Tonight we have 11 games on the slate with one game overshadowing the rest as a six and a half game total. There are a couple of options in goal tonight, but just one netminder Vegas has fallen in love with. As always, watch for line adjustments and injury news before locking in your fantasy lineup.

Center

Sidney Crosby (PIT): $8,100 vs. WPG
With a game total this high, we need to get a piece. Sid the Kid is the best bet on the team to score a goal or get an assist in this game. With all of the hype around Auston Mathews, Steven Stamkos, and Nikita Kucherov,  it seems like Crosby is slightly being overlooked. While the Stanley Cup hangover may be still in effect, Crosby has five goals and five assists to start the year. Leading the team’s first power play unit to the second best in the league only adds intrigue to an already great play. Winnipeg ranks 26th in the NHL for goals allowed and shots on goal allowed. On top of that, the Jets are ranked 29th in penalty killing percentage at just 72%.

Ryan Getzlaf (ANH): $7,100 @ FLA
For those who are looking to fade Stamkos in GPP’s for ownership or salary relief, Getzlaf is an interesting pivot. Florida is struggling on all facets of their defensive game at the moment and now host a talented, big, mean Ducks team. They are on a two game win streak and looking to make it three. Of all the players on this team, the Getzlaf line should have the largest advantage. Florida being at home will line match with the Trocheck line. On the year, the Ducks top line (compared to the Trocheck line) dominates in corsi percentage, shots for percentage, and scoring chances percentage.

Other Centers to consider:

Cash – Connor McDavid ($7,900 vs. DAL), Steven Stamkos ($7,700 vs. DET), Tyler Seguin ($7,600 @ EDM)
GPP – Henrik Zetterberg ($5,800 @ TB), Bryan Little ($4,600 @ PIT), Aleksander Barkov ($5,800 vs. ANH)

Wing

Patrik Laine (WPG): $7,000 @ PIT
This game should produce fireworks. At $6,700, Nikolaj Ehlers is just as good of a play and the two can be stacked. Winnipeg is a high octane team with a lot of fast skaters who can score five goals on any given night. Laine is off to a great start scoring six goals in just seven games. The sophomore number two overall pick is clearly an elite skill who has one of the best one timers in the NHL. This second line will see a lot of Malkin, Kessel, and Rust who are among the worst defensive forwards. Pittsburgh is allowing four goals against a game which is 30th in the league. Although the Oilers vs. Penguins game lacked scoring, there were a lot of shots and both goalies had to make a ton of great saves.

Nikita Kucherov (TB): $8,200 vs. DET
I have to write this guy in as almost a must play. Although he is the highest priced player on the slate, he is worth it. He is averaging six and a half DraftKings points per game. Even when he isn’t putting up a multi point game, he contributes with a lot of shots. At home, Tampa Bay will get to line match which will have the top line avoid the shutdown Henrik Zetterberg. The rate this line is scoring will regress at some point this season, but don’t count on it being tonight.

Evgenii Dadonov (FLA): $4,900 vs. ANH
This game is the one game which I am looking to bet the over on in a five and half game total. I mentioned earlier that the Ducks are a big and mean team. Well that doesn’t really bode well with the NHL’s new penalty crackdown. As a result, the Ducks have currently served the third most penalty minutes this year. The Panther’s power play is ranked slightly higher than average, but a big reason for their success is Evgenii Dadonov. The 28-year-old rookie is coming over from the KHL (where he was a power play specialist) and has translated his skills right into the Panthers top unit. At just $4,900, there are far worse plays than a point per game player with goal scoring upside.

Other Wingers to consider:

Cash – Vladislav Namestnikov ($5,300 vs. DET), Alexander Ovechkin ($8,000 @ VAN), Jamie Benn ($7,300 @ EDM)
GPP – Corey Perry ($6,100 @ FLA), Mats Zuccarello ($5,600 vs. ARI), Jeff Skinner ($5,500 @ TOR)

Defense

Kris Letang (PIT): $6,200 vs. WPG
There are a lot of great defensemen playing tonight in good spots. If you decide to pay up, Kris Letang will give you a huge floor. Justin Schultz left last game with a concussion and is unlikely to play tonight in this barn burner. The Penguins already lean heavily on the All-Star defenseman and now he should get longer shifts on the power play with Schultz out. Letang has great speed and a true skill at making tough stretch passes. Look for him to spring Kessel on a breakaway against a less mobile defensive unit.

Brandon Montour (ANH): $4,300 @ FLA
For just $4,300, you can roster a defenseman who is playing over 20 minutes a game along with first unit power play time. Montour is averaging over three fantasy points per game and should hit value in a game I believe will shoot out.

Other Defensemen to consider:  

Cash – Brent Burns ($7,000 @ BOS), Drew Doughty ($6,100 @ MON), Aaron Ekblad ($4,500 vs. ANH)
GPP – Dustin Byfuglien ($5,600 @ PIT), Justin Faulk ($4,800 @ TOR)

Goalie

Andrei Vasilevskiy (TB): $8,400 vs. DET
Vasilevkyiy has been the workhorse behind the success of the 8-1-1 Tampa Bay Lightning. Even though his stats aren’t overwhelming, his defense doesn’t really bail him out and he sees a lot of shots against. With almost a lock as a win (Vegas has Tampa Bay as a -225 favorite), look for another victory and 30 saves.

Jeremy Maw is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Jeremy, check out his archive or follow him @j_maw.