Yesterday I went 4-for-4 on game picks, and profited a very nice amount. In fact, the lineup we gave you here, was one of the top scoring lineups all night, allowing me, some of our writers, and our Front Office members to sweep a lot of the challenges last night.

Tonight, I feel good about my picks again. Let’s hope we can win you all some more money!

This post, as per usual, is for The Fantasy Fix’s Front Office members only. If you would like to become a Front Office member, it costs only $10 for an entire year-to-date subscription to our “Premium Content package”. For a complete list of all the benefits of a FULL Front Office subscription, please view this page. If you are eager, and simply want to jump straight to the signup page, please visit this page, and select the $9.99 Premium Content plan if you wish to just purchase access to these and many other articles during the week.

Thoughts and Musings:

Games I am picking from, and their predictions:

The New York Rangers rake up the Leafs 3-1: Cam Talbot gets the start tonight for the Rangers. He has been phenomenal this season, and is only priced at $7,200. In the vast majority of leagues, he is the goaltender I am targeting. With the Rangers having just lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 last night — and having to travel all the way to Toronto overnight — this game has the makings of a game that Talbot will steal. I expect the Leafs to out-shoot the Rangers, or at least fire 30 shots on the net. Talbot will be up to the task, as per usual. I don’t have him going in too many lineups, but Ryan McDonagh for $5,200 is a very nice play tonight if you are going to spend money on a defenseman.

The Carolina Hurricanes strand the Islanders 5-4: This game looks like it’s going to be a shootout. Heck, it could possibly even go to a shootout, as these two teams are very evenly matched. Both of these teams have elite top lines, as well as a couple guys who can dabble in secondary scoring. Jeff Skinner has received a price hike up to $8,400, but that isn’t going to stop me from using him. I am starting John Tavares, Kyle Okposo and Thomas Vanek across many leagues as well tonight. See, the beauty of this game for fantasy purposes, is that New York Islanders Head Coach Jack Capuano, likes to match up Frans Nielsen and his line with the opposing teams top line at home. Nielsen is excellent defensively, but his wingers on the line are not. Eric Staal ($6,300) is a reasonable bet to garner an assist (or even two), but Nielsen’s defensive mindset should have Staal in a pass-first mentality heading into the game — especially since Alex Semin has been added to the top line at right wing! The Nielsen matchup decision is what allows these games where the Islanders typically give up a bunch of goals to opposing top lines, but also see Tavares, Okposo and Vanek have success. Perhaps the best start on defense tonight is Andrej Sekera at just $5,000. The 27-year-old Czech defenseman is having an excellent season, shattering his prior point-per-game career best this year with a 0.59 per game performance. Anton Khudobin and Evgeni Nabokov get the starts in this one, but don’t touch either with a ten-foot pole.

The Florida Panthers tame the Predators in a battle of the cats by a score of 3-2: I’m not too confident with goaltender Tim Thomas tonight because, while I believe he will get the win, I don’t think he will be tested enough to garner the point totals necessary to match that hefty price tag. Cam Talbot is a significantly better option. We are concerned that Aleksander Barkov ($4,100) will face off against Mike Fisher, the Predators talented first-line, defensive-minded center. Fisher has been hot offensively as of late with multi-point performances in his last two games, so we fear that the Barkov- Brad Boyes – Sean Bergenheim line will struggle. Fortunately though for Florida, Scottie Upshall returns tonight, and he carries a meager $3,000 price tag. Panther players I am confident in included, Nick Bjugstad ($3,100), Tomas Fleischmann ($3,500) and defenseman Tom Gilbert ($3,100). I am using Gilbert in quite a few leagues.

The St. Louis Blues button up the Blue Jackets 4-1: Goaltender Brian Elliott is absolutely on fire right now, having lowered his goals-against average to 1.84. This hot streak is now seemingly an every year occurrence after his magical run at the tail end of last year. Elliott carries a hefty price tag though at $10,000. He’s great, but I’m staying away from him tonight because the Blue Jackets can explode offensively at times, and Elliott’s hot streak is so great that it screams “regression game”. I like Patrik Berglund as a sneaky sleeper tonight at $3,400. Columbus winger Boone Jenner (who plays third/fourth line) is moving to center tonight. This could spell a lot of trouble for the Blue Jackets depth lines because Vladimir Tarasenko lurks in the shadows on that line as well. Tarasenko is a great start at $4,900 in his own right. I also like Jaden Schwartz tonight. He carries a $5,800 price tag, and should benefit from the return of Blues captain David Backes. 

The Washington Capitals conquer the Wild 4-2: This game has the makings of an offensive explosion if the scenarios line up properly. The Minnesota Wild are trotting out Niklas Backstrom who, aside from a win against the Buffalo Sabres last time out, has been absolutely horrendous on the season. Sniper Alex Ovechkin has been moved to the second line with Mikhail Grabovski ($4,200) and Eric Fehr ($4,000). All three are players I like tonight, as well as Troy Brouwer and Nicklas Backstrom (not the goalie for Minnesota, bu the center for the Capitals). Braden Holtby is $6,500 and a slight risk, but he’s safer than most of the $6,200 goaltenders.

Other players I’m using, albeit,sparingly tonight include, Max Pacioretty ($7,500), Ryan Murphy ($3,000), Dan Ellis ($6,200), Justin Faulk ($4,2000), Jamie Benn ($7,000) and T.J. Oshie. 

Let it be known by the way, that Cory Schneider is not the lock/nice start that many think he is tonight. I expect the Sabres to win this game 2-1.

Best Lineup:

C- John Tavares 

LW- Thomas Vanek

RW- Troy Brouwer

D- Ryan Murphy

D- Andrej Sekera

G- Cam Talbot

U- Mikhail Grabovski

U- Jaden Schwartz

U- Nicklas Backstrom

*Note*

This lineup should be used in head-to-head challenges and other small contests. In the big contests, I would try and include at least three of Ovechkin/Skinner/Tavares/Okposo/Backstrom. To accomplish this, swap out Sekera for Gilbert, Talbot for Ellis, and then build the rest of your team after that. Essentially, for a boom bust lineup, your starting low picks should be one of Ellis/Holtby.. again NOT Schneider (in my opinion) and make the two defensemen Ryan Murphy from Carolina, and Tom Gilbert from Florida.

Good luck tonight guys