NHL Building Blocks – February 13
Some really nice matchups on the slate tonight. Let’s dive in!
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 – February 13
The Goalie: Thatcher Demko ($8500 DK / $8600 FD)
Will be chalky given the matchup; DeSmith has been decent this season (7-3-5 / 2.45 / .919) as the Canucks’ #2, and he shouldn’t have to do a lot to outpace the Blackhawks who struggle to score goals (and really to do much of anything) as they have the league’s worst goals scored average at just 2.08 per game.
The Center: John Tavares ($6800 DK/ $7800 FD)
Good savings over Matthews in a good spot; three goals and three assists in his last five games to go along with 22 shots.
The Wing: David Pastrnak ($9700 DK/ $10300 FD)
Volume shooter (averages right at five shots per game) in a matchup of two good offenses; like this side as the Bolts’ D isn’t good and he can go off at any moment. Eight points in L5 and is third in the league in scoring. (NOTE: Nylander at $8400 on DK might be too good of a price to pass up, though.)
The Defenseman: Roman Josi ($7300 DK / $8000 FD)
Seven points in L5 and has an incredibly strong floor/ceiling combo; will be needed on both ends of the ice tonight. 47 points in 52 games; also 167 shots and 93 blocks. ($1000 cheaper than Makar on DK as well.)
The Value: Jake McCabe ($3600 DK / $4400 FD)
Stepping up onto L2/PP1 in Rielly’s absence; still killing penalties as well.
The Stack: VAN1 (Miller/Boeser/Lindholm/Hughes/Hronek)
Will be the chalk team on the slate facing the very bad Blackhawks. Vancouver’s offense is elite (3.68 goals per game, best in the league) and Chicago’s defense is not (3.50 goals allowed per game, 27th in the league). The Blackhawks have also lost five in a row and 15 of their last 18 games. Lindholm and Hughes are together in all three phases; Boeser and Miller join them on L1/PP1.
The Builder: VAN/TOR ML parlay
Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (91) celebrates his game-winning goal against the Tamp 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)
