This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
The feared rival Bruins are in Toronto as the Leafs continue to face criticism for its underperformance. It's clear the Bruins are a cut above, but the Maple Leafs are at home where Auston Matthews has scored 12 goals in 12 games so they're the favorites at -120 tonight according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
The Penguins will need Evgeni Malkin to play like an MVP, and the Devils are a team he's traditionally played well against with 53 points in 56 career games. Even without Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Patric Hornqvist, the Devils are still the underdog but only slightly (+105) because of their propensity to collapse and blow leads. The Pens are slow to wake but rank 2nd (28) and 10th (21) in goals scored in the second period and third periods, respectively.
The Capitals are steamrolling everyone but the pesky Canadiens keep sticking around, and often by a hair; they've won four of their past six but all of them were one-goal games, three of which went beyond regulation time.
Even without key pieces of their ensemble the Blues keep humming along, currently tied with Edmonton for first in the West (that's still really weird to say). The Blue Jackets have lost seven of their past eight and scored two goals or less in five of them.
The Flyers and Senators should be a really fun matchup featuring two teams with young stars who don't mind getting their hands dirty. Former U-17 NTDP teammates and Boston U products Brady Tkachuk and Joel Farabee face each other in the NHL for the first time.
GOALIES
Matt Murray ($9,000) is a pricey play for a really undermanned Penguins squad, but the Devils' ability to implode this season has been truly astounding. Carey Price ($8,800) is another who doesn't quite justify his price tag because he's never been very good against the Caps.
Braden Holtby ($8,500) has always been a solid play (career .923 Sv%, 2.27 GAA) when he's on home ice. Frederik Andersen ($8,500), meanwhile, has not been good at home (.909 Sv%, 2.81 GAA) but it's hardly just him. The Leafs are lucky the Atlantic has been a mess, and despite some sweeping changes still don't look like they can beat the Bruins.
Jordan Binnington ($8,300) against a team that's 30th in goals per game (2.33) and 21st in SAT/Corsi % (49.20) is a really solid play. The Blues defense is one of the best and since his debut last season Binnington is fifth in save percentage (.925) and fourth in even-strength save percentage (.932).
Carter Hart ($7,600) has the potential steal the game but the Ottawa Jean-Gabriel Pageau's have played quite well. Hart has been fantastic lately, allowing two goals or less in five of his past six games. He's still streaky, but when he's playing well, he's close to elite tier.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Robert Thomas ($3,700) played a season-high 18:30 against Arizona, double his season debut of 9:45 against the Caps. He's on the first line and registered a shot in each of his past three games.
Jared McCann ($4,500) has two goals and four assists in his past four games and his role will surely expand without Crosby. He has some added value centering the second power-play unit.
Oskar Lindblom ($4,600) is having a fine sophomore season with 14 points in 18 games. He's been a fixture on the top six and his ice time has increased recently, playing at least 18 minutes in four of his past six games after accomplishing it just twice in the 12 preceding games.
Not having to face the Pens' key players will be nice for Jack Hughes ($5,000), who has zero points and five shots to show for his past three games but continues to get more ice time. He's got really good upside for a relatively cheap price.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
St. Louis Blues (TOTAL: $15,500)
C – Brayden Schenn ($6,200)
W – Jaden Schwartz ($5,600)
W – Robert Thomas ($3,700)
Schwartz's offense has come alive with three goals in four games, after scoring just one during October. Without Vladimir Tarasenko, someone has to shoot the puck, and Schwartz and Schenn (3 assists in 4 games) rank 3rd and 2nd on the team in shots, respectively.
Toronto Maple Leafs (TOTAL: $19,900)
C – Auston Matthews ($8,700)
W – William Nylander ($5,900)
W – Andreas Johnsson ($5,400)
Matthews' splits this season heavily favor him at home, but the best part is that this line is significantly cheaper ($5,300) than the Bruins' Perfection Line even though they've scored only one fewer goal (16-15), according to Natural Stat Trick.
DEFENSEMEN
John Carlson ($7,200) is just a cut above the rest right now and not having him just seems like a bold contrarian play. (Michal Kempny ($4,100) is an erstwhile D stack while paired with Carlson). Alex Pietrangelo ($6,400) really wants to get paid with a goal and six assists in his past four games. The two former Cup champions will be popular safe picks.
Shea Weber ($6,000) is also on a hot streak with three goals in four games, including a seven-shot, two-goal performance against the Kings. He's a consistent high-volume shooter and shot blocker, giving him a high floor, and he's one of those crazy guys who doesn't mind getting in the way of an Ovi bomb.
Zach Werenski ($5,600) has a goal in two straight games and leads all BJ defensemen in shots (51). Justin Schultz ($5,000) will play a big role on the PP as long as Letang is out, and the talent he gets to work with even sans Crosby is still very high. He had a goal and four shots against the Rangers.
The price tag for P.K. Subban ($4,700) isn't indicative of his talent, but my patience is running thin and until he starts putting up some points there's no reason to get sucked in by name recognition. You're better off with Matt Grzelcyk ($3,500), who is much cheaper and currently QB's the top PP unit.
