This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
There are six games on the slate. And if we learned anything from Thursday, it's that things can change at the last minute. The most vulnerable teams remain the ones who either have players already in COVID protocol or have faced teams in the same situation or pulled mid-game due to a positive test.
Teams in action tonight with those currently in protocol include the Capitals, Predators and Coyotes, and teams who have players unavailable due to illness include the Stars, Rangers, Sabres and Blackhawks. There have been plenty of call-ups, with rookies Jackson Cates (Flyers), Matt Kiersted (Panthers) and Jack Drury (Hurricanes) all scoring their first NHL goals last night.
GOALIES
Tristan Jarry, PIT vs. BUF ($8,600): The Sabres put forth an excellent effort to subdue the Wild in OT on Thursday, and it will be another tough game in the second half of a back-to-back. There's a premium for Jarry and the Pens with injuries to key players – though Evgeni Malkin is close to returning – but it's going to be a battle for Buffalo. Jarry has won eight of his past 10 starts and only allowed more than two goals in one of those appearances.
Jordan Binnington, STL vs. DAL ($7,800): Binnington was activated off the COVID list on Wednesday and should be available to start. Both he and Charlie Lindgren should be solid plays against the Stars, who are atrocious on the road and will likely be missing their top center Roope Hintz.
Anthony Stolarz, ANH vs. ARI ($7,400): Stolarz should get the nod again if John Gibson is unavailable having racked up eight straight wins, including Wednesday against the Kraken. The Coyotes have lost six in a row while scoring more than three times only once during that span.
Marc-Andre Fleury, CHI vs. NSH ($7,000): Fleury represents a contrarian play because the Hawks haven't beaten the Preds in regulation since Nov. 16, 2019, but Nashville's shorthanded and playing the second half of a back-to-back after defeating an even more shorthanded Avs squad on Thursday. Fleury is also coming off two straight victories, including a 42-save effort against the Caps.
VALUE PLAYS
Tanner Jeannot, NSH at CHI ($3,900): Just look at Jeannot's impressive Thursday stat line: goal and assist on the power play, plus-3 rating, four shots, three hits and two blocked shots. If there's one way to describe his play, it's that he's very involved. Jeannot's making the most of it after getting moved to the top line opposite Filip Forsberg.
Alexis Lafreniere, NYR vs. VGK ($3,800): Lafreniere may be in line for a bigger role after Artemi Panarin left with a lower-body injury against the Coyotes. He hasn't taken any big steps forward after being selected No. 1 overall, but also note the Golden Knights are expected to start backup Laurent Brossoit.
Aliaksei Protas, WSH at WPG ($3,200): Protas remains Peter Laviolette's preferred choice to replace Tom Wilson on the top line, but he hasn't done a lot with only five points this season. It's still a plum role and among the top-value forwards with at least some upside.
LINE STACKS
Penguins vs. Sabres
Sidney Crosby (C - $7,500), Evan Rodrigues (W - $5,800), Kasperi Kapanen (W - $4,000)
It's one of the better line stacks because Crosby is still an elite center, and Rodrigues has always been a high-volume shooter who's finally receiving a top-six opportunity. Kapanen's seen as the weakest link, but even he's notched two goals in three games.
Jets vs. Capitals
Pierre-Luc Dubois (C - $6,600), Kyle Connor (W - $9,300), Evgeny Svechnikov (W - $3,600)
Svechnikov was moved back into the top-six during Thursday's skate as the Jets try to snap out of their funk. That makes him a pretty solid value play on his own, but don't forget about Dubois, who's scoring like an elite center but priced like a second-liner – which I guess he is, but he's outperformed Mark Scheifele ($7,100).
Ducks vs. Coyotes
Ryan Getzlaf (C - $5,700), Troy Terry (W - $6,000), Sam Steel (C - $3,700)
Zegras gets all the good press because he's truly fun to watch, but the Ducks line to stack is whichever one Terry's on. Note that Steel is listed as a center and has recorded an assist in consecutive contests.
DEFENSEMEN
Adam Fox, NYR vs. VGK ($7,200): The reality is that COVID spreads. And with the Preds already having placed players in protocol, that puts others including Roman Josi at risk. (Note that Rangers defenseman Nils Lundkvist is out with an illness.) Fox has been amazing all season and remains one of the most reliable scoring defensemen with 31 points, and has not gone without a point in two straight since Nov. 14-18.
Neal Pionk, WPG vs. WSH ($4,700): Pionk remains one of the most underrated blueliners and finished with five shots and blocked another one in his first outing back from suspension. The Jets are mixing up their lines and that might provide a little spark. Meanwhile, the Caps are thin on D and their goaltending has been underwhelming.
John Klingberg, DAL at STL ($4,100): With Miro Heiskanen potentially unavailable due to illness, expect his minutes to be shared by Klingberg, Ryan Suter ($4,600) and Esa Lindell ($4,100). Klingberg would be the target because he's a better playmaker than Suter or Lindell, even though this projects as a tough road matchup.
