Tonight is an extremely big day in the NHL with 12 games on the slate. There is some big news with regards to skaters returning/departing from lineups today, so let’s go over them quickly. If you are a new user to Draft Kings please use this link to sign up!

Eric Staal returns to the lineup for the Carolina Hurricanes tonight against Vancouver. This is an absolutely huge deal for the Hurricanes, as they’ve been without the centerman for five games due to an upper-body injury. It’s unclear just how effective Staal will be in his first game back — he could be quite rusty, nevertheless this is a much needed addition for Carolina.

Cam Atkinson returns to the lineup for the Columbus Blue Jackets after missing Sunday’s game against the Kings. Atkinson narrowly avoided disaster on Saturday night when a collision with Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Kesler left Atkinson inches away from a skate cutting his eye. Atkinson is a much-needed sparkplug for a Blue Jackets team that needs to prove they aren’t just a one line team.

Sergei Bobrovsky has been placed on injured reserve for the Columbus Blue Jackets and is just expected to miss one-to-two weeks. This obviously means that Curtis McElhinney will start tonight for the Jackets against the Ottawa Senators.

Anze Kopitar is expected to not play in tonight’s game against the Flyers after he sustained an upper-body injury over the weekend.

Let’s take a look at tonight’s picks.

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Bargain Bin Plays:

Tanner Pearson | Los Angeles Kings | $4,000: His line has been elevated to the top line with Kopitar likely out, and Marian Gaborik already out. They’ll see a lot of minutes against an awful Philadelphia team. I’m not exactly scared off by Sean Couturier and Matt Read, BUT…. a Kings fade — with a Flyers mini-stack is a sneaky way to go in a GPP if you are worried that Kopitar’s likely absence might create problems for the Kings.

Blake Comeau | Pittsburgh Penguins | $2,800: Comeau is without a doubt my favorite value play of the day, as he’ll be playing right wing on a line with Pascal Dupuis and Evgeni Malkin. If he was slighly more expensive, I might be concerned by his lack of power-play time, but $2,800 is entirely too cheap for a decent player skating with Malkin.

Damon Severson | New Jersey Devils | $3,800: Severson is a beast. There’s really nothing more that needs to be said here.

Anders Lee | New York Islanders | $3,800: Same as before when I picked Lee; He’s facing a team with depth issues, and he’s on the top power-play unit. He’s a very strong value play tonight against a bad Winnipeg Jets team.

Lubomir Visnovsky | New York Islanders | $3,400: Top power-play unit, against a bad team. Roll him out.

Nazem Kadri | Toronto Maple Leafs | $3,900: The Leafs have shaken up their lines, as Kadri and Joffrey Lupul are now paired together on the top line with super-star Phil Kessel. Kadri is a great value tonight against the league-worst Buffalo Sabres.

Lindon Vey | Vancouver Canucks | $2,600: Vey is on the top power-play unit and is centering the fourth line for Vancouver. While the latter isn’t exciting a ringing endorsement, Carolina has one of the worst bottom two lines in the NHL right now, so even strength points are a logical possibility despite what will be limited ES ice-time.

Worth The Price:

Phil Kessel – Toronto – $7,500

Radim Vrbata – Vancouver – $6,800

Nick Bonino – Vancouver – $5,100: As I mentioned previously, the Hurricanes are pretty much a one-line team at this point. Bonino has had a lot of success with linemates Chris Higgins and Alexandre Burrows, when it comes to generating chances. Also, Cam Ward starts for Carolina. He’s not good… at all…

Every Single Member of the New York Islanders minus Cory Conacher and fourth line players. Conacher, despite playing with John Tavares and Kyle Okposo all year, has just two points in eight games.

Steven Stamkos – Tampa Bay – $8,000: We all know the Lightning are significantly better at home, than on the road. The Coyotes have established that they are in the bottom tier of the league, and this is as cheap as Stamkos is going to get. Let him ride you to the money tonight.

Jake Muzzin – Los Angeles Kings – $4,000: He’s too cheap, and he’s on the top power-play unit, as well as the top defensive pair against a bad Philly team.

Anton Stralman – Tampa Bay – $3,500 

Ryan Johansen – $6,600 and Cam Atkinson – $5,300 – Columbus Blue Jackets

Goalies

Jonathan Bernier – Toronto – $6,300

Ryan Miller – Vancouver – $7,900

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