This article is part of our FantasyAces NHL series.
The National Hockey League features eight games Thursday, with the Kings-Rangers bout highlighting the action in a throwback to the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals. [Please don't remind me of that. – Ed. ]
The Islanders-Predators and Lightning-Stars games also feature championship hopefuls battling in cross-conference matchups.
Toronto should be prone for a letdown showing following its shutdown defense over the past two games, so finding room for a few Panthers is encouraged. However, spreading out your Aces picks across a number of games is advised Thursday.
Player Recommendations
G: Devan Dubnyk, MIN at NJ ($7,400): With an 8-3-1 record and a .918 save percentage through his past 12 starts, Dubnyk is in fine form and underpriced. Add his matchup against an inept offense averaging just 1.8 goals per game through its past five outings, and this is an excellent source of savings and upside. Darcy Kuemper ($7,450) is also worth starting, should he receive the starting nod.
C: Sidney Crosby, PIT vs. CAR ($6,150): During his nine-game point streak, Crosby has four goals, 10 assists, a plus-8 rating and 27 shots on net, including 13 shots through his latest two outings. It is a hefty cap hit, but Pittsburgh is rolling behind its captain and Crosby is averaging 22:44 per night through his past four games.
C: Jason Spezza, DAL vs. TAM ($5,300): Projected to center Tyler Seguin and Valeri Nichushkin, Spezza has excellent wingers and is rolling offensively. Through his past seven games, he has seven goals and a helper with 27 shots on net. Tampa Bay isn't a great matchup, but that could keep Spezza's ownership down, and he carries a manageable cap hit.
W: Jonathan Huberdeau, FLA at TOR ($5,200): With eight points through five games since returning from an upper-body injury, Huberdeau continues to shine down the stretch. He's locked into top-line minutes, rolls with the No. 1 power-play unit, and still has an accommodating cap hit.
W: Jaromir Jagr, FLA at TOR ($5,200): A point-per-game performer through his past 21 with a plus-8 rating and 44 shots on net, Jagr also has two goals and four helpers through his past five outings. He makes for a nice stack alongside linemate Huberdeau, and as noted, the Leafs seem due for regression after allowing just one goal in their last two games.
W: Charlie Coyle, MIN vs. NJ ($4,750): Top-line minutes next to Mikko Koivu and Zach Parise are a real draw, and Coyle has been much more consistent in the second half of the season, totaling 11 goals, 15 points and 54 shots through his past 24 games. He's also been much better of late, notching three goals, three assists and 25 shots while averaging 20:31 on the ice (including 3:46 of power-play time) over the last eight games.
W: Ondrej Palat, TAM at DAL ($4,750): Dallas has been extremely leaky defensively, having allowed the most goals per game (3.57) in the league since the All-Star break. Palat has five goals and two assists through his past seven games with 17 shots and a plus-5 rating. He's heating up and receiving power-play looks while not breaking the bank.
D: David Savard, CLM vs. DET ($3,650): The high-floor defenseman has 28 shots and 28 blocked shots through 13 games, although that's accompanied by a modest five points and plus-2 rating. With Jack Johnson on injured reserve now, though, Savard should see a bigger workload. It helps that the Red Wings have allowed 51 goals through their past 15 games.
D: Brian Dumoulin, PIT vs. CAR ($2,550): A low-priced flier to create cap wiggle room for Crosby, Dumoulin has an assist in consecutive games with four shots, a plus-4 rating and an average of 21:08 minutes per night. Look for a positive rating with some peripheral tallies, and should Dumoulin find the scoresheet, this will be a slam-dunk value.
