This article is part of our FantasyAces NHL series.
It is another busy night in the National Hockey League with nine games, but there is a nice strategy sticking out to assemble your lineups.
With the Coyotes standing as a favorable matchup, grabbing a value defenseman and rolling with a few Jets will open up the cap space to stack the rest of your lineup
Finally, it is also fitting to take the opportunity to send out all the best wishes for 2016. Thanks for checking in.
Goaltender
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG at ARI ($5,000): Over his past two starts, Hellebuyck has stopped 63 of 64 shots in wins over Detroit and Pittsburgh to improve to 7-3 with a .932 save percentage and 2.01 goals-against average. The Coyotes have a capable offense, but expect the Jets to provide the goal support to hand Hellebuyck the three-point win bonus, and at the cap hit, it is difficult to look past the rookie.
Center
Bryan Little, WPG at ARI ($5,100): While he comes with a boom-or-bust warning most nights, Little has rattled off four goals and four helpers over his past five games and lands in a high-end matchup Thursday. The Coyotes have allowed 3.22 goals per game this season and kill penalties at just 78.6 percent.
Wings
Vladimir Tarasenko, STL vs. MIN ($5,700): Home cooking has fueled Tarasenko to 14 goals, seven helpers and 81 shots through 20 games at the Scottrade Center. He also hasn't found the score sheet in consecutive games, which bodes well for Tarasenko returning to form Thursday, especially as one of the most consistent scorers in the league.
Patrick Kane, CHI at COL ($6,000): The scoring leader bounced back from a two-game scoring drought with a three-point showing last time out. The last time Kane went two games without a point, he kick-started his 26-game point streak. Simply put, he has failed to register a point in just five of 38 games this season.
Jamie Benn, DAL vs. NSH ($5,900): Speaking of point streaks, Benn is rolling along a six-game stretch with at least one point in each and nine points, a plus-7 rating and 12 shots. It isn't an A+ matchup at first glance, but Nashville is allowing 3.06 goals per game on the road this season. Also, Benn has 17 goals, 14 helpers and a plus-14 rating through 19 home games.
Blake Wheeler and Drew Stafford, WPG vs. ARI ($5,500 and $4,450): Stafford has climbed up to the No. 1 line with Wheeler and Little, and the trio combined for seven assists last time out. Arizona has allowed 11 goals over its past two home games and could be without Martin Hanzal and Boyd Gordon again Thursday, two key defensive pivots. The entire line presents nice profit potential in the great matchup.
Defensemen
Duncan Keith, CHI at COL ($4,750): The rearguard is underpriced given his recent form. Over his past 17 games, Keith has four goals, 12 assists and 28 shots while playing 25:54 minutes per night. He also has eight power-play points during the span, and Keith makes for a sneaky and against-the-grain stack option alongside Kane. The Avalanche have allowed 3.25 goals per game at home, too.
Shea Theodore, ANA at EDM ($2,500): With a game under his belt, the promising youngster lands in a plus-matchup against the Oilers, who are allowing 3.6 goals per game over their past five. Theodore was a point-per-game player through his final two seasons in the Western Hockey League and posted 27 points through 40 games over three seasons in the American Hockey League. All said, the talent is attractive at a contest-minimum price.
