There are four games to choose from tonight. Unfortunately some major fantasy players will be kept out of action tonight thanks to Jonas. Hope everyone on the East Coast is bundled up and ready for some hockey. Let’s take a look at today’s candidates for your NHL daily fantasy team’s starting six:
C- Derek Stepan, NYR
Stepan is one of the most important players on the Rangers. He is a driving force on the offensive attack with remarkable vision. His right-handedness comes in handy in Alain Vigneault’s powerplay scheme, too. Stepan has five points in his last four games on the Rangers’ second unit with Rick Nash on his wing. He has been winning more faceoffs and getting more shots to the net. The Rangers will need Stepan to be even more of a presence with Nash banged up. Get him in your daily fantasy lineup against the Ottawa Senators tonight.
LW- Alexander Steen, STL
Alexander Steen has been one of the Blues’ leading scorers this season, which was to be expected. He has 15 goals and 27 assists to give him 42 points on the season. Playing with Paul Stastny and Troy Brouwer in the St. Louis top six, Steen has lodged three points in as many games. In his most recent match, he got five shots on goal with a goal against Colorado. The Blues will be looking to capitalize on a Blackhawks team that is finally starting to lose steam after flattening the league over a 12-game span. For the Blues to leapfrog over the Stars and close the gap on Chicago for the division lead, they will need Steen tonight.
RW- Joe Pavelski, SJS
“The Big Pavelski” has been a major reason that the Sharks’ offense has really turned it on with the turn of the calendar year. He has been a monster on the puck, utilizing his big frame on the top line with Joe Thornton. He lodged a three-point night against the Minnesota Wild with a goal and two assists. He’s been a +4 with 13 shots on goal his last five games. San Jose will be looking to him in what should be a slugfest against the Los Angeles Kings tonight. Look for him to be a deciding factor tonight. With a win, the Sharks are just six points back for the Pacific lead. They are turning it around, all thanks to Pavelski and the top line.
D- Keith Yandle, NYR
If the Rangers have one iota of sense, they will lock up Keith Yandle to a contact extension. Who knows, perhaps general manager Jeff Gorton will cave at the fan pressure surrounding the contract negotiation like the New York Mets did with Yoenis Cespedes this week. But I digress. Yandle showed off his silky smooth mitts by netting a very pretty goal against the Hurricanes Friday night. He leads the Rangers in assists with 22 and has been a possession monster all year. He has been without question the best player on the Rangers blueline this season. It is not close. He is finally starting to see a slight uptick in minutes played and powerplay time as a result. Against a Senators team that has been letting up a lot of goals lately, Yandle will see a lot of action tonight. Get him in your starting six.
D- Cody Ceci, OTT
Cody Ceci has been a quiet contributor on the Senators’ blueline this season. He has been a factor offensively lately, tallying four points in his last four games. He is getting second-pair minutes for Ottawa, and the puck is starting to find his stick more often. Perhaps it is the lack of depth beyond Erik Karlsson in Ottawa defensive core. The 22-year old Ottawa native has been playing well for his hometown squad, and could be a good sleeper pick as the Senators take on the Rangers tonight.
G- Henrik Lundqvist, NYR
Henrik Lundqvist has won his last three starts, even though the Rangers have only just won back to back games for the first time since late November. He has faced 30 or more shots in five of his last six starts, which makes for what is on pace to be his largest workload of his career. The Rangers will be taking on the Ottawa Senators, and could perhaps give the Rangers their third straight win- something that has not happened since their nine-game streak in early November. Put Lundqvist in the cage tonight for your daily fantasy team.
