SLATE PREVIEW
There are four games in the NHL on Friday starting with Nashville and Pittsburgh in Stockholm at 2 p.m. EST followed in the evening by Vancouver heading to Carolina, St. Louis hosting Philadelphia and the Islanders traveling to Utah. Below, you'll find suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
GOALIE
Karel Vejmelka, UTAH vs. NYI ($7,500): Vejmelka is off to a solid start with an 8-4-0 record and a 2.84 GAA after a 2.58 last season. He'll be going up against a tired Islanders side that just played in Colorado on Thursday.
VALUE PLAYS
Andrei Svechnikov, CAR vs. VAN ($4,400): Svechnikov has come on of late with seven points in his last eight games. He's also part of Carolina's top line alongside Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis and comes in at a reasonable salary to help fill out your fantasy lineups.
Jonathan Marchessault, NSH vs. PIT ($4,800): Marchessault hasn't recorded a point from his last five outings with only six overall, yet has reached the 20-goal mark during eight of the last nine seasons. He should be able to produce Friday against a Penguins defense that's dropped in form this month.
FORWARD LINE STACK
Flyers at Blues
Trevor Zegras (W- $6,600), Sean Couturier (C- $5,200), Matvei Michkov (W- $4,600)
Zegras has turned his career around after an offseason trade from Anaheim with 16 points while Couturier is at 10. Michkov didn't start off well, but has potted goals in three consecutive games to give him four on the campaign along with five assists. As for the Blues, they sit 31st in GAA at 3.77.
DEFENSEMEN
Alexander Nikishin, CAR vs. VAN ($5,200): Nikishin has been great for the Canes with two goals, six assists and a plus-14 while producing 44 hits and 24 blocked shots. He should post some stats against a Vancouver team entering Friday 27th in goals against at 3.50.
Erik Karlsson, PIT vs. NSH ($4,600): Karlsson could be playing in his native country for the final time as an NHLer. He's so far notched a goal and 11 assists and will be motivated to do well this weekend in Sweden.
