Bryan Rust and the Pens hope to take revenge against the Jets following their loss earlier in the season. Rust has scored two goals in six games since returning from injury.
On every game day this season, THN Fantasy will highlight players and goalies for fantasy managers to stream or roster for the rest of the season. The recommended players and goalies can be used in standard fantasy leagues or for daily fantasy games.
Forwards
Gabriel Vilardi, C/RW, WPG at PIT (48% rostered)
Vilardi has certainly, but not unsurprisingly, gotten more quiet recently. The Jets are losing a little steam with two losses in their past three games, and it's not unexpected given their unsustainable pace. Vilardi has just one assist in his past three games - I told you he was streaky - but on a light night with just two games, few forwards are as attractive as Vilardi, who continues to play L1 and PP1.
Bryan Rust, RW, PIT vs. WPG (37% rostered)
Not playing with Sidney Crosby is definitely not ideal, but if you're looking for a forward who's guaranteed top-six minutes and offers a lot of shot volume, Rust is a good choice. He'll play with Evgeni Malkin and Michael Bunting, but at least share the ice with Crosby on the power play. Rust has missed time with injury but his play has been trending up, and he should be the Pens' top scorer by the end of the season.
If the Jets elect to start Eric Comrie, Rust becomes an even more attractive streaming option.
Jason Zucker, LW, BUF at ANA (6% rostered)
Zucker's an interesting one. Two seasons ago, Zucker was very good at scoring goals and dishing out hits, but those hits have kind of disappeared. The goals, however, are still coming in, albeit slowly, and he scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win against the Kings in their last game. At worst, Zucker should get at least a few shots on goal against one of the league's most porous teams.
Ryan McLeod, C, BUF at ANA (2% rostered)
McLeod is filling in for Tage Thompson on the top line though Dylan Cozens has also picked up some of the slack. I like McLeod a little more, however, since his play is trending upwards, and he's putting shots on goal and winning a lot of faceoffs. Cozens gets the PP minutes that McLeod doesn't, which makes Cozens a viable streaming play as well, but I find his play to be a little more volatile.
Defensemen
Olen Zellweger, D, ANA vs. BUF (18% rostered)
The Ducks have won three in a row and Zellweger is a big reason for that. As their top PP QB and playing on their second pairing, Zellweger is responsible for generating a lot of offense from their blue line. He was held without a point last game but managed to put at least two shots on goal, the eighth straight game he's managed to do so. The Sabres will be missing several of their top players and rank 18th on the PK.
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