Carolina Hurricanes Fantasy Picks After Dark Verses Sharks

The Carolina Hurricanes are looking to get another win streak going against the Sharks. Here are three players that can help you start or extend one of your own.

The Carolina Hurricanes got back into the win column after a stringy night of good defenses all around as Petr Mrazek earned himself his first shutout of the season. With no rest and a quick trip to the north end of the state, they continue their pacific coast trip against the San Jose Sharks who are trying to build upon a win streak of their own.

Now I know what you are thinking, why should I start any Carolina Hurricane tonight when they are going in on the second part of a back to back against a team that is more than well rested having played only two games in the last six days? I will tell you why. Its because the defense has been more than stellar this season and I fully expect them to step up once again.

Its this team’s third back to back set in eight games. Playing with no rest? No big deal, so far it has the team at 1-1-0 after a glorious comeback against the Bolts and a close lose to the Blue Jackets. With only 12 teams in action tonight, it wouldn’t hurt to start these three Carolina Hurricanes.

James Reimer

Optimus Reim will most likely be in net tonight after Petr Mrazek refused to allow a single goal to the LA Kings. It will be his third start of the season. While yes, he failed to earn a win while coming in on the second half of a back to back against the Columbus Blue Jackets he still stopped 32 of 35 shots earning him a 0.914 sv%.

Expect him to play just as hard tonight behind a possibly tired defense that blocked 12 shots and threw the body around several times in support of Mrazek’s shutout. That means that he is likely going to see a few more shots than would be expected of a rested Hurricanes defense. Expect him to try and stay on pace with Petr Mrazek in terms of shutouts.

He might also see a sudden lack of shots like what this defense did to Tampa on the first back to back this season. Either way he should be a lock to start tonight for those looking to raise their sv% or lower their GAA. Optimus Reim does not disappoint.

Martin Necas

This kid is growing in front of our eyes. His second goal of the season already last night against the Kings and he is hungry for more. It is no joke when I say that the Carolina Hurricanes have the best third line in all of hockey. Between Erik Haula and Ryan Dzingel, its a line that can compete with the top lines of about at least a third of the league.

Necas is a big part of that. Last season he was an offensive staple of the Charlotte Checkers. This season he is ensuring he has his spot on the Carolina Hurricanes roster. This season he is contributing in more ways than one. In the first seven games of the season he already has five points when adding in his three assists.

He is not going to stop there as he establishes himself as the offensive threat he was deemed to be when he was selected in the first round of the draft. As he continues to get more confident with each goal, expect the points to come in faster. He might end the season as one of several Hurricanes to finish at over a point per game. He should be a staple of your roster too.

Sebastian Aho

Not many people realize this, but Sebastian Aho got his second goal of the season last night against the Kings. The puck that Teuvo Teravainen shot (was that really a shot?) bounced off of Aho’s back skate before it made it’s way into the open net. Its about time that he actually opened up with someone in net and there is no better opponent for that than the Sharks.

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Lets be real about something. Both Aaron Dell and Martin Jones are subpar net-minders who are dragging down an otherwise good Sharks team. Neither averages over 0.887 vs% and both are combining for a 3.5 GAA. Those are not good numbers. But they are exactly what the doctor ordered for Sebastian Aho’s lack of puck luck.

Last night was another example of that as he barely missed a yawning cage that Jack Campbell got stuck on the wrong end of. Tonight expect Aho to try and take advantage of a struggling goal-tending duo regardless of who is net for San Jose. Also expect Teuvo Teravainen and Nino Niederreiter to want to take advantage of that as well. All in all, tonight is the night Aho finally starts to rake in the points and you should have him in your lineup.

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 these Carolina Hurricanes players are some of the better names for tonight’s game, but it shouldn’t mean you should sit Teuvo Teravainen or Dougie Hamilton.

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