This article is part of our FantasyAces NHL series.
It's an eight-game slate in the National Hockey League on Thursday, and the fantasy landscape certainly has yielded a number of surprises through the first week of the season. Who pegged the Coyotes at 3-0 and the Penguins at 0-3?
Player Recommendations
G: Devan Dubnyk, MIN at ARI ($7,500): It was a storybook 2014-15 season for Dubnyk after joining the Wild, and he has kick-started this year with consecutive wins. Arizona enters scorching hot after rolling through three straight impressive opponents, but they're playing on the second game of a back-to-back. It's a tough spot for the 'Yotes, especially after Minnesota went 22-13-6 on home ice last season. Dubnyk is far from the highest-priced option, too.
C: Sidney Crosby, PIT vs. OTT, $6,000: With three consecutive pointless outings, look for Crosby to find the scoresheet Thursday, and potentially multiple times. With the Senators entering on the heels of a road game Wednesday, the slump-busting upside heightens. Ottawa has also looked leaky defensively, allowing 10 goals over the past three games.
C: Aleksander Barkov, FLA vs. BUF ($4,600): Primed for a breakout showing in Year 3, Barkov has three points through three games and 10 shots on goal. Most encouraging is his uptick in minutes and proven chemistry with linemates Jaromir Jagr and Jonathan Huberdeau. Barkov is a big-bodied pivot who should present matchup problems for the Sabres on Thursday.
W: Zach Parise and Jason Pominville, MIN at ARI ($5,900 and $5,100): This duo boasts nice
It's an eight-game slate in the National Hockey League on Thursday, and the fantasy landscape certainly has yielded a number of surprises through the first week of the season. Who pegged the Coyotes at 3-0 and the Penguins at 0-3?
Player Recommendations
G: Devan Dubnyk, MIN at ARI ($7,500): It was a storybook 2014-15 season for Dubnyk after joining the Wild, and he has kick-started this year with consecutive wins. Arizona enters scorching hot after rolling through three straight impressive opponents, but they're playing on the second game of a back-to-back. It's a tough spot for the 'Yotes, especially after Minnesota went 22-13-6 on home ice last season. Dubnyk is far from the highest-priced option, too.
C: Sidney Crosby, PIT vs. OTT, $6,000: With three consecutive pointless outings, look for Crosby to find the scoresheet Thursday, and potentially multiple times. With the Senators entering on the heels of a road game Wednesday, the slump-busting upside heightens. Ottawa has also looked leaky defensively, allowing 10 goals over the past three games.
C: Aleksander Barkov, FLA vs. BUF ($4,600): Primed for a breakout showing in Year 3, Barkov has three points through three games and 10 shots on goal. Most encouraging is his uptick in minutes and proven chemistry with linemates Jaromir Jagr and Jonathan Huberdeau. Barkov is a big-bodied pivot who should present matchup problems for the Sabres on Thursday.
W: Zach Parise and Jason Pominville, MIN at ARI ($5,900 and $5,100): This duo boasts nice upside with a high floor. Both are high-volume shooters, and Parise has started the season with four goals through two games. Pominville presents excellent value alongside his linemate, and he has pair of helpers already this season. As mentioned, Arizona is riding high, but the helium won't last forever, and there could be a catastrophic crash.
W: Phil Kessel, PIT vs. OTT ($5,800): Kessel has posted 12 shots through the first three games of the season, and he has a goal and an assist. He is playing with Sidney Crosby in all situations, and while mini-stacking them is expensive, it has contest-winning upside, especially with a few games of on-ice chemistry built up.
W: Artemi Panarin, CHI at WAS ($3,600): The rookie winger is too cheap to ignore, and he gripped his stick too tight with a chance on a wide-open net Wednesday. Still, he sits with two goals and two helpers through the first four games of the campaign. Panarin is flashing nice chemistry with Patrick Kane at even strength, and he's also skating with the No. 1 power-play unit.
D: Matt Niskanen, WAS vs. CHI ($3,850): The Capitals took a beating in their last outing, so expect a better showing against the Blackhawks, who enter on the wrong end of back-to-back road tilts. Niskanen screams profit and brings a high floor to the table because of his peripheral stat coverage, not to mention that he has a multi-point showing already this season.
D: Colton Parayko, STL at EDM ($2,600): The rookie is a worthwhile gamble for daily contests Thursday. He projects to see power-play time with Kevin Shattenkirk unlikely to play in Thursday's game, and Parayko projects to receive sheltered and offensively favorable minutes. Plus, he already has a pair of goals this season. The cap wiggle room he creates is at least equally enticing, too.
