Happy Thursday! It’s a big hockey night as there are 12 games on the slate, including a divisional matchup between the New York Islanders and New York Rangers, and a Vegas team searching for an eighth-straight victory. It’s also the last day of NHL’s Last Men In vote, giving those players one last shot to prove to fans that they are All-Star worthy. As you decide which players you want in your FanDuel lineup, make sure to give these some extra consideration.
Center
Tyler Seguin (DAL): $7,800 @ PHI
Seguin has heated up over the last couple of weeks with six goals in four games, along with a six-game point streak. He hasn’t been playing at this level all season long, but now is the time to start him. The Stars have a great matchup tonight against the Flyers, a team that has gone through a horrific stretch. They’ve used seven different goaltenders this season and have lost nine of their last 10.
Ryan O’Reilly (STL): $6,300 vs. MTL
O’Reilly posted a dud with zero fantasy points in his last game against the Stars. Expect him to rebound nicely when the Blues take on the Canadiens, a team that he has recorded 20 points against in 16 career games. O’Reilly leads St. Louis in points and is having what could turn out to be his best offensive season.
Wing
Alex Tuch (VGK): $5,600 vs. SJS
If you’re looking to go with the hot hand, look no further than a couple of Golden Knights. The first is Tuch, who has a seven-game point streak. He offers a bit of salary relief and has been putting up consistent fantasy points. He’ll be playing against a Sharks team that has won four straight, but with the way Vegas’ offense has been playing, it could make for a high-scoring game.
Brandon Pirri (VGK): $3,500 vs. SJS
Here is the cheapest option I’m advising you to take tonight, and it’s another Vegas player. Pirri has been on fire for the Golden Knights and should be started until he cools off. In just eight games this season, he has seven goals and three assists. Pirri’s 31.8 shooting percentage this year is highly unsustainable, but he’s playing with a ton of confidence on a team that is rattling off wins. For a player who is averaging over 18 fantasy points this season, with an extremely low price tag, Pirri could be a difference-maker in your lineup.
Ryan Dzingel (OTT): $6,000 @ LA
Dzingel saw his four-game point streak come to an end last night against the Anaheim Ducks, but don’t let that deter you from putting him in your FanDuel lineup tonight. He has four goals and two assists over his last five games and will face a Kings team with one of the worst goal differentials in the league at -31. Dzingel has 31 points in 42 games.
Kyle Connor (WPG): $4,700 @ MIN
Connor recently broke out of a 10-game pointless drought, which will scare many away from selecting him tonight. He does have two goals in the last two games and has been playing on Winnipeg’s top line. Connor was a point-per-game player through the first two months of the season as well and is getting time on the first power-play unit.
Defense
Erik Karlsson (SJS): $7,800 @ VGK
Recommending one of the top defensemen in the NHL might seem like an easy way out, but Karlsson has been stellar over the last month and he should be a lock in every single lineup. He has a 14-game point streak, but what’s more impressive are his 16 points over the last seven games.
Mattias Ekholm (NSH): $4,700 @ CBJ
If you do spend the big money on Karlsson, here’s a player who could save you some cash. The Predators’ defenseman has five points in the last four games and has put up at least 17 fantasy points in each of the last four contests. Ekholm has always turned up the offense when away from his own arena, too. In 21 road games, he has compiled 19 points (four goals, 15 assists). It’s nothing new as he has 86 points in 216 career road games, compared to 63 points in 217 home games.
Goaltender
Juuse Saros (NSH): $8,000 @ CBJ
With Pekka Rinne and the Predators playing on Wednesday (and winning in overtime), Saros will likely get the nod in goal tonight, and he’s been exceptional in recent starts. Saros has limited opponents to just two goals over his last three starts and faces a Blue Jackets team that was just stifled, 4-0, by Tampa Bay.
Ben Bishop (DAL): $8,500 vs. PHI
This pick is more matchup-based than anything. There are a lot of elite goaltenders facing great teams tonight. However, Bishop is going against one of the worst in the Eastern Conference. Coming off a win in St. Louis, Bishop has a chance to string together back-to-back wins on the road.
Kevin Freiheit is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Kevin, check out his archive or follow him @kmf418.
