DFS NHL Picks (March 22, 2017)

Chris Kreider has a point in five of his last seven games.

Center:

Connor McDavid - Edmonton Oilers: With a two-point effort last game against Los Angeles, Connor McDavid is now back alone in front of the NHL scoring race, with 82 points (25G, 57A) in 72 games, two points ahead of Sidney Crosby (PIT) and Brad Marchand (BOS). McDavid has led the league in scoring at some point in all four months of the 2016-17 season.  He has led or co-led the NHL in scoring since Nov. 22, 2016.

Wingers:
Chris Kreider - New York Rangers: Kreider has established career-highs in goals (26) and points (49) this season. He has tallied a point in five of the last seven games (two goals, four assists). Kreider is one of six NHL players who have recorded at least 26 goals and 100 hits this season. He leads the Rangers in goals (15) and points (30) at home this season.c

Leon Draisaitl - Edmonton Oilers: Draisaitl has now amassed 65 points (24G, 41A) in 72 games, setting career highs for points, goals, and assists. That point total puts him in 13th place in the NHL scoring race. Draisaitl has nine points (1G, 8A) in his last four games.

Defensemen:
Brady Skjei - New York Rangers: Skjei registered his 30th assist of the 2016-17 season tonight at New Jersey. He is the fourth defenseman who has recorded at least 30 assists in his rookie season in franchise history, joining Brian Leetch (48 - 1988-89), Reijo Ruotsalainen (38 - 1981-82), and Ron Greschner (37 - 1974-75) as the only defensemen to accomplish the feat.

Cam Fowler - Anaheim Ducks: Among NHL defensemen, Fowler ranks tied for sixth in PPG (5) and tied for seventh in GWG (3). He has three assists in his last seven games. He earned his 23rd assist of the season and tied Andy McDonald (167) for seventh on the franchise all-time assists list on Mar. 17 vs. Buffalo.

Goaltender:

Jonathan Bernier - Anaheim Ducks: Bernier has posted a 7-2-1 record with one shutout, a 1.78 GAA and .943 SV% in his last 10 starts dating to Feb. 22 vs. Boston. Since that date, Bernier ranks fifth among NHL goaltenders in GAA (min. 9 starts) and SV% (min. 9 starts), tied for fifth in wins and tied for fourth in GA (18, min. 9 starts).