On Monday, we pick on a Winnipeg Jets team that has encountered turbulence and is in danger of blowing a playoff spot with a Minnesota Wild team that has emerged as one of the best in the game. Winnipeg has been a great story with its pluck but the suspension of team captain and number one defenseman Dustin Byfuglien is likely going to prove to be fatal.
Left Wing – Zach Parise – Minnesota Wild
Minnesota hosts a slumping Winnipeg Jets team at 8 p.m. ET. The Jets have lost three out of four. Parise is Minnesota’s leading scorer with 30 goals and 28 assists and a plus-20.
Center – Joe Pavelski – San Jose Sharks
The Sharks host the leaky Dallas Stars at 10:30 p.m. ET. Dallas ranks 27th in the NHL for goals against this season. Pavelski is the Sharks leading scorer with 36 goals, 32 assists, a plus-11 and the respect that many of his teammates would love to have.
Right Wing – Nino Niederreiter – Minnesota Wild
Niederreiter has 24 goals and 13 assists on the season with a plus-four and has two goals with a plus-two in his last five games. Again we pick on the Jets.
Defenseman – Ryan Suter – Minnesota Wild
Winnipeg ranks just 16th in the NHL for goal scoring and Suter has proven the worth of his huge contract signed in the summer of 2012. Suter is due as he has just one assist in his last five games. He has two goals and 34 assists with a plus-10 on the season.
Defenseman – Brent Burns – San Jose Sharks
Burns has been the top scoring defenseman for San Jose and should find the Stars inviting with opportunity. Burns has five assists in his last five games.
Goalie – Devan Dubnyk – Minnesota Wild
Dubnyk has emerged as a bona fide Hart Trophy candidate as NHL most valuable player. Dubnyk has a .930 save percentage with six shutouts on the season and has been sensational in his last five games with a .949 save percentage.
Sleeper – Juri Tlusty – Carolina Hurricanes
The Canes are at the Buffalo Sabres in a godforsaken matchup that we will try and make something out of. Tlusty has one goal and three assists in his last five games with a plus-one. Tlusty has 13 goals and 10 assists on the season. Buffalo ranks 29th for goals against and 30th for penalty killing. Faceoff is at 7 p.m. ET.
