FanNation fantasy hockey game picks for Thursday, Nov. 20
If you haven't tried our new daily Hockey Throwdown fantasy game, check it out. The link in the tile will take you to the game page where you can set up a head-to-head challenge with a friend, an enemy, the cable guy, the vicar, me ... basically anyone. Pick three players on three different NHL teams who you think will surpass their projected totals in such categories as wins, saves and goals-against average for goalies; and goals, assists, plus-minus, PIM and shots on goal for forwards and defensemen. Your team earns points based on live game stats. Highest score wins.
Each weekday, I'll offer my three picks for that night's action. To help you prepare, here are the players that I think are primed to have a big night:
Forward: Tyler Seguin, Stars (hosting Coyotes, 8:30 p.m. EST; FS-A, FS-SW)
Seguin hasn't piled up his league-leading 14 goals with a series of bar-dizzle snipes. He's getting plenty of bounces, too, including a John Klingberg shot that glanced off his foot on Tuesday night against Carolina. When the mojo's flowing like that, you've got to climb on board. Seguin looks good to boost his total tonight with Mike Smith in net for the Coyotes. Smith's been in the weeds of late, allowing 11 goals in his past three starts. That vulnerability, combined with a Dallas that's team desperate to put a stop to its six-game home losing streak, makes Seguin's line (0.4 G, 0.7 A, 0.3 +/-, 0.3 PIM, 3.5 SOG, 0.3 PPP) an easy target.
Jack Johnson's shocking bankruptcy story; Maple Leafs point fingers
Defenseman: Jake Muzzin, Kings (hosting Hurricanes, 10:30 p.m. EST; FS-CR, FS-W)
There are no guarantees in this game, but Muzzin might be the safest pick you make all week. L.A.'s No. 2 defender is on a ridiculous roll, tallying eight points over his past six games. He's hit the score sheet in five of those contests, with multi-point efforts in three of them. And with the Kings hosting the Hurricanes—the NHL's worst road team—Muzzin could obliterate his line of 0.4 A, 0.2 +/-, 0.5 PIM, 2.2 SOG, 0.4 PPP.
Goalie: Braden Holtby, Capitals (at Avalanche, 9 p.m. EST; SN360, CSN-DC; ALT)
After struggling early, Holtby has righted the ship. He's won three of his last four games, posting a 1.49 GAA and a .949 save percentage in the process. He'll be up against a Colorado team that's playing its first game back at home after four straight on the road and starting backup Reto Berra. Holtby's line looks pretty beatable: 0.4 W, 2.8 GA, 26.9 SV, 0.1 SO
Other games tonight:Wild at Flyers (7 p.m. EST; NHLN-US, FS-N, CSN-PH); Lightning at Maple Leafs(7:30 p.m. EST; SUN, TSN4);Blues at Canadiens (7:30 p.m. EST; FS-MW, RDS, CITYM); Predators at Senators (7:30 p.m. FS-TN, RDS2, TSN5); Red Wings at Jets (8 p.m. EST; FS-D, TSN3); Blackhawks at Flames (9 p.m. EST; CSN-CH; SNF); ; Panthers at Sharks (10:30 p.m. EST; FS-F, CSN-CA); Ducks at Canucks(10:30 p.m. EST; KCOP-13, SNV)