Here is your Thursday night fantasy lineup for tonight’s NHL action.
Left Wing- Tomas Tatar, Detroit Red Wings
Detroit hosts the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night which is a probable mismatch. Tatar has 25 goals and 23 assists on the season with a plus-11 and is due to light the lamp with just one goal and two assists in his last five games.
Center- Jeff Carter, Los Angeles Kings
Carter has five goals in his last five games and few players have a nose for the net like the Kings center. Carter has 23 goals and 28 assists on the season with a plus-seven. The Kings are tied with the Calgary Flames for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and have no margin for error. Carter can be expected to lead their offense in yet another must win game.
Right Wing- Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues
Tarasenko remains productive with 33 goals and 33 assists with a plus-29 on the season and has two goals with four assists in his last five games. The Blues face a down and out Philadelphia Flyers team that is among the worst defensive units in the game. St. Louis is back in top form and it figures to be a big night for Tarasenko and company.
Defenseman– Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks
Keith is a Norris Trophy winning defenseman that should dominate in Thursday’s matchup against the stripped-down Arizona Coyotes. Keith has seven goals, 30 assists, and is a plus-16 on the season. There won’t be much in the way of quality opposition for Keith to have to shut down and offensive opportunities should be aplenty.
Defenseman- Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins
Letang has emerged as one of the more dominant blue liners in the game this season and that should be exemplified against a poor Edmonton Oilers team that is pitiful on the road. Letang has 10 goals and 41 assists with a plus-13 on the season. Letang has four assists with a plaus-2 in his last five games.
Goaltender- Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins
Rask is in playoff form and will need to be razor sharp against the visiting Tampa Bay Lighting. Rask has a .945 save percentage in his last five games and has been a key figure in the Bruins resurgence. It is risky to take Rask against the top scoring team in the NHL but that factor increases his value and reward potential.
