Welcome to another week of 'Lining Up'.  Over the past few days, we've been reminded that the Lightning are your worst nightmare, that the Ducks really love giving up three goal leads, and most importantly, that if you anger Jordan Binnington he will give you the 'come at me bro' routine, and toss fake punches at you.

Let's quickly talk about what we are doing here.  The forwards below have lower rostered rates (40 percent or less in Yahoo leagues) and therefore are hopefully available on your waiver wire.  We hope to highlight situations where these players are skating on lines with quality teammates and/or on power play units. 

Before we highlight this week's opportunities, just a quick reminder about a few players that we discussed recently who are still producing and who you may still be able to scoop up: Mats Zuccarello (46 percent), Pavel Zacha (32 percent), Drake Batherson (37 percent), Tim Stuetzle (27 percent), Clayton Keller (36 percent), Joel Eriksson Ek (32 percent).  All of them are good options if available in your league. 

This week has seen a fairly big shift in the waiver wire as owners start to get even more serious about the fantasy season.  There has been a separation of sorts with many of the top assets on the wire being added to more and more teams.  At the same time, some of the players making a lot of noise early on have gone cold, as will happen.  So, what we are noticing now are a lot of options emerging from the very low rostered realms of the fantasy depths.  This is a good thing, because it means that younger players are emerging and that some of the veterans that haven't always been exciting are turning it on.  So, with that in mind, let's dig into this weeks' possibilities.

LU's Top Line – Everyone wants to monopolize as many fantasy assets as possible.  So channel your inner John D. Rockefeller and consolidate your holdings.  Consider these players the Standard Oil of this week.  Use them to lubricate your path to the fantasy championship:

• Colin Blackwell NYR – LW,RW (1 percent) – Looking for a little sunshine in the Rangers situation?  Blackwell has you covered.  He is currently skating on New York's second line along with Chris Kreider and Ryan Strome.  He is also slotted in on the first power play unit.  In 11 games played this year Blackwell has eight points, including five (4G,1A) in his last six games.  In addition to scoring, he has increased his shot total over the last few games, including a five-shot game on Sunday.  He also chips in an average of 1.45 hits/game, though his blocks and PIM contribution is minimal.  Lastly, he will not help you much in the plus-minus category, but isn't an absolute drag on you either.  Blackwell is a good stream option until Panarin comes back, especially in points leagues, though in some deeper leagues you may be able to hold onto him as he has proven that he can be productive in any situation.  It's all about ice time for Blackwell, and if he keeps getting it, keep giving him time in your lineup.  The Rangers have four games remaining this week, including one versus Buffalo and two versus New Jersey.
• Lars Eller WSH – C (8 percent) – Lars is benefitting from a line shake up that sees him now playing with Alex Ovechkin and Conor Sheary.  He is also being given second power play unit duties.  Eller has seen his minutes increase as well.  Over the past 10 games he has nine points (3G,6A) and 3 PPP.  While playing with Ovechkin the past four games he has two goals and two assists.  Eller averages about a hit and a block per game, but only 1.5 SOG per game.  Capitals coach Peter Laviolette says that he likes the new lines and how they spread out the talent across Washington's top nine forwards.  Eller may not be a long-term hold, but while he is posted up as the first line center with one of the deadliest scorers in the league you could do a lot worse.  The Caps have a nice schedule this week for fantasy players, with games on the Wed/Fri/Sun off nights.
• Oliver Wahlstrom NYI – RW (1 percent) – Wahly was an 11^th overall pick in 2018 for the Isles, and the word is that he has a lethal shot, especially on the power play a la Ovechkin or Laine.  He had a chance to show that off on Sunday and he didn't disappoint, scoring a PP blast versus the Pens.  He also recorded an assist and in fact has five points (2G,3A) in his last five games.  He is officially on the second power play unit, but that group is very hot right now and Wahlstrom has five PPP in his last eight games.  He also will chip in 2.2 SOG per game on average, as well as a hit and 0.50 blocks per game.  His TOI minutes are the issue right now, averaging only 10:53 for the season currently, which actually makes his stats that much more impressive.  Wahlstrom is a very intriguing add for a keeper league to say the least, but also someone that can help boost any flagging RW production in a deeper league as well.  The Islanders have a good schedule this week, playing the Devils once, and the Sabres three times.

LU's Second Line – Is your fantasy portfolio still a little light?  Well maybe it's time to add some heavier production just like Andrew Carnegie would.  He was the owner of U.S. Steel who knew how to turn ore into profits.  Even though there are no Pittsburg players on this list, there are still some guys to help girder your lineup:

• Frank Vatrano FLA – LW,RW (5 percent) – Vatrano has put up a three goals and 11 SOG in his last three games, which is reason enough to get him on your radar.  Another reason is that he has been promoted to the Panthers top line skating with Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe, as well as seeing time on the second power play unit.  Vatrano brings with him a very solid SOG average at 3.0 so far on the season.  He also will give you just over a hit per game while sitting at a plus two on the year.  All of these stats have come from an average of 14:29 TOI, so look for a bump now that Vatrano is running with the top line in Florida.  He is a great streaming option who could possibly turn into a must hold for you.  Florida has two games versus Nashville this week, as well as one more against Carolina. 
• Carl Soderberg CHI – C,LW (8 percent) – At first we thought that Chicago had done some time traveling and signed native son and 'poet of the prairie' Carl Sandberg to provide literary inspiration, but upon closer inspection it is actually the oft traveled Soderberg.  He has found a good spot in Chicago and is making the most of it lately.  In his last eight games he has eight points (4G,4A) and has made his way onto the Hawks first power play unit with Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat.  That is his main appeal and where his value lies.  They are the number two power play in the league by scoring percentage, and this is where you hope Soderberg can chip in for your fantasy squad.  His PPIPP is 40.0, which means that he is involved in two out of every five goals scored while he is on the ice during the power play.  While you would like to see this number go higher, at the rate that the Hawks' PP is clicking, you shouldn't have to wait too long to see results.  The rest of Soderberg's category stats are pretty pedestrian, so if you see that he is no longer on that top unit, move on to another option.  Chicago plays three against Tampa Bay this week, but they do have the Friday/Sunday schedule which is helpful.
• Colin White OTT – C,RW (1 percent) – White has had a disjointed NHL career up to this point.  Originally a 21^st pick overall in 2015, he had a very solid 2018-19 season, only to disappoint Sens fans and management last year.  At the beginning of this season White found himself a healthy scratch on a few occasions, but has since climbed in the lineup and has started to find his mojo on the second scoring line and the second power play unit.  In his last four games he has five points (4G,1A), two PPP, 12 SOG, and three blocks.  The Sens have looked much more dangerous offensively up and down their lineup, and White has been a big part of that.  Even though they are still seen as an easy punching bag by some, that is not really the case any longer.  Or at least it isn't every night.  White is averaging 15:08 TOI for the year, averages 1.2 hits and 0.52 blocks per game, and is a minus four on the season.  He is worth a stream right now, and could become more valuable depending how the Sens lineup is shuffled.  They have three more games this week, one against the Canadians, and two against Calgary.

LU's Third Line – You can't get where you're going if you don't stay on track, right?  That's why you might want to act like the old timey railroad barons of yesteryear and shovel more coal into your fantasy locomotive.  Use the players below to help you engineer some success:

• Jesper Fast CAR – RW (1 percent) – Fast is in his first year with Carolina after spending the last several with the Rangers.  He is an interesting option because he is currently on the Canes top line with Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov, as well as the second power play unit.  Not only that, but Fast has four points his last five games (2G,2A), adding a PPP during that time.  He is definitely worth a good look while he is getting those top line minutes, but what he needs to do is increase his shooting.  Averaging only 0.7 SOG per game right now, Fast will need to improve there to be more fantasy relevant, but he does throw in just over a hit per game, so make sure you keep an eye on him, especially if he keeps up the point production.  If you want to stream him this week, Carolina has three games left, including one against Nashville, and one against Detroit.
• Jeff Carter LAK – C,LW,RW (15 percent) – Jeff Carter is in his 14^th NHL season, and is still getting it done.  He has been an important part of L.A.'s resurgence this year, and has been drawing accolades for his speed on the ice at such an 'advanced age'.  He is triple position eligible, and in his last eight games he has six points (3G,3A).  Carter is also averaging three SOG per game, and has four PPP on the year.  He is mostly going to help you if you are in a points league, as the rest of his peripheral stats are not very exciting.  The Kings got derailed by Minnesota this past weekend, but look for them to get it going again, and with that you should be able to reap some benefits from Carter's production.  They have one against Arizona this week, and two against the Blues.
• Victor Rask MIN – C (3 percent) – Yeah you are reading this correctly, Victor Rask is demanding some of your fantasy hockey attention.  Rask had a solid start to his career in Carolina, fueling rumors that he might be a quality fantasy option.  Well to be nice he didn't quite live up to that hope, and eventually found himself as part of the Nino Niederreiter deal a couple years ago, when he landed in Minnesota.  Wild fans were also underwhelmed by Rask until about a month ago when he started putting up scoring numbers.  In the last eight games he has eight points (4G,4A) and has increased his SOG while centering Mats Zuccarello and rookie Kirill Kaprizov.  Is it sustainable?  You would think not due to the fact that all of the stats like his shooting percentage (15.3% 5v5) and PDO (1075) indicate there has to be a regression.  On the other hand you could ride out the streak and see where it goes.  Not a bad option as Minnesota has three more games this week, including a Wed/Fri schedule.

LU's Fourth Line – Sometimes you just need a diamond in the rough.  If you want to be the De Beers of your fantasy league, you might want to start with this group of players:

• Eeli Tolvanen NSH – LW,RW (1 percent) – Eeli apparently means 'to ascend' in Hebrew.  We're not sure what it means in Finnish, but Tolvanen is certainly ascending fantasy owners watch lists after a three-point (2G,1A) performance in his last four games.  Definitely a bright spot on the Preds squad at the moment, he posted all of those points on the power play while also marking 11 SOG during those four games. It might just be Tolvy time in Nashville.
• Max Jones ANA – LW (1 percent) – Yes he plays for the Ducks, but Max "Power" Jones has made a little noise lately.  He has scored two power play goals in his last three games while skating with Anaheim's top unit.  Definitely a watch candidate here, but Jones will also get you hits (3.1 per game) if you need help there.
• Alex Chiasson EDM – RW (1 percent) – Chiasson is on a nice run right now, pointing in six of his last eight games (4G,2A).  He has been on the Oilers first power play unit, picking up three PPP in his last five games, though that PPTOI is in jeopardy which is why he is only on our fourth line.  Check on Edmonton's power play situation, and if you find Chiasson there, by all means consider using him in your lineup.

That's it for another week.  Give us a follow or a shout on Twitter – @RinkmanHockey, and don't forget to have fun out there!