There are a ton of players to choose from tonight, with a whopping 12 games to be played. We are coming down the stretch as we enter the penultimate month of regular season hockey. Let’s take a look at the top contenders for the starting six of your NHL daily fantasy team:
C- Eric Staal, NYR
Eric Staal is suiting up for his second game in a Rangers’ sweater tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Rangers have been hugely successful in Pittsburgh of late, both in the regular season and in the playoffs. The key factor for Staal tonight will be playing time. In his first game in New York, Staal played a season-low 15:43. While this is probably because of the move and wanting to ease him into his new franchise, it’s also probably because of his role now on the Rangers’ third line with Kevin Hayes and Oscar Lindberg. While his minutes will not be as high as they were in Carolina, they could see a boost tonight as his familiarity grows and as the health of Jesper Fast becomes clearer. If the Rangers are playing a man down with Dylan McIlrath subbing in on the fourth line, the line juggling could result in Staal seeing closer to his customary 20 minutes of ice time. Look for him to find the score sheet tonight for the first time.
LW- Filip Forsberg, NSH
Filip Forsberg is a beast. There’s no way around it. The young Swede has two hat tricks in his last four games and has been a force of nature alone with Mike Ribeiro and Craig Smith on the Preds’ second line. He has 30 shots on goal in his last six games with a +3 rating to go with it. He’s been even better on home ice, notching 28 of his 46 points in Nashville. Tonight Forsberg and the Predators will be welcoming the New Jersey Devils into their arena. The Devils could not be more starved for goals, especially since they dealt away leading scorer Lee Stempniak. Nashville should be licking their chops, Forsberg in particular.
RW- Jason Pominville, MIN
Much was made of the Charlie Coyle connection with John Torchetti when the Minnesota Wild made their coaching change in mid-February. The player who has made the most dramatic turnaround is without a doubt Jason Pominville. Pominville has five goals and seven assists in the eight games with Torchetti behind the bench, which skyrockets his numbers up to 11 goals and 22 assists on the year. He’s had at least two shots on goal in every game as well. The Wild’s third line of Pominville, Erik Haula and Nino Niederreiter has been firing on all cylinders. Tonight, the Wild are taking on the Toronto Maple Leafs, against whom Pominville has 50 career points in 55 games. He has been reborn since the coaching change, and deserves a look tonight for your daily fantasy team.
D- Mark Streit, PHI
Try to mask your surprise that I am including a Philadelphia Flyer that is not named Shayne Gostisbehere in my daily lineup. Mark Streit has seen his ice time on a gradual increase since the injury to Michael Del Zotto on the top pairing. Streit has five goals and 12 assists on the year- the numbers are tempered a bit having missed a month and a half of play back in November and December. All the same, the 38-year-old Swiss blueliner has been red-hot these last few games, tallying a goal and four assists in his last three, all at home. The Flyers will be hosting the Edmonton Oilers tonight as they continue their frantic push to the postseason. Streit’s stock is rising. Put the future Team Europe player in your lineup tonight.
D- Alec Martinez, LAK
The Kings had their four game win streak snapped by the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, but Alec Martinez has kept up his solid play. In his last five games, Martinez has a powerplay goal and two assists with a +4 rating. He sees about 17-20 minutes a night, and will likely have plenty of time and space tonight as the Kings take on the ice-cold Montreal Canadiens. The Habs have been brutal on the road, so tonight could get ugly real quick. Martinez is a nice under-the-radar pick who could be in the midst of a blowout tonight.
G- Thomas Greiss, NYI
Thomas Greiss has been nothing short of a godsend for the Islanders this season. He is 8-1-1 in his last 10 starts, bringing his record up to 17-6-3 on the year. He once again finds himself between the pipes for the Islanders for the oft-injured and inconsistent Jaroslav Halak. Greiss will be facing the Winnipeg Jets tonight, who have dropped their last five games at home. With the Islanders looking to take their fifth in six games, Greiss is the man to turn to for your starting goaltender tonight.
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