Bargain Plays: Making Use of Dmitry Orlov's Brief TOI
Here are the top sleeper options for Sunday's three-game NHL slate:
D Dmitry Orlov, Capitals (vs. Flyers)
Sunday's micro-slate includes few appealing options on the blueline, especially with teams like the Capitals and Edmonton Oilers using four forward units with the man advantage. Orlov is one of the few options - he operates on the Capitals' second unit while working on the third pairing at even strength.
He hasn't exceeded 15 minutes of ice time in any of his past four games, but his brief amount of power-play time is a big plus against a Flyers team killing penalties at just a 78.5% clip. Philadelphia has also taken the 10th-most minor penalties in the league.
A good chunk of Orlov's total TOI could come on the power play Sunday, and he won't need much more than a few shots and a secondary assist to return tournament value.
C Mikhail Grabovski, Islanders (vs. Oilers)
Grabovski's three-game scoring streak was snapped Saturday, but he still managed to nearly return value by registering three shots on goal and also blocking a shot. He topped 15 minutes for the second consecutive game, with most of that time time coming beside Cs John Tavares and Ryan Strome. He sees time on the second power-play unit, where he works one of the points.
His price has been steadily rising of late, but the point-less game caused a slight dip. He really doesn't need to do much more than ride the coattails of Tavares. That becomes even easier against an Oilers team coming off a 5-1 loss in Montreal on Saturday.
LW Phillip Di Giuseppe, Hurricanes (at Canadiens)
Di Giuseppe was moved off the top line beside C Eric Staal and RW Kris Versteeg in the Hurricanes' previous game, and planted on the third line with C Victor Rask and LW Jeff Skinner. He scored a goal while registering two SOG and blocking a shot, topping 15 minutes for the third consecutive game.
Prior to Saturday's win, Montreal had allowed at least four goals in their last four games, and they haven't won two games in a row since winning four in a row between Nov. 20 - 27.