What is expected to be a busy trade deadline period ends Monday and will impact lineups this weekend, as we’ve already seen. Be sure to check Fantasy Pros’ player news before the games start in case one of your players is being held out due to a potential trade. Now let’s get to my picks.
Center
Alexsander Barkov (FLA): $7,100 vs. LA
Barkov, along with Jonathan Huberdeau and Frank Vatrano have six points in their last three games, making them the hottest line in the NHL currently. Facing the woeful Kings, they make a nice stacking option in tourneys.
Sean Couturier (PHI): $6,500 vs. PIT
Couturier has been on fire for a while, with 21 points in his last 15 games. He was held without a point against Montreal on Thursday, but I don’t expect that to happen tonight when he faces the Penguins. Couturier hasn’t gone two games without a point since January 7.
Wing
Tomas Hertl (SJ): $6,400 @ CBJ
The Sharks are in Columbus tonight for what should be an interesting tilt. Sergei Bobrovsky is projected to start for the ‘Jackets, despite having played (and recorded a shutout) last night. Hertl has 28 goals and 55 points in 56 games this season.
Mitchell Marner (TOR): $6,500 vs. MTL
While Marner has cooled a bit lately, he has 69 points in 60 games and is extremely dangerous every time he’s on the ice. He plays with John Tavares at even-strength and with Tavares and Auston Matthews with the man advantage. He’s a value at this price.
Tomas Tatar (MTL): $5,200 @ TOR
Speaking of values, how about a forward with six points in his last six games for $5,200? Tatar has found his game in Montreal this year, on pace for a career-high 62 points. He has 45 points in 60 outings for the Canadiens.
Frank Vatrano (FLA): $5,300 vs. LA
As previously mentioned, I expect the Panthers top line to do damage tonight against the Kings. Vatrano is a good player who is finally getting an extended top-6 chance in the NHL. He has three points in his last three and has fit in quite nicely next to Barkov and Huberdeau.
Defense
Roman Josi (NAS): $6,200 vs. COL
The 28-year-old is on pace for a career-high 66 points for the Predators, including five points in their last two games. Colorado is 28th in the league in penalty-killing at 76.7%.
Drew Doughty (LA): $4,700 vs. FLA
It’s a tough matchup for the Kings (they all are), with a lot of travel miles racked up this week, but Doughty is a good play due to his price and his current hot streak of four points in his last six contests.
Goaltender
Robin Lehner (NYI): $7,600 @ VAN
The Islanders are favored tonight despite being on the road in Vancouver and it’s Lehner’s turn to mind the net. His numbers on the season are phenomenal- 18-9-5, 2.14, .928 with three shutouts. The Isles have used Lehner and Thomas Greiss interchangeably, so be sure to check who is confirmed the starter, but it’s safe to roll with either one.
Rich Dillon is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Rich, follow him @RichDillon17.
