–New York Islanders
3. Ben Bishop–$7300–Tampa Bay Lightning
4. Marc-Andre Fleury–$7700–Pittsburgh Penguins
5. Carey Price–$8500—Montreal Canadiens
6. Antti Niemi–$6700–Dallas Stars

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