Welcome to another installment of 'Lining Up'.  This past week we saw some really shiny helmets, fun and excitement in Columbus, and endless Coyotes and Blues.

Before we jump into this week's crop of possibilities, let's revisit some players mentioned in previous weeks that may still be available in your league.  Jordan Staal, who is still only 38 percent rostered in Yahoo leagues, had a nice week with four goals, one assist and three PPP.  Nick Schmaltz (29 percent) had four points in four games (1G,3A) as well as 10 SOG.  Carter Verhaeghe (28 percent) had one goal and two assists in three games and added 10 SOG.  Nino Niederreiter (24 percent) had a three-goal week to go along with 11 SOG.  Pius Suter (13 percent) also had a nice week with two goals and 13 SOG.  These are all players that you can put in your lineup now if you need a spark. 

This time we want to dive a little deeper into the fantasy ocean, to talk about some players that have decent upside, that are probably available to you, and merit consideration depending on the structure of your league.  So let's wade in and highlight some of these players that are emerging and showing fantasy relevance. 

LU Line 1 – For our dive into this group, we really just need some simple scuba gear, nothing fancy because these guys are just below the surface.  So get on your trunks, your fins, and your snorkel, and check out a few ways that you can help your fantasy team:

• Alex Iafallo LAK – LW (5 percent rostered) – Iafallo has been playing on the Kings first line and first power play unit, which is red hot right now.  He has four points in his last three games (1G,3A,1PPP), as well as 10 SOG in that time.  In fact, Alex also has shown over the course of the season that he is not afraid to shoot the puck.  He is averaging 2.92 shots per game, as well as 0.69 points per game.  His TOI is up to 20:23 for the year, so he is getting plenty of ice time.  Furthermore, his shot percentage is sitting at 7.9% which is below his career average coming into the year of 9.8%, so you would think that there is a chance for even more production as the year goes on.  The Kings are starting to find their game offensively, and it is time to start considering Iafallo as a solid fantasy option.
• Evgenii Dadonov OTT – LW,RW (29 percent) – Dadonov had a slow start to the season with his new team, but he seems to have turned that around lately.  He has five goals in his last five games, including two last night in a thrilling game against the Leafs.  His shot totals have also improved of late.  Maybe it just took a little while to gel with his new situation, but if Dadonov can start to fulfill pre-season expectations and get back toward that point producer he was in Florida, this would be a good time to scoop him up.  Don't necessarily be scared off because he plays for Ottawa, they are actually the top producing North division team at 5v5.  Dadonov is also on the top power play unit for the Sens, so if they can add some pop in that department, his impact in fantasy will be even that much better.
• Chandler Stephenson VGK – C,LW (25 percent) – We have been patiently waiting for the Chandler Stephenson experience to arrive, and it looks like that is finally happening.  Playing on Vegas' top line with Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone, as well as on the second power play unit, you would expect better numbers than what Stephenson had delivered prior to this past week.  Especially considering that he had given a solid contribution last year of 22 points in 41 games while playing down in the lineup.  Well, in the last five games, Stephenson has four goals, two assists, and 3PPP.  So it seems that the production spigot has finally been turned on.  This is a player who is better to pick up now, because he will not stick around on the waiver wire long if he continues his current pace.  And if it turns out that he regresses, well it was worth the risk for his upside.

LU Line 2 – Alright, now we might need to get a bit more equipment involved to go deeper to investigate these guys.  If you have one of those old timey diving suits with the hoses and the helmet that looks like an insect head, that's perfect.  A Diving Bell would also be acceptable.  Either way, you may come back with some fantasy treasure:

• Robby Fabbri DET – C,LW,RW (3 percent) –  Fabbri missed eight games due to Covid, and upon his return has been increasingly showing up on the score sheet.  He is playing with Anthony Mantha and Bobby Ryan on Detroit's second line.  He also has been getting minutes with the first power play unit.  Fabbri has four points (3G,1A) in his last five games, and is getting high praise from coach Jeff Blashill, saying that he has had "a significant impact on our games".  Fabbri is also holing his own in some other categories, averaging 1.5 hits, about one block, and two SOG per game, while also being a plus five on the year.  He has also seen his TOI increase steadily since his return, skating over 18 minutes in two of his last three games.  If nothing else, keep Fabbri on your radar for now, and if he stays hot, don't be afraid to grab him.
• Andrew Mangiapane CGY LW,RW (5 percent)– Mangiapane has six points (4G, 2A) in his last eight games.  Not bad for a third liner (who also plays on the Flames second power play unit).  Mangiapane is the type of grind it out player that you just love to have on your fantasy squad.  He is hot right now in the points department and he averages about a block a game, but his shots and other peripherals are too low right now to be comfortable for sustained inclusion on your roster in a shallow redraft league.  In deeper leagues he is a better option, especially on any Calgary heavy week.  His TOI is trending in the right direction and he has averaged over 17 minutes per game in his last five.  The Flames have a game left against Vancouver this week, and also two against Edmonton. Note: Does not include stats from last night.
• Jean-Gabriel Pageau NYI – C (18 percent) – Pageau is a streaky player, and it appears that he may be starting a new one right now.  In his last three games he has four goals and 13 SOG.  Of those goals he had one on the power play, one short handed, and two at even strength.  So Pageau is getting it done all over the ice right now.  He also chipped in five hits in a game this past Saturday.  As mentioned, he tends to run hot and cold, so jump on him this week and see where the ride goes.  The Islanders have another game against Buffalo, and then two against Pittsburg before the week is over.

LU Line 3 – Now we need to move away from the personal diving apparatus and into the world of the underwater vehicle.  We need to go full on submersible here.  The players that we meet at this level may seem strange at first, but give them a closer look, and you might just want to surface with their talents, and add them to your squad:

• Cody Glass VGK – C,RW (9 percent) – Glass is an up and comer in the Golden Knight's lineup.  As a former number six pick overall in 2017 (in fact the Knights' first ever draft pick) he's got a lot of talent.  Right now he is centering Vegas' third line with Alex Tuch and a rotating second winger.  But the real plumb assignment for Glass is on the first power play unit.  In his last six games, Cody has a goal, four assists, and two PPP.  He also has seven points in nine games overall.  The downside to Glass is that aside from scoring you aren't getting much else from him.  He averages just over one SOG per game, and the rest of his peripherals are not any better.  So if you are just looking for some cheap point and power play point production, or you have room to stash him in your keeper league, Glass may do the job for you.
• Alex Wennberg FLA – C,LW (1 percent) –  Wennberg is on a bit of a streak right now with four points in his last five games (3G,1A). He did not have a good start to the season to say the least, but reports are that he had a 'look at myself in the mirror' moment and since has started producing.  He should have ample opportunity to tick up his scoring as he plays on Florida's second line, centering Jonathan Huberdeau and Patric Hornqvist.  He also skates on the second power play unit.  There are reasons to temper expectations though.  Wennberg has never been a goal scorer in his career, posting more than 10 goals only once in seven seasons.  He does have a 0.48 points per game average over that time, relying mostly on piling up assists.  His SOG are low, sitting at 1.41 per game this year.  So, overall he looks like a grab him on a hot streak type of guy, but he could also work for you longer term in a deeper league or as a DFS play.
• Brock McGinn CAR – LW,RW (2 percent) – McGinn is basically the Cris Carter of the NHL right now.  Famously, early in Carter's NFL career his coach Buddy Ryan said that the reason he cut Carter from the Eagles was that "All he does is catch touchdowns".  Well, it seems that all McGinn does is score goals.  In fact, he has seven goals in his last eight games but until last night had yet to record an assist on the season.  Yesterday he broke his assist drought with two helpers.  Considering that he is playing on the Canes first line with Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen you would think that he would have done it sooner, though perhaps this is a sign of them getting some mojo going.  While Cris Carter went on to a Hall of Fame career with the Vikings, we don't expect the same out of McGinn.  Before yesterday's four-point performance we would have called this a situation to keep monitored, but he may not sit on the wire much longer if he keeps putting up points.  He has averaged 1.33 hits per game, and 1.83 SOG per game, so if you need some deeper help, McGinn could provide for you, especially if his line starts to find a permanent rhythm.

LU Line 4 – To dive to the next level, we must make offerings to Poseidon, the god who will help find the deepest jewels in the fantasy sea.  Because just like the lost city of Atlantis, the next breakout candidates are very hard to find.  Check these guys out, and keep your fantasy ship off the rocks:

• Jason Robertson DAL – LW (1 percent) – Robertson has had a nice little run lately.  He is playing wing on Dallas' second line with Roope Hintz and Denis Gurianov.  He is also on the Stars' second power play unit.  In the last four games Robertson has two goals and three assists.  A rookie, he is still working on the defensive side of the game, which he will need to do to stay in Rick Bowness' lineup.  His TOI average is low at 12:23, but in his last game he played 17:12, so things are looking up in that department.  Robertson's SOG have been a bit all over the place with one four shot game, as well as a couple of goose egg outings.  So all in all, this is a player who is still rounding out his game, but who is also being given a great opportunity in Dallas and has been putting his mark on the score sheet of late.
• Troy Terry ANA – RW (0 percent) – Terry has picked up four points (2G,2A) in his last five games.  A change in attitude has fueled his recent productivity, reportedly committing to a more fluid game and not overthinking things as much.  Terry is 95 games into his pro career, so he has just over a normal regular season's worth of experience.  He is playing on Anaheim's top line with Ryan Getzlaf and Adam Henrique, and also getting power play minutes with the second group.  Terry's TOI needs to improve, sitting at just a 12:51 average this year.  Also, he has 20 shots in 14 games, so there is definitely room to grow there as well.  Terry should be considered in keeper leagues, especially if the Ducks can continue to improve and he can continue to stay an important part of that rebuild.  Note: This does not include stats from last night.
• Mathieu Joseph TBL – C,LW,RW – Joseph has bounced between the top six and the fourth line in Tampa this year.  He seems to be the go to option when one of the regular top six forwards goes down.  Currently he has been moved up to the second line with Tyler Johnson and Alex Killorn.  How long will that last?  Maybe not too long, but the thing is that Joseph seems to find the net no matter where he is playing.  He has five points (3G,2A) in his last four games, to go along with nine hits over that time. Joseph's TOI will be line dependent, as right now he only averages 10:51 for the year.  That is too low, and besides hits his peripheral stats will not excite much.  Joseph is an interesting option when playing in the top six and may pick up a few points for you while in that role.  Hs triple designation doesn't hurt either.

That's it for this edition of Lining Up.  Look for me on Twitter @RinkmanHockey and have a winning week!