RADIO
Tuesday brings six games in the NHL and Monkey Knife Fight has contests for all of them to add to the fun.
Pittsburgh is in Washington in the spotlight matchup of the day. The reeling Buffalo Sabres meet up with the surprising New Jersey Devils and the overachieving Chicago Blackhawks are in Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets. The Nashville Predators, on the verge of falling out of any playoff contention, are in Detroit, where that ship has already sailed for the Red Wings.
The North Division sees the Montreal Canadiens travel to Ottawa to face the Senators and the Edmonton Oilers are in Vancouver to challenge the Canucks.
Here are some angles to consider for Tuesday’s NHL action on Monkey Knife Fight.
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STAR SHOOTOUT - ALL DAY
MORE OR LESS
Matt Murray MORE THAN 25.5 SAVES
The Senators netminder has had a difficult season and is rocking a .883 save percentage in 15 games. But there have been signs of progress. In his past eight games, which includes seven starts, Murray has a more respectable .911 save percentage and has recorded at least 26 saves in five of those games. He is also facing a Montreal Canadiens squad that is averaging a league-high 33.6 shots per 60 minutes this season. If the Habs hit that average, Murray better find his way to at least 26 saves or this game could get ugly.
Mackenzie Blackwood LESS THAN 27.5 SAVES
New Jersey’s goaltender has missed some time and his team was on a Covid-19 hiatus but he has been excellent, posting a .938 save percentage in six starts. The trouble is, the Buffalo Sabres are averaging 29.5 shots per 60 minutes right now and are coming into the game on the second game of a back-to-back, having lost to the New York Islanders Monday. That could make it difficult for Blackwood to see enough shots to pick up at least 28 saves, a threshold he has hit twice in six games this season.
Alex Ovechkin LESS THAN 5.5 SHOTS + BLOCKS
As well as he is playing this season, Ovechkin is also averaging a career-low 3.8 shots on goal per game and it should go without saying that he is not adding a couple of blocked shots per game to make up the difference. Pittsburgh is also a better-than-average defensive team in terms of shots allowed so it is asking a lot for Ovi to cover this number.
Nicklas Backstrom MORE THAN 0.5 ASSISTS
Washington’s slick playmaking pivot has recorded 14 assists in 17 games, picking up at least one helper in 10 of 17 games this season. Although he has just one assist in four games against the Penguins this season, the odds are still on Backstrom finding his way to at least one assist in this game.
RAPID FIRE
Leon Draisaitl -0.5 fantasy points vs. Tyson Barrie
After a slow start to his time in Edmonton, Barrie has produced 14 points (3 G, 11 A) and 41 shots on goal in the past dozen games. Elite level production from a defenseman. Draisaitl does not generate shots at quite an elite level but 52 shots in 20 games is still fine and Draisaitl’s 30 points (10 G, 20 A) in 20 games is more than fine.
Patrick Kane -0.5 fantasy points vs. Darnell Nurse
In a bit of an unexpected twist, Nurse has emerged as a high-end defenseman in terms of production. In the past 14 games, he has 14 points (5 G, 9 A) and 32 shots on goal. Kane has been relentlessly productive, scoring 26 points (8 G, 18 A) and firing 69 shots on goal in 19 games. Nurse is definitely on a good run in the past month. Kane has been on one for most of the past 14 years.
Filip Forsberg -0.5 fantasy points vs. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Forsberg has 15 points (8 G, 7 A) in 17 games but has a couple of factors working in his favor. He has a career-high 3.8 shots on goal per game this season and gets to face the Detroit Red Wings. Nugent-Hopkins has 18 points (9 G, 9 A) in 20 games and is averaging 3.3 shots on goal per game, so he isn’t exactly coasting on Connor McDavid’s wing, but for of their flaws, the Vancouver Canucks should provide better competition.
Bryan Rust +0.5 fantasy points vs. Jack Eichel
Since the Buffalo Sabres returned from their Covid-19 hiatus, Eichel has no goals, two assists and nine shots on goal in five games. They are playing their second game of a back-to-back so it’s not really an ideal situation for an already slumping star. Rust, on the other hand, has been consistent throughout the season, contributing 15 points (6 G, 9 A) with 60 shots on goal in 16 games.
Roman Josi +0.5 shots + blocks vs. John Carlson
Even if he isn’t generating shots at quite the same rate as last season, Josi is still producing 4.9 shots plus blocks per game and is facing the lowly Detroit Red Wings. Carlson is averaging 3.9 shots plus blocks per game and takes on the Pittsburgh Penguins, which figures to be a more difficult matchup.
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