This article is part of our FantasyAces NHL series.
This Thursday, Calgary and Ottawa are both playing a second road game in as many and face tough opponents in the Kings and Wild, respectively. These are two matchups to target.
The bubble burst on Arizona's recent stellar defensive run in its last outing, and a road date with the Stars doesn't project favorably for the desert dogs.
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G: Devan Dubnyk, MIN vs. OTT ($7,400): Minnesota has won six consecutive games with a plus-10 goal differential and just eight goals allowed. Dubnyk has been the winning tender in each of those games, and he sports a .957 save percentage and 1.30 GAA during that span. Meanwhile, Ottawa enters on the wrong end of back-to-back road games and likely without its top scorer (Mark Stone).
C: Jeff Carter, LA at WPG ($5,250): Despite having 12 points through his past 12 games, Carter has missed the scoresheet in half the outings. He projects to center a high-powered line with Milan Lucic and Tyler Toffoli on his flanks, and Los Angeles lands in a juicy matchup Thursday. Calgary enters on the second leg of back-to-back road games after allowing eight goals Wednesday; the Flames have given up more goals per game than any team this year (3.18) and have been even worse since the All-Star break (3.48).
C: Cody Eakin, DAL vs. ARI ($4,550): The pivot has huge fantasy upside centering Jamie Benn, and although Eakin is sporting a three-game point drought, he returned nine points – including seven goals – through his prior seven contests. Arizona's smoke-and-mirrors defensive run blew up last time out with five goals allowed, and the Coyotes have allowed 3.11 goals per road game for the season.
W: Jamie Benn, DAL vs. ARI ($5,750): Scorching hot, Benn has at least one point in nine of his past 11 games, totaling seven goals and seven helpers in that span. He's recorded multiple points in five of his last nine outings. As noted, Arizona has struggled on the road this season, making Benn an elite option in fine form to build your lineup around.
W: Milan Lucic, NAS vs. VAN ($4,500): The tough guy provides savings to stack with linemate Jeff Carter, and given the previously noted Calgary struggles, there's huge upside for this duo. Lucic also has four assists through his past two games.
W: Boone Jenner, CLM at NYI ($4,250): With four goals and two assists through his past seven games, Jenner is capping off a solid season and currently sits tied for 19th in the league with 28 goals. There is a plus-minus risk, and Jenner doesn't help in the assist column (just 17 for the campaign), but the Islanders have allowed 2.80 goals per game in March. Jenner will be scarcely owned, too.
W: Connor Brown, TOR at BUF ($3,500): An upside source of cap relief, Brown has been an accomplished scorer at each stop in his career, and the highest level has been no different thus far. After missing the scoresheet in his first two NHL games, Brown has a goal, five assists and 10 shots on net while averaging 4:05 with the man advantage over his last five contests.
D: Victor Hedman, TB vs. MON ($5,200): The top-tier defender runs hot and cold, and right now he's hot. Hedman currently sports a six-game run with seven points, a plus-8 rating, 12 shots and 10 blocked shots. The price should keep his ownership in check, and Tampa Bay is rolling offensively with 18 goals through its past four home games. Hedman's also playing on the No. 1 power-play unit with Anton Stralman sidelined.
D: Jared Spurgeon, MIN vs. OTT ($4,500): The Wild have won six straight games with 14 goals through their past three outings, and they draw the league's worst road defense (3.42 goals per game) Thursday. Spurgeon has averaged 25:05 of ice time per night through his past four games, including 3:50 of power-play time. During that stretch, he has three goals and a plus-6 rating with nine shots and 10 blocked shots. The form and power-play role are key because Ottawa also owns the second-worst penalty kill in the league (75.7 percent).
