There were just three games yesterday, which allowed the NHL to schedule 15 games tonight. With almost every team set to take the ice, there is no shortage of options to consider for your lineup, so let's sift through them to find the highlights.
SLATE PREVIEW
Six teams played Wednesday, and 30 are set to play tonight, so naturally, there are teams on the second half of a back-to-back. Among them, the Rangers and Islanders are particularly notable because they're playing against each other for the second straight day. The Islanders served as the hosts yesterday in a 5-2 victory over the Rangers, and the Rangers will be the home team this time as they try to avoid allowing the Islanders to sweep the season series 4-0-0. Philadelphia and Colorado are also on the second half of a back-to-back, and both of those squads are on the road for the second straight day, so fatigue might be a factor.
GOALIES
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TBL vs. WPG ($7,900): Vasilevskiy has been about as good as they get lately, going 12-0-1 with a 1.73 GAA and a .927 save percentage over his last 13 games. That gives him a 23-7-3 record, 2.07 GAA and .919 save percentage in 33 appearances this campaign.
Brandon Bussi, CAR vs. UTA ($7,800): The Mammoth are a less-than-ideal adversary, but Bussi is good enough to be worth recommending anyway. He's 19-3-1 with a 2.15 GAA and a .909 save percentage in 23 outings in 2025-26. Bussi has won his past three starts while allowing just one goal in each of those victories.
John Gibson, DET vs. WAS ($7,700): Gibson saw his eight-game winning streak come to an end Tuesday, but it was a 3-1 loss to the Kings, with the final LA goal being scored on an empty net, so that defeat was hardly Gibson's fault. He's 15-3-0 with a 1.83 GAA and a .934 save percentage across his past 18 appearances. Washington hasn't fared nearly as well, going 7-13-4 over its last 24 games, so this is a favorable matchup for Gibson.
VALUE PLAYS
Mikael Granlund, ANA at VAN ($5,900): Granlund netted a hat trick Monday, which gives him five goals and 10 points across his past 10 outings. After reaching the 60-point mark in three of four regular seasons from 2021-22 through 2024-25, missed time due to injuries will keep him below that milestone this season. Still, he's been fine when healthy, providing 12 goals and 26 points in 35 appearances in 2025-26.
Matty Beniers, SEA vs. TOR ($5,800): Beniers has been fantastic recently, supplying nine goals and 15 points across his past 15 outings. He's up to 13 goals and 36 points in 52 outings in 2025-26.
Chris Kreider, ANA at VAN ($5,100): Kreider is on a three-game scoring streak in which he's collected two goals and an assist. He's also projected to play alongside Granlund on the first power-play unit, so there's some synergy there if you opt to take both of the forwards.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Lightning vs. Jets
Anthony Cirelli (C - $5,800), Nikita Kucherov (W - $8,100), Brandon Hagel (W - $7,300)
Kucherov is naturally the highlight of this line. He's been held off the scoresheet just once over his past 17 games while scoring 13 goals and 38 points over that stretch. That gives the 32-year-old 26 goals and 80 points across 47 appearances this season.
His linemates don't match up to those incredible totals, but they're strong options in their own right. Hagel has an incredible seven goals and 18 points over his past 13 appearances, and Cirelli is on a four-game scoring streak in which he's contributed three goals and seven points.
Kraken vs. Maple Leafs
Matty Beniers (C - $5,800), Jared McCann (W - $6,500), Jordan Eberle (W - $5,500)
If you're looking for a more affordable trio, this one should serve you well. None of them will be confused for Kucherov, but they're all hot right now. McCann has been especially effective with nine goals and 18 points over his past 16 games, including two goals and two assists in a 5-1 win over Washington on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Eberle is on a three-game scoring streak (two goals, three assists), and Beniers has totaled nine goals and 15 points over his last 15 outings.
DEFENSEMEN
Roman Josi, NAS at NJD ($6,700): Josi continues to dominate with four goals and 13 points across his past eight appearances. That gives him nine goals and 31 points in 40 outings in 2025-26.
Jackson LaCombe, ANA at VAN ($6,100): LaCombe has been a steady contributor lately, collecting 11 assists across his past 12 outings. He's up to six goals and 34 points in 53 outings as he looks to top his career high of 43 points, which he set during the 2024-25 regular season.
Dougie Hamilton, NJD vs. NAS ($5,300): Hamilton has recorded at least a point in eight straight games since being a healthy scratch Jan. 11. He has a goal and 10 points over that span, including a goal and five points with the man advantage.
