This article is part of our Beat the Cap series.
Beat the Cap: Goalies, Spending Up and a Bag of Pucks
Firstly, there are now three rules in daily fantasy hockey.
1. Build your lineups around your goaltender.
2. Find budget plays to spend up for elite talent.
And ...
3. Always stack the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Buffalo Sabres.
This week, we'll zigzag across a few topics and circle back on past strategies with emerging players to target.
Goalies
Beginning with goaltending, nothing will sink your daily fantasy hockey lineup faster than the wrong goalie selection. On any given night, a plus-performance from your goalie can comprise a significant percentage of your final point total.
Getting too cute with a goalie selection can ruin your lineup, and therefore, price is no object. Begin your lineup with your goaltender. It is far easier to squeeze a defenseman or winger under the cap in your final roster slot. You do not want a salary restriction on your goalie.
Here are three considerations to pay particular attention to when narrowing down your goalie options.
Favorites and Shutout Potential
Check the odds and take the time to identify teams expected to win. Back the chalk. Additionally, look for goaltenders facing weak offensive teams, who have a chance to register a shutout.
Tuesday serves as a solid example; Brian Elliott will be a poplar target. The Blues are huge favorites, and the Sabres struggle generating offense.
Saves add up quickest
Real-time stats add up quick, especially shots and saves. Finding a goaltender expected to face plenty of rubber provides a nice foundation for a win or shutout to add to.
Carey Price is another sound example from Tuesday's slate. Winnipeg averages 30.4 shots per game, but their 1.87 goals per game highlights nice potential for Price.
Trends aren't just for middle schoolers
Teams land themselves in all kinds of unfortunate situations. Team are scheduled back-to-back road games and long road trips; they deal with multiple injuries and more. Sometimes puck luck just isn't on a team's side, either.
New Jersey is on the wrong end of back-to-back games Tuesday, and they have the league's worst penalty-kill percentage. Enter a due Minnesota team, and Darcy Kuemper could be a worthy GPP target.
All together now
When price is no object, select the goalie you expect to have the best fantasy performance of the night. Far more often than not, goalies have the highest ceilings and the lowest floors nightly.
There are times to go on a hunch, especially in GPP contests, but in cash games, roster the goalie who hits the above checklist. An expected winner, who will see ample shots and has the trends leaning his way.
Spending Up
Recently, colleague and friend Chris Meaney put it simply about high-priced players. Winning daily contests largely depends on selecting the right stars. There are very few matchup-proof plays in hockey.
In comparison to other sports, a hockey player -- even very good ones -- can go entire games without getting a quality opportunity to post fantasy points. Sometimes players have the puck on their stick for 10 seconds or less throughout an entire game.
20 players dress, and in today's NHL all 18 skaters see a reasonable chunk of ice time. In daily football, baseball and basketball you're narrowing in on far fewer players. Deep hockey teams can have as many as 12 options worth a roster spot on any given night.
In short, you should spend up for high-priced talent. However, the amount of games in play is a significant consideration. On nights with plenty of games, it is easier to find mid-ranged talent and hone in on one or two high-priced players. When there are four or less games, you'll want to make the top options a priority.
In the past three columns, cap relief strategies were touched on: Pinching Pennies on the Back End, Finding Reliable Points and A Little Puck Luck Please. In order to spend up and have success, you also need to have low-priced option who can contribute.
A Bag of Pucks
Here are seven skaters to keep in mind when you're looking to save cap space for high-priced goalies and star forwards.
Pinching Pennies on the Back End
Tim Erixon, D, Columbus: The former first rounder and second-generation talent is now receiving top minutes next to James Wisniewski at even strength and with the man advantage.
Zach Redmond, D, Colorado: In fine current form, Redmond has a goal, an assist, four penalty minutes, four shots and a plus-4 plus/minus rating over his past two games. He isn't getting oodles of ice time, though.
Finding Reliable Points
Steve Downie, RW, Pittsburgh: Over his past three games, Downie has 29 penalty minutes, three points, three shots, and he has a plus-4 plus/minus rating. He is thriving in a third-line, secondary-scoring role with the high-powered Penguins.
Richard Panik, RW, Toronto: A new top-six role has given Panik fleeting fantasy value. He shouldn't be counted on for penalty minutes or a reliable plus/minus, but he has three points over his last three games with six shots on goal. He is cheap, too.
Benoit Pouliot, LW, Edmonton: With newfound top-line duty and on the heels of a two-point game, Pouliot should be on your radar. He is a high-volume shooter and plays with an edge.
A Little Puck Luck Please?
Paul Stastny, C, St. Louis: While far from a low-priced player, Stastny has a 94.87 PDO, and he is now centering David Backes and Alexander Steen. Expect a solid run in the near future from Stastny.
Patrik Elias, LW, New Jersey: The proven scorer is getting long in the tooth, however he also is mired in an unlucky 14-game goalless drought. The offense will come.
Jason Zucker, LW, Minnesota: He hasn't scored a point in four consecutive games, after posting one in each of the previous four games. Zucker is skating in the top six, and he has the shooting arsenal to make up for lost time in a hurry.
If you have additional questions or would like to see anything specifically covered in Beat the Cap contact me in the comments below or via Twitter @naparker77.
