DFS Thursday: Oilers Can Romp Blues; Igor Shesterkin Turning Season Around

Brad Hayward

2022-12-15

My Tuesday DFS picks hit the nail squarely, leading off with the mismatch of Anaheim and Toronto. I'd obviously have won a larger part of the pot if I was clairvoyant (Connor Timmins's three assists?), yeah. But a win is a win. 

Moving on to my Thursday feature of "What's Wrong With… (2022 playoff teams)," this week's focus is the New York Rangers. The Blueshirts are by no means BAD, but without their recent 4-game run they had been looking upwards at the playoff bracket. Their "problem" is depth in all parts of the lineup. Offensively, their top guys are doing well, the five players on power play #1 all having 20+ points (Panarin leads, 35), but as Daily Faceoff projects PP-2 for tonight, these guys (the three Kid Line forwards, Sammy Blais, and Jacob Trouba) have a total of ZERO power-play points. Zero points, not just power-play goals. More was expected (overall) from Alexis Lafrenière in his third season, and from Kaapo Kakko in his fourth.  Defensemen are led by Cap'n Trouba and Adam Fox, but the second-oldest D-man on the roster is actually Libor Hajek, one of three 24-year-olds.  Add a veteran at the deadline, maybe? The overall team defensive stats look ok (2.80 goals against/game), largely again due to….   Igor Shesterkin.   After an ordinary start, Shesty is up to his old self. In his past three starts, all wins, he's faced an average of 32 shots – and posted a Save% of 0.948.   He steals games. Jaroslav Halak, though, has one win from eight starts. Again, lacking depth.  

It's hard to imagine the Rangers falling short of the NHL playoffs, although this top-loaded team won't be favorites to escape the always-tough Metropolitan.  (And by now you might catch on to my plan to start this series with the four conference finalists – yes, the Stanley Cup Champs will be next.)

DFS picks for tonight (12 games):   Two thoughts to play with –

  1. Oilers romp over Blues

Centers: Connor McDavid ($9200), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ($5700)

Wings: Zach Hyman ($6900), Brandon Hagel ($5200), Corey Perry ($2900)

Defensemen: Tyson Barrie ($4900), Ian Cole ($3500)

Goalkeeper: Andrei Vasilevskiy ($8300)

Utility: Paul Stastny ($3400)

  • Scattered talent

Centers: Patrice Bergeron ($6900), Mark Scheifele ($6600)

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Wings: Jonathan Marchessault ($6600), Alexis Lafrenière ($3500), Corey Perry ($2900)

Defensemen: Devon Toews ($5000), Tyson Barrie ($4900)

Goalkeeper: Igor Shesterkin ($7700)

Utility: Roope Hintz ($5900)

Call Tampa's net-front Perry my hunch for the night. 

Good luck!    @dokhockey

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