Austin Watson has really picked up his production of late

Tonight’s nine-game NHL slate will have plenty of value opportunities across the board. Let’s have a look and see what players can put our lineups over the top with big nights at low prices.

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Center

Matthew Peca (TB): $3,400 vs. BUF
Interestingly, Tyler Johnson appears to have moved down to the Lightning third line which has pushed Peca over to the right wing. I will take full advantage as he remains listed as a center. The rookie isn’t a shot on goal machine with just seven in as many games, however skating next to the team’s best offensive centermen is a good thing. The Lightning face a Sabres team that gives up 2.8 goals per game on the road while Tampa Bay scores 2.95 per game on home ice.

Sean Couturier (PHI): $4,400 vs. VAN
Couturier is set to skate next to the offensively gifted Jakub Voracek for tonight’s contest against a poor Canucks team. He hasn’t lived up to his prospect hype on the offensive side as of yet, however he does average a solid 18:07 of ice time per game and plays in all situations, including the second unit power play. He has taken eight shots with one goal over his last three games and could get some more offense going against a Canucks team that yields 3.1 goals against per game on the road.

Wing

Austin Watson (NSH): $3,400 vs. BOS
Watson has found his offensive groove lately as he has scored in back-to-back games while firing seven pucks on net and blocking three shots in the process. Perhaps an increased role on the team’s second line as well as the second unit power play has something to do with his mini breakout. Usually skating in the 10-to-13 minute range, Watson has skated an average of 15:30 over his last two games and has rewarded his head coach with solid production.

Trevor Lewis (LA): $3,500 vs. STL
Lewis has been promoted to the Kings’ top line alongside Anze Kopitar for tonight’s game at home against the Blues. The Blues have been an awful road team this season as they allow a despicable 3.69 goals per game away from home. Despite sitting third in the Central division, the Blues have earned the least amount of points on the road in the Western Conference. Lewis has 13 points on the season but has also fired a solid 74 shots on goal in 41 games.

Defense

Nikita Nesterov (TB): $3,500 vs. BUF
Nesterov is on pace for his best offensive season as an NHLer with a modest eight points in 28 games so far. He is coming off of a two-assist game on Saturday and is set to skate on the second defensive pairing tonight against Buffalo. Interestingly, Nesterov has actually seen time as a forward this season which speaks to his ability to handle the puck and play offense at times. Nonetheless, he is at his best right now and could provide some nice value this evening.

Matt Irwin (NSH): $3,700 vs. BOS
Irwin has had himself a nice season as a member of the Predators. He has three goals and eight points in 35 games, but he has also contributed with 53 shots and 56 blocked shots as well. His ice time usually hovers around the 20-to-21 minute mark as he skates on the team’s second defensive pairing. He could be facing a tired Bruins team who are playing their fourth road game in six nights this evening.

Goalie

Antti Niemi (DAL): $8,000 vs. DET
Niemi has put in solid work as of late. He has allowed two goals or less in seven of his last 10 starts and carries a .936 save percentage in the month of January. Detroit has been a poor offensive team this season, scoring just 2.38 goals per game on the road. The Stars are a much better defensive team on home ice as they yield just 2.42 goals at home compared to a brutal 3.62 per game on the road. Detroit’s road power play is also historically bad with a 3.3% clip entering tonight’s game.

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Kemper is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Kemper, check out his site www.doubleupsports.com and follow him @KemperDoubleUp.