NHL Showdown Slate: New York Islanders @ Tampa Bay Lightning
Published: Jun 17, 2021
NHL Showdown Slate: New York Islanders @ Tampa Bay Lightning
Spread: TB -1.5
O/U: 5.5
Injuries
Islanders
None
Lightning
None
MVP/CPT
Nikita Kucherov, F TB
Kucherov is coming off a three point game, but he will likely find it harder to get free with the series shifting to Long Island, and the Islanders being able to utilize the last change. While this will make things more difficult for him to have a big game, it's far from impossible.
Andrei Vasilevskiy, G TB
There might not be a safer floor in this game than Vasilevskiy. He hasn’t given up more than two goals in just two of his last eight games.
Ryan Pulock, D NYI
Should this be a low scoring game, Pulock is in a place where he can get you points without hitting the scoreboard. He blocks shots on a regular basis, but he will also give you shots and he has scored in two of his last three games.
Mid-Tier
Victor Hedman, D TB
Hedman has the highest upside of any player going tonight, because of his ability to get you points, shots and blocks, and hit all three bonuses.
Alex Killorn, F TB
Killorn’s point streak has ended, but he hasn’t gone more than one game without a point in these playoffs.
Scott Mayfield, D NYI
Mayfield missed the block total for the first time in three games last game, but I still love the floor with Mayfield. I expect he will surpass the three block total again tonight.
Mathew Barzal, F NYI
After a slow start to the playoffs, Barzal has really turned things around as of late. He has scored in four of his last five games played, and he has scored in back-to-back games.
Value Tier
Barclay Goodrow, F TB
Goodrow is a bit of a dice roll. He got an assist in the last game, but he is the type of player who can affect the game, and when his line is one, they are very effective and can put up points for the Lightning, and they will need that on the road.
Anthony Cirelli, F TB
Look for Cirelli to play a bigger role tonight with the Islanders using last change to try to cancel out Tampa Bay’s top line. Tampa Bay’s second line one I would want to have some shares of.
Noah Dobson, D NYI
Dobson is a nice value play. He is the primary defense-men on the Islanders power play, which is a nice path for him to get points.
Player News
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told reporters that Zach Eflin (lat) is likely to return and start Sunday against the Angels
It was assumed that Eflin would be back this weekend, but now we have a concrete date. The 31-year-old may not be at full strength after throwing fewer than 60 pitches in his rehab start, but the Orioles feel confident enough to have the right-hander back on the bump for the series finale against the Angels.
Riley Greene is not in the lineup for the first game of a doubleheader against the Rockies on Thursday.
Greene will get a break and likely return to the lineup for the second game of the twin-billing. Zach McKinstry will get the start in left field while Greene rests.
Panthers released TE Jordan Matthews.
Matthews converted to tight end a few years ago and hasn’t made much noise at the position. The change has, however, likely kept him in the league for a few more seasons. He appeared in four games with the Panthers last year but didn’t record any stats on offense. The Panthers also released or waived WR Dax Milne, C Andrew Raym, and TE Colin Granger.
Yu Darvish (elbow) is facing live hitters on Thursday.
Darvish has been throwing bullpen sessions and traveled to the team’s complex in Arizona to face live hitters on Thursday. It will be his first time facing live batters since a spring training appearance on March 13th. He will likely need a few sessions like this before the Padres can map out a rehab appearance timeline for him.
Adael Amador is starting at second base and batting ninth for the Rockies on Thursday.
Amador has now started three of the last four games at second base for the Rockies. He’s gone just 7-for-43 this season with 15 strikeouts in 16 games. He’s just 22 years old, so there is plenty of time for him to adjust to the MLB level, but he doesn’t need to be on redraft radars right now.
Jackson Holliday is playing second base and batting second for the Orioles on Thursday against the Twins.
With Cedric Mullins sitting out on Thursday, Gunnar Henderson will bat lead off, and Holliday will jump up from sixth in the order to second. Holliday is riding a hot streak right now, and the Orioles are taking advantage. This is likely just a one-game sample with no Mullins or Adley Rutschman in the lineup, but Rutschman has been struggling, so perhaps it could become a more permanent spot in the lineup for Holliday moving forward.