FanDuel NHL: Thursday Targets

FanDuel NHL: Thursday Targets

This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.

SLATE PREVIEW

The Hurricanes (-138) are favored against the Bruins, which means their unbeaten streak could be extended. Frederik Andersen will likely draw the start in the first game of a back-to-back.

The Blues (+106) are the only other undefeated team putting their streaks on the line Thursday, though the Avalanche (-124) are favored even though they've won just one game in regulation this season.

GOALIES

Connor Hellebuyck, WPG at LA ($8,100): The Jets are still without Mark Scheifele, but they're also on a three-game winning streak with 15 goals scored. They've found their scoring touch and the Kings will be very shorthanded on the back end without Drew Doughty and Sean Walker.

Frederik Andersen, CAR vs. BOS ($7,800): Andersen has been the league's best goalie yet he isn't priced like one. The Bruins are playing the second half of a back-to-back after they managed to score only a single goal and lost to the Panthers. Andersen has allowed one goal in each of his past three starts and even if he isn't particularly sharp, he often gets plenty of goal support.

Jordan Binnington, STL vs. COL ($7,600): I wouldn't sweat the matchup too much because with the way the Avs have been playing, they're not gonna beat the Blues. Binnington has been solid with a .919 Sv% and four straight wins. He's needed some goal support, but unlike last season the Blues aren't losing games because of him.

Thatcher Demko, VAN vs. PHI ($7,400): Demko may get a break but he would be a very good value play against the Flyers, who are playing the second half of a back-to-back. He's stopped 30 shots in at least every game he's played, and Martin Jones shouldn't provide a huge challenge to the Canucks offense, even if it may be struggling at the moment. Backup Jaroslav Halak doesn't feel worthwhile in this matchup.

Jacob Markstrom, CGY at PIT ($7,200): There's some caution with this pick because there's a chance Sidney Crosby might play. He might be rusty in his first game, though, and the Flames are on a roll with four straight wins. Markstrom could be a strong value play with the Pens still missing many of their key players, including Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust and Jeff Carter

Adin Hill, SJ vs. MON ($7,100): Just when the Habs looked like they were getting it together, they lose by four goals in Seattle. They can't score and they have trouble keeping the puck out of their net, and even though Hill and the Sharks' play has slipped a little, note that they are the favored team at -138. Hill could serve up a win for a much lower price than the rest on this list.

VALUE PLAYS

Trevor Zegras, ANH vs. BUF ($4,600): Zegras is centering the Ducks' top line and after a slow start has seen his playing time increase to 18 minutes per game. He's shooting the puck a lot more and has also managed to put up three points in his past four games.

Derick Brassard, PHI at VAN ($4,300): Brassard has done a very good job holding down the second-line center spot with five points this season. It's an easy job when you have Joel Farabee and Cam Atkinson on your wings, and their speed may prove troublesome for the Canucks, who don't defend particularly well.

Drew O'Connor, PIT vs. CGY ($4,000): O'Connor has been impressive despite finding himself in top-six role if only because the Pens don't have many other options. O'Connor centered the second line between Jason Zucker and Kasperi Kapanen at practice, and also features on PP2.

Jonathan Dahlen, SJ vs. MON ($3,900): Just in case the Habs' goaltending woes continue, Dahlen is on a hot streak with three points and 12 shots in his past three games as he continues to skate on the top line. He's shooting the puck a bit more than at the start of the season, and perhaps it's a sign his confidence is growing.

Mathieu Perreault, MON at SJ ($3,600): Just in case the Sharks' goaltending starts to implode after a seemingly unsustainable start, note that Perreault is continuing to center the third line between Cole Caufield and Tyler Toffoli, two of the Habs' best finishers. Since getting promoted, Perreault has scored a hat trick with eight shots on goal.

Jack Studnicka, BOS at CAR ($3,200): Studnicka's ice time remains limited but for the most part centered Taylor Hall and Charlie Coyle on the second line, finishing with an assist and two shots. Carolina's a tough opponent and deep down the middle, but there's value as long as Studnicka plays in the top six.

LINE STACKS

Canucks vs. Flyers

Bo Horvat (C - $5,900), Tanner Pearson (W - $4,000), Conor Garland (W - $5,600)

Horvat has scored four goals in four games and this has been the Canucks' most consistent line by far. Garland has also been a big-impact player with eight points, and all three feature prominently on the power play with Horvat playing the bumper on the first unit and Pearson and Garland on the second. If Sean Couturier draws Elias Pettersson's line, it could open up some opportunities for Horvat's line to get more favorable matchups.

Jets at Kings

Pierre-Luc Dubois (C - $5,000), Nikolaj Ehlers (W - $6,600), Kyle Connor (W - $8,300)

Dubois is on a five-game point streak and will center the second line with Scheifele's status still unknown. Connor is working on a four-game point streak of his own while Ehlers has finally busted his slump with three points in his past two games. The Kings are vulnerable right now with shaky goaltending and a lack of depth on defense.

DEFENSEMEN

Quinn Hughes, VAN vs. PHI ($6,400): Hughes has played a ton of minutes for the Canucks, including nearly 30 minutes in two games already. He's working on a three-game assist streak and it could be an easy matchup with an opponent that may be tired and starting their backup, who was one of the worst goalies in the league last season.

Mark Giordano, SEA vs. MIN ($4,900): The Kraken captain is on a three-game point streak and gets to face the league's sixth-worst PK. Giordano isn't logging a ton of minutes but he's clearly one of Dave Hakstol's go-to guys when it comes to generating offense.

Bowen Byram, COL at STL ($4,200): Byram played a season-high 26 minutes against division rival Vegas and also collected an assist and three shots. He is slated to play on the top pairing again with Cale Makar, forming one of the most high-upside duos the league has ever seen.

Jamie Drysdale, ANH vs. BUF ($4,200): This is good value for an offensive defenseman playing a big role, even if it's on a team that doesn't have a lot of scoring talent. Drysdale has recorded at least one shot in every game this season.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jason Chen
Jason won the 2021 FSWA Hockey Writer of the Year award, and was also a finalist on 2019. He joined RotoWire in 2013. Jason has also written for Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports, The Hockey News, The Hockey Hall of Fame's Legends Magazine, and Centre Ice Magazine.
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