With eight games on the schedule tonight, let’s take a look at the prime contenders for the starting six of your NHL daily fantasy team:
C- Cody Eakin, DAL
Cody Eakin has impressed since being promoted to the Stars’ top line. With Dallas struggling of late, head coach Lindy Ruff has decided to mix things up, namely splitting up the dynamic duo of Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin. Seguin now sits on the second line with Jason Spezza and Valeri Nichushkin, while Benn will skate alongside Cody Eakin and Patrick Eaves. Eaves’ offensive production erupted with with Benn and Seguin earlier in the year. Eakin has seen similar results, netting three goals and adding an assist in his last four games. Eakin has 14 goals and 16 assists now on the year. Dallas will be taking on Tampa Bay tonight and will need all the offense they can get. Eakin would be a smart under-the-radar pick for tonight.
LW- Milan Lucic, LAK
Milan Lucic is on a very nice seven-game point streak. Over that stretch he has amassed three goals and six assists and has a +10 rating. The Lucic-Kopitar connection has been strong. Kris Versteeg, a deadline day acquisition, has seen his production spike since being promoted to the top line. Los Angeles will be hosting the New York Rangers, who played last night in Anaheim. Lucic had two assists and was a +3 in their last encounter, in which the Kings won 5-4 in overtime. He has been a standout fantasy performer on the Kings this season and deserves your attention tonight. Get him in your starting six.
RW- Reilly Smith, FLA
Reilly Smith has been a key cog in the Florida Panthers’ second line all season long, establishing a strong bond with Vincent Trocheck. Adding Jiri Hudler to the mix certainly does not hurt. Smith has two goals and three assists in his last five games. He has 23 goals and 21 assists on the year, putting him just seven points behind his career best. The 24-year-old’s centerman, Trocheck, has been even hotter, tallying two goals and six assists in his last five games. The Cats will be heading up to Toronto tonight to take on the Maple Leafs. Look for Smith to find the scoresheet once again.
D- Brent Burns, SJS
There really is not much else to say about Brent Burns that has not already been said. Burns finished the Sharks’ game against the Bruins with a goal and an assist, tying the franchise record for goals and points in a season by a defenseman. The record was set back in 1993-1994 by Sandis Ozolinsh. Burns is also four goals away from joining Mike Green as the only NHL defenseman to score 30 goals since 1992-1993. On top of that, he has points in seven of his last eight games, with six goals and seven assists. The Sharks will be heading to Arizona tonight to take on the newly-healthy Mike Smith and the Coyotes. Smith stopped all 44 shots thrown at him Saturday against Edmonton. Against a far better team in San Jose, Smith will likely have a lot more trouble. Give Burns the start tonight.
D- Kris Letang, PIT
Kris Letang saw his point streak end at four games Tuesday against the Islanders, but that does not mean he did not find the back of the net. Letang scored in the shootout with a wicked backhander, giving the Penguins the win. He is having yet another remarkable season, reaching 53 points in 59 games. It should not take much coaxing to get Letang in your starting six. Pittsburgh will be playing the Carolina Hurricanes tonight.
G- Keith Kinkaid, NJD
Keith Kinkaid’s west coast road trip saw very mixed results. He was stellar in wins against San Jose and Los Angeles, allowing just one goal off a wonky bounce off the endboards in those two games. What followed was a six-goal meltdown against the Anaheim Ducks. Despite the volatile performance in Cali, Kinkaid deserves faith thanks to the conservative play that is bound to be in front of him tonight. The Devils are playing against the Minnesota Wild. While Minny has been generally more aggressive on the offensive attack under John Torchetti as opposed to Mike Yeo, there is still not a whole lot of fireworks between these two teams. Their last game was a 2-1 Devils victory in Minnesota that featured only 35 shots on goal combined. The Devils are sizable underdogs but deserve a chance. So does Kinkaid.
