This article is part of our FantasyAces NHL series.
There are only two games on the schedule Tuesday, but they're both intriguing matchups for different reasons.
In the earlier game, the Senators travel south to visit the Stars in a battle between teams that have combined to lose only four games out their last 20. The Stars' high-octane offense is leading the Western Conference in scoring by a wide margin, while the Sens come into this game on the heels of back-to-back shutout wins.
The later game features a pair of teams that rank among the most disappointing clubs through the first quarter of the season, as they've played far below preseason expectations.
Both the Flames and the Ducks started very slowly, and despite turning things around with winning records in their past 10 outings, they both still rank near the bottom of the Pacific Division.
Here are my recommendations for games on November 24, 2015:
C: Jason Spezza, DAL vs. OTT ($5,300): Still only one year removed from the trade that sent him out of Ottawa, you know Spezza will be fired up to face his former mates. He's currently on a four-game scoring streak and has been a facilitator (six assists) on the Stars' potent power play.
C: Ryan Kesler, ANA vs. CGY ($4,550): The Ducks have been challenged offensively, scoring only one goal in their last three games. Before that ugly string, Kesler was in the middle of their scoring exploits, notching four points in a four-game stretch. He continues to anchor a second line that gets to avoid opposing top checkers and should benefit from that opportunity Tuesday at home against the defensively suspect Flames.
W: Patrick Sharp, DAL vs. OTT ($5,300): Sharp continues to command fantasy attention as a first-line winger alongside top guns Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. He isn't priced as high as those guys, but will play every shift with them as he attempts to build on six points in his last seven games.
W: Jakob Silfverberg, ANA vs. CGY ($4,500): The young Swede is also on that second line in Anaheim and is attractively priced Tuesday. He's clearly struggled, totaling only four points in 21 games, but two of those tallies – including his first goal of the year – have come in the last four games.
W: Mason Raymond, CGY at ANA ($3,750): With Jiri Hudler battling an illness, the Flames may have to give Raymond some top-line minutes on Tuesday as well as a longer look on their power play. Raymond's offensive performance has been underwhelming in a third-line role, but he may be well positioned to break out against a struggling Anaheim squad.
W: Bobby Ryan, OTT at DAL ($5,250): Ryan has rediscovered an offensive form that we have not seen since his time with the Ducks four seasons ago, firing at close to a point-per-game pace. He's scoring on 14 percent of his shots, also a four-year high, supporting the observation that Ryan is back to finding his way into the prime scoring areas. The 28-year-old has played with particularly confidence lately, notching three goals and seven assists during an eight-game point streak.
D: T.J. Brodie, CGY at ANA ($4,450): Brodie is in a groove that has seen him get back to his usual 25 minutes per game next to Marc Giordano on the Flames' top defensive pairing. This club still generates much of its offensive flow from that talented blue-line group, making Brodie a good bet against a floundering Anaheim club.
D: Sami Vatanen, ANA vs. CGY ($4250): The Ducks' offensive struggles have dampened the fantasy price tags of their stars, and I see this as the most glaring example. As with the Flames, Anaheim's defensemen hold the keys to the offense, and Vatanen is at the top of that list. With six points in his last eight games, he has been the club's most productive player of late.
G: Karri Ramo, CGY vs. ANA ($7,500): Ramo has taken full advantage of Jonas Hiller's absence to take control of the playing time in the Flames' net. He has really found his groove in the last four games, allowing only eight goals and collecting three wins, and he faces the still-struggling Anaheim offense Tuesday.
