Sleepers and Keepers Podcast: Kent Johnson On every game day this season, THN Fantasy [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/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. Nazem Kadri, C, CGY at NSH (50% rostered) Kadri's fallen out of favor in fantasy this season but I really like this matchup for the Flames. Kadri will surely see a ton of minutes and the Preds are very thin down the middle without Ryan O'Reilly taking a ton of draws. Kadri has scored five points in his past five games. Anders Lee, LW, NYI vs. LA (43% rostered) The Kings are very stingy, which is the only reason this matchup gives me pause. Lee's two-point effort Saturday in Ottawa gives him 23 points in 29 games and plenty of shots. As long as he gets L1/PP1 deployment, he's a great option in fantasy. Bryan Rust, RW, PIT vs. COL (32% rostered) Rickard Rakell, C/LW/RW, PIT vs. COL (27% rostered) Rakell achieved the position eligibility trifecta on Monday, which gives managers extra roster flexibility, but the big value here is playing on a line with Sidney Crosby. With the Pens' play improving, this is by far their most productive scoring line, and the Avs goaltending has ranged from terrible to average this season, though it might be a tougher matchup than usual if they start Scott Wedgewood [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/fantasy/head-to-head/nhl-fantasy-hockey-waiver-wire-goalie-pickups-dec-10-jarry-hot-streak-wedgewood-wedges-into-bigger-share-of-rotation], who's coming off a 25-save shutout. Kent Johnson, C/LW/RW, CLB vs. PHI (31% rostered) Can't stop, won't stop; Johnson's two goals on Sunday gives him eight in 13 games this season. The hot streak continues to run and the Flyers are a good matchup with a crowded crease but no standout 'tender. Dylan Holloway, C/LW, STL at VAN (21% rostered) Despite playing a depth role on the third line, Holloway's finding ways to contribute. He scored his fifth goal in five games Friday in Edmonton, and the Blues had a two-day break and will try to finish their four-game roadie on a high note. The Canucks may start Thatcher Demko in net, but the all-star netminder has had a lengthy layoff due to injury and they are not a particularly strong defensive club. Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW, SEA at FLA (17% rostered) Matty Beniers, C, SEA at FLA (12% rostered) Shane Wright, C/RW, SEA at FLA (8% rostered) Wright is still a streamer at this point even with five goals in his past six games, including his current three-game goal streak. The issue with Wright as a longer term hold is that he doesn't play enough minutes or get deployed on the power play enough to have much value in standard leagues. However, it's never a bad idea to ride a hot streak. Bjorkstrand is also an option coming off a four-point game against the Rangers while Beniers contributed two assists, bringing his total to six assists in five games. I like Bjorkstrand's upside the most because he generally plays more minutes than Wright and Beniers, but they're all on hot streaks that managers can take advantage of right now. Nikita Chibrikov, RW, WPG vs. BOS (0% rostered) We're so ahead of the fantasy game on this website that as of this writing, Chibrikov hasn't been added to Yahoo's system yet. (I'm assuming his initial position will be RW). The 50th overall pick from the 2021 draft, Chibrikov is a speedy scoring winger who will likely replace Brad Lambert in the lineup, who was re-assigned to the AHL. No word yet on where Chibrikov will play, but in all likelihood it'll be in a very sheltered role with some PP2 minutes if he's lucky. Chibrikov might be good as a DFS value play, and while I don't expect much in his season debut, it's a noteworthy roster move. Note, however, that Chibrikov made his NHL debut last season on April 18 against the Canucks and played 11:03, including 3:23 on the power play, and scored his first NHL goal. He finished with three shots and five hits that game, so there's some sneaky upside here. Related: Remember to bookmark The Hockey News Fantasy [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/fantasy/] site for stats, news, analysis, rankings, projections and more, including the Sleepers and Keepers fantasy hockey podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/3kvm6m34r0xOEyt0UvPPEY]!
