TUE. MARCH 3
Must-start player: Darren Raddysh, D, TBL (at MIN; 9:30 p.m. ET; The Spot, HBO MAX, truTV, TNT)
The Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman ranks sixth in the NHL at his position in points (54 in 52 games), leads all defensemen in power-play goals (nine) and is third at his position in power-play points (21). Even with veteran Victor Hedman back from injury, Raddysh has remained on the first power play with high-scoring forwards Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Jake Guentzel and Oliver Bjorkstrand and top defense pair with J.J. Moser. In the "NHL Fantasy Stars" game, Raddysh is attainable in the open market and able to be trained to produce a points-per-game average in line with any of the NHL's top defensemen. Per NHL EDGE stats, Raddysh leads the entire League in 90-plus mph shot attempts (69) and long-range goals (nine) this season and also ranks in the 96th percentile among defensemen or higher in hardest shot, average shot speed, midrange goals, midrange shots on goal and long-range shots on goal. -- Pete Jensen
Under-the-radar player: Tommy Novak, F, PIT (at BOS; 7 p.m. ET; SN-PIT, NESN, SNP, TVAS)
The Pittsburgh Penguins forward has 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists) and six power-play points in 59 games this season compared to 22 points (13 goals, nine assists) and five power-play points in 52 games with the Nashville Predators last season. Novak, who has five points (three goals, two assists) and one power-play point in his past six games, has found chemistry on a line with Evgeni Malkin (47 points in 44 games) and Egor Chinakhov (14 points in 21 games with Penguins). Per NHL EDGE stats, Novak ranks highly among forwards in offensive zone starts percentage (44.0; 95th percentile) and average miles skated per 60 minutes (10.02; 85th percentile). Novak can be bought in the marketplace of the “NHL Fantasy Stars” game for 100 coins. -- Chris Meaney
Team to watch: Washington Capitals (vs. UTA; 7 p.m. ET; Utah16, MNMT2)
The Capitals, who have won six of their past eight games overall, have won five straight and seven of their past 10 games at home. Washington ranks second in 5-on-5 goals (138), third in 5-on-5 goal differential (plus-26) and tied for seventh in 5-on-5 save percentage (.915). Forward Alex Ovechkin (24 goals) leads a balanced Capitals offense that features four 20-goal scorers and 10 players with at least 10 goals, both of which are tied for the most in the NHL. Ovechkin needs one goal to tie Gordie Howe (20) for the most 25-goal seasons in League history, which would also make him the first age 40-or-older player with 25 goals in a season since Jaromir Jagr (27 in 2015-16). On the back end, Logan Thompson is 3-0-0 with a .937 save percentage and 1.68 goals-against average over his past three games, while defenseman Jakob Chychrun leads his position in goals (22) and game-winning goals (six). Per NHL EDGE stats, the Capitals lead the NHL in high-danger shots on goal (550) and are third in 90-plus mph shot attempts (75). -- Troy Perlowitz
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