This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
We've got six games in the NHL on the final Monday before the All-Star Game. The Rangers are the only team on the slate that also played Sunday, so the 11 other squads come into the evening fresh. Let's identify some values to help you construct your FanDuel lineups.
GOALIE
Braden Holtby, WAS vs. CAR ($9,600): Over the last couple of weeks, the Capitals have started to give up noticeably more shot attempts (at least 54 per 60 minutes in that span) than they had before (52.2). That's good for Holtby's fantasy production, as an elite goalie facing more shots can lead to more fantasy points. He's expensive to use, but Holtby is an obvious choice for cash games even though he's coming off a pair of disappointing outings on the road.
CENTER
Bryan Little, WPG vs. ANA ($5,900): There are times when a player's DFS value is tied to the value of similar producers. This is the case for Little for this batch of games. He's the only center priced under $6,000 to have produced at least 11.5 FanDuel points per game, and he's at 12.3. The 29-year-old has also managed at least 18 minutes of ice time in six straight games, averaging one blocked shot and two shots on goal per game in that span.
Tyler Bozak, TOR vs. CGY ($5,700): The eighth-year center should be considered more of a tournament option than a cash-game play, given that he takes less than two shots per game. Calgary is allowing an average of 3.74 power plays per game, which is considerably higher than the league average of 3.17. Meanwhile, Bozak is second on the Leafs in power-play minutes per game, which factors into his upside Monday. His line also shouldn't see much of Mikael Backlund's unit, a trio that, per Corsica, is the best at limiting shots among the Flames' forward lines.
WING
Pavel Buchnevich, NYR vs. LAK ($5,000): The rookie's skated at least 17 minutes in three of four games since he was eased back into action in his return from a back injury 10 days ago, as he's now skating on the second line with Mika Zibanejad and Rick Nash. All three of those forwards are among the Rangers' top seven in individual scoring chances per minute at five-on-five this season. That threesome should also avoid matching up against Anze Kopitar, the top defensive center for the Kings.
T.J. Oshie, WAS vs. CAR ($6,800): Washington coach Barry Trotz is consistent about using his top line, including Oshie, against the other team's top line. For Monday's game, that means matchups against the Victor Rask trio, which is giving up an average of 9.1 scoring chances per 60 minutes, a number worse than those of defensively porous teams like the Flyers and Stars. The top line for Washington, on the other hand, has generated 10.5 scoring chances per 60 minutes, which makes Monday's game a great matchup for the elite Capitals trio.
Reilly Smith, FLA at ARI ($5,200): Injuries have plagued Florida all season, and that has thrust players typically stashed in secondary or tertiary roles into primary ones. This is true for Smith, who's skated at least 17 minutes in every game since the Christmas break and is averaging more than 19 minutes in that span. That 11-game stretch has seen him average 2.7 shots per contest; he was under two shots per game up until the holiday vacation. Florida goes into Arizona on Monday night to face the team that's allowed the most scoring chances per minute at even strength as well as the third-most shot attempts to opposing
power plays. The Canadian winger is also skating on the first line with Vincent Trocheck at five-on-five and on the man advantage.
Andrew Copp, WPG vs. ANA ($3,500): A lot of elite (read: expensive) options are littered through this slate -- like Brent Burns, Joe Pavelski and Auston Matthews, to name a few. Copp offers one way to save money against the cap in order to pay up for one or two of such players. Both Patrik Laine and Drew Stafford are expected to miss Monday's game, and coach Paul Maurice indicated that Copp will be given a chance to play with the top duo of Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers. Whether Copp stays on that line is a different story, as depth players don't always work out in prominent roles. Given how cheap the price is, though, Copp is a great source of salary relief for those who need it.
DEFENSE
Dougie Hamilton, CGY at TOR ($5,900): Through more than half the season, Hamilton is fifth among all blueliners in points per minute and second on shots on goal per minute. He's on pace for a 50-point season despite averaging less than 20 minutes per game, which is very impressive. This is a good matchup for him to keep that going, the Leafs have given up the seventh-most scoring chances at five-on-five and are in the middle of the pack in that category when down a man.
Keith Yandle, FLA at ARI ($5,400): As mentioned in Smith's blurb, Monday's game offers a great opportunity for the Panthers to produce on offense, and Yandle's no exception. Crucially, he's playing on the top power-play unit for Florida; not only do the Coyotes give up a lot of shot attempts, but they've also given up more power plays per game (3.41) than the league average.
