This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
Vladislav Namestnikov is expected to make his Avalanche debut against the Sabres. He'll play on the third line with Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and well-regarded rookie Martin Kaut. The Sabres, meanwhile, will debut Wayne Simmonds on their second line. Dominik Kahun will be a game-time decision but isn't expected to miss much more time.
Tyler Ennis looked good last night, scoring the Oilers' first goal of the night after Andreas Athanasiou set him up with a great pass. Athanasiou was also gifted a goal after John Gibson lost track of the puck in the crease. However, the Golden Knights have been very good lately, having won six straight.
The Penguins will face the Kings in the second late game of the night, which will see Patrick Marleau in the black and gold for the first time. The Pens are 4-1-0 against the Kings in their past five matchups.
GOALIES
Either Tristan Jarry ($8,900) or Matt Murray ($8,200) will be popular picks against the Kings. Both goalies are coming off bad starts but this should be an easy win against one the league's worst offensive teams. The Kings are just one of two teams to average below 2.50 goals per game.
Pavel Francouz ($8,600) seems like a good play against Buffalo but I'm not convinced. He's been red-hot with three straight wins, allowing just two goals in the process, but the Sabres' offense is vastly improved with Victor Olofsson in the lineup, and their offense on the road has been surprisingly effective, ranked eighth in GF/GP since Jan. 1. I'd rather take a flyer on Carter Hutton ($7,600), who has won five of his past six and made 41 saves in a win against Pittsburgh in his latest start.
Marc-Andre Fleury ($8,400) should get the start and I like him best for a value pick (unless Murray starts vs. the Kings). Fleury hasn't been the sharpest but he's coming off a three-day break and the Oilers played last night, and expected starter Mikko Koskinen ($7,300) has not been good for the past three months.
VALUE PLAYS
Connor McDavid's two wingers will be very popular for their value proposition but I like Tyler Ennis ($4,400) better than Andreas Athanasiou ($4,800), if only because Ennis is cheaper.
I like Martin Kaut's ($3,000) upside and having Namestnikov on his line will help with moving the puck. Kaut's also playing on the second power-play unit, so there's your added value.
Conor Sheary ($3,900) played on Sidney Crosby's line and that alone makes him worth of consideration. He scored at a 20-goal pace in his previous stint with the Penguins, and he could be due for a small bounce back if his shooting percentage creeps back up to his career average.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Edmonton Oilers (TOTAL: $18,000)
C – Connor McDavid ($8,800)
W – Andreas Athanasiou ($4,800)
W – Tyler Ennis ($4,400)
Like Chef Boyardee it's cheap and it's easy.
Pittsburgh Penguins (TOTAL: $18,600)
C – Sidney Crosby ($8,600)
W – Jason Zucker ($6,100)
W – Conor Sheary ($3,900)
I like the matchup against the Kings, but more importantly I think Sheary will give this line an offensive boost because he's a better playmaker than Dominik Simon, who is now playing on the third line.
DEFENSEMEN
Kris Letang ($7,100) will be a popular pick because he does everything for the Pens and still scores like an elite defenseman. There is a big premium, though, so perhaps Cale Makar ($5,600) against the 29th-ranked Sabres PK will be the wiser option. Shea Theodore ($5,700) has upside, too, but the Oilers special teams are very good.
Rasmus Ristolainen ($4,500) just had his four-game assist streak snapped but continues to play a lot of minutes in all situations. He has not been bumped off the top power-play unit yet, so that's a good sign. Darnell Nurse ($4,400) is another workhorse defenseman who can provide a lot of points in multiple categories.
However, the best play of the night might be Ethan Bear ($3,900), who's been playing well for the Oilers all season. Mike Green doesn't really seem like a threat to take his spot on the second power-play unit.
