A bit of a shorter article maybe today, as I recover from watching the late-night barnburner between Minnesota and St. Louis. The Wild are 11-0-3 in the last month, and are knocking on the door of the Central Division lead. No Kirill Kaprizov, no problem! Both Marc-Andre Fleury and Filip Gustavsson step up every game, and John Klingberg has been a quality addition (4 points in last 3 games), and actually being defensively responsible thus far. His taking 19-20 minutes of ice time while Josh Brodin is out has been crucial.

There are a couple of prime matchups tonight, and my first betting line might surprise anyone who's not been paying attention. So I'll start right there!  

Barrett Hayton – Center -($4300). In one of my fantasy leagues, the highest ranked centers for the last seven days are Barrett Hayton, Jamie Benn, and Sidney Crosby. In that order. And at home, the Coyotes have proven to be a tough opponent lately, 8-3-1 in their last 12 contests, including wins vs. the Lightning and two in OT against the Wild. Hayton has 10 points in his last five games, and has averaged 2.9 SOG in his last ten. At an affordable price, it allows me to stack Juuso Välimäki – Defense ($4100). Jakob Chychrun's trade to Ottawa may have had no greater beneficiary than Valimaki, the 24-year-old import from Calgary. In six games since the trade deadline, he has six assists – interesting that none are on the first power play yet, but that will come. I am tempted to add Clayton Keller to my stack, but I'll spend my money on more pricey wings.

Brady Tkachuk ($7000) and Matthew Tkachuk ($8300) should both be worth wagering. Ottawa gets the wounded Avalanche team on a B2B, likely starting Jonas Johansson in net?   I'd surely take the "over" on this game. Brady has a pedestrian (for him) seven points in 10 games, but averages 3.6 SOG. Matthew has 12 over that same span, with a whopping 4.9 shot average. The Canadiens are tonight's opponents in Sunrise, Florida – they have one victory in their last eight, and have already surrendered twelve scores this week! I'll team Brady with Drake Batherson ($5000), another shot machine averaging 3.2 over 10 matches. 

And then there are the Seattle Kraken. No, I have not been a Kraken believer, but somehow it does sure look like they will make the playoffs and not be overtaken by either Nashville or Calgary. Tonight, they celebrate at San Jose, generally a nice place for offenses to shine.  Matty Beniers ($4600), his line mate Jordan Eberle ($4400), and Vince Dunn ($4800), should fill the scoresheet against the Sharks. San Jose is in full "Connor Bedard" mode, playing 1-7-2 and having allowed 50 goals in ten games since they shut out – oh yeah, the Kraken on February 20th. 

My goaltender this night has been the NHL's hottest over the past two weeks, Jacob Markstrom ($7400). At Vegas, surely a risky play but Calgary has suddenly awakened from a season-long slumber, and just might become that scary team we all predicted back in October.  

Options, last thoughts? Jamie Benn ($5300) and Alex Killorn ($4200), instead of Batherson and Eberle. These two are both hot veterans playing at the time of year that veterans tend to shine.