NHL Building Blocks – March 18
Two games tonight to start off the week. 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 – March 18
The Goalie: Ukka-Pekka Luukonen ($7400 DK / $7600 FD)
Solid play tonight; the Kraken offense has not been good at all this season (2.68 goals per game, 28th in the league), and Buffalo’s defense has actually not been bad, ranking 11th in GAA at a solid 2.96). Luukonen (22-17-3 / 2.40 / .915) seems to have taken over the #1 spot in net; he’s won three of his last five starts, allowing 10 total goals and grabbing a shutout against the Isles.
The Center: Nazem Kadri ($7500 DK/ $7600 FD)
Has been solid all season (leads the team with points); five points and 22 shots on goal in his last five.
The Wing: Yegor Sharangovich ($6100 DK/ $5800 FD)
Three goals (14 shots) and two assists in his last five games; sneaky 28 goals on the season (tied for the team lead).
The Defenseman: Rasmus Dahlin ($7100 DK / $7100 FD)
High floor and ceiling; plays nearly 26 minutes a night (second most in the league) and averages three SOG and two blocks per game.
The Value: Connor McMichael ($4300 DK / $4600 FD)
Centering Ovie on L1 and PP2 while also killing penalties; two goals (10 SOG) and an assist in L5.
The Stack: BUF1 (Thompson-Tuch-Dahlin)
Nice matchup tonight against the Kraken who, aside from their top 10 GAA, haven’t done anything this season (and as a result are outside of the playoff picture currently). Buffalo is outside the East playoff picture as well, and they had a little momentum going (before losing last game, they had won three in a row). This next stretch might be their last chance to get up into the playoffs. These three are L1/PP1 together; mix in Benson and Cozens as secondary pieces.
The Builder: none
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (26) skates during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the new Jersey Devils, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
