Welcome to The Fantasy Fix daily fantasy hockey strategy. Below you will find rankings and projections for tonight’s NHL action. Building a winning lineup isn’t easy, so we’ll do our best to guide you in the right direction and help you win some serious cash. With that, let’s take a look at some matchups you should be targeting tonight.

As always, make sure to check out LeftWingLock for goalie confirmations.

All shot attempt numbers discussed are at even strength and score-adjusted unless otherwise noted.

Teams To Target

[cointent_lockedcontent article_labels=”hockey”]

New York Islanders v. Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leafs are in action tonight, which makes them an easy target for DFS players. Surprisingly, Toronto hasn’t been getting destroyed in games recently, which is an interesting change, but they still give up a ton of goals. The Islanders are playing their second game in as many nights, but that shouldn’t deter anyone from rolling with them in cash games and GPPs.

Let’s start with the top line of Brock Nelson, Ryan Strome and captain John Tavares. This line is going to be heavily owned on almost every site, especially on a short slate. There’s one problem though – all three are listed as C on DK. That basically makes it impossible to stack the entire line in any GPP, so it may be best to take a look at New York’s second line of Josh Bailey, Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo. Nielsen/Okposo make for a great mini stack pretty much everywhere. Their prices are a little inflated on FD, but they play together both five-on-five and on the power play, so I’ll pay the premium for the duo. If you want to go with a cheap mini stack, Strome/Nelson on FD and FantasyDraft is the way to go.

On the back end, Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk are the only two options to consider. Leddy is the less expensive option of the two and plays on the top power play unit. Boychuck however, is the better offensive option. For the price difference between the two, I’d pay up for Boychuk.

Anaheim Ducks v. Colorado Avalanche

No team in the NHL struggles at possessing the puck more than the Colorado Avalanche. In short: they suck. To makes matter even worse, they allow 2.77GA/60 on home ice. The Anaheim Ducks have been unstoppable over the last two months, and they should have no problem scoring goals against the subpar Avalanche team.

The top line of David Perron, Ryan Getzlaf and Nick Ritchie is going to be a popular play tonight. Getzlaf/Perron make for an excellent mini-stack, but even Ritchie is worth a look in cash games if you need some salary relief. Even if Colorado uses their best “shut down” line to try and limit Getzlaf and company, it’s still won’t be enough.

Another option to consider if you don’t want to roll with the top line is the second line of Jamie McGinn, Rickard Rakell and Corey Perry. Perry joins Getzlaf/Perron on the top power play unit, but if you really want to differentiate yourself from the pack, McGinn/Rakell is the mini-stack to go with. The duo also plays together on the second man advantage.

On defense, Sami Vatanen is a wonderful option to go with tonight. The stud defenseman plays on the top power play unit, so if you roll with Getzlaf/Perron, Vatanen completes the power play stack. If you go with Rakell/McGinn, Hampus Lindholm is the defenseman to go with.

In goal, John Gibson is an elite option. For starters, he’s not even the most expensive option, priced at just over 8K on FD. The Avalanche have some top goal scorers that can put the puck in the net, but Anaheim defensively is just so good, I can’t see the Avs scoring many goals tonight. Assuming he starts, I like Gibson ahead of any other goalie (not taking into account his price tag).

Nashville Predators v. Calgary Flames

Let me start off by saying that this matchup feels like a trap. The Predators have been extremely good over the last month, posting a 9-0-4 record in the last 13 games. Calgary is ranked 28^th in GA/60 (2.71) and 30^th in team SV% (90.35%). So why do I feel like this is a trap? Nashville has been really good at home, averaging 2.82 GF/60 (4^th), but they average a full goal less on the road (1.80 GF/60, 29^th). Their GA/60 is league average on the road, while Calgary’s GF/60 at home is ranked 7^th (2.71) and their SH% is ranked 3^rd (8.96%). In short: Calgary is a much better team at home and Nashville just isn’t the same team on the road. Nashville is still a good option tonight, but don’t expect them to score a crazy amount of goals.

With that being said, Nashville’s second line is definitely the line to go with if you want some exposure to this game. Filip Forsberg, Mike Ribeiro and Craig Smith have been pretty much unstoppable over the last few games. Forsberg has been so good over this 13 game stretch, that his price tag on FD is 9K (only other forward more expensive that him tonight is Alex Ovechkin). It’s hard to say fade Forsberg, but that’s probably the best route to take. Ribeiro/Smith makes for an excellent mini-stack, and paired with Roman Josi, they make for a fine power play stack, too. Shea Weber also joins the trio on the top power play unit. If you want to make a four player GPP stack, adding Weber is the way to go.

Other Options to Consider

• Chicago Blackhawks v. St. Louis Blues: The Hawks are a lot like Nashville: they aren’t the same team on the road. Corey Crawford has been a stud all season long, but he struggles away from United Center. With the game being played in St. Louis, the Blues top line is an option to consider. Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz play together five-on-five and on the power play. Pair them with either Alex Pietrangelo or Kevin Shattenkirk and you have yourself a very nice Blues power play stack.
• Arizona Coyotes v. Vancouver Canucks: The Coyotes allow the most GA/60 on the road, but Vancouver’s GF/60 at home is ranked last (1.62). So which team do you trust? Honestly, I have no idea. This game could go either way. If you want to take the risk and trust Vancouver, Daniel Sedin and Linden Vey is the mini-stack to go with (assuming Henrik Sedin doesn’t play tonight). Ben Hutton joins the two on the power play, so all three paired together make for a relatively cheap, risky power play stack.

Player Rankings

 Ranking are price sensitive

DraftKings

Forwards

1. Jared McCann—Vancouver Canucks–$2700
2. Mike Ribeiro—Nashville Predators–$4100
3. Brock Nelson—New York Islanders–$4300
4. Rickard Rakell—Anaheim Ducks–$4600
5. Ryan Strome—New York Islanders-$3900
6. Frans Nielsen—New York Islanders–$5800
7. Ryan Getzlaf—Anaheim Ducks–$6200
8. Ryan Johansen—Nashville Predators–$5200

Wingers

1. Linden Vey—Vancouver Canucks–$2900
2. Josh Bailey—New York Islanders–$3300
3. Craig Smith—Nashville Predators–$4700
4. David Perron—Anaheim Ducks–$4700
5. Kyle Okposo—New York Islanders–$5900
6. Daniel Sedin—Vancouver Cancucks–$6400
7. Corey Perry—Anaheim Ducks–$6400
8. Vladimir Tarasenko—St.Louis Blues–$7300
9. Filip Forsberg—Nashville Predators–$6600
10. Jaden Schwartz—St. Louis Blues–$5600

Defenseman

1. Ben Hutton—Vancouver Cancusk–$3800
2. Hampus Lindholm—Anaheim Ducks–$4500
3. Sami Vatanen—Anaheim Ducks–$5200
4. Johnny Boychuk—New York Islanders–$5400
5. Nick Leddy—New York Islanders–$4600
6. Shea Weber—Nashville Predators–$6100
7. Alex Pietrangelo—St.Louis Blues–$5700
8. Roman Josi—Nashville Predators–$7000
9. Kevin Shattenkirk—St. Louis Blues–$6300

Goalie

1. John Gibson—Anaheim Ducks–$7700
2. Jacob Markstrom—Vancouver Canucks–$6600
3. Braden Holtby—Washington Capitals–$8600
4. Thomas Greiss—New York Islanders–$8000
5. Joni Ortio—Calgary Flames–$6800
6. Jonathan Quick—Los Angeles Kings–$8400
7. Carter Hutton—Nashville Predators–$7500

FanDuel

Forwards

1. Linden Vey—Vancouver Canucks–$3500
2. Martin Hanzal—Arizona Coyotes–$4500
3. Mike Ribeiro—Nashville Predators–$5600
4. Frans Nielsen—New York Islanders–$6100
5. Rickard Rakell—Anaheim Ducks–$6400
6. John Tavares—New York Islanders–$8700
7. Ryan Getzlaf—Anaheim Ducks–$8200
8. Ryan Johansen—Nashville Predators–$6100

Wingers

 Right Wing

1. Nick Ritchie—Anaheim Ducks–$3100
2. Ryan Strome—New York Islanders–$4800
3. Craig Smith—Nashville Predators–$6100
4. Corey Perry—Anaheim Ducks–$7500
5. Vladimir Tarasenko—St. Louis Blues–$7600
6. Kyle Okposo—New York Islanders–$6700
7. James Neal—Nashville Predators–$6100

Left Wing

1. Josh Bailey—New York Islanders–$4000
2. Jamie McGinn—Anaheim Ducks–$4600
3. Brock Nelson—New York Islanders–$5000
4. David Perron—Anaheim Ducks–$6000
5. Daniel Sedin—Vancouver Canucks–$7600
6. Jaden Schwartz—St. Louis Blues–$6200
7. Johnny Gaudreau—Calgary Flames–$7900
8. Filip Forsberg—Nashville Predators–$9000

Defenseman

1. Ben Hutton—Vancouver Canucks–$3400
2. Kevin Connauton—Arizona Coyotes–$3600
3. Cam Fowler—Anaheim Ducks–$4400
4. Hampus Lindholm—Anaheim Ducks–$4500
5. Kevin Shattenkirk—St. Louis Blues–$4800
6. Sami Vatanen—Anaheim Ducks–$5400
7. Johnny Boychuk—New York Islanders–$5400
8. Roman Josi—Nashville Predators–$5500
9. Nick Leddy—Nashville Predators–$5000
10. Shea Weber—Nashville Predators–$5800

Goalie

1. John Gibson—Anaheim Ducks–$8200
2. Jacob Markstrom—Vancouver Canucks–$6800
3. Braden Holtby—Washington Capitals–$9300
4. Thomas Greiss—New York Islanders–$9000
5. Jonathan Quick—Los Angeles Kings–$8500
6. Carter Hutton—Nashville Predators–$8500

FantasyDraft

 Forwards

1. Ryan Strome—New York Islanders–$7800
2. Mike Ribeiro—Nashville Predators–$8200
3. Brock Nelson—New York Islanders–$8600
4. Rickard Rakell—Anaheim Ducks–$9200
5. Frans Nielsen—New York Islanders–$12,000
6. Ryan Getzlaf—Anaheim Ducks–$12,900
7. Ryan Johansen—Nashville Predators–$10,700
8. John Tavares—New York Islanders–$16,100

Wingers

1. Linden Vey—Vancouver Canucks–$5800
2. Jamie McGinn—Anaheim Ducks–$7800
3. Craig Smith—Nashville Predators–$9600
4. David Perron—Anaheim Ducks–$9600
5. Kyle Okposo—New York Islanders–$12,100
6. Daniel Sedin—Vancouver Canucks–$13,200
7. Corey Perry—Anaheim Ducks—13,200
8. Filip Forsberg—Nashville Predators–$13,600
9. Vladimir Tarasenko—St. Louis Blues–$15,100
10. James Neal—Nashville Predators–$12,500

Defenseman

1. Ben Hutton—Vancouver Canucks–$7300
2. Cam Fowler—Anaheim Ducks–$9100
3. Nick Leddy—New York Islanders–$9400
4. Hampus Lindholm—AnaheimDucks–$9100
5. Sami Vatanen—Anaheim Ducks–$10,600
6. Johnny Boychuk—New York Islanders–$11,000
7. Alex Pietrangelo—St. Louis Blues–$11,600
8. Shea Weber—Nashville Predators–$12,400
9. Kevin Shattenkirk—St. Louis Blues–$13,000
10. Roman Josi—Nashville Predators–$14,400

Team G

1. Vancouver Canucks–$13,900
2. Anaheim Ducks–$15,800
3. New York Islanders–$16,200
4. Washington Capitals–$17,500
5. Los Angeles Kings–$17,200
6. Arizona Coyotes–$12,300
7. Nashville Predators–$16,500

[/cointent_lockedcontent]