Hello hockey heads, and welcome to the final regular-season edition of Lining Up! I'm Eli Feldman.

With only two more sleeps until the end of the 2024-2025 NHL regular season, it's nearly time to bid adieu to the NHL's 16 non-Playoff teams, along with your beloved fantasy hockey squad(s). However, whereas many of the non-Playoff teams will undoubtably lament their failed seasons over the summer, you, fantasy warrior, likely remain locked in pursuit of championship glory. Fingers crossed.

Although there are only three game nights remaining this season, nearly half the League (15/32) is set to play twice before the Playoffs (and golf rounds) officially begin, meaning there are plenty of players who could still make an impact before it's all said and done.

With this in mind, let's look at three players who could give your team a final boost this season.

Kent Johnson

When one thinks about Kent Jonhson, a couple defining attributes immediately come to mind: silky locks and dirty dangles. Such enviable traits, however, don't tell the whole story about Jonhson, because he can also flat out produce. Currently riding a four-game point streak (1-5-6), Johnson is set to hit the ice in the City of Brotherly Love this evening before heading back home to Columbus for the Jackets' regular-season finale against the Islanders on Thursday night.

Now, some Jackets fans and observant fantasy hockey managers out there might be wondering why we're discussing Jonhson in this column rather than the red-hot Adam Fantilli. Surely a reasonable ponderance, but here's an equally reasonable explanation: this is Lining Up!

Despite potting four (even-strength) goals over the weekend, Fantilli is "lining up" on Columbus' second power-play unit, whereas Jonhson is skating with the big cannons on PP1. Slated to face two teams with below-average penalty kills over the next few nights, adding a member of Columbus' talented top power-play unit could be your key to donning the "blue jacket" when it's all over.

Dawson Mercer

When Devils franchise cornerstone Jack Hughes went down with a season-ending shoulder injury in Las Vegas back in March, the Devils' roster (and Stanley Cup ambitions) suffered a major blow. Hughes' injury, coupled with Dougie Hamilton's absence from the Devils' lineup down the stretch, has altered the complexion of the Devils' third-ranked power-play (for the worse), but has also opened the door for other young talent to step up, including 23-year-old Dawson Mercer.

Drafted 18^th overall by the Devils in 2020, Mercer spent all or parts of five seasons torching the QMJHL before rocking his New(est) Jersey. Although Mercer hasn't quite found his offensive game at the NHL level just yet, he's in a prime position to produce, playing most of his even strength minutes alongside Timo Meier and Erik Haula, and occupying a spot on New Jersey's top power-play unit.   

With two games remaining against non-Playoff opponents, you could do a lot worser than Mercer.

Marco Kasper

Only two teams are scheduled to play on back-to-back nights to close out the 2024-2025 NHL regular season: the Carolina Hurricanes and Detroit Red Wings. Eliminated from Playoff contention for a ninth consecutive season, the Wings will look to close out this campaign on a high note with two daunting road matchups in New Jersey and Toronto on Wednesday and Thursday night, respectively.

With the Red Wings out of Playoff contention yet again, Head Coach Todd McLellan seems inclined to give some of the Wings' young guns a shot up top, shifting Marco Kasper and Jonatan Berggren into the top six last night en route to a 6-4 win against the powerhouse Dallas Stars. 

Selected 8^th overall by the Red Wings in 2022, Marco Kasper is a tenacious forward who is quietly finding his offensive game, registering seven points over his last 10 games. Kasper's offensive uptick is complemented by his consistent willingness to throw the body – his 2.00 hits per game ranks third on the Red Wings' roster this season. 

Given his recent offensive surge and underrated physicality, missing out on Kasper could cause you to see ghosts.

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Here are some other notable power-play deployment developments making headlines over the past week:

• Frank Nazar is playing on Chicago's top power-play unit over Ryan Donato;
• Corey Perry and Adam Henrique are playing on Edmonton's top power-play unit to cover for multiple injuries;
• Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov reclaimed their spots on Minnesota's top power-play unit following their returns to the Wild lineup last Wednesday against San Jose;
• Anders Lee is playing on the Islanders' top power-play unit over Simon Holmstrom;
• Luca Cagnoni is playing on San Jose's top power-play unit over Timothy Liljegren; and
• Collin Miller quarterbacked Winnipeg's top power-play unit against Edmonton last Sunday with Josh Morrisey (rest) out of the lineup.

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That's all for this week! Stay tuned for the next edition of Lining Up. Until then, best of luck to all!