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Daily Fantasy Hockey expert Dustin Nelson analyzes the NHL's power plays to identify 5 players who provide sleeper value in your DFS cash games and tournaments for 2/6/16.
At this point in the season it can be difficult to track down a boost in power play points on waivers of daily fantasy hockey. The possibilities teams have on the power play have kind of been explored and emergent dark horses become less and less frequent.
Shayne Gostisbehere was an exception to this, but even he’s nearly 100% owned in keeper leagues and carries a steep price in daily games. So, where can you turn to find a little boost in your power play numbers?
Here are five forwards who may be able to provide an unexpected power play boost in DFS Hockey cash and tourney games. Each of them is less than 50% owned in keeper leagues (using ESPN ownership levels as a benchmark).
1. Brayden Schenn
Since the first of the year Schenn has put up an impressive eight points on the power play. With his ownership so low, he’s number one with a bullet if you’re looking for a sudden and unexpected infusion of power play production. Since the first of the year, his eight power play points are the most of any player whose ownership is below 50%. Only one player even has four.
Philadelphia has a unique situation. They’ve discovered a very, very effective power play unit that they’re using constantly and consistently. Their top power play unit has seen 71.4% of all power play time over the last 10 games. That’s the exact same five players on the ice 71.4% of the time.
Contrast that with the Washington Capitals, who are annually one of the best teams with the man advantage. They have juggled units frequently over the last 10 games. Alex Ovechkin has been out there for 83% of the man advantage, but the units have changed with consistency. The most any one group has been out is 23% of the time.
Philadelphia has found something that works and they’re running with it. They have arguably the power play best center on the half wall, Claude Giroux, and Gostisbehere — who has been a revelation on the power play — piloting from the point. Schenn has consistently been a part of this top group and has been effective, as well as being the beneficiary of a really solid group.
2. Bo Horvat
That one player with four points in this group is Horvat. He’s pivoting the second unit and has been reasonably effective in that position, putting in two goals and two assists since the start of the year.
He’s also managed to take seven of his teams 14 shots while he’s on the ice during the power play over the last 10 games.
Outside of the power play he can add some hits and has put up seven points in his last 12 games at even strength for a total of 12 points in his last 12 games (the extra point in there happened with the goaltender pulled).
3. Nick Bjugstad
Bjugstad’s ownership is criminally low no matter how you slice it. His low ownership is dually built from his long absence due to injury and some struggles to ignite his game since returning.
Yet, he’s put up three points in the last 12 games on the man advantage and has the potential to provide at even strength in a big way. He put up 24 goals and 43 points last season, contributing seven goals and 12 points on the man advantage.
Given, that even strength production hasn’t been there lately, but with how well Florida is playing, it’s only a matter of time before Bjugstad hits his stride and the power play is a big part of his stride.
4. Mathieu Perreault
Perreault gets some good power play time, averaging 2:30 of man advantage ice time per game since the first of the year. In that time he’s added two goals and an assist.
Perreault has the ability to produce and he’s up there among the most productive forwards who is widely available, but there are some questions about if that will continue. In the 12 games since the start of the year, he’s only taken two shots, scoring on both.
Needless to say, his 100% shooting percentage on power plays in 2016 isn’t likely to continue. He’s getting time on the top unit, but there are a lot of mouths to feed on that unit with Blake Wheeler, Andrew Ladd, Bryan Little and Dustin Byfuglien all more likely to find the back of the net than Perreault.
5. Boone Jenner
Jenner hasn’t been as productive on the power play as other on this list, with just two goals in 2016, but he’s very productive elsewhere. Like Bjugstad, he’s criminally under-owned. He has 30 points (17-13-30) in 52 games this season, showing that he provide plenty outside of the power play.
Importantly here, Jenner is due to get some more points soon. He’s recently been given Seth Jones on defense, gets nearly two minutes per game in man up situations and has taken 10 of the team’s 19 power play shots while Jenner is on the ice over the last 13 games.
That last part is important. He’s a focal point of the power play.
Jenner being a driver of offense on the power play tracks back as well. He’s taken 13 of 26 shots while he’s on the ice during power play scenarios over the last 21 games. He’s doing the things he needs to do to keep producing, making him a bit of a gamble, but a gamble whose underlying numbers support the idea that he can produce.
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