Unlock defensive gems with rising point streaks and power-play potential. These under-rostered defensemen can elevate your fantasy hockey squad.
On every game day this season, THN Fantasy will highlight players and goalies for fantasy managers to stream or roster for the rest of the season. The recommended players and goalies are rostered in less than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues and can be selected in standard fantasy leagues and/or for daily fantasy games.
Lane Hutson, D, MTL at SEA (99% rostered) – FanDuel $5,700
I like Hutson a little more than Mikhail Sergachev and Matthew Schaefer (both $5,900) just for the slightly better value. Hutson carries a four-game points streak into this game, and while the Kraken have been surprisingly good, I think the Habs have also exceeded expectations. Hutson doesn’t shoot the puck as much as Sergachev or Schaefer, but he’s by far the best playmaker and most likely to score points.
Josh Morrissey, D, WPG at MIN (98% rostered) – FanDuel $5,600
I was a tad early on the call for Morrissey’s cold streak to end, and he’s picked up his offensive in a big way with six helpers in his past four games. This is a tough matchup but the Jets should have no problems generating offense against the Wild, who have been defensively porous with mediocre goaltending. Morrissey is a high-floor DFS play with the potential for shots and blocks.
Dmitry Orlov, D, SJ vs. LA (44% rostered) – FanDuel $5,300
Orlov added a power-play assist in their previous game against the Wild, his second power-play point in three games and his fourth point in four games. He’s been the Sharks’ most consistent defenseman and it looks like his role on PP1 is quite safe for now. The Kings have taken a lot of penalties this season with a league-worst minus-11 penalty differential, and the Sharks power play is good enough to score against anybody. Orlov remains a good value play in DFS games.
Filip Hronek, D, VAN vs. NYR (40% rostered) – FanDuel $5,100
Hronek played 28:19 on Sunday against the Oilers, and expect a similar ice time with Quinn Hughes expected to miss his second game. Hronek will take over for Hughes in offensive zone situations and on the power play, and he’s off to a solid start this season with six assists and 15 blocks in 10 games this season. Relative to the amount of minutes Hronek will play, he should be one of the best DFS value plays for Tuesday.
Zayne Parekh, D, CGY at TOR (32% rostered) – FanDuel n/a
The Flames offense came alive Sunday against the Rangers with five goals, which bodes well against a team with strong goaltending. The Flames are still a low-ceiling offensive team without an elite offensive player, but the upside for Parekh is his role on PP1. He plays sheltered minutes but might get an opportunity against an average PK.
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