Key Three Skaters
Patrick Kane (CHI)
Kane has been on fire of late with four goals and nine assists in his last five games. The Rangers have struggled with right-wingers over the last four weeks allowing the most fantasy points to the position of any team, including 15 goals and 15 assists over the 13-game stretch.
Mika Zibanajad (NYR)
Zibanajad is coming off of a great effort against Carolina on Tuesday night. In that game, Zib had two goals and two assists on four shots. That effort brought his point-scoring streak to three games, a streak that could very well extend to four games against Chicago who have allowed the most fantasy points to centers over the last four weeks.
Filip Forsberg (NSH)
Forsberg and the Preds host the Jets tonight and he’s been skating well and producing since coming back from an absence due to injury with four goals and 19 shots over the five-game stretch. Forsberg has fared well against the Jets, specifically in their six-game playoff series last season with three goals and eight assists. The Jets have allowed 11 goals in their last 12 games to right-wingers putting Forsberg in a great spot to bury the puck tonight.
Favorite Line Stacks
Rangers First Line
Kreider – Zibanajad – Zuccarello
This line showed up in a big way in their last game both at even strength and on the power play in a tough matchup. Facing the Blackhawks tonight will benefit this trio as Chicago has allowed a ton of fantasy production to the center and both wing positions over the last four weeks.
Maple Leafs First Line
Johnsson – Tavares – Marner
Mike Babcock mixed the lines around again for the Leafs leading Johnsson to the top line with Tavares and Marner as a solid value play on both sites. JT and Marner continue to produce together at a crazy pace with both among the league’s leaders in offense production in a number of categories.
Predators First Line
Forsberg – Johansen – Arvidsson
One of the best lines in the league is back clicking on all cylinders and should prove productive at home tonight. They’ll see some aided upside skating on the top power-play unit together as well.
Bruins First Line
Marchand – Bergeron – Pastrnak
Speaking of one of the best lines in the league, Marchand, Bergeron, and Pastrnak have combined for five goals and nine assists over their last five games. The Blues have tightened up a bit defensively but the Bruins at home are always in play, especially tonight where I think they’ll come in lower owned than most of the other big lines.
Value Line Stacks
Blackhawks First Line
Kahun – Toews – Debrincat
Wild Third Line
Zucker – Koivu – Granlund
Leafs Third Line
Marleau – Kadri – Kapanen
Bruins Second Line
Debrusk – Krejci – Cehlarik
Top Positional Plays
Skaters not listed in “key three”, “favorite line stacks”, or “value line stacks.”
Center
Brayden Point (TB) – The Leafs have allowed 19 goals and 15 assists to centers over their last 11 games.
Tyler Seguin (DAL) – His shot volume alone gives him upside worth considering in a matchup he can exploit.
Auston Matthews (TOR) – Second in the league among forwards in points per 60 with 4.48 and goals per 60 with 2.13.
Mark Scheifele (WPG) – Three goals and five assists in his last five games.
Mathew Barzal (NYI) – Points in three of his last four games and has five points in his last six games against the Devils.
Dylan Strome (CHI) – Centers the second line, good pairing with Kane.
David Krejci (BOS) – Good value option centering the second line with a goal in three of his last four games.
Jeff Carter (LA) – Four goals and five assists in his last eight games against the Stars.
Ryan Strome (NYR) – Punt option at just $3,200 on DK against the Blackhawks. He has two goals in his last four games.
Wing
Nikita Kucherov (TB) – The league leader in points per 60 and Kucherov has four goals in his last six games.
Anders Lee (NYI) – Six goals in his last eight games against the Devils and is second among forwards in high-danger scoring chances per 60.
Blake Wheeler (WPG) – Points in four of his last five games with three goals and six assists over that span.
Rickard Rakell (ANA) – Goals in back to back games with three shots in each contest and the Wild have allowed the third-most fantasy points to left-wingers over the last four weeks, including 17 goals over the 13 games.
Vladimir Tarasenko (STL) – He’s dealt with a lot of shitty luck this season but is still sixth among forwards in scoring chances per 60.
Zach Parise (MIN) – Has three points in his last four games and 14 shots over that four-game stretch.
Patrik Laine (WPG) – Eighth in the league among forwards with 11.74 shots per 60.
Willie Nylander (TOR) – Looks to be back on the same line with Auston Matthews and that’s great for him as they’ve shown great continuity when skating together.
David Perron (STL) – Red-hot with points in each of his last 12 games.
Defense
Roman Josi (NSH) – Third among defensemen in shots per 60 and ninth in minutes per game.
Victor Hedman (TB) – Toronto has been better of late but still have allowed a lot of production to defensemen.
Morgan Rielly (TOR) – He’s been incredible coming in second at the position in goals per 60, first in goals per 60, eighth in scoring chances per 60, and eighth in shots per 60 at the position.
Jacob Trouba (WPG) – Points in four of his last six and continues to see added ice time in the absence of Dustin Byfuglien.
Mattias Ekholm (NSH) – Points in six of his last seven games.
Cam Fowler (ANA) – Minnesota has allowed 25 assists to defensemen in their last 13 games, the fourth-most in the league over the last four weeks.
Value
Ryan Suter (MIN)
Ryan Ellis (NSH)
Brent Seabrook (CHI)
Drew Doughty (LA)
Miro Heiskanen (DAL)
Nick Leddy (NYI)
Brandon Montour (ANA)
Top Goalies
Robin Lehner (NYI)
Devan Dubnyk (MIN)
Tuukka Rask (BOS)
Pekka Rinne (NSH)
GOOD LUCK!!
