This article is part of our FantasyAces NHL series.
A pair of marquee matchups between top Eastern and Western Conference teams highlights the schedule of Tuesday's eight games.
The Kings, who have the best record in the West, visit the East-leading Capitals. In my mind, these clubs have done enough to establish themselves as likely candidates to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. The Kings have stumbled a bit of late, going only 4-6 in their last 10 games, but they'll count on a slight physical edge to tilt things in their favor when they visit the high-scoring Capitals.
In a similar matchup, the Sharks visit the Lightning in a match that brings two hot teams together. The Sharks have been propelled by a 6-2-2 record in their last 10 starts, grabbing a secure hold on a playoff spot, while the Lightning have pushed aside some nagging storylines (Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Drouin) to collect six wins in their last 10 games.
Here are my recommendations for games on February 16, 2016:
C: Ryan Getzlaf, ANA at EDM ($5,000): The big picture shows that the Ducks' captain has only six goals on the season, but a closer look reveals three goals along with 11 points and five multi-point efforts in his last seven games. Tuesday's price looks cheap for that return.
C: Tyler Johnson, TAM vs. SJ ($4.950): Johnson is finally resembling the player who led the Bolts in scoring last year, as he has notched three of his eight goals on the year over his last seven games, adding three assists to elevate the second line and spur the recent string of success in Tampa.
W: Corey Perry, ANA at EDM ($5,100): The other half of Anaheim's dynamic duo has six points in his last seven games, thriving while anchoring a second scoring line for the Ducks. He and Getzlaf continue to play together on a potent Anaheim power play that could have a big night against an overmatched Edmonton penalty-killing unit.
W: Jordan Eberle, EDM vs. ANA ($4,900): Eberle is a skilled player in his own right, but now that he is aligned with wunderkind Connor McDavid, we're seeing a new level of productivity out of this winger. Eberle has compiled 10 points in his last six games, with three goals and an assist on the power play in that stretch.
W: Wayne Simmonds, PHI at NJ ($4,700): Simmonds is thriving on the Flyers' top line, collecting four goals and an assist in his last five games. His size and physicality has given that unit an added dimension, an advantage that may be particularly notable against a smallish New Jersey team that tries to play a more up-tempo style.
W: David Perron, ANA at EDM ($4,450): Perron has been a nice fit as a top-six forward with the Ducks, producing seven points in his last seven starts. At this low price, he looks like a great value play against an Edmonton team that doesn't pay attention to defensive details on most nights.
D: Hampus Lindholm, ANA at EDM ($4,100): Lindholm has collected four of his eight goals in the last seven games. As a regular component of the Ducks' power play, which is rolling now, in this same favorable Edmonton matchup, he's part of my Anaheim stack.
D: Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI at NJ ($4,100): Gostisbehere has a 13-game point streak and is approaching a point-per-game pace in his 37 games to date, yet he remains well down the price list among defensemen. He's the lynchpin of an effective Flyers power play, and he should get some chances to add to those totals Tuesday.
G: Craig Anderson, OTT vs. BUF ($7,500): Ottawa gets what ought to be a favorable matchup against a low-scoring Buffalo squad. Anderson has done his part to keep the Sens in games, limiting opponents to a total of only seven goals in his last four starts. He has faced an average of more than 32 shots per game in that time, making it his finest stretch of the year in terms of save percentage.
