This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
Game of the night: No doubt it's the Jets visiting the Oilers with, once again, big playoff implications on the line. If Connor McDavid plays, it's a different story, but the Oilers lucked out with a point in an OTL against Vegas thanks to Mikko Koskinen (45 saves), and they're just 17-10-6 at home. The Jets can move into sole possession of the first wild-card spot and within two points of third-place Dallas in the Central with a win.
The Blackhawks still have hope for the playoffs, however slim they may be, but they'll have to fend off the struggling Sharks first. Both teams enter the game struggling over the past week, but you gotta think Chicago has the edge on home ice, and getting swept by the Sharks this season would be shameful.
The Rangers were victorious against the offensively-challenged Stars but they get little rest and a bit of travel visiting the Avalanche. If Nathan MacKinnon misses the game – the first one he'll miss this season – the Rangers have a good chance to win and move within one point of a playoff spot. The Avs offense may be pretty balanced but MacKinnon is a Hart-level player.
The Blues are rolling, going 8-2-0 in their past 10 and should have little problem against the Ducks. The season series is split 1-1 but there's an odd quirk; since the 2017-18 season, the Blues are 0-4 against the Ducks when they play each other before Jan. 1, but after Jan. 1 they're 4-0.
The Kings are one of the hottest teams in the league with six straight wins. The Senators should be a relatively easy task, who lost last night in Anaheim.
GOALIES
Connor Hellebuyck ($8,800) has been excellent with three straight wins and he'll be an even more palatable pick if McDavid doesn't play. However, it's unlikely Leon Draisaitl will have another quiet game, and Mikko Koskinen ($7,900) has been very good as well. They're evenly matched, but the Jets defense has been better.
Jordan Binnington ($8,600) played well against Florida but he didn't get the goal support. He's a solid pick against the Ducks, who may start third-string goalie Anthony Stolarz ($7,000) with John Gibson injured.
Pavel Francouz ($8,400) is no longer a sure thing and may not get the goal support he needs to win against the surging Rangers. Since Feb. 1, the Rangers are third in the league with 3.45 GF/GP. Alexander Georgiev ($7,700) has allowed 12 goals in his past three games but he's still likely the better value play.
You'll have to pay a slight premium for Jonathan Quick ($8,200), who has allowed only four goals in his past four games and the Sens scored only two goals against the Ducks last night.
Corey Crawford ($7,800) could be a good play against the Sharks – their goaltending has fallen apart yet again recently.
VALUE PLAYS
Noah Gregor ($3,300) is holding down the Sharks' second line and has a point in two straight games. He's getting playing time on the power play, along with Stefan Noesen ($3,400) and Dylan Gambrell ($3,200), who are lesser picks but still potential value plays.
If MacKinnon doesn't play, look for Tyson Jost ($3,700) to play an expanded role. His minutes have already increased in the second half of the season but has yet to really play on the top line.
Gabriel Vilardi ($3,200) has looked excellent with the Kings, one year after a serious injury. He has two points in two games and his skill is apparent. The Sens outshot the Ducks by 27 last night but ended up losing by three.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Chicago Blackhawks (TOTAL: $16,600)
C – Jonathan Toews ($6,700)
W – Alex DeBrincat ($5,400)
W – Brandon Saad ($4,500)
Saad is a bit of a dead weight, but Toews has been playing well and DeBrincat is firing a lot of pucks. At some point, the pucks will have to start going in. He has 16 shots in his past three games and sports a career-low 8.8 S%.
DEFENSEMEN
Alex Pietrangelo ($5,900), Thomas Chabot ($5,500), Oscar Klefbom ($5,300) and Drew Doughty ($5,200) are the safest picks because they all log big minutes and play in all situations. The upside is a little lower for Duncan Keith ($5,300), Colton Parayko ($5,000), Neal Pionk ($4,500) and Erik Johnson ($4,300), but Parayko and Johnson have appeared on the score sheet a lot lately.
Cale Makar ($5,600) should be a game-time decision after missing the three-game road trip, but if he misses another game, expect Samuel Girard ($4,300) to play a lot, though he just doesn't have the same sort of offensive upside.
That leaves Anthony DeAngelo ($5,700) and Adam Fox ($4,200), who has five points in three games, as your best bet among high-upside offensive defensemen.
