RADIO
As the National Hockey League tries to bob and weave its way through Covid-19 haymakers, there are still seven games on the schedule Tuesday and that means Monkey Knife Fight will be there with contests to play.
Tonight’s Philadelphia-Washington game is getting postponed, which is too bad because it was also looking like the most competitive game of the night, but with Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim landing on the Covid-19 list, with possibly more to come, the Flyers are trying to prevent an outbreak.
Here are some Star Shootout angles to consider for Tuesday’s NHL action on Monkey Knife Fight:
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STAR SHOOTOUT - MAIN GAMES
MORE OR LESS
Aleksander Barkov MORE THAN 5.5 FANTASY POINTS
With 11 points and 37 shots on goal in nine games, Barkov should be able to record at least six fantasy points as long as he can generate his average number of shots (4.1) and contribute either a goal or an assist. He has hit for six or more fantasy points in five of nine games this season and while he has done so just once in three games against Detroit, the Red Wings’ defensive record is not one that suggests the ability to consistently shut down top centers.
Alex DeBrincat MORE THAN 5.5 FANTASY POINTS
The Chicago winger is on a tear right now, with four goals, five assists, and 24 shots on goal during a five-game point streak. Dallas provides a quality opponent, one that can shut down scoring, but DeBrincat scored a pair of goals and had a season-high seven shots on goal in Sunday’s win against the Stars.
Darnell Nurse MORE THAN 4.5 SHOTS + BLOCKS
Playing the Ottawa Senators does wonders for a player’s production and that includes Nurse, who has contributed at least five shots plus blocks in four of the past five games, with three of those games coming against the Sens. Nurse combined for nine shots plus blocks last night, he can pick up another five tonight.
RAPID FIRE
Leon Draisaitl -0.5 fantasy points vs. Patrick Kane
Draisaitl has eight goals and 12 assists during a 10-game point streak. That relentless production, game-in and game-out, is really tough to match. Kane has three goals and seven assists during a five-game point streak, but the bigger difference Tuesday is that Draisaitl is going against the Ottawa Senators and Kane is matched up against the Dallas Stars.
Steven Stamkos +0.5 fantasy points vs. Victor Hedman
While Hedman does gain an edge with blocked shots, Stamkos has 11 points and 38 shots plus blocks in 10 games while Hedman has 10 points and 40 shots plus blocks in 10 games. That’s close enough to prefer Stamkos getting the extra half fantasy point in that matchup.
Roman Josi -0.5 fantasy points vs. Filip Forsberg
Naturally, Josi has a blocked shots advantage and both players are generating shots but Forsberg’s scoring advantage largely came during his one 5-point game against Florida so Josi’s higher floor makes him a reasonable favorite here.
STAR SHOOTOUT - NIGHT GAMES
MORE OR LESS
Connor Hellebuyck MORE THAN 22.5 SAVES
This seems like an incredibly low number but in eight starts, Hellebuyck has had 22 or fewer saves twice and then had 23 saves in two other games so maybe it’s not quite so far off. He faces a Calgary Flames team that is averaging 28.9 shots per 60 minutes, which would leave enough room for at least 23 saves.
Max Pacioretty LESS THAN 5.5 SHOTS + BLOCKS
Pacioretty is a volume shooter, averaging nearly 4.6 per game, but doesn’t block a lot of shots so it is a big ask to get to six or more in a game. He has reached that threshold in four of nine games this season.
Mark Stone MORE THAN 0.5 ASSISTS
The Golden Knights’ captain has recorded at least one assist in eight of nine games this season. That, combined with a home game against a below-average Anaheim team, is about as automatic as you can ask for under the circumstances.
Kyle Connor LESS THAN 0.5 GOALS
The Jets sniper has scored goals in six of 11 games this season including in three of four game against tonight’s opponent, the Calgary Flames. Connor has also scored on 25% of his shots, which leads to some expectation of regression so maybe this isn’t the night for him.
RAPID FIRE
Shea Theodore -0.5 fantasy points vs. Mark Stone
Stone holds a scoring advantage, with 14 points to Theodore’s nine, but Theodore has 34 shots on goal, compared to Stone’s 19. Unless Stone has a multi-point game it could be tough for him to match Theodore’s overall production.
Nikolaj Ehlers -0.5 fantasy points vs. Andrew Copp
It is a nice accomplishment for Copp to get into the Star Shootout mix but he also has one assist and nine shots on goal in the past four games. Ehlers is in a similar scoring slump, with one assist but also has 15 shots on goal in the past four games. Given that Ehlers has the better track record as a scorer, he’s still the better option.
