With COVID wreaking havoc on NHL and fantasy teams alike, what better time to take a look at the top even strength lines of the season so far? Some of the names below might not have been on your radar or you may have passed them over without a second thought, but as of writing this none of them are sitting out on COVID protocol. If you find yourself dropping mid-tier players because your lineup has been decimated, take a flier on a guy riding on some of the league's top even strength lines.

Let's dive in and see if there is anything or anyone that stands out.

Jesper Bratt – Andreas Johnsson – Dawson Mercer

We start with a line from NJD that has exceeded expectations so far. Sitting comfortably within the top ten even strength lines, Bratt-Johnsson-Mercer are performing very well with a GF of fifteen, a GA of seven and CF% of 55.2.

Bratt has been the driver of this line, currently at eight goals and twenty-four points in 29 games to go along with just shy of three shots per game. Bratt has also maintained his PP time so far this season with a 50.6% share but he may be in line for more power-play points as his PPIPP is at 60 compared to the last three seasons in a row where he maintained 72.7, 75.0 and 72.7 rates. Bratt is owned in only 54% of Yahoo leagues so if he's still available, consider picking him up and receiving a few extra points on the power-play.

Not to be outdone, Johnsson has nine goals and nineteen points in 30 games with a respectable two shots on goal per game and almost a hit per game. Johnsson is much less rostered than Bratt, only being owned in 17% of Yahoo leagues. Take a flier if you're in need.

Be mindful that Nico Hischier entered COVID protocol on December 11, so these players may be mixed around when we return after the holiday break.

NJD has a solid schedule for the extended fantasy week, playing four times with three of those games being on lighter days.

Sean Kuraly – Eric Robinson – Alexandre Texier

When researching the top even strength lines so far, this one is surprising for two reasons. First, that a CBJ line was in the top ten even strength lines this year and second, that the best line so far from this team did not include Oliver Bjorkstrand or Boone Jenner.

Typically when perusing the fantasy hockey world for the CBJ it is those two names that are highlighted the most. However, Kuraly, Robinson and Texier have a GF of fourteen and GA of seven compared to the Bjorkstrand/Jenner line who are working with a GF of eleven and GA of thirteen. 

For his part, Texier has a respectable nine goals, sixteen points in 28 games played and he's currently on a hot streak with six of those points coming in the last six games. The best part is, Texier is only rostered in 5% of Yahoo leagues and currently has triple position eligibility, C,LW,RW. Very versatile leading into the Christmas fantasy week.

Keeping up with Texier, Kuraly has a hot streak of his own with five points in his last six games. If you're looking for some peripherals, Kuraly has a little more than two and a half hits per game on the season as well as over half a block per game. Solid contributions from a depth forward.

Note that last game, Texier was bumped up to a line with Jenner and Bjorkstrand while Kuraly and Robinson remained together. In addition, despite the shutdown CBJ will still play four games after the Christmas break, all at home.

Richard Rakell – Sonny Milano – Trevor Zegras

This ANA line may not come completely out of left field to some of you readers as being a top ten even strength line. Rakell and Zegras were no doubt on many fantasy GM's radars albeit further down the draft board. Yet they are outperforming lines containing Aleksander Barkov, Leon Draisaitl and Kirill Kaprizov.

That's right, with a GF of thirteen, GA of five and a CF% of 58.4, the Rakell-Milano-Zegras line sits just ahead of those containing your household superstars. But here's the best part, in the last month they have a GF of eleven and GA of five. That means a month ago they were hardly even in the picture and since that time they have skyrocketed to move ahead of more notable top lines.

Rakell is moving along with eight goals and thirteen points in 22 games as well as contributing with three shots on goal per game. Plus he is still receiving 57.8% of the PP time and sticking with this recently hot line. Rakell is also hitting at the lowest rate of his career by far, from 2014-15 to the beginning of this season he has averaged 1.30 hits per game compared to now where he is only at .70. Expect that to change in his favour so scoop him up if you're in need of a forward who can chip in a few points, shots and hits as he's still available in 23%.

Zegras is the one everyone wants on this line as he's currently owned in 66% of Yahoo leagues, but if he's available you should definitely consider jumping on the bandwagon. Zegras has eight goals and 25 points in 30 games played, plus a respectable two and a half shots on goal per game and 57.8% of PP time. 

If Zegras is gone don't sleep on Milano. He is much less rostered at 27% yet he is actually sitting with eight goals and 21 points in 27 games played. That's only four points less and he's behind in games played.

ANA plays four games next fantasy week but they will all be after the Christmas break, so consider scooping one of them up if your fantasy league's week runs through to January 2nd.