There are a little over 20 games left in the season for most NHL clubs. So this is where, more than ever, we need to be aware of the playoff implications in each game going forward.

The trade deadline is still about a week away. So there’s still a little bit of time for high scoring games to break out, especially from teams that will be “sellers” at the deadline looking to showcase their talent.

For the teams that are fighting on the playoff bubble or for a division title, you can expect tighter checking and lower scoring. Be aware of this when making your selections.

One thing to definitely look for is two teams outside of the playoff picture playing against each other. These are your perfect storm matchups.

For example, if we had Columbus playing Buffalo tonight, I’d be all over that game. Both teams are far enough out of the playoff picture that the game would be wide open with shots coming from all angles. These are the games that tend to see the higher scores during the stretch.

The points might not mean anything for the teams in the standings, but the individual stats count just the same for you in your DFS leagues.

Unfortunately, we don’t have any such games on tonight’s slate. Each game tonight will have some sort of impact on the standings. So our job, as always, is to identify which of these games has the best opportunities for goals, and then building our lineups around them.

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Tonight’s slate has 9 games. Let’s talk about the action.

7 p.m. New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils

The Devils are slumping at the worst possible time. Two weeks ago they were in good position to claim a playoff position as either the third seed in the Metro Division or a wild card spot.

They’ve not lost 3 in a row and find themselves on the outside looking in.

The Rangers, on the other hand, are trending the right direction with 2 straight wins and a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 despite playing most of that span without captain Ryan McDonough.

They will be without McDonough again tonight, and it’s unclear if they’ll have sniper Rick Nash back in either, but the Blue Shirts have been rolling along just fine without them.

Part of the reason for this has been the play of Mats Zuccarello, who has really stepped his play up lately with 7 points over the last 5 games. His line with Chris Kreider and Derek Stepan are a tough match for any team, as their skill on the rush are just as good as their play down low in the offensive end.

This will be a hard fought match, and most likely a low-scoring game. The Devils play a defensive game to begin with and the division implications with have both teams grinding this one out. Expect a lot of dump and chase hockey.

The Devils have already confirmed Corey Schneider in net, and he’s still one of the best goaltenders in the league. He’s a GPP play with the chance to steal one.

Even though the scoring will be low, there are still opportunities for a couple of multi-point games. If there is, it will probably come from the Zuccarello-Kreider-Stepan line, so they’re a GPP play as well.

7 p.m. Philadelphia Flyers at Carolina Hurricanes

This game is huge on both sides. Both teams are within 2 points of the Devils and a win in regulation could leapfrog either team right onto the playoff bubble. Expect another grind it out type of game.

The Flyers are without leading scorer Claude Giroux. In his absence, the Flyers added Sam Gagner to the lineup and immediately put him onto the top line with Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds. He filled in admirably with a goal, two shots on net and a +2 rating during Sunday’s win over the Maple Leafs.

Gagner also was immediately plugged into the first power play unit with Schenn, Simmonds, Jake Voracek and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere.

If you are looking for a value play tonight, you’ve found it with Gagner. You get cheap access to the Flyers top power play unit and also a line that’s been pretty hot lately, Schenn has 6 points in his last 4 games, and Simmonds has 4 points over the Sam span.

This is a line that can make a surprising GPP play. If this does turn into a grind-it-out type of match, this will be the line that makes noise as Simmonds doesn’t lose too many puck battles on the wall, and Schenn and Gagner can each finish around the net.

There’s also Gostisbehere. Ghost has recorded a point in 15 straight games. That’s good for an all-time record by a rookie defenseman. He’s a must play in all formats going forward even as his salary steadily increases. He makes the power play go and also leads the rush each time he’s on the ice.

We won’t know until the practice reports come out if Canes’ defenseman Justin Faulk will be in the game. If he is then he’s another solid option on the defensive side of the puck. If he’s out then you still have cheap access to his power play replacement; Noah Hanifin. He has 3 points in the last 5 games as Faulk’s successor.

The hottest player for Carolina lately has been Jordan Staal. He has 16 points over the last 13 games and is a big reason why the Canes are still in the playoff picture. Grind it out hockey is his forte. He kills penalties and cycles well. He’s playing with Joakim Nordstrom and Andrej Nestrasil. Both of the wingers are incredibly cheap and make a strong GPP play tonight.

7:30 p.m. Nashville Predators at Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leafs have already began selling off their assets, shipping off Roman Polak and Nick Spaling to San Jose on Monday. This is a team dead in the water, and you want to fade them going forward unless you catch them in a matchup against another bottom dweller where their skill players such like Nazek Kadri will have a chance to perform.

There’s a lot to like about their opponent though. Ryan Johansen seems to be exactly the jolt the Predators needed, and he’s recorded 16 points in 20 games since coming over via trade.

He and line mates James Neal and Calle Jarnkrok are safe plays in all formats tonight. Considering their opponent, they will be seeing lots of scoring chances, and this line has proven they can finish them off.

Also benefiting from the addition of a number 1 center is sophomore winger Filip Forsberg. He has 9 points over the last 8 games playing with Craig Smith and Mike Ribeiro. This line also sees the top power play minutes together. They’re a go in all formats as well.

The Preds have two lines clicking, which is a good thing for their team. It’s a headache for DFS players as we can’t be sure where the scoring will come from. It very well may come from both, but if you choose to go with the Preds tonight, make sure you’re getting guys who see the ice together to maximize your line points.

7:30 p.m. Columbus Blue Jackets at Detroit Red Wings

Columbus played last night in a surprising 6-4 win over Boston. They’re now 6-2-2 in their last 10. They’re still 8 points away from moving out of the basement, so they may be just playing for pride at this point, but this is a motivated team that’s capable of scoring goals in bunches.

This makes them a very sneaky GPP play tonight.

The line I would look to target is the second line of Cam Atkinson, Boone Jenner and Brandon Dubinsky. The line has been playing well for the last couple of weeks since being paired together. Jenner has two multi-goal performances in his last 4 games.

Something to like about them is that they shoot the puck. Jenner has 166 shots on goal and Atkinson has 161, good for 2nd and 3rd on the team respectively. Dubinsky has 105 shots on goal, but it must be contagious as 18 of those have come in the last 5 games. Dubinsky had 10 shots on goal in Friday’s game against Buffalo alone. That’s a lot of guaranteed points.

Detroit is still hanging onto a playoff spot so you can bet they’ve already pegged this as a game they need to win.

Should they bring their A-game, Petr Mrazek instantly becomes a smart play.

Also getting consideration should be Wings center Pavel Datsyuk. He has 5 points in the last 5 games. He’s playing on a line with Henrik Zetterberg and Justin Abdelkader.

This will be the line the Wings depend on down the stretch to score goals, as they also see the top power play minutes together. And with Datsyuk being one of the better defensive centers in the league, they’ll also see the end of regulation minutes when Detroit has a lead. You can depend on them in your DFS lineup as well.

7:30 p.m. Arizona Coyotes at Tampa Bay Lightning

When the Lightning are healthy, they are a dangerous team. It too more than half a season, but they’ve now got a clean bill of health.

The results have been just as we imagined.

The Bolts have won their last 3 and are in striking distance of catching the Florida Panthers for the top spot in the Atlantic Division.

Forget the rumors about the Lightning trading Steven Stamkos. This is a team that has a legitimate chance to win a Stanley Cup this year. He’s not going anywhere and the Bolt’s top-6 all need to be at your DFS consideration.

Stamkos has 4 points in his last 3 games. Alex Killorn has 4 points over the last 4 games on Stamkos’ wing. Rounding out the top line is Ryan Callahan, a grinder who has the flash to produce with two skilled players.

The second line is Tyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat. Kucherov still leads the team with 49 points in 58 games. They are a thrill to watch and will only get better with each game. Expect this trio to hit their stride down the stretch and put Tampa in good position for another deep postseason run.

The Coyotes have hit the toughest stretch of their season, and after beating Dallas 6-3 on Thursday, they dropped games to St. Louis and Washington to follow it up.

Things don’t get any easier for them as they get Tampa tonight and Florida on Thursday.

If there’s one good thing you can say about the Yotes, it’s that they continue to find the net. They’ve scored 18 goals over the last 4 games, going 2-2 in the span. This keeps their offense still in the GPP play category.

Max Domi is the real deal. He’s a rookie, so he hasn’t produced with the consistency that we would like, but his speed and quick release always make him a threat. He has 4 goals and 6 points over the last 4 games. He remains a GPP play along with linemates Anthony Duclair and Martin Hanzal.

Oliver Edman-Larson remains a safe play in all formats, as his 46 points leads the team. And if you’re looking for a punt play on defense, you have to like the play of Kevin Connauton lately. He has 5 points in the last 4 games, including a goal and 2 assists in Saturday’s 6-4 loss to St. Louis.

8 p.m. New York Islanders at Minnesota Wild

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but all systems are go for the Minnesota Wild. They’ve won 4 in a row and are now only 2 points out of a playoff spot.

When a team gets hot like this, you want to ride out the streak with them. Zach Parise has 4 points during the 4 game winning streak, and Mikko Koivu has 5 points over the same span. They’re playing on a line together with Charlie Coyle, and also see the PP1 minutes together.

Parise is a streaky player. He can score in bunches, and you can see the confidence coming back into his game. He had some injury trouble earlier this year, but now he’s winning board battles and driving hard to the net. He’s at his best around the net where his quick hands allow him to beat most defensemen in close. He has 18 goals through 50 games this year. I expect him to finish the year with more than 30. That would put him at a pace of at least 12 over the next 20 games.

On the back end, Ryan Suter is back in play as the PP1 QB. Another value play here is defenseman Matt Dumba. He should be a cheap option, and he’s got 3 points over the last 2 games since he started seeing time with the varsity power play team. Use him wisely as his cheap price tag, $4,800 on FD, should allow you to spend up at other positions.

8 p.m. Dallas Stars at Winnipeg Jets

There is a three-way race for the Central Division Title in the Western Conference.

The Stars, the Blackhawks, and the Blues are all separated by two points. This will be a fun battle to watch as we close out the year.

In order to keep pace in that race, this is a game that the Stars need to win. The Jets are buried deep in the basement of the Central, and don’t have much left to play for. They will be sellers at the deadline, as most expect captain Andrew Ladd to be moved.

This is a game with the potential to be lopsided. And Dallas superstars Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn should be in your lineup if you expect to take advantage of it.

Dallas has moved Jason Spezza onto the top line with Seguin and Benn. This makes the line stack a little more expensive. But it should still be effective tonight. This is a line that can take full advantage of open ice and shaky goaltending. That’s exactly what they’ll find tonight. All three are good plays in all formats.

Also finding consideration across all forms of DFS will be the Dallas goaltender. Make sure to check for confirmation of the starter, lately the number 1 goalie has been Antti Niemi.

9 p.m. Ottawa Senators at Edmonton Oilers

This is as close to two teams outside the playoff bubble as we’re going to get to night. The Oilers are already out of it, as they’re tied with the Leafs for least amount of points in the league with 50.

And the Senators are 6 points out of the last wild card spot in the East with a lot of teams to jump if they’re going to get in.

Ottawa still believes they’re in it. They’ve won three in a row, and they should win tonight as well. But, if this game turns into a free-for-all (which the Oilers will undoubtedly try to make it), then there should be a lot of goals filling up each net.

Defenseman Erik Karlsson continues to add to his tremendous season. He has 65 points through 60 games and 184 shots on goal. All of those stats lead the team.

He’s worth the salary he carries, especially tonight in a game that will benefit his style of puck-rushing and scoring chances in transition. He sees all of the important minutes for Ottawa. In fact, most games it seems like he doesn’t ever come off the ice.

He is involved with a lot of the offense for the Sens. He has 5 points in the last 5 games while it seems that nobody in Ottawa’s top-6 has been scoring with any kind of consistency.

If you had to pick a line tonight, go with the top line of Mike Hoffman, Kyle Turris and Mark Stone. simply because they see even strength and PP1 minutes together with Karlsson.

For Edmonton, what is there to say about Connor McDavid that hasn’t been said already? He has 15 points over the last 10 games since returning from injury, and he makes the last place Oilers one of the most exciting teams to watch.

He’s still playing on a line with Benoit Pouliot and Jordan Eberle, and if this does turn into an open-ice battle, look for this line to leave their mark on this game.

Despite their recent success, Ottawa does still let up a lot of goals. Their 186 goals against is worst in the league. Edmonton’s 184 against is second worst.

There will be goals in this game. Pinpointing the right players could make a major difference in any contest you enter.

10:30 p.m. Calgary Flames at Los Angeles Kings

It’s a shame what has happened to this Flames team this year. After surprising everyone with a playoff birth in 2016 during the first year of their rebuild, there were a lot of expectations for this team to surpass that level of play this year.

That hasn’t been the case. And while the growing pains are good for the organization and the young talent they are grooming, it is not good for DFS players looking to capitalize on their potential today.

On defense, the Flames are starting Deryk Engelland, Tyler Wotherspoon, and Jakub Nakladal tonight. If you haven’t heard of these three, don’t worry, you are not alone. Only Engelland has seen extended time with the big club over the last two years.

The Kings, on the other hand, get superstar center Anze Kopitar back tonight. Look for them to expose a shaky defense on home ice tonight.

Make sure to check the line combinations after the Kings morning skate, but I would expect Kopitar to slot back into the top line with Milan Lucic and Dustin Brown. This is a dangerous line that again features a good mix of skill and grit. This is a game the Kings lead, and this line should lead the charge. Kopitar’s line should be a go in all formats tonight.

A GPP option for this game is Jeff Carter and whoever he lines up with. Carter may be skating with Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli, recreating “That 70’s Line” which has been hot on-and-off over parts of the last 3 seasons for the Kings. When they are skating together, the ceiling is high, so keep that in mind if you’re looking for some West Coast love to add to your lineup.

If Jonathan Quick gets the start tonight for the Kings, he’s also a great pick in all formats.