Thursday once again brings us a heavy dose of NHL action as we sort through a 10-game slate this evening. A rash of injuries to some of the game’s top players has taken some of the most popular names off the board. Without any more hesitation let’s see what players can help us cash our lineups this evening!
Win cash playing daily fantasy hockey on FanDuel
Center
Auston Matthews (TOR): $5,700 vs. FLA
After lighting the world on fire in his NHL debut way back on October 12th in Ottawa, Matthews has scored just twice over his last 15 games. However, don’t sell the kid short just yet as his 63 shots on goal ranks 5th in the league and he still has 12 points in his 16 games on the season. Clearly, there is an imminent offensive surge coming from the Arizona native and with Toronto scoring 3.13 goals per game (5th) it is only a matter of time before he gets in on the action.
Tyler Seguin (DAL): $8,200 vs. COL
Seguin and the Stars haven’t been the offensive juggernaut that we have seen in recent seasons, but there is little doubt he is one of the best DFS centermen in the game. Seguin is actually tied for 5th alongside Matthews with those 63 shots on goal however Seguin has 20 points in 17 games which is tied for second in the NHL behind only Mark Scheifele and Nikita Kucherov. Dallas hosts Colorado tonight who ranks 21st with 2.80 goals against per game this season, but that number increases to 3.14 on the road.
Wing
William Nylander (TOR): $5,000 vs. FLA
Like Matthews, Nylander has cooled off significantly from his red-hot October where he was named Rookie of the Month. After recording just one point over his previous six games, Nylander finally got back on the board with a late goal in Toronto’s 6-2 romp of the Predators on Tuesday night. Nylander has been known to produce in bunches and the fact he scored his first goal since October 25th means another hot streak may be beginning. Matthews and Nylander have been quiet for too long and I like their chances of a breakout game tonight.
Patrik Laine (WPG): $6,700 vs. PHI
There is little doubt that Laine is the front-runner for the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in the season’s early going. Laine leads the NHL with 12 goals on the season and his five power play goals are tied for 2nd. The Finnish sniper hasn’t missed a beat in his move overseas to the North American game as he has displayed a lethal shot that already ranks among the game’s best. Tonight he and the Jets travel to Philly to take on a Flyers team that ranks dead-last with 3.53 goals against per game on the season.
Nathan MacKinnon (COL): $6,300 vs. DAL
Even though his centerman Matt Duchene may not play again tonight, I like the way MacKinnon has played as of late. Despite just two points over his last eight contests, MacKinnon fired a whopping ten shots on goal in Tuesday’s win over the Kings but somehow didn’t find the back of the net. He has just two goals and eight points on the season but if he continues to shoot the puck his fortunes will change, perhaps beginning tonight against a Stars team that yields 3.35 goals per game, good for 27th in the league.
Zach Hyman (TOR): $3,400 vs. FLA
Hyman is the fourth rookie on this list and the third rookie on Toronto’s de facto number one line. Hyman has the pleasure of skating with both Matthews and Nylander at even strength which should have boosted his production this season. After recording an assist on opening night, Hyman went 12 straight games without recording a point. However, he has two goals over his last three games and could be a huge beneficiary if his linemates do go on a hot streak. He is a solid value play with a breakout looming for his linemates this evening.
Defense
Erik Karlsson (OTT): $7,200 vs. NSH
It has been a while since I have included Karlsson in these lineups, and I haven’t missed out on much as a result. One of the league’s very best offensive defensemen, Karlsson has just three goals on the season including only one on the power play. He does have 14 points overall in 16 games which are clearly well above average numbers for a blueliner, but he has yet to break out with a huge game. The key here could lie within who Karlsson won’t face tonight against the Predators as Pekka Rinne missed Tuesday’s game in Toronto and the Maple Leafs promptly put six past his replacement. If Rinne can’t go again tonight, Nashville could be in for another thumping, this time at the hands of Karlsson and the Senators.
Jake Gardiner (TOR): $4,000 vs. FLA
Gardiner has been a Mike Babcock favorite on the Leafs power play, so much so that he remains he only defenseman on the Leafs’ top unit. Gardiner hasn’t recorded a point in four straight, however, he has the highest upside for defensemen in this price range. His spot as the quarterback on the Leafs’ top power play group is a good gig and should have him finding the scoresheet more consistently, especially given that Toronto has the league’s 8th best power play at 23.3%.
Goalie
John Gibson (ANA): $8,500 vs. NJ
Gibson has been pretty hot and cold as of late, however, he should have a very good crack at a win tonight against the visiting Devils. New Jersey ranks 23rd with 2.40 goals per game on the season and just lost their best player for a month as Taylor Hall is out with a knee injury. New Jersey is one of the best defensive teams in the league, but the Ducks are 10th in that category and Gibson is a big reason why. He has allowed one goal or less in five of his 14 games this season and two or less in eight of 14. He should keep the scoring to a minimum again tonight in a game I believe the Ducks will win.
Kemper is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Kemper, check out his site www.doubleupsports.com and follow him @KemperDoubleUp.