This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
With 11 games on the slate, there are plenty of options, especially among the value plays. Early in the season is when you'll find a lot of them because there are so many new faces.
The Habs (-158) are heavily favoured against the visiting Sharks and they're still looking for their first point after going 0-3-0 last week. The Wild (-158) have the same odds, with some thanks to Cam Talbot's brilliant play of late, but they're hosting the Jets, who have also struggled but not nearly to the same extent as the Habs and believed to be a much stronger team.
The Ducks (+210) are the biggest underdogs of the night against the Oilers – as they should be – but the Ducks' goaltending has been very good even with backup Anthony Stolarz, who will likely start with John Gibson starting Monday night against the Flames. Note that the over/under for this game is only 5.5.
GOALIES
Thatcher Demko, VAN at BUF ($7,300): Sure, the Sabres are off to a great start, but they also beat the Habs and Coyotes, who are a combined 0-4-1. Demko has been excellent so far this season with a .913 Sv% and has not lost in regulation. The Canucks are also expected to have Brock Boeser back in the lineup for added goal support.
Jonathan Bernier, NJ vs. SEA ($7,800): Mackenzie Blackwood (heel) will not be available, which means Bernier is expected to start. He wasn't particularly sharp against Chicago, allowing three goals, but the Kraken are playing the second half of a back-to-back after losing in Philadelphia, 6-1. The Kraken seem tired as they finish their five-game road trip in Jersey.
Vitek Vanecek, WSH vs. COL ($7,900): The Avs still have formidable lineup but it's certainly less frightening without Nathan MacKinnon (illness) and Gabriel Landeskog (suspension). Vanecek has been excellent in the early going with a .938 Sv% and 1.44 GAA. Due to the Avs' lack of cap space, they may also be forced to play with just 17 skaters, further handicapping them.
Tristan Jarry, PIT vs. DAL ($8,100): The Stars are having trouble scoring again, averaging just two goals per game. The Pens, meanwhile, have scored 15 in three games with a plus-six goal differential, and even without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are playing very well. The Pens forecheck is working, limiting the shots Jarry is facing, and to his credit has been playing quite well.
Mike Smith, EDM vs. ANH ($8,200): The 39-year-old is defying expectations yet again with a .953 Sv% and 1.92 GAA. We've credited so much of Smith's success to having McDavid and Draisaitl on his roster that we've started to underrate Smith, and so far, he's on track for another fantastic season following last season's seventh-place finish in Vezina voting. The Ducks are playing the second game of a back-to-back and their offense possesses very little firepower right now.
VALUE PLAYS
Jeff Carter, PIT vs. DAL ($6,400): Carter continues to be a strong player as the No. 1 center. He's scored a point in three straight games and looks very much like the power center that won two Cups with the Kings. The Stars will be without one of their key defensemen in John Klingberg.
Kirby Dach, CHI vs. NYI ($5,100): Dach's the Blackhawk's No. 1 center now, averaging 19 minutes per game and playing alongside Patrick Kane. He's scored two goals in three games and the Isles are off to a poor start in their lengthy road trip with 11 goals allowed in two games.
Corey Perry, TB vs. FLA ($3,900): It sounds like Nikita Kucherov will definitely not be playing, and Perry was moved up the lineup in his absence. I'm not sure how Jon Cooper will juggle his lines, as he's gone with an 11-7 setup previously, but moving Perry up is a sign of how much they trust the crafty veteran. Regardless, playing with top-six caliber talent should surely give Perry's offensive ceiling a lift.
Connor McMichael, WSH vs. COL ($3,800): McMichael was impressive during the preseason but was scratched for the season opener for Hendrix Lapierre, who draws out of the lineup as the Caps rotate their two rookies. McMichael has plenty of offense and slated to skate with two good finishers in Conor Sheary and T.J. Oshie. The Avs will be missing key players and new No. 1 goalie Darcy Kuemper has not lived up to expectations so far.
Mikhail Maltsev, COL at WSH ($3,100): Maltsev was the prospect the Avs received from New Jersey in exchange for Ryan Graves, and he will likely make his Avs debut thanks to injuries to key players. The 6-foot-3 scorer led their AHL affiliate with four points in two games prior to his call-up.
Jonathan Dahlen, SJ at MON ($3,000): Dahlen made the team out of camp and played on the top line with Logan Couture and Timo Meier. He's a very skilled winger, a former second-round pick by the Senators who captained and led Timra in the Swedish League with 71 points in 45 games.
William Eklund, SJ at MON ($3,000): Eklund is the Sharks' prized prospect and collected an assist in his NHL debut. He's on the second line with Tomas Hertl, and although he's a little less polished than Dahlen, also offers up considerable upside befitting of his status as a seventh overall pick. Both Eklund and Dahlen feature on the Sharks power play, though on separate but equal units.
Yegor Chinakhov, CLB at DET ($3,000): The first thing you'll notice about Chinakhov is his shot, and he's now getting a chance to use if after an injury to Max Domi (ribs) necessitated a call-up. The Red Wings defense remains porous, allowing at least 40 shots in their first two games.
Vladimir Tkachev, LA at NSH ($3,000): The 26-year-old rookie – but really a KHL veteran – is being used in offensive roles and it's good value on a team off to a good start. Tkachev had two assists in the opener and was scoreless in his second game, but has also remained on the top power play unit with top scorer Anze Kopitar.
LINE STACKS
Canucks at Sabres
Elias Pettersson (C - $7,200), Brock Boeser (W - $6,900), Nils Hoglander (W - $4,600)
Boeser is expected to return after practising in full on Monday, and Hoglander is the type of utility forward who can make scoring easier for star players with his ability to win puck battles. This is the Sabres' first real test of the season after facing the Habs and Coyotes to start.
Devils vs. Kraken
Jack Hughes (C - $6,600), Yegor Sharangovich (W - $4,500), Janne Kuokkanen (W - $3,500)
Hughes is a bona fide gem, but his linemates also provide surplus value because they've been so effective as a trio. They combined for four points in the season opener and may get to feast on a very tired team that lost 6-1 on Monday night against the Flyers.
DEFENSEMEN
John Carlson, WSH vs. COL ($6,700): Carlson is off to a relatively slow start with only one helper so far, but he may get a chance to pad his stats against a shorthanded Avs squad. Their PK has also struggled, ranked 27th right now at 60 percent.
Miro Heiskanen, DAL at PIT ($5,900): With Klingberg out of the lineup, Heiskanen is going to play a ton of minutes again, already averaging close to 28 minutes per game through three games. He will get you points in all categories because he plays in all situations and should be one of the safer picks.
Quinn Hughes, VAN at BUF ($6,400): Hughes did not skate at Monday's practice but it was likely just a maintenance day after playing 26 and 29 minutes in back-to-back games. The swift skating defenseman has two points in three games and, based on his recent usage, will likely get a ton of playing time going forward. He's quarterbacking a top power-play unit that is now at full strength with Boeser expected to be back in the lineup.
Tyson Barrie, EDM vs. ANH ($5,700): Zero points in two games isn't ideal for Barrie, but it's an easy matchup on home ice where Dave Tippett can dictate the matchups. The Ducks have been one of the most undisciplined teams in the league, ranking fifth with 506 penalties taken since 2019.
Moritz Seider, DET vs. CBJ ($4,000): The German rookie is doing everything for the Red Wings, and edging Filip Hronek with ice time on the power play even though they play on the same unit. He's scored three points in two games and hasn't been shy about shooting the puck or blocking shots, either.
