There are only three games tonight, so there is a limited pool to choose from. Nevertheless, there are some big names to keep your eye on. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the top contenders for the starting six of your NHL daily fantasy team:
C- Valtteri Filppula, TBL
Valtteri Filppula has been skating on the third line for Tampa Bay this season, but has been seeing about 20 minutes a night thanks to Jon Cooper’s line rotations. Filppula has three points in his last five games, but has been contributing in several other fantasy categories. He has taken eight penalty minutes in his last five games with 10 shots on goal. He is quietly one of the most important depth forwards on the Lightning roster, driving possession, setting up zone entries and winning crucial faceoffs. Filppula is a good sleeper pick for your daily fantasy team tonight.
LW- Kris Versteeg, CAR
Kris Versteeg and the Hurricanes will be in Calgary tonight taking on the Flames. He had two goals against the Flames in their last meeting on the 24th. The Canes won decisively, 5-2. Versteeg also tallied an assist in the Hurricanes’ last game before the All-Star break against his former teammates in Chicago. On the season, he has 10 goals and 21 assists. He is expected to play on the top line with Eric Staal and rookie Phillip Di Giuseppe tonight. Versteeg is a nice pickup for your starting six tonight.
RW- Dylan Larkin, DET
Dylan Larkin is having himself quite the rookie season. He’s grabbed attention for his scoring touch, and he turned heads at the All-Star game for winning the fastest skater competition. Larkin has a goal and two assists in his last three games, and has been skating with the Red Wings’ top line unit of Justin Abdelkader and Henrik Zetterberg. He will be taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight in what should be a tight contest. He has a goal and an assist in two games against the Lightning. He’s worth the start on your daily fantasy team.
D- P.K. Subban, MTL
P.K. Subban has just about been the only thing going right for the Canadiens this season. Subban is sixth in the league in assists with 34. He is racking up the points, even if he’s on pace for single-digit goals for just the second time in his six-year career. He has five points in his last three games. It should be noted that exactly half of his point total has come from his play on the man advantage. Even if the Canadiens have been plummeting in the standings, Subban is doing everything in his power to drag them back up. Get him in your starting six tonight.
D- T.J. Brodie, CGY
T.J. Brodie has continued to shine offensively from the blueline for the Calgary Flames. As a staple of the top pairing partnered with Mark Giordano, Brodie has four goals and 21 assists. He is on pace to shatter his previous career high in assists of 30, set last season. The 25-year-old has great puck-moving instincts that make him a very valuable fantasy player on any given night. The Flames have a tough draw tonight against a hot Hurricanes team. But even despite his recent improvements, Carolina goaltender Eddie Lack is still part of the worst even-strength goalie tandem in the league. If Calgary is to find the back of the net and get their offense going, Brodie is going to be a key component in orchestrating the play.
G- Ben Bishop, TBL
Ben Bishop has won four of his last five starts. In those four wins he has allowed just four goals, with a shutout mixed in. The fact is that when Bishop is on, he’s on, and the Lightning have a great chance at winning. He has not made his teammates work to bail him out. Bishop has not allowed more than two goals in a victory since October 23rd. Rocking a 2.02 goals against average and a .926 save percentage, Bishop is one of the toughest goalies in the league to play against when he has a lead. Detroit is going to have a very hard time against him tonight. Expect a low-scoring affair, and bet on Bishop getting the win.
