Let’s take a look at the top contenders for the starting six of your NHL daily fantasy team:
C- Mike Ribeiro, NSH
Mike Ribeiro has been racking up the assists on the second line with Filip Forsberg. Ribeiro has five assists in his last five games, with Forsberg netting five goals with an assist of his own. Ribeiro has been creating opportunities by drawing defenders to the high slot and the blueline. His ability to sauce the puck down low gives Nashville numbers down low for Forsberg to grab a rebound or work his magic with his silky smooth mitts. Ribeiro has 32 assists on the year. He will have a lot more open space tonight as Los Angeles will likely be without perennial Selke finalist Anze Kopitar tonight. Put Ribeiro in your daily fantasy lineup tonight.
LW- Brayden Schenn, PHI
Brayden Schenn has replaced Jakub Voracek on the Flyers’ top line in an attempt to spread the scoring wealth. Voracek was a natural fit in an unnatural position for him on the left wing. He will be back at his usual spot on the right with R.J. Umberger and Nick Cousins, with Schenn sliding up to skate with Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds. The Flyers’ top line all recorded three-point games Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils. In his last five games, Schenn has three goals and two assists on 15 shots on goal with a +3 rating. Philly will be taking on the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight. They will be relying heavily on their top line, which could easily erupt again tonight. Schenn is a good under-the-radar pick for tonight.
RW- Jaromir Jagr, FLA
The Ageless Wonder simply refuses to quit. In his last five games, Jaromir Jagr has two goals and two assists, bringing his yearly totals up to 18 goals and 23 assists. Florida has lost three of their last four games, all against Western Conference opponents. Tonight, they will be taking on the second-worst Western Conference team in the Winnipeg Jets. The 44-year-old Jagr will have to be instrumental in righting the ship to prevent the Lightning and Bruins from creeping any closer in the standings. Put the wily veteran in your starting six.
D- Erik Johnson, COL
Erik Johnson has been firing away from the Avalanche blueline lately. He has goals in both of his last two games against Buffalo and Montreal with seven shots on goal. His goal against Montreal was off a shorthanded rush with a lethal wrist shot. Against Buffalo, Johnson tapped in a cross-slot feed from Mikhail Grigorenko. Johnson is unafraid to join the offensive attack, which is convenient considering Edmonton’s tendency to allow odd-man rushes. Colorado will be looking to light the lamp against the Oilers tonight, and Johnson will be generating much of the offense.
D- Erik Karlsson, OTT
Erik Karlsson has not missed a beat with a new defensive partner in Dion Phaneuf. In five games with Phaneuf on his pairing, Karlsson has six assists with 23 shots on goal. He has seen a half hour of ice time or more in each of those three games. On the year, Karlsson has 11 goals and 54 assists. The Senators will be facing off against the Detroit Red Wings tonight, who have been allowing an abnormally high number of goals lately. Karlsson, who should be a regular candidate for your daily fantasy team, is a very good play tonight in particular. It also ensures that both your defensemen are named Erik, so if that happens to be a fantasy category, you’ll be set.
G- Craig Anderson, OTT
While Craig Anderson has himself a tough task tonight against the Detroit Red Wings, his stock is certainly on the rise. He has a .947 save percentage and 1.8 goals against average in his last five starts, with three wins in that span. He’s been facing a high volume of shots, and has been turning them away in bulk. He has only allowed more than three goals once since returning from the All-Star break in the very first game back. Only one goal has been scored on him in three of his last six starts. The Senators are finally starting to win a few more games, and Anderson deserves your attention going forward.
