Our Friday lineup features Washington Capital and Nashville Predator players that should be playing with desperation after losing at home in game one of their respective series. The Caps were our top value pick with the Stanley Cup odds and should be sharp for a game that they must win tonight. We also expect the Preds to be in overdrive in their attempt to even the series before heading off to Chicago for games three and four.
*Price references come via FanDuel.
LW – Alexander Ovechkin – Washington
The Capitals host the New York Islanders at 7 p.m. ET with coverage on NBCSN and trail 1-0 after losing game one by a score of 4-1. Ovechkin commands a huge FanDuel price of $9,700 and we will eagerly pay in what is a near must win game for a team that we think can go all the way. The Great Eight was shutout with a minus-two against the Isles in game one which only serves to make him more dangerous.
C – Mike Ribeiro – Nashville
The Predators host the Chicago Blackhawks with a starting time of 9:30 p.m. ET and coverage on NBCSN. The Preds blew a 3-0 lead to lose a heartbreaking 4-3 overtime decision in game one. Ribeiro is at $4,900 and coming off an impressive comeback season in which he scored 15 goals and 47 assists with a plus-11. Ribeiro was shutout in game one with a minus-one but figures to be key component in Nashville’s efforts to even out the series.
RW – Joel Ward – Washington
We go with another Washington player in Ward that opened with a price of $4,600 at what could be a potential bargain. The Islanders ranked 23rd in the NHL for goals against during the regular season and 26th for the penalty kill. Ward should get plenty of chances against that leaky unit and questionable goaltending. Ward had 19 goals on the season but has been shutout in his last five games with a minus-four.
D – John Carlson – Washington
Carlson opened at $5,800 and could loom large in the Caps efforts to even their series against the Islanders. Carlson had a strong season with 12 goals, 43 assists, and a plus-11 but was shutout in game one against the Isles. Carlson is one of the reasons that we are so bullish on the Caps and, should they win tonight as we expect, he figures to make the score sheet.
D – Andrei Markov – Montreal
The Canadiens host the Ottawa Senators with a starting time of 7 p.m. ET with coverage on CBC. The Habs scored a 4-3 win in game one as their underrated offense demonstrated what we predicted to be better production than what was shown in the regular season. Markov rates a solid shot to reach the scores sheet as evidenced by his 10 goals and 40 assists with a plus-22 on the season. Ottawa’s Hamburglar goaltender Andrew Hammond has been a great story, but we believe midnight is about to strike on his inspiring Cinderella story. Markov is at $5,200.
G – Braden Holtby – Washington
Again we go all in with the Caps and with their goaltender that is at $8,900. Holtby was touted as finally having turned the corner as an elite goaltender, but laid a dud in the opening game loss to the Islanders with three goals allowed on 26 shots against for a terrible .885 save percentage. Holtby had a save percentage of .923 with a whopping nine shutouts during the regular season which is illustrative of his potential. We double down on Washington tonight and we expect Holtby to be a key figure in a Caps win that will even the series.
Sleeper – Seth Jones – Nashville
The second year Predator rearguard is at $3,500 and could prove to be something of a wild card with his phenomenal ability in what is a virtual must win game in Hockeytonk. Jones had an assist in game one and we expect an all-out effort by the Preds as they attempt to even their series with the mighty Blackhawks. Nashville got a painful lesson on the difference between playoff and regular season hockey in game one but we expect them to respond well as a quick study that is capable of getting back into the series.
