The Blues have been struggling but Schwartz has been on fire for them

This Thursday night delivers us an eight-game slate to bite into after a small, three-game slate a night ago. After a slate containing a massive 14 games on Tuesday night, we have seen the schedule even out somewhat as there seems to be an uneven amount of games played by teams throughout the league. Nonetheless, let’s take a look at tonight’s FanDuel NHL lineup advice and see who can earn us some cash this evening.

Win cash playing daily fantasy hockey on FanDuel

Center

Tyler Seguin (DAL): $8,600 vs. WPG
After blasting the Leafs for five goals in the first period in a 6-3 win on Tuesday night, I like the confidence of the Stars’ offense heading into tonight’s home game against the Jets. Seguin had ‘just’ two assists in the blowout win, however, he makes for a solid play on home ice against a poor Jets’ defense. While Winnipeg continues to surprise with victories on the road lately, there is no hiding the fact they surrender 3.18 goals per game on the road, including six in a row where they have yielded a minimum of three goals. Seguin ranks eighth in league scoring and fifth in shots on goal, making him a must-have tonight.

Jason Spezza (DAL): $6,500 vs. WPG
This is interesting as Spezza is actually set to center Seguin once again this evening, although Seguin is still listed as a center at FanDuel. Regardless, I like the idea of Spezza and Seguin skating together at both even-strength and on the power play, especially considering the Jets kill penalties at a 77% clip this season, good for 27th in the league. Winnipeg has had goaltending issues all season long and a hot Stars offense that scored six on Tuesday could certainly add to that in a favorable matchup tonight.

Wing

Artemi Panarin (CHI): $7,100 vs. ARI
Panarin has been as quiet lately as he has all season, recording just one point on 11 shots over his last six games, with seven of those shots taking place in one game. However, last year’s rookie of the year can be expected to break out very soon as he and Patrick Kane remain one of the most lethal duos in the NHL. Panarin and the Blackhawks receive a favorable matchup tonight as they visit the Arizona coyotes who give up 3.14 goals per game, 29th in the league. Panarin still has 44 points in 52 games on 125 shots, so let’s catch the breakout game from the young Russian this evening.

Jimmy Vesey (NYR): $4,200 vs. BUF
Vesey sure looked like a stud in the making after shooting out of the gates with five goals through his first nine NHL games, however, he has scored just seven more times in his next 40 games. The good news is one of those goals came on Tuesday night, a game in which he recorded three shots on goal and two blocked shots as well. That is the type of game that can jump start a hot stretch for the talented rookie. Vesey appears to be skating on the Rangers’ top line with Derek Stepan and Rick Nash tonight, so the opportunity is certainly there for a player that is not likely to be a highly-owned player this evening.

Nick Schmaltz (CHI): $3,200 vs. ARI
Speaking of opportunity, Schmaltz has himself a nice one as well tonight. He is once again set to skate next to Jonathan Toews and Marion Hossa this evening against the Coyotes, a line that has helped him score a goal on six shots over his last two games. His ice time remains limited as he doesn’t play on the power play, however, a player at this price playing with such high-quality offensive players screams out value.

Jaden Schwartz (STL): $5,700 vs. TOR
Schwartz has been on a tear lately, having recorded points in eight of his last ten contests. Perhaps skating with Vladimir Tarasenko has something to do with that, but regardless Schwartz faces a Maple Leafs teams coming off of their worst performance of the season Tuesday in Dallas. St. Louis is will be playing their first game tonight after firing head coach Ken Hitchcock after Tuesday’s loss to the Jets, so expect a fully energized Blues club tonight. All of these factors could provide see Schwartz have another fruitful fantasy night again tonight.

Defense

Duncan Keith (CHI): $6,700 vs. ARI
Keith enters play tonight as the sixth-highest scoring defenseman in the league to go along with his 121 shots on goal. He is the unchallenged anchor of the Blackhawks back end and it shows with his 25:53 minutes per game average, which also ranks sixth among d-men. He doesn’t score a whole lot with just four goals on the season, however, two of those have come in the last three games while he has taken 21 shots over his last five games, good for 4.2 shots per game.

Jake Gardiner (TOR): $4,400 vs. STL
Gardiner is on pace for a career-high in points as he seems to have the complete faith of his head coach Mike Babcock. Gardiner is the quarterback as well as the lone defenseman on the Leafs’ top power play unit, a group that ranks first on the road with a whopping 29.7% clip away from home. The Blues yield a brutal 2.89 goals per game at home and have allowed the second-most goals against at home in the league, with only the Avalanche surrendering more.

Goalie

Ben Bishop (TB): $8,500 vs. OTT
It isn’t hard to see that Ben Bishop has enjoyed better seasons as an NHL netminder. His .904 save percentage and 2.83 goals against average are both well under his career numbers of .919 and 2.34. However, I like his matchup tonight against the visiting Senators. Ottawa has scored two goals or less in six of their last seven games against the Lightning, including four goals in their last three games in Tampa Bay. Sometimes teams struggle to score in certain buildings and Amalie Arena appears to be one of those places for Ottawa. Bishop’s numbers on the season could have many steering clear of the 30-year-old tonight so be sure to take advantage.

Win cash playing daily fantasy hockey on FanDuel

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