Happy Easter everyone. Hope you all have a nice holiday. What better way to celebrate one of the holiest of days than watching a couple playoff teams beat the crap out of one another? With three games on the docket today, let’s take a look at the prime contenders for the starting six of your NHL daily fantasy team:
C- Nick Bonino, PIT
Nick Bonino had himself a career night last night against the Detroit Red Wings, tallying a goal and four assists. The Penguins’ second line combined for a whopping 12 points, with Phil Kessel adding a goal and four assists and Carl Hagelin contributing two goals. Bonino has two goals and six assists in his last five games, giving him 21 points in 55 games. Perhaps what is most important is that Bonino has been put on the top powerplay unit in Pittsburgh in Evgeni Malkin’s absence, meaning that the top five players on the man advantage are Bonino, Patric Hornqvist, Phil Kessel, Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang. Bonino is in very good company, and there is no reason to think that last night, while an outlier, is a fluke. He has offensive ability. Being in the top six will help that for sure.
LW- J.T. Miller, NYR
J.T. Miller has broken out this season, hitting the 20-20 mark for the first time in his young career. He has taken some tremendous steps forward this season to be one of the most consistent contributors. He has six points in his last seven games (three goals, three assists) with an exclamation point coming last night against the Montreal Canadiens. Early in the first period, Keith Yandle chipped a pass ahead to spring J.T. Miller for a near-breakaway. With one man to beat, Miller dragged the toe to get the puck to his backhand, where he lifted the puck past Mike Condon. Some of Miller’s best work has come in back-to-backs. He has 12 points in 15 games on 0 days rest. As the Rangers host the Penguins, get Miller in your starting six.
RW- Patrick Kane, CHI
Patrick Kane has 100 points well within reach. Currently sitting at 93 with seven games remaining, Kane will need a multi-point night tonight against one of the league’s worst teams to propel his chase forward. There is not much to say on Kane at this point. The league’s best scorer is going up against the league’s second-worst team. It’s a recipe for success for your daily fantasy team.
D- Keith Yandle, NYR
When it comes time for Keith Yandle to renegotiate his contract at the end of this year, he should really just take the film from the past two games, plop them on general manager Jeff Gorton’s desk, and walk away. Yandle posted a pair of assists in Wednesday’s game against the Bruins and yesterday’s game against the Canadiens and at this point, he is just showing off. Living in the New York market and being able to watch him on a nightly basis, his offensive prowess is evident even in the plays that do not lead to goals. Yandle sees the play develop two passes in advance and is able to thread the needle with immaculate precision. It’s a marvel. He has five goals and 39 assists on the year, with 20 points on the powerplay. If Yandle stays hot, he could be the first Ranger defenseman since Brian Leetch in 2001-2002 to hit 50 points in a season. If he keeps making plays like this one, he very well might.
D- Brent Seabrook, CHI
Seabrook is going through a dry spell, being held pointless in his last eight games. However, if there is any team for him to snap out of it against, it is the Vancouver Canucks. Seabrook has a career-best 13 goals this season. In his last game against Vancouver, he was a +2 with three blocked shots. Seabrook has had a fantastic season, and he could easily tee up a few of his trademark bombs from the point tonight against Vancouver.
G- Scott Wedgewood, NJD
Scott Wedgewood was called up to the NHL on short notice with Cory Schneider injured and Keith Kinkaid in a nasty slump. His three starts in a Devils uniform have been nothing short of sensational. Wedgewood has stopped 91 of 93 shots in three starts, with only one of those goals allowed coming at 5-on-5. He is 2-0-1 with a shutout already under his belt. These starts have not all been easy, either- Wedgewood’s shutout came on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins and he shutout the Washington Capitals in regulation before losing in overtime. Tonight the Devils will be taking on the Carolina Hurricanes, who have lost six of their last seven games. Wedgewood has looked sharp and his defense has been playing inspired in front of him. Put Wedgewood between the pipes for your daily fantasy team.
