Welcome back and happy Frozen Frenzy…which in typical NHL fashion did a C-minus job promoting. If given the choice of slate size I tend to lean closer to smaller slates so a day where every team in the NHL is in action (on the same day as the World Series), is a nightmare. That said, I've been playing well recently. Maybe I'm seeing the board better, or just getting into the right tournaments, but on a slate like this I want to say I can throw darts at each matchup well enough to help get us into the money…or the Kings versus Sharks game ends tonight and it's a 7-6 final in overtime. I take no joy in reporting that possibility.

Slate Preview

Vegas

So here we are, every club is on the slate. With that in mind, I look at fancy stats and I also just go off my eyes (I watch an unhealthy amount of puck), and circumstance. The Hurricanes are just coming back to Raleigh-Durham following an extensively long road trip out west. As someone who used to report on all things NHL schedule, it's great that for them that they got that road trip out of the way early, as it will be beneficial to not have to travel heavily later in the season. That said though, I've seen plenty of clubs take that same west coast road trip early in the season, and it's oddly never the last game prior to coming home that's the weak spot, it's usually the first game back home. I don't have any stat or number to reinforce that, I'm just going off memory on how these things play out. Keep in mind as well, while the Canes were on this road trip, they played these very same Vegas Golden Knights and lost 4-1. All that said, I like Vegas tonight, particularly the fully-correlated second line of Pavel Dorofeyev – Tomas Hertl – Mitch Marner. This line has the best expected goals percentage in the league right now and if I need a line to smash on a loaded slate, then I can rest easy knowing I played this Vegas line. I haven't built my lineup yet, and may play three tonight, but Vegas is on a very short list of clubs that I have interest in today.

Florida

The Panthers have mixed up their lines a bit in the early-going and that's in part due to injury and in part to potentially trying to find what works best for them in terms of the top six center spot. Where I want to go for Florida is the top line but take just the top two wingers and two-man Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart. Look, I can see a world where tonight whoever takes down your tournament has either one of two things; a lineup that is all in on a certain team that goes off, or an assortment of good players that better chances than not, can get on the score sheet. With that, if you like a winger combo, you play them. For me that might just be going to Florida tonight on home ice.

Ottawa

Alright, let's break this one down because there's some moving parts here. Spencer Knight for the Blackhawks has been nothing short of excellent to start the season, as he's best in goals saved above expected at even strength. This is also a Hawks club that is second in goal differential at all strengths right now, part of that of course is Knight in net, and part as well keeping most games within a one goal deficit along with an 8-3 final against the Blues. I know I'm here on this very platform preaching "trends are your friends", but if there's a team I watch, it's the Blackhawks, and I'm telling you all the regression is coming. I don't know when, but I'm certain that it is. I know that Spencer Knight didn't guard the net on Sunday's loss to the Kings, but having watched Los Angeles look disheveled for most of their contest on Saturday against Nashville which somehow resulted in a shootout loss, to then come back the next day to completely dominate play against the Hawks the next day is what I can't get out of my head. Sure, Ottawa hasn't been stellar to start the season, but this Blackhawks club plays the perfect style for them to consistently crash the net, which is the Ottawa Senators to a tee. This is also a Chicago club that leads the league in penalties taken, so with that I want the Ottawa top line of Nick Cousins – Tim Stutzle – and Drake Batherson.  They're at a price point where I can put another stack with them and maybe make a 3-3-3 lineup, and even if I wanted to build a 4-3-1, with the Senators being my anchor stack, I can add in another winger or even take a piece from their blue line. This is also a sneaky-good spot to add some depth to an expensive stack if that's the way your build shapes out tonight.

Defensemen

On a slate like this, if you want to spend up for a defenseman, I think that's fine, or you could even go one expensive d-man and one cheaper option. If you have the $8k to go out of your way and roster Zach Werenski, I have no issues at all in doing so, as he currently leads the NHL for defensive shots per game. Other good expensive options tonight (and there are many) would be Cale Markar at $7,400, Evan Bouchard sitting at $6,600, and Dougie Hamilton at $6,400. Dougie I would want in a Devils stack, but if you get to him as a one off that's fine. Matthew Schaefer under $6k will be that way for long, so take advantage of that while you can. Vince Dunn at $5k is alright, as he's sat around that price for most of the season, and I don't mind Darnell Nurse below him at $4,800 at all. Colton Parayko at $4,500 is priced perfectly, he usually comes up in my builds and is a good option for tonight. For a cheaper defenseman I like Brock Faber at $3,700 coming off his three-assist game.

Goalies

I supposed we have to talk about goaltenders? I don't think I get all the way to the top of the list for Darcy Kuemper, and to be honest, I don't think I spend up more than $7,600. If Jakub Dobes is in net for Montreal, then I can take a stab at him at $7,600 on the road. I do worry about volume with him going up against Seattle, so take that into consideration as a spend up. Thatcher Demko at $7,500 isn't a priority for me, but in a good spot on the road against the Rangers, and slightly below him we have Connor Hellebuyck priced below $8k against a struggling Wild club. I mean…DraftKings, if you're going to price him there than I may just start my build in net? If you are not playing the Senators then Spencer Knight is fine, but I'd save my money and go grab Logan Thompson at $7,100. For me, Thompson is probably the cheapest that I would get to tonight and want to make mention that if you're single-entering on this large slate then I look in making goalie a priority.

That's it for now, best of luck tonight everybody!  

For continued fantasy news and notes, follow me on Twitter @ndySanz.