This article is part of our FantasyDraft NHL series.
After you get back from buying discounted heart-shaped boxes of chocolate Thursday, there are 11 games on the NHL slate. Here are some players that look like good values…
GOALIE
San Jose Sharks, SAN vs. VAN ($16,100): San Jose's goalies have had their struggles recently, but this is the kind of matchup that can change a team's fortunes. The Canucks are on the road for the second night of a back-to-back, which increases the Sharks' chances of picking up a win. Vancouver also has a woeful offense with an average of 2.63 goals and 29.7 shots on net per contest.
CENTER
Eric Staal, MIN vs. WAS ($14,100): Staal has been tearing it up, posting 14 points in his last 11 games. The Capitals have been a completely different team on the road, and not for the better. Washington has a 3.50 team GAA in away games, third worst in the NHL. The Caps have also allowed 34.2 shots on net per contest on the road.
Mathew Barzal, NYI vs. NYR ($13,600): Barzal is a favorite for the Calder on the strength of his 59 points in 58 games. That includes 18 points with the extra man. The Rangers have a 3.00 team GAA and have allowed 33.9 shots on net per contest. Henrik Lundqvist has a 3.89 GAA and an .887 save percentage in his last nine outings, and the Rangers are banged up on defense, as well.
WING
Reilly Smith, VGK vs. EDM ($13,300): Smith has 11 goals in his last eight contests, including four on the power play. Overall, the winger has 11 points with the extra man through 56 games. The Oilers, meanwhile, have the league's worst penalty kill, so more power-play success could be in the cards for Smith.
Rick Nash, NYR at NYI ($10,500): Nash may be traded soon, but for now he will get his chance to go up against the Islanders on Thursday. That would be the Islanders team with the 3.67 team GAA, which is by a wide margin the worst in the NHL. Nash has 17 goals, but he also has 176 shots on net in 57 games. The Islanders have allowed a league-worst 35.8 shots on net per game, so Nash should be able to rack up at least a few more shots.
Kyle Okposo, BUF at OTT ($10,300): Okposo's struggled a bit thanks to a 7.6 shooting percentage, but in his last seven games he has five points. He's also still had success with the extra man, tallying 16 power-play points in 55 games. The Senators have a 3.44 team GAA, second worst in the NHL, and have the 29th-ranked penalty kill as well.
DEFENSEMEN
Brady Skjei, NYR at NYI ($9,200): As mentioned, the Rangers have dealt with a lot of injuries on their defense. In part because of that, Skjei has averaged 26:04 of ice time over his last three contests, and he's averaged almost five minutes per game on the power play to boot. Those added minutes give the 23-year-old a greater opportunity to contribute to your fantasy lineup. A matchup with an Islanders team that has allowed the most goals per game, and has the 30th-ranked penalty kill, is also potentially very beneficial.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, ARI vs. MON ($8,500): The Canadiens are on the road for the second night of a back-to-back, and even though they saved Carey Price for this start, he has a 2.98 GAA and an .895 save percentage in his last 11 outings. Ekman-Larsson has 25 points in 57 games, including nine on the power play. Montreal has the 23rd-ranked penalty kill overall, and on the road it drops to 29th.
