NHL DFS Monday Showdown Playbook: Senators @ Canucks
Published: Jan 25, 2021
Ottawa Senators @Vancouver Canucks
Spread: VAN -1.5
O/U: 6.5
Injuries
Canucks
Michael Ferland - OUT
Jayce Hawryluk - OUT
Travis Hamonic - OUT
Jalen Chatfield - OUT
Senators
Erik Brannstrom - OUT
Cedric Paquette - OUT
MVP/CPT
Evgeny Dadonov, F OTT
I am a firm believer that, you need to get your upside in at the MVP/CPT spot, and Dadonov is that. He provides top power-play exposure and sees 16-18 minutes per night. The Canucks give up lots of shots, and goals right now, Dadonov could really pay off.
Jake Virtanen , F VAN
Pettersson won't stay cold forever, so getting some cheap exposure to him, on a night where there should be plenty of goals could really pay off for you. He is also cheap enough that you won't have any issues getting some higher-floor players into your lineup either.
Tanner Pearson , F VAN
Pearson and Virtanen are similar in the sense that they are getting you exposure to a group of players. Pearson is giving you exposure to the group that is playing well right now in Horvat and Boeser and leaving you salary to pay up elsewhere.
Mid-Tier
Brady Tkachuk , F OTT
Tkachuk might have the most solid floor on this slate, and there is multi-point upside here as well. Vancouver is giving up 4.7 goals per game on the year, and 5.5 goals in the last seven days. Don't fade Ottawa completely tonight.
Bo Horvat , F VAN
With six points in his last four games, Horvat is easily the hottest Canuck right now. This pace isn't sustainable for him, but you should consider riding the hot hand.
Quinn Hughes , D VAN
Much like Tkachuk, the floor for Hughes is high. He won't block many shots, but he shoots a lot, and exposure to the top power-play gives him plenty of upside.
Value Tier
Josh Norris, F OTT
The young top centre has two points in his last three games and has been getting three shots on net per game. With how many goals Vancouver has been giving up, having shares of a top-line player, who is also on the top power-play is going to be valuable.
Alexander Edler , D VAN
Edler is a floor player. He gives you shots and blocks. He hasn't' hit the score sheet as much, recently, but when you put the puck on the net good things can happen.
Drake Batherson , F OTT
You have to love how much Batherson has been shooting, the goals haven't been there yet, but if he keeps going at this pace they will start to come. Much like Norris, you are getting Batherson at a discount, but Ottawa shouldn't have issues scoring tonight, and you're getting a solid floor from Batherson.
Player News
Dolphins signed No. 13 overall pick DT Kenneth Grant to a four-year contract.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Grant will sign his contract today. The former Michigan defensive tackle is expected to fill a major void left by Christian Wilkins, who left for the Raiders in the 2024 offseason. Grant totaled 32 tackles, three sacks, and seven TFLs in his final season at Michigan and excelled at stopping the run while also generating 27 pressures in his final season, per PFF.
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.