There are 12 games to choose your starting six from tonight. The action starts at 1 PM EST so let’s not waste any time. Here are the top candidates for your NHL daily fantasy team:
C- Nicklas Backstrom, WAS
Nick Backstrom, the perennially underrated Swedish center, is on track for his third consecutive 70-point season. He may even eclipse 80 points for the first time since his 100-point year in 2009-2010 if he keeps up the torrid pace he is on right now. Backstrom is on a five-game point streak. The odd thing is, he is actually the one finishing the play instead of the one establishing it lately. He has four goals and three assists in that stretch. Backstrom has always had a very good shot, but has not gotten more than 18 goals in a season since that 09-10 season. He already has 17 on the year. The Capitals are taking on the New Jersey Devils today, and have been the best per-game offense in the league. Backstrom is a major reason why, per the usual. Put him in your lineup.
LW- Jakub Voracek, PHI
I decided to limit myself to only one member of the Flyers’ three-headed monster on the top line, so today I picked Voracek. The recently-turned left winger has three goals and seven assists in his last five games. The Voracek-Giroux-Simmonds line has 27 combined points in their last five games. They have been, for lack of a better word, insane. Voracek on the year has eight goals and 33 assists for 41 points. The Flyers will be taking on the Rangers tonight. They have taken seven of their last 10 on home ice against the Blueshirts. Look for the Flyers’ top line, Voracek in particular, to skate circles around a slow and hobbled New York defense today.
RW- Jordan Eberle, EDM
Nobody has been happier to see Connor McDavid back on the Oilers’ bench than Jordan Eberle. The 25-year-old has three goals and two assists in two games since McDavid’s return from a broken clavicle. The Oilers have completely steamrolled their opponents in the process, flattening both the Blue Jackets and the Senators by 5-1 and 7-2 scores. Today, Edmonton will be facing off against the Montreal Canadiens. I likened the Habs to a game of limbo, asking how low they will go. Eberle can really stomp on Montreal hard tonight with a good game. Look for him to be a key factor. Get him in your starting six.
D- Johnny Boychuk, NYI
I’m riding a gut feeling on this pick. Johnny Boychuk is making his return to the Islanders’ blueline after missing about a month. The Isles have not only missed his patience in the defensive zone, they have missed his booming slapshot, both at evens and on the powerplay. Before he went down with his injury, Boychuk had three goals on the year, one on the man advantage, and 11 assists. Boychuk is worth taking a gamble on for making an impact right as soon as he gets back into the lineup. The Islanders will be facing off against the Red Wings today in Detroit.
D- Erik Johnson, COL
A big part of why I’m counting on Johnny Boychuk to succeed as he comes back from injury is because Erik Johnson has done it this year. Johnson has four assists in five games back from an injury and is a +3. He’s back to taking anywhere from 20-30 minutes per game, and is one of the better generators of offense on a team where generating offense is not exactly their strong suit. Johnson and the Avalanche are hosting the Winnipeg Jets tonight. The Avs are coming off an overtime loss to the Dallas Stars. They will be looking to collect their first win since coming back from the break and stave off the Predators. The Jets allow plenty of shots from the point and the high slot. Erik Johnson will be a difference maker.
G- Cam Talbot, EDM
The Goalbuster has faced a lot of shots in his last five starts for the Oilers. In four of the five, he has faced 33 or more shots. He is 3-1 in those four games. His footwork and rebound control has gotten a lot better. Connor McDavid being back in the Edmonton lineup helps take the pressure off, as well. As the Oilers look for their third consecutive win tonight against Montreal, look for Talbot to get a win.
