This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
We're nearing the midway point of the season, and teams are making changes. Five head coaches have already been fired, including three for squads that made the playoffs last year. Thursday features 12 NHL games, and 10 teams that are currently in playoff position will lace up the skate. Read on for tips and tricks to stake your claim in DFS glory tonight.
GOALIES
Frederik Andersen ($8,900) tops out among goaltenders in terms of price. He's been absolutely superb over his last six road games, registering a .936 save percentage, 1.88 GAA and five wins. The Flames are a tough matchup, though, as they've won six straight outings and lit the lamp at least three times in each contest. David Rittich ($8,000) looks up to the task, too, registering a .925 save percentage over the last three weeks.
During Jordan Binnington's ($8,600) short career, he's typically bounced back in spectacular fashion after a rough performance. The 26-year-old endured the first regular-season hook of his career Saturday, and now he'll host the Golden Knights, who have scored 2.30 GF/60 at even strength over the last month -- 22nd in the league. The Blues haven't been much better during that stretch, though, generating 2.43 GF/60, so Marc-Andre Fleury ($8,600) is in a similarly appealing position.
The meeting between Chicago and Arizona should have two solid options as well, as it's listed with a 5.5 O/U, per FanDuel Sportsbook. It's unclear who will be in Chicago's crease, but Corey Crawford ($7,500) and Robin Lehner ($8,000) have similar stats over the last month. However, Arizona's Darcy Kuemper ($8,800) is favored among the bunch, registering a .939 save percentage and 4-0-1 record over his last five starts.
My top-value goaltender is Alexandar Georgiev ($8,200), who has won four of his last five games, recording a .954 save percentage and two shutouts. While he'll be on the road, it's an intriguing matchup. The Sharks have dropped five straight contests and totaled just seven goals.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Nashville's penalty kill continues to be a liability, allowing 10.55 GA/60 over the last month -- the highest rate in the league. Kyle Okposo ($3,700) is set to center the second power-play unit, and he's starting to unearth his offensive potential, lighting the lamp twice over the last three games. Marcus Johansson ($4,600) and Conor Sheary ($4,100) also come in at a low price and will get time on the man advantage.
Ryan Dzingel ($4,800) is the bottom six's top scorer with 18 points over 31 games, and he sports a 53.9 Corsi For percentage. The Canucks' goaltending has struggled lately to the tune of 24 goals against over the last six games (4.0 average), lining Dzingel up well to exceed his valuation.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Winnipeg Jets (TOTAL: $22,800) 
C - Mark Scheifele ($7,800)
W - Kyle Connor ($6,500)
W - Patrik Laine ($7,900)
This trio combined for two goals and an assist in Tuesday's win over Detroit, and now they get a rematch on the road. The line has been much better away from home this year, too, as they average a combined 3.35 points per road contest. It remains an excellent matchup, too, since the Red Wings have allowed 3.72 GA/60 at even strength over the last month -- the highest rate in the league.
Pittsburgh Penguins (TOTAL: $21,800) 
C - Evgeni Malkin ($8,600)
W - Jake Guentzel ($8,100)
W - Bryan Rust ($5,100)
Guentzel leads the Penguins with 17 goals and 32 points, and Malkin isn't far behind with 27 points besides suiting up in just 20 contests. Getting healthy has helped the Penguins stack their top unit, and now they'll host Columbus, which has let up 3.54 goals per road game -- the eighth-highest rate in the league.
New York Islanders (TOTAL: $14,700) 
C - Mathew Barzal ($6,500)
W - Josh Bailey ($5,000)
W - Ross Johnston ($3,200)
Johnston's a new addition to the top line, but Bailey and Barzal have started 55.2 and 53.3 percent of their shifts in the offensive zone, respectively. The duo has capitalized on the opportunities, racking up four goals and nine assists over the last six games. What makes this line most appealing for tournaments, though, it that it's likely a low-owned option against a vulnerable opponent, as the Panthers have yielded 3.11 GA/60 over the last month,
DEFENSE
Kris Letang ($6,500) continues to register over 25 minutes per game, and his work extends to both zones with a 58.6 Corsi For percentage while starting 53.3 percent of shifts in the offensive zone. His floor is quite high as a result, and he has an intriguing upside against Columbus' flaky goaltending tandem.
Ryan Suter ($4,800) boasts a solid floor based on shots and blocked shots, and his scoring touch hasn't faded with 17 points over 31 games. The veteran will look to rev up against Edmonton's 3.65 GA/60 over the last month. Carson Soucy ($3,800) is also due for increased ice time with Jared Spurgeon (hand) on IR, and he's generated two goals and a plus-6 rating over four games in Spurgeon's stead.
Roman Josi ($6,300), Rasmus Dahlin ($5,100) and Rasmus Andersson ($3,600) all will be working against penalty kills ranked in the bottom-10 of the league while occupying a consistent role on the power play. Dahlin is expected to be in the lineup, but it's not a guarantee, so make sure to check if he's in the fold. His upside is excellent, though,with seven points on the man advantage this year.
