NHL Fantasy Playoffs: Nichushkin and Bourque Lead Top Postseason Waiver Targets

As the NHL Fantasy Playoffs begin Monday, Valeri Nichushkin averages 1.5 FPPG while Mavrik Bourque fills in for Mikko Rantanen on the Stars' top line.

The ESPN NHL Fantasy Playoffs officially commence on Monday, March 10, as the league enters the final stretch before the April 16 regular-season conclusion. Valeri Nichushkin currently leads high-upside available forwards with 1.5 fantasy points per game (FPPG) and is 70.9% available in ESPN leagues. Nichushkin is currently logging top-six minutes for the Colorado Avalanche, who hold a 75.8% points percentage, while Artturri Lehkonen and Gabriel Landeskog remain sidelined. In Dallas, Mavrik Bourque is averaging 1.1 FPPG and remains 94.0% available while skating on the top line in place of the injured Mikko Rantanen. Bourque, a 2020 first-round selection, is currently producing at a point-per-game pace with heavy on-ice minutes alongside Roope Hintz.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen has reclaimed a significant share of the crease since returning from the Olympics, posting a -0.31 FPP60 and sitting at 57.1% availability. Andersen is currently outperforming Brandon Bussi in starts and wins as the Hurricanes maintain a 67.7% points percentage. In Minnesota, Mats Zuccarello is producing 1.8 FPP60 and is available in 60.5% of leagues. Zuccarello trails only Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy in power-play production for the Wild while maintaining a 0.85 point-per-game season average. The Wild face a dense upcoming schedule with four games in seven days, including a back-to-back against the Rangers and Maple Leafs on March 14-15.

Eastern Conference Playoff Schedule Analysis

Josh Norris of the Buffalo Sabres offers 1.72 FPPG and is 71.8% available, benefiting from a first-round schedule that features four games against weak penalty-killing units. However, the Sabres face the league's most difficult fantasy schedule for skaters during the final round from March 30 to April 16. Tampa Bay’s Oliver Bjorkstrand, available in 85.9% of leagues, is locked onto the top power-play unit. The Lightning play four of their eight first-round games against teams ranked 27th or worse in power-play goals allowed. In Montreal, Jakub Dobes has emerged with a 1.77 FPP60 and 76.5% availability, benefiting from a slate of opponents that ranks seventh overall in fantasy points allowed to goaltenders.

Egor Chinakhov has seen his production spike to 1.91 FPPG over eight games since the Olympic break, totaling 15.3 fantasy points while Sidney Crosby remains sidelined. Chinakhov is 94.4% available and holds a spot on the top power play. The New York Islanders’ Brayden Schenn is 71.5% available and has secured a role on the first power-play unit. While the Islanders face a tough overall postseason, they finish against the Senators and Canadiens, two of the league's bottom-ranked penalty kills. Pavel Zacha of the Boston Bruins has recorded four goals and eight points in seven games since the break, averaging 2.2 FPPG during that span.

Defensive and Goaltending Value Tiers

Ben Chiarot is averaging 1.8 FPPG over his first two games paired with Justin Faulk, recording a plus-1 rating and 3.6 total fantasy points. Ivan Provorov provides 1.62 FPPG and is 74.7% available; Columbus ranks fourth in defensive fantasy potential from March 16 to 29 before dropping to 22nd in the final weeks. Anaheim’s Lukas Dostal is 38.6% available and coming off a one-goal-allowed victory against the Jets. Shane Pinto is driving value for the Senators with 1.70 FPPG, notably averaging 2.3 FPPG since the break due to his high volume of blocked shots. Utah’s Sean Durzi remains 48.8% available despite a recent production drought, while Chicago’s Connor Murphy is 97.9% available for managers seeking blocked shots.

Adin Hill is 47.1% available for the Golden Knights but has struggled with a -0.8 FPPG since returning from a mid-January injury. Washington’s Pierre-Luc Dubois offers 1.47 FPPG, though the Capitals face the league's toughest power-play schedule with six of their last nine opponents ranking in the top 10 for fewest power-play goals allowed. Jamie Drysdale is the Flyers' power-play quarterback and has led the team in shots on goal over the last seven games. Joey Daccord holds a .910 save percentage and a 2.82 GAA since December 20 for the Kraken, while Kings captain Anze Kopitar is skating on the top line with Artemi Panarin and Adrian Kempe.

Late Season Streamers and Rookie Impacts

Florida’s Seth Jones is nearing a return from a January injury to reclaim his role as power-play quarterback; the Panthers open the fantasy playoffs against a Canucks team with a bottom-six penalty kill. Alex Nedeljkovic is 98.4% available and has recently outperformed Yaroslav Askarov for the Sharks. New Jersey’s Jacob Markstrom faces the third-toughest schedule for goaltenders, including two games against both the Bruins and Canadiens. Nashville rookie Matthew Wood is 98.2% available and currently skating on a scoring line with Filip Forsberg. Winnipeg backup Eric Comrie has a 4-0 record, .949 save percentage, and 1.24 GAA over his last four starts.

Jake McCabe of the Maple Leafs averages 1.75 FPPG and faces high-volume shot-blocking matchups against Carolina and Boston. Alexis Lafreniere is 84.2% available for the Rangers, who play eight games between March 16 and March 29, primarily on lighter nights with low league-wide competition. St. Louis rookie Jimmy Snuggerud has recorded three goals and four assists in his last three games, averaging 1.6 FPPG. Frank Nazar is logging heavy minutes for the Blackhawks, totaling two goals and four assists in a recent four-game stretch. Finally, Ryan Strome has one goal and two assists through three games with Calgary, and Filip Hronek continues to anchor the Vancouver power play with 1.7 FPPG.