Cardiac Cane
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Carolina Hurricanes Fantasy Picks as Tampa Bay Lightning Visit

By Omar Abdelgawad

TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 18: Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Petr Mrazek (34) makes a save on a redirected shot from Tampa Bay Lightning center Andy Andreoff (15) in the second period of the NHL preseason game between the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning on September 18, 2018, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 18: Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Petr Mrazek (34) makes a save on a redirected shot from Tampa Bay Lightning center Andy Andreoff (15) in the second period of the NHL preseason game between the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning on September 18, 2018, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Carolina Hurricanes are looking to extend a win streak to three games to open the season. Here are players that can help you set a win streak in Fantasy tonight.

Wow, after last night’s comeback win over the Washington Capitals it feels like there is nothing this team and this roster can’t do. After thrilling overtime wins against two good teams in both Montreal and Washington, they look to take on a third one in the form of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Not a lot of teams playing tonight after 26 teams played last night including both the Carolina Hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Only six teams playing tonight, that means if you have Carolina Hurricanes, you are more than likely starting them. Here are the three players that can help you close out a strong weekend.

Petr Mrazek

Last night the Bolts played Andrei Vasilevskiy against the Florida Panthers and left empty handed. Tonight I expect to see former Carolina Hurricanes Curtis McElhinney between the pipes across from Petr Mrazek who gets the nod tonight after James Reimer had a comeback night. Didn’t take long to welcome back the big mac to PNC, but with that comes a few benefits for King Petr.

Last season those two competed hard against themselves, the opponents, but mostly against each other. If McElhinney got a shutout, Mrazek wanted one too. If Mrazek stonewalled a fierce opponent and sent them packing, McElhinney showed up the next night and followed suit. Seeing both on the ice at the same time should send shivers up your spine as we see it happen in real time.

Mrazek left a hard fought game against the Canadiens with a .917 vs % and stopping 33 of 36 shots while earning the win. Tonight expect him to elevate his game against some pretty tough skaters who have scored no less than three goals per game in their home and away series against their state rivals. Mrazek will help you rack in a win and perhaps improve your goalie stats.

Erik Haula

I’ve left Haula out of my last two fantasy projections but I think it’s about time to Haula at my boy real quick. This man is a goal per game over the first two games per season collecting some powerplay points and even some PIM along the way. While his shot count is low, only seven shots across both games, he has outstanding TOI as it is obvious that HCRB has faith in him which is paying off.

With such a hot start to the season, one should begin to wonder two things. One, what is his ceiling this year? Obviously that knee injury is ancient history because he seems to have only gotten faster and stronger and a lot more accurate with the puck. Perhaps there IS NO CEILING. That leaves question number two: WHY IS HE NOT ON YOUR ROSTER?!

Seriously, he is in less than 2% of rosters across fantasy hockey and that should be considered a war crime. If you do not have him in your line up and can afford to add another player, look no further. Haula isn’t just a quick pick up that will get you a few points this week before you set him free next week, he can and will be a staple of your roster until you humiliate your friends at the end of the season.

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Andrei Svechnikov

YEAH SVECH! Jordan Martinook could not have phrased it better. This kid, while all but disappeared against the Montreal Canadiens, managed to somehow quietly have an excellent game against the Washington Capitals. He is getting bigger, stronger, and faster, and that should terrify everyone and delight those who drafted him and have him in their roster.

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Well tonight is the night you put him in your lineup if you haven’t already. And if you need a good player to add to your roster, go see if he is available because this kid is sneaky having a good start to the season. Bet you didn’t realize he had a multipoint game against the Washington Capitals earning apples on both goals from Erik Haula and Jake Gardiner. All by keeping himself engaged in the play at all times.

That means he earned himself a couple of assists, a powerplay point, three shots, and two PIM in a single night. Expect him to have earned himself some extra minutes on the ice tonight against Tampa as he further cements himself in the league. With as much talent as there is on this roster, it’s easy to overlook the teenager who is still finding his stride. But that can be an overlook that can cost you points tonight.

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As with all things Fantasy, these choices are only suggestions. Every choice you make is a risk that may or may not pay off. That said, tonight is a good night to get some of lesser names on the six teams playing tonight a shot. These three are some of the better names for tonight’s game, but it shouldn’t mean you should sit Sebastian Aho or Dougie Hamilton.

Question for CC Readers: Which Carolina Hurricanes are you starting tonight?

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