Hopefully, if you’re like me, you were able to get day off for the holiday today. If you did, revel in it and use the extra time to set your daily fantasy hockey lineup! If you didn’t, stall from work and set your lineup anyway because, really, why would you want to work on a Monday holiday anyway? Let’s have a look and see who from today’s five games should be in your NHL daily fantasy starting six:
C- Sidney Crosby, PIT
The Pittsbugh Penguins are looking a bit more like a coherent group, and they owe a lot of that to captain Sidney Crosby. Crosby’s 14 goals and 22 assists on the year puts him on pace for 72 points. Believe it or not, that would be a career low for a season with more than 50 games played. That is, unless Crosby goes on a scoring tear, which he seems to be doing right now. He has five points in his last three games with hockey soulmate Chris Kunitz and Patric Hornqvist on his line. Even someone like Carl Hagelin could contribute if on the ice with Crosby. Two of the best possession players in the league with great speed? Look out. The Pens are taking on the Blues in what should be a tightly played game. Put Crosby in your fantasy lineup.
LW- Tomas Hertl, SJS
It has taken Hertl until early January to put points on the board in bunches, but he’s finally coming alive. The Sharks have been longing to be at 100% health-wise, and now that they are, their offense has been putting together some very impressive games. Hertl has three goals and three assits in his last five games on the top line for the Sharks. The 22-year old has gotten a deservingly long leash when it comes to scoring because of his age and his skill set. Other coaches might have put him in the press box for a game or two. Without naming names, those coaches would be idiotic, but it still could happen. Hertl-Thornton-Pavelski has been racking up the points the last few games, so put Hertl in your starting six tonight as he takes on the Senators.
RW- Jaromir Jagr, FLA
Last time I had suggested that Jaromir Jagr should be in your daily fantasy lineup, I had noted his shooting percentage was about 19%, which was going to be incredibly hard to sustain. I also noted that knowing Jagr, he would not be satisfied unless that figure was in the twenties. I was right. It now sits at 20.3%. That’s insanity. After his five-game point streak came to a close, Jagr has been somewhat quiet these last two games for Florida. He has not had a point nor a shot on goal. But the simple fact is that the Panthers do not succeed if Jagr does not play well. He has become such a big difference-maker and a leader for this hockey club. They need Jagr scoring, and there’s no better way to get him going than beating up on the Oilers. Get Jagr in the lineup tonight.
D- Rasmus Ristolainen, BUF
Rasmus Ristolainen gives Vladislav Namestnikov a run for his money as the coolest name in hockey, but I’m still partial to Russian names myself. He has not gotten much attention because of where he plays, but he has shown some tremendous growth this season. He has eight goals and 21 assists already on the year, surpassing last year’s totals in 30 fewer games. Ristolainen has three points in his last five games and has been getting almost 25 minutes per game. At only 21 years of age, he has become a workhorse for the Sabres. Giving a young kid that much ice time can potentially wear him out unless his name is Duncan Keith, but he has proven he’s earned it. As the Sabres look to upset the Coyotes tonight, look to Ristolainen to be the game’s x-factor.
D- Marc-Edouard Vlasic, SJS
I know I should be warned about lightning striking in the same place twice, since I put Vlasic in the starting six last time he played too, but he was all over the ice against the Dallas Stars. It was so much fun to watch. He rightfully gets another start tonight. Vlasic had a three-point night against Dallas, with a goal at both evens and on the man advantage and an assist. He also had a goal his previous game against Edmonton. Vlasic is a terrific daily fantasy player without having the sexy recognizable name that everyone will be drawn to.
G- Brian Elliott, STL
Brian Elliott got his 150th career victory by stopping 46 shots, the most of his career. He has been trying to channel his inner Curtis Joseph by paying homage with an identical set of pads and mask. Perhaps the change in equipment is enough to improve Elliott’s play. For season totals, Elliott has been average- 8-5-4, 2.41 GAA, .919 Sv%. Since debuting his new leg pads, he is 3-1-2. He has been improving his play quite a bit in Jake Allen’s absence. He has his work cut out for him tonight going against the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he will be facing another high volume of shots at very least and the odds of a win are about even. Put Elliott in the starting six.
