After two days of some weak NHL GPPs, thanks to NFL Sundays and Canadian Thanksgiving we get some nicely sized contests for tonight’s six-game slate. There were lots of line changes over the past couple days so double check your lineups before lock.
Line changes:
- The Kings second line of Pearson-Carter-Toffoli has been broken up. Pearson moves down to the third line. 21-year-old rook Austin Wagner moves into his spot. He had 17 points in 50 AHL games last year, so nothing to get too excited about.
- With the James Van Riemsdyk injury, the Flyers are shuffling their top-six. Travis Konecny moves off the top line, while Jakub Voracek moves up. Jordan Weal takes JVR’s spot on the third line. The entire top line will suit up on PP1 with Shayne Gotishbehere and Wayne Simmonds.
- The Canucks have switched up their top line, moving Brendan Leipsic up to play with Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser. Sven Baertschi heads to the third line with Brandon Sutter and Jake Virtanen. Ben Hutton draws in for Michael Del Zotto. Fun fact: Over the last 20 years the Canucks powerplay is 1-for-32 in Carolina.
- Kasperi Kapanen takes over for Tyler Ennis on the Maple Leafs top line. He makes for a nice salary saver if you’re squeezing in some of the big names tonight. A productive AHLer for the past three years, Kapanen hasn’t been given much of a role on the Leafs so far, usually finding himself buried on the 4th line.
- Valeri Nichushkin is primed to make his season debut for the Stars, but unfortunately, it’s on the 4th line. He does get 2nd unit PP time, but I’d take a way and see approach.
- Craig Smith is lining up on the Predators PP1.
- Anthony Duclair is skating on the Blue Jackets second line with Alex Wennberg and Nick Foligno. Oliver Bjorkstrand is in the Torts doghouse on the 4th line.
Injury updates
Jonathan Quick (week-to-week)
Gabriel Landeskog (likely to play)
Seth Jones (DL)
James Van Riemsdyk (out 4-6 weeks)
