Welcome back to your favourite Lining Up column. This week we're going to examine some lesser-known defensemen who have found themselves in favourable situations recently as well as some forwards to consider adding to your roster.

Be sure to monitor your roster and schedules closely as things continue to change by the hour. Let's dive in.

Noah Dobson

This name has been out in the fantasy hockey community for the last week or two, his exploits are described in recent articles and he received a glowing recommendation on the Keeping Karlsson podcast. But with NYI set to return to action this week after having all of last week off, it's worth repeating here as he is still only 26% owned in Yahoo leagues.

Over the last month, Dobson has found himself with a monster 71.9% of the PP time which is seventh among defensemen during that time. To reward the trust of the coaching staff, Dobson has been red hot lately with 10 points in his last 10 games including four of those points on the PP. Dobson is also contributing in the peripheral categories with over two shots and two blocks per game plus chipping in a hit per game.

With all of the chaos surrounding the league scheduling and player status, consider adding Dobson if you can as the NYI play Thursday and Saturday to close out the week.

Damon Severson

With the injury to Dougie Hamilton on January 2^nd, Severson has stepped in to fill the void and has been performing admirably as his replacement. On the season, Severson has a respectable five goals and 15 points in 35 games played. Recently however he has been on a hot streak with six points in his last five games played. On top of this hot streak, Severson has also been rewarded with Hamilton's PP time. His average percent of PP time since Hamilton was injured is at 69%, and on the season he is averaging one hit, a block and a half and two shots on goal per game. With NJD scoring at least three goals in the past six games you will want to be picking him up if you're in need of a defenseman.

Make sure to beat your opponents to the punch as he is currently rostered in only 24% of Yahoo leagues and while NJD only plays once more this week, they have a regular three games the following fantasy week. Regardless, Severson can provide solid replacement value for as long as Hamilton is out.

Carson Soucy

So the first thought when seeing this name might be, who? Followed by, what team does he play for again? Well this SEA defenseman has typically been a bottom pairing guy on the season, having produced a pedestrian ten points in 25 games so far with decent peripherals at nearly two hits and over one block per game. Nothing outstanding and as noted in his Player Usage Chart found under the Advanced Stats, an "Average Depth Defenseman".

But recently, not so average at all. Over the last few games, Soucy has found himself on the second power play unit and it has been paying dividends. Unlike some teams, SEA seems to be splitting their units close to even with 54.6% percent of the PP going to the first unit and the remainder to the second. Soucy is now seeing just 4% less of the PP time than Mark Giordano. He is currently riding a hot streak with four points in his last five games to along with 12 shots, 10 hits 9 blocks and 11 penalty minutes. Take a chance on this SEA defenceman since they play three times for the remainder of this fantasy week.

Alex Tuch – Tage Thompson

Let's switch over to forwards and take a look at a few combinations starting with BUF. Tuch made his team and season debut on December 29 and immediately lined up with Thompson, in a very small sample size the duo look promising. So far they have had a mixture of third linemates but overall have produced three GF and two GA. In addition, both players have been seeing 59.2% and 59.8% of the PP time respectively.

Tuch has so far started off the season hot with three points including a PPG but continuing to ride shotgun with Thompson could really payoff. Thompson is currently riding a seven game point streak with seven points during that span and on the season is averaging just over three shots on goal per game. Both players are readily available in most Yahoo leagues, with Tuch being roster at only 25% and Thompson at 27%. Just beware that Tuch is set to return Thursday and Thompson could be back by the weekend. BUF also has three games remaining on the week and Tuch should be in two of them.

Martin Frk

As a quick note, Frk was called up on Thursday and immediately lined up beside Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe in both that game and Saturday against DET. Between those two games he had 88% of his playing time with that top line and he saw time on the top PP unit as well. In the two games he had 77% and 79% share of the PP time. Frk was able to score a power-play goal in his first game and has put up seven shots and seven hits already.

Keep an eye on this situation, as he was sent to the taxi squad recently, so this situation is fluid. LAK plays twice more this week and four times next week.

Marco Rossi – Matt Boldy

Finally, let's take a quick look at where Rossi and Boldy were lining up for their debuts in the NHL. It looked as though both Rossi and Boldy spent the majority of their time with Marcus Foligno which is excellent company for Foligno to be in. On the season Foligno has 22 points in 33 games while averaging a shot and a half in addition to nearly three hits per game. Although Rossi was sent back to the AHL and Boldy to the taxi squad, expect to see them again soon as MIN only plays one game this week. If this line continues upon their return, consider taking a gamble on Foligno who could see a bump in points while playing with the two up and coming prospects.

MIN only plays once this week but much like NJD, the following fantasy week they have a regular three games and all against American teams including two against Chicago so cautiously expect that those games will be uninterrupted should they be recalled.

Stay safe.