Welcome to another week of 'Lining Up'.  Over the past few days, we've learned that the Canes' Storm Surge is definitely for real, that if you want to beat the Islanders in regulation you better pack a lunch, and most of all, that if you bother Ovi too much he is going to give you a swift stick to the man zone.

Let's review quickly 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.  This week our fourth line features some good options for those banger leagues out there. 

As we pass the halfway point of the fantasy season, you really want to make sure that you are set up for the stretch run, with the best athletes possible in your stable.  With that in mind let's turn to this week's possibilities.

LU's Top Line – There's nothing like the majesty of a well built and trained thoroughbred that can speed you all around the track and land you in the winner circle at the end of the race.  Unfortunately, sometimes our fantasy teams turn into plodding donkeys halfway through the race.  Take a look at these guys to help you get back up to a gallop:

• Rickard Rakell ANA – LW,RW (40 percent) – Rakell is another player that is really piling up the stats right now.  He has 12 points (5G,7A) in his last six games, as well as 22 SOG, two PPP, and 10 hits.  Rakell is worth picking up just to see where this thing goes.  A few words of caution though – while the Ducks offense has been a bit better lately (14^th in scoring over the past two weeks), overall they have still had a hard time getting shots (22^nd) and scoring chances (22^nd) during that time.  Also, it looks like the coaching staff might be moving Trevor Zegras off of Rakell's line, so that could affect recent chemistry.  Rakell is on the top power play unit for Anaheim, but again they have struggled as a group (28^th in the league).  All of that said, Rakell is killing it right now, and is worth a stream to find out how much is left here. The Ducks have W/F/Sat games this week, one against L.A. and then two against San Jose.
• Martin Necas CAR – C,RW (40 percent) – Necas has quietly been putting together quite a year for himself and for Carolina.  He has 18 points in 21 games played, including seven points (2G,5A) in his last four.  Necas averages about two SOG per game, about a hit per game, and a little less than a block per game.  He will also throw in the random PPP as well.  Though you would like to see those peripheral stats be higher, Necas is someone that can chip in a bit in other areas while mainly helping you in the points categories.  He skates mainly on the Canes second line with Vincent Trocheck and Nino Niederreiter, one of the more productive lines in the NHL this season.  He is also on Carolina's second power play unit.  All in all, Necas is a nice addition, has dual center/wing coverage, and plays for a team that looks to score a lot of goals throughout the rest of the year.  They have two against the Preds and one against Detroit this week.
• Pavel Buchnevich NYR – RW (28 percent) – Buchnevich is taking full advantage of his new line assignment with Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafrenière.  Pavel has six points (2G,4A) in his last four games.  He is also currently on the Rangers top power play unit.  Buch started off the season putting up some very solid numbers, then had a bit of a cold stretch, but has bounced back and resumed his scoring, currently on a 0.83 points per game pace.  He has only 1 SOG per game for the last three, but he is averaging 2.4 SOG per game on the season, so you would expect those numbers to rebound.  The rest of his stats are nothing overly special, though he will throw you a few blocks and hits here and there.  Best case for Buchnevich is if Zibanejad gets hot and both of their games elevate even further.  Worst case is if Panarin comes back and forces Pavel into a worse line assignment.  But for now he is carrying his own weight nicely and can help pick up some points for your team along the way. 

LU's Second Line – You work hard all year to make the right moves to set up your fantasy squad like a sleek, well-toned greyhound.  You imagine outrunning all the competition to victory.  But then you realize that your team is more fit to enter a wiener dog race.  Get back on track with this next group of players:

• Jordan Greenway MIN – LW,RW (23 percent) – Greenway continues to put together an impressive season.  He is at a 0.82 points per game rate right now, which includes seven points (3G,4A) in his last seven games.  Greenway has also increased his shot production lately, averaging 3.0 SOG/g in his last six.  He is a physical player as well and averages about 1.5 hits per game and 0.5 blocks per game.  The Wild have done some line juggling in recent weeks, but now Greenway has been reunited with Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Foligno.  This line has been the Wild's shutdown line the past few years, but now they are taking on more of an offensive nature that has been paying off for Minnesota.  Greenway is also on the second power play unit.  This week the Wild have the W/F/Sun schedule with one more against Vegas, and two against Arizona.
• Yanni Gourde TBL – C,LW,RW (24 percent) – Yanni has found himself on the Lightning's second line, centering Alex Killorn and Steven Stamkos.  He also is on the second power play unit.  Gourde has been a mainstay of Tampa's third line in the past and has put up solid numbers from that spot.  With a promotion to the second line we've seen him do even more.  He has eight points (4G,4A) in seven games, including a four point effort this past Sunday.  He averages about 1.9 shots per game, and about a hit per game as well.  Gourde is a borderline add in deeper leagues at any time, but as long as he is getting minutes with Killorn and Stamkos he can make an impact on anyone's fantasy team.  Also, being triple position eligible never hurts either.
• Marcus Foligno MIN – LW,RW (23 percent) – Foligno has always been gritty player, and someone who can get you those banger points.  He'll drop the gloves from time to time and help with the PIM category, while also averaging 2.6 hits per game, and posting a plus 10 on the year.  Foligno always has had a scoring touch, but this year has seen an increase in that department.  He has 15 points (7G,8A) in 21 games played this season, including 12 in his last 11 games.  Foligno has also been given second power play unit time recently as the Wild try to figure out their woes in that area.  Foligno's scoring may fade in and out throughout the year, but he has found something at the moment, and his peripherals can help carry the day in a tight fantasy matchup.

LU's Third Line – Maybe you imagine your team closer to a majestic bird of prey, a deadly fast hawk that will swoop down and grab that fantasy trophy from the clutches of your opponents.  But when you actually look into it, you may not even be able to win a turkey trot.  Consider these guys to help you soar back to winning heights:

• Joel Armia MTL – LW,RW (5 percent) – Armia is getting minutes on the Habs' second line with Nick Suzuki and Jonathan Drouin.  He has four points (3G,1A) in his last six games, and has consistently increased his shot total, averaging 3.0 per game in his last eight games.  Armia is also someone that can provide a lot of hits at once, but unfortunately will often follow up a five-hit game with a goose egg in that department, so you really never know what to expect.  He is definitely worth a stream while on this second line, and if he catches even more of a scoring spark you might be in for a welcome surprise.
• Chandler Stephenson VGK – C,LW (21 percent) –  Stephenson has been taunting fantasy managers all season long with his deployment on Vegas's first line between Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty.  He didn't do much in the early part of the season, then had a good stretch of games to start February, only to go cold again.  In his last five games, Stephenson has five points (2G,3A) and is also seeing time on the second power play unit.  Any time he heats up, it is worth paying attention to.  Stone is currently day to day, but all the Golden Knights did was replace him on that line with the red hot Alex Tuch.  Vegas has a W/F/Sat schedule the rest of the week, so if you need to bump up your points category and you missed out on Tuch, give Stephenson a stream.
• Josh Norris OTT – C (11 percent) – Norris is on the list purely as a speculative add.  He has been added to a line with Drake Batherson and Tim Stuetzle, and it just seems like a line that should click.  Early in the season Norris and Batherson were skating together and looked good as linemates.  Recently Stutzle and Batherson have looked very good together as well.  So by the power of hockey geometry, Norris should do well in this situation.  If you see him start to show up on the score sheet, don't be afraid to scoop him up.  He can also help you in faceoff leagues.

LU Fourth Line – Lastly, we want to throw out some options for those in banger leagues looking for help out there on the wire.  We are also out of racing animal analogies, but check these players out anyway:

• Trent Frederic BOS – C,LW (2 percent) – Frederic's stats were pretty pedestrian for the first month or so of the season, but he has become interesting since then.  With a willingness to drop the gloves and provoke the other team, Frederic has seen a significant uptick in his PIM.  Likewise, in hits, he's averaging 2.4 per game in his last seven.  He also has three goals in his last seven games, and will toss in a shot or two as well.
• Brandon Tanev PIT – LW,RW (36 percent) – Tanev is your go to if you just need hits.  He has 113 in 24 games and shows no signs of slowing down, averaging 5.14 hits per game over his last seven.  Tanev also has three assists in his last two games, as well as 10 points (5G,5A) on the season, so he does have the ability to chip in some scoring for you here and there as well.
• Scott Laughton PHI – LW,RW (14 percent) – Laughton has turned up the dials on his physical play as of late, averaging five hits per game in his last six.  Granted, it helps boost your average when you have a 10 hit game as Laughton did this past week, but he is on a good run in this department.  He also added a goal and two assists in his last three games, showing off his offensive skills (also evidenced by his hat trick back on Feb. 7^th).  Take a look at Laughton if you need multi-category help, including faceoffs.

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!