This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
Evgeni Malkin will be a game-time decision Tuesday against the Ducks, which is as close to a confirmation as we'll ever get that Malkin is ready to make his season debut. The talented Russian center has been beset by injuries, but when healthy he is truly an elite talent.
The Ducks and Pens will be one of seven games (Canes-Flyers was postponed Tuesday morning) on a busy Tuesday. There will be some marquee matchups and litmus tests, including the surging Canucks against the league-best Panthers and Juuse Saros against the Cup-contending Avs.
GOALIES
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB at BUF ($8,600): The Lightning's game on Monday was postponed so it should mean that Vasilevskiy starts this game. Backup Brian Elliott has a sub-.900 Sv%, and these are valuable points in a right race at the top. The Sabres can surprise because they've got some talent, but Vasilevskiy has brushed them off easily his entire career with a 11-1-1 record, .934 Sv% and 1.83 GAA.
Adin Hill, SJ vs. DET ($7,200): The Wings will likely be without Dylan Larkin, which makes the Sharks' job much easier as they try to gather enough bodies to ice a full lineup. Logan Couture, Erik Karlsson and Jacob Middleton may miss the game, but Hill's strong play recently has helped them earn two straight wins, and this is a revenge game for the Sharks after losing 6-2 in their previous meeting last Tuesday when James Reimer was the starter. The Wings, meanwhile, have lost four of their past five.
Marc-Andre Fleury, CHI at CBJ ($6,500): Things change if Elvis Merzlikins returns from a lower-body injury to start, but otherwise the Hawks should have the advantage. The Jackets have allowed 20 goals in their past four games, and some of their impressive rookies early in the season have struggled, including Yegor Chinakhov (1 goal in 8 games) and Cole Sillinger (3 points in 13 games).
VALUE PLAYS
Pius Suter, DET at SJ ($5,400): If Dylan Larkin cannot play, look for Suter to play a bigger role. He's been quietly productive scoring at a half-point per game pace, including three goals in his past five games. Suter could be a good value play just in case the Sharks' goaltending is not sharp.
Alex Kerfoot, TOR at VGK ($4,800): Note Kerfoot is listed as a center but he will play on the top line beside Auston Matthews and Michael Bunting with Mitch Marner unavailable. Kerfoot obviously doesn't offer the same amount of upside as Marner, but he's scored eight points in three games since the holiday break, including a three-point effort against the Avs in his last game.
Dylan Strome, CHI at CBJ ($4,600): Strome is riding a three-game assist streak and will center the top line against a team that has been very weak in net. He still doesn't shoot the puck, which makes his fantasy value almost completely reliant on his wingers and the game situation.
Brayden Tracey, ANH vs. PIT ($3,000): Tracey's playing time will largely depend on game flow, but as it stands continue to be pencilled in on the top line with Ryan Getzlaf and Troy Terry, even though he played just nine minutes in his NHL debut. Tracey led their AHL team in scoring at the time of the call up and has some untapped offensive upside; he just may not get a chance to show it.
LINE STACKS
Canucks at Panthers
J.T. Miller (W - $8,000), Brock Boeser (W - $6,800), Vasili Podkolzin (W - $4,000)
Note Miller is listed as a winger even though he will center the Canucks' second line. Boeser is expected to return after missing three games due to COVID protocol, and he's been one of their best players since Bruce Boudreau took over. Podkolzin can be left off this line stack as the third winger because he generally gets less playing time, but at this price he's also a viable value play and will see time on the power play as well.
DEFENSEMEN
Quinn Hughes, VAN at FLA ($6,200): Hughes is a dominant offensive defenseman and his fantasy upside remains among the league's elite when it comes to scoring points. The Canucks are expected to have both Boeser and Elias Pettersson back in the lineup after both of them were placed under COVID protocol.
MacKenzie Weegar, FLA vs. VAN ($6,100): Weegar has transformed into a bona fide top-pairing defenseman and his ability to move the puck should come in handy against the Canucks, who have been more aggressive on offense but continue to be rather loose in their own zone. The only challenge will be trying to beat Thatcher Demko.
Adam Boqvist, CBJ vs. CHI ($4,700): It's a potential revenge game for the former Blackhawk, who was interviewed and sounded a little bitter after he was ensured by management he would not be traded. Boqvist had two assists against New Jersey and overall has scored five points in his past five games.
