Thursday ushers in a 10 game slate as division races become tighter down the 2020-21 NHL season stretch. The night’s marquee matchup occurs in the West Division, with the Minnesota Wild looking to extend their five-game winning streak against red-hot Colorado Avalanche G Philipp Grubauer. In the North Division, star C Connor McDavid will look to keep the Edmonton Oilers firing on all cylinders against the Winnipeg Jets, as the two teams battle to stay in the top-four of arguably the deepest division in the league. Here are a few players to target when constructing your lineups on Thursday.
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Center
Alexander Wennberg (FLA): $4,100 vs. NSH
Alex Wennberg broke out of his 11-game goal slump with an empty-netter against the Chicago Blackhawks earlier in the week, adding an assist with three shots on goal to elevate his typical fantasy production. The second-line C for the Panthers has 13 points (six goals, seven assists) across 17:10 average time on ice in 28 games this season. Earning additional opportunities on their second power-play unit, Wennberg is an inexpensive add ahead of Thursday’s matchup against a Predators team that has seen disappointing performances from G Pekka Rinne and G Juuse Saros. Neither goalie has managed to get below a 3.00 GAA nor above a .900 save percentage this season, putting Wennberg in a great position to collect a point or two at a very cheap price.
Wing
Viktor Arvidsson (NSH): $5,100 @ FLA
The Predators remain in contention within the Central Division despite having 25 points at this point in the season. Nashville second-line RW Viktor Arvidsson managed to rack up two points (one goal, one assist) on five shots in back-to-back games against Tampa Bay and will face an easier assignment with Panthers’ projected goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (2.92 GAA, .905 save percentage) on Thursday. Arvidsson has 96 shots on goal across 17:10 average time on ice in 29 games this season and earns additional minutes skating on Nashville’s second power-play unit. Priced at just $5,100 on FanDuel, the 27-year old Swede is a solid value play and should be added into your starting lineups ahead of Thursday’s contest in South Florida.
Jordan Eberle (NYI): $6,100 vs. PHI
While the New York Islanders currently sit tied with Washington atop the East Division at 42 points, first-line winger Jordan Eberle has chipped in three points (three assists) on seven shots across his last three games, despite getting just one shot on goal against the Capitals in a 3-1 loss on Tuesday. The 30-year old is in the midst of his fourth season with the Islanders and will get a prime opportunity to generate points against a Philadelphia Flyers goaltending unit that allowed nine total goals against a below-average New York Rangers team on Wednesday. Earning minutes on the Islanders’ second power-play unit and skating on the first-line alongside C Mathew Barzal, there is a strong chance that Eberle ends his seven-game goal drought against a tired and vulnerable Flyers squad on Thursday night. Although priced a bit higher than the typical value skater, he has totaled 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) across 17:14 average time on ice in 30 games this season, proving he is more than capable of finding the back of the net given the opportunity.
Defense
Filip Hronek (DET): $4,000 vs. DAL
Hronek is a 23-year old defenseman who has seen a surge in point production across the last week, earning eight points (one goal, seven assists) across four consecutive games for Detroit. Despite facing a talented Dallas goaltending tandem comprised of Anton Khudobin and Jake Oettinger, Hronek should be able to overcome the challenge to extend his point streak on Thursday, as he was able to rack up seven assists against Tampa Bay and Carolina in previous outings. Available at this low price, plugging Hronek into your lineup is a no-brainer and the definition of a value play.
Goalie
Philipp Grubauer (COL): $8,400 vs. MIN
The Avalanche have won four consecutive games largely due to the elite play of G Philipp Grubauer. The 29-year old German netminder has allowed just two goals across his last four starts, including two shutouts that add significant value to lineups when they occur. Due to the poor play of reserve Avalanche G Hunter Miska (4.16 GAA, .838 save percentage) and the lower-body injury hampering G Pavel Francouz, Grubauer is worth the high price tag as he will certainly help increase your overall point total. Although matched up against a Minnesota Wild team that has won five in a row, Grubauer’s elite play between the pipes should take precedence, despite the odds favoring the over on 5.5 goals in Thursday’s marquee matchup.
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Matthew MacKay is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @Matt_MacKay_.
