NHL picks, props, fantasy projections for today

NHL.com's fantasy staff provides daily picks, props and free-to-play game advice throughout the 2026-27 season. For more coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy

MORE FANTASY COVERAGE 📈

Top 200 rankings | Proj. lineups

Pickups | Keepers | Rookies

NHL EDGE stats insights 📊

Play 'NHL Fantasy Stars' game ⭐️

Play 'NHL Goal Chase' game 🚨

NHL PROP WATCH 🎯

Player to watch for point, assist and/or goal: Trevor Connelly, F, VGK (vs. NSH; 10 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS)

The Vegas Golden Knights forward is tied for second among NHL rookies in goals (seven), even-strength goals (six), points (12), even-strength points (nine) and shots on goal (36) in 20 games this season. Connelly, who's playing on the top line with Jack Eichel (26 points; tied for 12th in NHL) and Mark Stone (20 points; third on team), has five points (three goals, two assists) over his past eight games. Per NHL EDGE stats, Connelly ranks fifth in the entire NHL in max skating speed (23.73 mph) this season and is also a standout at his position in 22-plus mph speed bursts (six; 95th percentile), 20-plus mph bursts (46; 89th percentile), mid-range goals (two; 87th percentile), high-danger goals (three; 83rd percentile), mid-range shots on goal (14; 85th percentile) and 5-on-5 offensive zone start percentage (43.1; 93rd percentile). -- Chris Meaney

'NHL GOAL CHASE' PICK 🚨

Welcome to "NHL Goal Chase," a daily game where fans pick one goal-scorer per day and try to compile the longest streak possible. Multigoal games can also extend your streak by the number of goals scored by the goal-scorer you select.

Player to watch for goal: Mika Zibanejad, F, NYR (at VAN; 9 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN, MSGSN)

The New York Rangers forward has six points (two goals, four assists) during his four-game point streak and is tied for the team lead in multipoint games (six) this season. After scoring two goals against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday, Zibanejad has 43 multigoal games with the Rangers, tied with Andy Bathgate for the fifth-most in franchise history. The 33-year-old is playing on the top line with young wings Alexis Lafreniere (25 years old; team-leading nine goals) and Gabe Perreault (21 years old) and also the first power play with elite defenseman Adam Fox (team-leading 22 points). Per NHL EDGE stats, Zibanejad has scored goals from each major shot location area (one high-danger goal, two mid-range goals, one long-range goal) this season and ranks in the 97th percentile among forwards in hardest shot (93.34 mph). Zibanejad has had points in 10 of his past 11 games against the Vancouver Canucks, totaling 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) over that span. -- Troy Perlowitz

'NHL FANTASY STARS' PICK ⭐️

Play the “NHL Fantasy Stars" game to construct your dream team of players by opening packs and collecting coins. You can become a hockey GM, set winning lineups, collect star players, make blockbuster trades, play along with friends and climb the leaderboard.

Team to watch: Nashville Predators (at VGK)

100 coins in ‘NHL Fantasy Stars’

The Predators have been one of the biggest surprises across the NHL this season; at 10-4-5, Nashville has the ninth-best points percentage in the League (.658). The Predators are also 4-1-3 on the road. Nashville goalie Juuse Saros has three straight wins with a combined two goals allowed over that span after his shutout at the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday. Among goalies who have played at least 10 games this season, Saros ranks fifth in save percentage (.918 in 13 games). Per NHL EDGE stats, Saros is tied for fourth in quality starts (eight; starts with greater than .900 save percentage). The Predators, as a team, rank among the top 10 in both 18-20 mph speed bursts (1,987; ninth) and 90-plus mph shot attempts (17) this season. -- Pete Jensen

Player to watch: Shane Wright, F, NSH

100 coins in 'NHL Fantasy Stars'

The Predators recently acquired Wright from the Seattle Kraken; Wright, the No. 4 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, had three points (game-winning goal, two assists) and four shots on goal in his most-recent game at the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday. Per NHL EDGE stats, Wright ranks in the 92nd percentile among forwards in high-danger shots on goal (19) this season. -- Jensen

Others to watch for point:

Brock Boeser, F, VAN (vs. NYR)
Tye Kartye, F, NYR (at VAN)
Victor Olofsson, F, VGK (vs. NSH)
Mavrik Bourque, F, NSH (at VGK)

Others to watch for assist:

Adam Fox, D, NYR (at VAN)
Roman Josi, D, NSH (at VGK)
Mark Stone, F, VGK (vs. NSH)

Others to watch for goal, point and/or shots on goal:

Jack Eichel, F, VGK (vs. NSH)
Filip Forsberg, F, NSH (at VGK)
J.T. Miller, F, NYR (at VAN)
Elias Pettersson, F, VAN (vs. NYR)

Others to watch for shots on goal:

Pavel Dorofeyev, F, NYR (at VAN)
Steven Stamkos, F, NSH (at VGK)
Tomas Hertl, F, VGK (vs. NSH)
Jake DeBrusk, F, VAN (vs. NYR)

Line combos/trios to consider:

NYR: Tye Kartye -- J.T. Miller -- Pavel Dorofeyev
VGK: Trevor Connelly -- Jack Eichel -- Mark Stone
NSH: Filip Forsberg -- Shane Wright -- Nils Hoglander
VAN: Jake DeBrusk -- Elias Pettersson -- Brock Boeser