Goalie
Petr Mrazek, PHI vs CAR ($7,900): Mrazek has been tremendous in his first three starts with the Flyers. Since being traded over from the Red Wings, the 26-year-old has allowed just four goals. Carolina comes in struggling, losing six games in a row and coring just nine goals over that span. Mrazek should see plenty of work and thus plenty of chances to accumulate fantasy points, as Carolina averages 34.2 SOG per game, the fifth-most in the NHL.
Center
Jeff Carter, LA vs CBJ ($6,300): Carter is still underpriced as the 15th highest-priced center in action on Thursday's slate. In three games since returning from a 55-game injury absence, Carter has two goals, both on the power play, with 18 SOG. I would expect Carter to come out firing once again against Columbus, which has allowed 20 goals, 25 assists, and 131 SOG to centers over its last 13 games.
Ryan Johansen, NSH at EDM ($6,200): Over his last three games, Johansen has recorded two goals and two assists, and has seven points in his last seven matchups with Edmonton. The Oilers have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to centers over the last month. The Predators come in winners of their last five contests, scoring 25 goals over that span.
Wing
Kevin Fiala, NSH at EDM ($5,300): The 21-year-old winger has been a pleasant surprise for the Predators, totaling 40 points — 20 goals — in 61 games thus far after just 16 points in 54 games last season. Fiala has a goal in two of his last three outings with 10 SOG and 15-plus minutes of ice time in each contest. Over their last 14 games, the Oilers have allowed left wingers to bury 11 goals and hand out 16 assists.
Patric Hornqvist, PIT at BOS ($5,800): Hornqvist has played in three games since being injured in early February and hasn't missed a beat. In those three outings, the Swede has a goal and 15 SOG. The Bruins are one team that isn't happy to see Hornqvist back, as he's recorded a point in four straight contests against them with two goals and two assists. The big-bodied forward continues to work in the dirty areas of the offensive zone, averaging 8.29 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes, which is the second-highest mark in the NHL.
Cam Atkinson, CBJ at LA ($6,400): The Connecticut native is up to 25 points — 13 goals — and his 5.79 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes put him 12th in the league. Atkinson has also averaged 34 SOG per game, ninth among wingers.
Defense
Ryan Ellis, NSH at EDM ($5,200): With a point in six of his last eight games, Ellis stands out as a blue-line value for a Predators team that leads the NHL in defensemen scoring. The Oilers have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to defensemen over the last month, including 10 goals and 25 assists surrendered.
Ivan Provorov, PHI vs CAR ($5,000): Provorov may only have two points in his last five games, but he's played well against Carolina. In the last six matchups, Provorov has six points with 12 blocked shots against them. With the Hurricanes allowing 11 goals and 17 assists to defensemen over their last 13 games, the chances of Provorov producing seem good.
