While the games tonight may not have too much bearing on the standings, there is still plenty of opportunity to light up the scoreboard in fantasy hockey. Let’s take a look at the top candidates for the starting six of your NHL daily fantasy team:
C- Sean Monahan, CGY
The Flames’ top line players are going to be a good play for tonight. Calgary and Vancouver are facing off in the Saddledome, and there have plenty of goals to go around in each of these two teams’ last few games. Monahan had himself a three-assist night against the Anaheim Ducks. In fact, the Flames’ top line of Monahan-Gaudreau-Hudler all registered three-point games, weaving magic in the attacking zone. Monahan has 17 goals and 22 assists on the season. He will be leading the Flames against Vancouver tonight in a game that is sure to have all the offense of a pond hockey game. Prepare for lots of open ice and back-and-forth offensive attacks. Monahan and the Calgary top line could very well repeat their performance against Anaheim again tonight.
LW- Evander Kane, BUF
Evander Kane has had a very volatile season statistically speaking. He has just 24 points in 47 games with some very long stretches of inactivity mixed in. He has found his groove the last few games for Buffalo, scoring four goals in as many games. He has been getting increasingly better at getting pucks to the net on the top line with Ryan O’Reilly and Sam Reinhart. He has a whopping 54 shots in his last 10 games, which equates out to a mighty fine 5.4 shots per game. The Sabres will be playing the Columbus Blue Jackets in Ohio tonight. Kane will be putting himself in a good position to score tonight against one of the worst possession teams in the National Hockey League.
RW- Kyle Okposo, NYI
Kyle Okposo has points in six of his last seven games, with three goals and six assists. He has been getting about 18 minutes of ice time skating on the Islanders’ second line with Frans Nielsen and Nikolay Kulemin. Okposo has been a strong fantasy asset these past few weeks. He has 15 goals and 30 assists on the year, with 18 of his points coming on the man advantage. He’s also been one of the Islanders’ most reliable players in back-to-backs, with six goals and four assists in nine games without rest. Okposo’s tenacity and durability, coupled with his terrific possession numbers, will make him a very valuable player tonight against the New Jersey Devils. Get him in your starting six.
D- Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI
Do I even need to give a rationale for putting Gostisbehere in your lineup tonight? Of course I don’t. He’s been featured in this article for weeks now. But the kid just won’t be stopped. His incredible point streak has hit a lucky 13 games, and he will be going up against the dysfunctional Montreal Canadiens tonight. Head coach Dave Hakstol has been contemplating switching things around with his lines up top to spark his offense in Sean Couturier’s absence, but he always has the GhostBear to fall back on. He has Subban-like offensive prowess, and he could be a late entry to the Calder Trophy finals.
D- Brent Burns, SJS
Brent Burns must be satisfied that he gets to remain part of Sharks history. Marc-Edouard Vlasic was held off the scoresheet yesterday in San Jose’s 2-1 shootout victory over the Panthers, ending his point streak at eight games. Vlasic and Burns now share the franchise record for longest point streak by a defensemen, with both markers set this season. Burns has four assists in his last five games with 31 shots on goal and a +3 rating. The Sharks will be on the road again tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes. Like Okposo, Burns has been terrific in the tail end of consecutive games this season, tallying five goals and five assists in nine such games. Give him a start tonight in your daily fantasy lineup.
G- Michal Neuvirth, PHI
Michal Neuvirth will be getting the start over Steve Mason tonight for the Flyers. He boasts a 12-6-3 record with a 2.17 goals-against average, a .930 save percentage and three shutouts. The Flyers will be visiting the tire fire in Montreal tonight. He is 4-1-1 in his last six starts, though he has benefitted from a good amount of goal support. Philadelphia has won both meetings against Montreal this season, scoring four goals in both encounters. Neuvirth is poised to get the win, and with a decent showing, he won’t be allowing too much. He’s a nice play for your starting goaltender.
