We have a huge, 28 team slate tonight as we are less than a week away from the start of the playoffs. We have to dig a little deeper tonight as some teams have nothing at stake, while others are either trying to improve their seed or make a last desperate attempt to get into the dance. Others, of course, are playing out the schedule and could offer up anything from dreadful hockey to exciting, nothing-to-lose efforts. Watch for some teams that may sit some of their stars and let some younger players enjoy extra ice time on the top two lines.

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Center

Vincent Trocheck (FLA): $7,100 vs. BUF
Florida is a team scratching and clawing their way to the finish line. There is actually a scenario this year where Florida and Philadelphia would have to play a tiebreaker game to see which team makes the playoffs. Factor in that motivation, and the fact that Aleksander Barkov is injured, and Trocheck will be the man Florida is looking to tonight. He is also facing a Sabres team that has clinched last place in the league. He has great value as the 17th priced center.

Mathew Barzal (NYI): $6,200 vs. DET
After a very short lull in an amazing rookie year, Barzal has regained his rookie of the year form with seven points in his last seven games. Detroit is more or less coasting to the finish line with a 4-5-1 record in their last 10 games, and Barzal should be finishing strong as he tries to cement his Calder Trophy.

Wing

Ty Rattie (EDM): $3,900 vs. VAN
I’m going to the well again with Rattie who continues to play alongside Connor McDavid. Both Edmonton and Vancouver are long dead as well, but Vancouver may have a bit of a letdown after an emotional tribute to the retiring Sedin twins recently. McDavid has three players within 8-9 points of him in the scoring race and he plays like the kind of guy that wants to finish strong and make a statement. Rattie should benefit, and he’s really cheap.

Ondrej Kase (ANH): $3,900 vs. ARI
Kase has a respectable four points in his last six games and may get some extra ice time tonight as Anaheim has clinched a playoff spot and may like their current playoff match-up against Vegas. I expect to see a lighter workload for some of the Duck’s older leaders that will be relied on so heavily in the playoffs (Getzlaf, Perry, Kesler, etc.), and Kase should be one of the young guns playing a larger role against the third worst team in the league.

Vladimir Tarasenko (STL): $7,700 vs. COL
Vlad has been doing his part during the Blue’s concerted push for the last playoff spot in the west. He has 8 points in his last 7 games, including 6 goals, and this contest should be a beauty. The only team that can take the Blue’s spot in the postseason happens to be Colorado, so both teams should be absolutely flying tonight. Tarasenko is also facing Jonathan Bernier, who has been struggling a bit lately (three key losses down the stretch and a 4-5-1 record for the team in its last 10 games).

Mikko Rantanen (COL): $7,000 vs. STL
If Colorado does fall short this year, they can still be very pleased with the amazing turnaround the team made this year. One of the key reasons for that is Rantanen who’s posted an amazing 83 points in his second full year (up from 39 points last year). He has run a bit dry the last seven games (only three points), but I think he’ll come up big tonight.

Defense

Keith Yandle (FLA): $5,500 vs. BUF
Yandle now has an impressive 55 points on the year (12th most among defensemen), and as noted with Trocheck, this is kind of a big game. Buffalo has allowed the third most goals in the league and are 22nd in killing penalties. Yandle handles (see what I did there?) an impressive 3:18 of power play time per game and has a great chance to cash in tonight.

Matt Dumba (MIN): $4,900 vs. SJ
Dumba now has 49 points this year (including 8 in his last 8 games), and will now be called on to take on a larger role with the injury to Ryan Suter. San Jose isn’t a great match-up but he’s playing well, the Wild are 12th in scoring and his shot (174) and hit (109) totals are pretty good as well. You also can’t really beat that price.

Goalie

Braden Holtby (WAS): $8,800 vs. NJ
I’ll admit I’m not sold on this pick, as Holtby has struggled this year (only a 0.908 save percentage), but he does have 33 wins to his name. It’s hard to say who the Capitals will go with in the playoffs this year, as Philip Grubauer has posted better stats, and played far more games (35) than a backup typically would. This is, however a chance for Holtby to make a statement that his game’s in order and he should be the starter going into the playoffs. As always, make sure your goalie is a confirmed starter before entering your lineup.

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Sheldon Curtis is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Sheldon, check out his archive.