Fantasy buzz: Atkinson returning for Blue Jackets

All season long, NHL.com's fantasy hockey staff will have you covered with daily lineup news, production trends and injury notes from around the League. We will identify how these developments affect fantasy owners in year-long (Yahoo) and daily (DraftKings) formats.

5 p.m.

DraftKings value picks for Tuesday

CENTER

Mathew Barzal, NYI ($4,300 vs. EDM):The rookie center is playing alongside Jordan Eberle at even strength and on a first power-play unit with forwards John Tavares, Anders Lee, Josh Bailey and defenseman Nick Leddy that is 9-for-16 over the past four games. Barzal has at least one point in eight of his past nine games, including five assists against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. Tavares will draw the Oilers' top line with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, so Barzal could produce in a favorable spot.

WING

Brendan Gallagher, MTL ($4,600 vs. VGK):He's playing on the second power-play unit with Alex Galchenyuk and has a high shot volume (46 shots on goal in 15 games). He has nine points (five goals, four assists) and 32 SOG in his past 10 games with three power-play points. The Montreal Canadiens have snapped out of their offensive drought, and the Vegas Golden Knights are allowing the third-most DraftKings points to opposing right wings.

DEFENSEMAN

Marco Scandella, BUF ($3,700 vs. WSH):His offense has been limited (no goals, three assists) through 14 games, but his peripherals have been outstanding; he has 22 blocked shots and 31 SOG for an average of 2.4 DraftKings points per game. With Rasmus Ristolainen (upper body) likely out again, Scandella is expected to play on the Buffalo Sabres' first power-play unit with Jack Eichel, Kyle Okposo, Sam Reinhart and Ryan O'Reilly. That unit has underachieved so far this season and could rebound against the Washington Capitals, who are on the second of a back-to-back set.

GOALTENDER

Charlie Lindgren, MTL ($7,500):With Carey Price (lower body) still sidelined, Lindgren will have a chance at an encore after a 38-save road shutout in his season debut against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. Vegas is 3-3-1 on the road with a minus-3 goal differential, a drastic difference from their strong home start. Since Oct. 28, the Canadiens are 4-1-0 and have outscored opponents 23-17 in their past five games.
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Injury updates to fantasy-relevant players

-- Center Auston Matthews was not on the ice for the Toronto Maple Leafs at practice Tuesday. Matthews (soreness) was a game-time decision against the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday but played 21:11 with one assist and three shots on goal in the Maple Leafs' 4-3 shootout win. His status for Toronto's game against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday is uncertain.
-- Right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (upper body) is expected to play for the St. Louis Blues against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET: MSG+ 2, FS-MW, NHL.TV). He sustained the injury against the Maple Leafs on Saturday. He is ranked ninth among forwards by NHL.com and skated in his usual spot on the first power-play unit and top line with forwards Jaden Schwartz and Brayden Schenn. Tarasenko is priced second among wings at $7,600 in DraftKings on Tuesday.

-- Left wing Brad Marchand (upper body) did not play in the Boston Bruins' 5-3 win against the Minnesota Wild on Monday and will not be traveling on their upcoming two-game road trip. He is day to day and can be stashed in a fantasy IR+ spot. Short-term replacements for Boston include rookies Jake DeBrusk (LW, 1 percent owned) and Anders Bjork (LW/RW, 5 percent). Bruins center David Krejci (back) remains out.
-- Right wing Cam Atkinson has been activated by the Columbus Blue Jackets and is expected to return against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; FS-O, FS-TN, NHL.TV). He has missed the past four games because of a lower-body injury and is moderately priced ($5,700) in DraftKings.
Josh Anderson (RW, 15 percent owned) had been playing well on the top line with Artemi Panarin and Nick Foligno in Atkinson's absence, so it remains to be seen where Atkinson will slot into the lineup and how it will impact Anderson and Oliver Bjorkstrand. Coach John Tortorella did not reveal updated lines with the Blue Jackets on short rest after playing against the New York Rangers on Monday.

Predators center Kyle Turris (immigration process) will not play Tuesday. He was traded to Nashville from the Ottawa Senators on Sunday and is expected to be Nashville's second-line center once he joins the team. He is 67 percent owned in Yahoo.
-- Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf (face) had surgery and could miss up to two months. With Ryan Kesler (hip) already out, this is a significant blow to the Ducks forward group. Forward Rickard Rakell, who's leading Ducks forwards in ice time per game (20:38), will continue to play expanded role against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NHL.TV). He is priced at $6,000 in DraftKings.
-- Defenseman Justin Schultz (concussion) is a game-time decision for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; ATTSN-PT, FS-A, NHL.TV). He has missed the past six games because of a concussion. He's a glaring value pick ($3,500) if he plays against the Coyotes, who are allowing the seventh-most DraftKings points to opposing defensemen. He's also available in nearly one-quarter of Yahoo leagues (77 percent owned).

-- Right wing Jaromir Jagr will return to the Calgary Flames lineup against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET; SNW, SNP, NHL.TV). Jagr (RW, 12 percent owned in Yahoo) is expected to play on the third line with forwards Sam Bennett and Mark Jankowski, but it's worth noting the veteran saw some time alongside Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan prior to his injury. He's priced at $3,800 in DraftKings.

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Yahoo position eligibility updates

Alex Kerfoot, COL: Added RW; now C/RW
Sam Reinhart, BUF: Added LW; now C/LW/RW
Teuvo Teravainen, CAR: Added RW; now C/LW/RW
Frank Vatrano, BOS: Added RW; now C/LW/RW
Gustav Nyquist, DET: Added C; now C/LW/RW
Anders Bjork, BOS: Added RW; now LW/RW