-- The Penguins' top line of left wing Jake Guentzel, center Sidney Crosby and right wing Bryan Rust continues its climb the rankings after combining for 12 points (eight goals, four assists) in the past three games. Guentzel, ranked 47th in Yahoo, has five goals on 13 SOG in the past two games and an NHL career-high 23 goals in 45 games this season. Rust (LW/RW, 35 percent owned) has two goals and 12 SOG in the past three games, averaging 18:40 in the span. With exposure to two top-50 players (Crosby is 13th in Yahoo), Rust has become a must-own fantasy forward.
-- The St. Louis Blues have found stability in their top six, giving them a presence in the top 25 rankings this week. Forward David Perron (LW/RW, 40 percent owned) is on a 10-game point streak playing with valuable center Ryan O'Reilly, and right wing Vladimir Tarasenko has five points (three goals, two assists) and 18 SOG in the past five games after a slow start. Tarasenko has spent the past four games on a line with left wing Jaden Schwartz and center Brayden Schenn, a unit that has combined for seven points (four goals, three assists) being formed. Tarasenko is a buy-low target leading up to fantasy trade deadlines; his shooting percentage (9.0) is well below his NHL career rate (12.7).
-- Arizona Coyotes right wing Conor Garland (5 percent owned) has six goals, 15 SOG and a plus-5 during a four-game goal streak after having four points (two goals, two assists) in his first 13 NHL games. Garland has sustained his production since moving to a line with forwards Alex Galchenyuk and Nick Cousins, a unit that combined for four points (two goals, two assists) against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. Garland's offensive emergence has also earned him time on the power play, where he's scored three of his six goals during the goal streak. Garland has a high shooting percentage (17.0), but his shot volume (47 in 17 games) suggests he could continue to produce and maintain fantasy relevance.
