Happy last day of hockey before the All-Star break, everyone. There are four games on the schedule tonight before the action stops until Monday. So, best get your fix of NHL daily fantasy for the week while you still can. Let’s peruse the top candidates for your starting six:
C- Anze Kopitar, LAK
In the five games since Anze Kopitar inked his new contract extension with the Los Angeles Kings, he has logged a goal and four assists with 12 shots on goal. The Kings are 3-2 in that stretch. Kopitar will be leading LA against the Colorado Avalanche, who are currently shorthanded in the goaltender department. After Calvin Pickard’s pitiful performance last night, getting some Kings in your daily fantasy lineup tonight looks to be a good bet. Start with Kopitar.
LW- Filip Forsberg, NSH
The Predators’ top line has finally begun to win some games with new toy Ryan Johansen lighting the lamp with James Neal on his wing. Nashville has been dying for some goal support, especially in light of Pekka Rinne’s struggles in the cage. A player that Nashville can rely on without having to use him as a crutch now is Filip Forsberg. The 21-year-old has 14 goals and 17 assists on the year, and is currently skating on the second line with Craig Smith and Mike Fisher. Nashville will be taking on Calgary tonight. Forsberg should be right in the center of it all.
RW- Nikita Kucherov, TBL
Kucherov has been playing like a man possessed for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Playing on the second line with Alex Killorn and Tyler Johnson, Kucherov is on an eight-game point streak. In that hot stretch, he has six goals and five assists. Dating back further, Kucherov has points in 18 of his last 20 games. His incredible play has earned him 20 goals and 21 assists on the year. The Lightning are playing the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight with Jonathan Bernier in goal. Kucherov is likely licking his chops, and you should be too. Get him in your starting six tonight.
D- Victor Hedman, TBL
The Lightning’s top defender has 10 points in his last eight games. Per the usual, he and Anton Stralman have cut up opposing defenses with their incredible ice vision and stretch passing. He has eight assists over the aforementioned eight game span. He should be an obvious candidate for your daily fantasy lineup every night, but especially against the Toronto Maple Leafs who allow plenty of chances.
D- Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI
Have I mentioned before that I absolutely love Shayne Gostisbehere as a fantasy defenseman? Yes? I’ll reiterate. Shayne Gostisbehere is a fantastic fantasy defenseman. The GhostBear is on a three-game point streak, tallying a goal and three assists. He will be going up against the President’s Trophy-leading Washington Capitals tonight, but the rookie is not one to shrink from a challenge. Since returning from a minor injury about a week and a half ago, Gostisbehere has been getting about 20 minutes of ice time a night, and has been one of the best shot generators on the Flyers. He has 19 shots on goal registered in his last five games. Be sure to put him in your starting six tonight as the Flyers go for the upset over the Capitals.
G- Andrei Vasilevskiy, TBL
Vasilevskiy has won his last five starts by virtue of getting effective goal support. In those five wins he allowed four goals on three occasions. Even though the young Russian has not been stellar, the primary reason for getting him in the lineup tonight is his opponent- the Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto has mustered just three goals in their last three games. Leading scorer Leo Komarov has managed just one point in his last four games. Vasilevskiy has all but a sure thing lying in front of him. All he needs is an average game. If he can manage that, he is worthy of a start between the pipes for your daily fantasy team.
