Here come the Lightning. Tampa Bay has now won seven straight games. Last night they defeated the previously streaking Vancouver Canucks 9-2. Is it time for San Jose to pack it in? Could they be a suitor for Rangers odd goaltender out, Alexandar Georgiev? Will the Predators see the bump they need after the firing of Peter Laviolette and hiring of John Hynes? Still plenty to watch for all this NHL season hits the back nine. Let’s look at a jam-packed Thursday evening in the NHL.
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Center
Patrice Bergeron (BOS): $7.900 vs WPG
The Boston Bruins will welcome the Winnipeg Jets to town tonight. The Jets are coming off a back to back after defeating the Maple Leafs in a shoot out last night. In Winnipeg’s three back-to-back performances this season, they are averaging four goals against per game. This brings me to Patrice Bergeron. He is over a point per game with 37 points in 35 contests. He centers the dynamic top line alongside Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. He is a staple of the top power-play unit. I expect Boston to score three or more goals tonight, and if that were true, I would expect Bergeron to be a major part of it.
Wing
Ilya Kovalchuk (MTL): $4,000 vs EDM
I didn’t expect Ilya Kovalchuk to appear in this column ever again. However, with three points in his first two games with the Montreal Canadiens, I could not help myself. The Habs have given Kovalchuk every opportunity to flourish early on. He is playing on the top line with Tomas Tatar and Phillip Danault, and he is the triggerman on the top power play unit. The Canadiens will host the Oilers tonight, whom have surrendered 3.6 goals per game over their last five contests.
Tanner Pearson (VAN): $5,400 @ FLA
The Tanner Perason, Bo Horvat, Loui Eriksson line has been extremely impressive. The Canucks recently saw their seven game winning streak come to a screeching halt in a 9-2 loss against the Lightning. I expect them to bring a much better effort tonight. Pearson is hot lately with nine points in his previous six games. Tonight they visit the Florida Panthers that simply can’t keep pucks out of their net, surrendering the fourth most goals per game in the league.
Defense
Shea Theodore (VGK): $5,100 vs LA
Theodore has been doing everything lately. In his past five games, he has six points. He is averaging 3.6 shots on goal per game over that span as well. He was recently promoted onto the top power play unit, alongside Max Pacioretty, Mark Stone, Paul Stastny, and Alex Tuch – a top ten unit in the league in terms of efficiency. Expect Theodore to log upwards of 23 minutes and fire several shots on goal.
Goalie
Marc-Andre Fleury (VGK): $8,000 vs LA
This is a value play. I think Fleury is undervalued tonight on the FanDuel platform. The Kings are playing in Vegas after falling to the Stars last night in Dallas. They are sitting in dead last in the Western Conference, and they’ve scored the third-fewest goals in the league to date. The betting odds have the Golden Knights listed as a massive -285 favorite tonight at home. Don’t get me wrong, Fleury is not having his greatest season. To date, he has posted a 2.84 GAA and a .908 SV% to go with an 18-9 record. Of late, he has won four of his last five games. I expect to get a win tonight and I’d hope the peripheral stats are solid as well.
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Chris Genova is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Chris, check out his archive and follow him @FantasyOneTimer.
