NHL Building Blocks – December 27
Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas? Did your team? Hope so on both counts! We’re back at it tonight after a nice, much-needed break.
The premise of each article in this series is to feature starting spots (building blocks) for your lines. These are plays that are cash-viable as well as GPP-worthy and can be considered in all contest formats.
Starting Lineup – DECEMBER 27
The Goalie: Connor Hellebuyck ($8500 DK / $8800 FD)
Should be popular facing an abysmal Blackhawks offense ranked at or near the bottom in most offensive categories. Winnipeg is stellar defensively, including a goals allowed average of 2.53, third best in the league. Hellebuyck (16-6-2 / 2.37 / .918) has been one of the league’s best goalies this season, and he should be a big reason why the Jets should continue their winning ways tonight.
The Forward: Auston Matthews ($10000 DK / $10300 FD)
Seven-game goal-scoring streak (12 in all during that time) and is up to 28 goals on the season in just 30 games. Ridiculously hot right now and I’m going to ride the wave, and Ottawa doesn’t really inspire defensively.
The Wing: Valeri Nichushkin ($7300 DK / $8500)
Avs are in a good spot tonight; on the wing he has as much correlation and nearly as much upside as Rantanen but is less expensive; 16 goals and over a point per game so far this season and in the midst of a seven-game point streak (six goals and six assists).
The Defenseman: Cale Makar ($8100 DK / $8400 FD)
Highest-upside defenseman on the slate and averaging well over a point per game (39 points, including 31 assists, in just 29 games) and 24+ minutes of ice time.
The Value: Brock Faber ($4300 DK / $4700 FD)
Has been filling in for Spurgeon and has made a case to stay where he is; four points in his last six games while averaging 30 minutes a night and is still way too cheap, and the Wild are in a plus matchup against a Wings team that is average at best defensively.
The Stack: Toronto PP1
Have to absolutely consider the Leafs tonight as they’re in a good spot: the Senators had lost six in a row before winning their last game before break and they have the fifth-highest goals allowed average (3.55) in the league to go along with the second worst penalty kill (71.3%). Toronto, on the other hand, is third in goals per game (3.58) and fourth in power play (26.4%), and they have the league’s best goal scorer in Auston Matthews, who has 28 in 30 games (12 in his past seven alone). Pair him with Marner; pair Tavares and Nylander, and mix them all together for power play exposure (and add in Rielly).
The Builder: LAK/WPG ML parlay (around -125)
Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (91) celebrates his game-winning goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during overtime in Game 6 of a Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Saturday, April 29, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (AP Photo / Chris O’Meara)
