There are five games on the schedule for today. What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than a little hockey? Let’s take a look at the prime contenders for the starting six of your NHL daily fantasy team:
C- Derek Stepan, NYR
Derek Stepan has been finally getting some points on the board after a slow start to the season production-wise. He has a goal and three assists in his last five games on 10 shots and a +3 rating. He also got the game-winning shootout goal against Philadelphia just last week. Stepan is currently skating on the Rangers’ top line with Mats Zuccarello and Chris Kreider on his wing. The New York Rangers will be taking on the Philadelphia Flyers again today, a team that Derek Stepan traditionally has a lot of success against. In 28 career games, Steps has 6 goals and 19 assists with a +8 rating. The Rangers’ top line needs to continue to produce as long as Rick Nash stays out of the lineup. Derek Stepan is going to be integral to the Rangers’ success today.
LW- Jaden Schwartz, STL
Jaden Schwartz looked back to his old self in his return to action against the Florida Panthers Friday night. After missing 49 games with a broken ankle, Schwartz tallied a goal and an assist, and was one of the better possession players on the Blues on the whole. He and Vladimir Tarasenko were buzzing in the offensive zone. In the eight games that he has played this season, Schwartz has a goal and five assists. He is one of the most talented players the Blues have to offer and his injury may cause him to fly under the radar tonight as the Blues take on the Lightning. Schwartz has a great combination of net-front presence and sniping ability, making him a threat to score from anywhere on the ice. The Blues will need Schwartz tonight if they want to take advantage of a slumping Ben Bishop.
RW- Mats Zuccarello, NYR
It’s not often that I pick two linemates for the daily fantasy lineup considering how dangerous that is. But Mats Zuccarello is a smart fantasy play no matter whose line he is on. Zucc has a goal and five assists in his last five games on 15 shots on goal with a +4 rating. He and Stepan have been creating a ton of space on New York’s top line. Zuccarello has 19 goals and 22 assists on the year, easily cementing himself as the Rangers’ most consistent point-scorer. The Flyers will be without half of their top pairing, as Michael Del Zotto has been ruled out “long-term.” The Rangers should be able to capitalize, with Zucc in particular chomping at the bit to take advantage of a slower Flyers defensive core. Get the diminutive Norwegian in your lineup.
D- Tyson Barrie, COL
Tyson Barrie is a fantasy darling. With eight goals and 28 assists, Barrie is arguably the best puck-mover on a Colorado team that generally does not move the puck very well, especially out of their own zone. Barrie is the exception. He has three assists in his last two games, two of them coming on the man advantage. In fact, 17 of his 36 points have come on the powerplay. Barrie is traditionally pretty good at contributing in peripheral categories as well, as he usually is good for a few hits and a few blocked shots per game. Obviously, shots on goal is a strong suit as well. The Avalanche will be going up against the Buffalo Sabres, who have lost four of their last five. They have allowed 20 goals in that five game stretch. While Barrie and the Avalanche are used to being outshot, they may actually be able to grab control of this game early. Put Barrie in your daily fantasy lineup.
D- Jake Muzzin, LAK
Jake Muzzin plays second fiddle by virtue of being on the same team as Drew Doughty, but he is a solid fantasy player on his own. He has six goals and 25 assists on the year. He has tallied a goal and three assists in his last five games. Muzzin and Doughty dominate the shot-ratio game. The Kings are always tops in the league in 5v5 Corsi, with their top-pairing defensemen being a main reason why. Muzzin alone has 15 shots on goal in his last five games. He will be facing off against the New Jersey Devils tonight, one of the worst possession teams in the league. The Devils are on a back-to-back as well, which will hurt them against a bigger, faster, stronger team like Los Angeles. Put Muzzin in your lineup.
G- Tuukka Rask, BOS
Tuukka Rask’s .917 save percentage is pedestrian this season when compared to other netminders around the league. It also marks the worst such number of his career since being named the Bruins regular goaltender. However, Rask is always capable of stealing a game, especially when his team plays so well against the Detroit Red Wings. The Bruins have won 10 of their last 11 games against Detroit, and are 5-1 in their last six at the Joe. Rask himself is 3-1-1 in his last five starts. Rask will be opposite Petr Mrazek in today’s matchup. Mrazek stopped 19 of 21 in a 3-2 shootout loss to Colorado last game. Though the ice was tilted in Detroit’s favor all night, the Wings could not buy a goal. That same luck may very well carry over against the Bruins, who are 6-0 on the road of late. Put Rask between the pipes of your starting six.
