FanDuel NHL: Thursday Targets

FanDuel NHL: Thursday Targets

This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.

SLATE PREVIEW

It's a light load tonight with just two games, as the Predators host the Flames and the Golden Knights face off against the Canadiens. Both are cross-conference games, and all teams will be in the hunt for a playoff spot late in the season.  

Tournaments are tough in this setting, so no stone can go unturned. Read on further to find some high-value plays and skaters who would otherwise go under the radar. 

GOALIES

Vegas is thought to have one of the best home-ice advantages in hockey, but Marc-Andre Fleury ($8,900) hasn't been special in his barn this year with a .905 save percentage and 4-3-0 record. The Canadiens are getting hot now, too, as they've put up two straight wins and lit the lamp nine times in the process.  It does help that he'll get the luxury of a home start while the Canadiens play their second game in as many nights. 

David Rittich ($8,300) should get the nod for the Flames. His play has been up and down, and the Predators won't make it easy on him. They've won four straight with dominant offense, and they rank third in the league with 4.25 scores per home. 

The Flames are a favorable matchup when they're on the road, as they've averaged 1.63 goals per road game -- third-worst in the league. Pekka Rinne doesn't need any favors, however, as he ($8,800) carries back-to-back shutouts into this game while allowing more than two goals in just one start this season. He's my top play in this slate. 

As mentioned, the Habs will be on the latter half of back-to-back games, so Keith Kinkaid ($7,500) should be blue-paint bound. He wasn't good last year, and his .875 save percentage so far this season isn't any better. Don't expect any sudden changes in fate, as the Golden Knights rank ninth in the league with a 52.05 Corsi For percentage and have won six of their past nine outings. 

VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS

Nick Bonino ($4,200) and Rocco Grimaldi ($3,200) registered three points each in their last outing. While that isn't going to happen again, chemistry like this can trickle off for a few games, and they're worth a stream against a vulnerable goaltender.

The Canadiens have put Artturi Lehkonen ($4,000) in plenty of favorable situations, as he starts 62.6 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, and he doesn't face the top blueliners while working on the third line. Jesperi Kotkaniemi ($4,200) is just a tick lower, and he proved his scoring touch with 34 points last year.

Alan Quine ($3,200) was recently recalled from AHL Stockton, and he's working consistently in the top six. The Flames are waiting for him to break through at the top level after he racked up 1.2 points per game in the minors, so he supplies intriguing value at the price. 

FORWARD LINE STACKS

Vegas Golden Knights (TOTAL: $19,900)

C - Paul Stastny ($5,200)
W - Max Pacioretty ($6,900)
W - Mark Stone ($7,800)

They're listed as Vegas' second line, but they've accounted for the most points on the team with 36 through 13 contests. They're just getting started, too, as Pacioretty ranks third in the league with 54 shots on net, but his 3.7 percent scoring rate comes in as the lowest of his career by far. This unit is on the brink of something special.

Nashville Predators (TOTAL: $17,000)

C - Ryan Johansen ($5,700)
W - Calle Jarnkrok ($4,100)
W - Viktor Arvidsson ($7,200)

Jarnkrok is the unlikely leader of this line lately with four points over the last four games, while the other two traditional studs have three each. They're high-shot volume players too, so if they catch Rittich on an off night, it should be a productive evening. 

Montreal Canadiens (TOTAL: $16,100)

C - Max Domi ($6,300)
W - Jonathan Drouin ($5,400)
W - Joel Armia ($4,400)

This crew is rocking with five goals and two assists over the last three contests while combining for 32 shots on net in that short time frame. Considering Fleury hasn't been stealing games at home, plugging in this unit at a bargain should be worthwhile. 

DEFENSEMEN

With a new max-term contract in tow, Roman Josi ($6,700) will look to continue his takeover. He's second in the league among blueliners with 42 shots on net (3.5 per game), and he's failed to mark a point just three times this year. His partner, Ryan Ellis ($5,200) has matched his 13-point total to this point. Add either one in with the Predators' stack for additional positive correlation. 

Shea Weber ($5,500) just notched a two-point game for the third time this season. That brings him to six points in as many games, and he blocks enough shots while shooting plenty to maintain a sturdy floor.

Reigning Norris Trophy winner Mark Giordano ($6,100) continues to log monster minutes, but he goes pointless just as often as he doesn't. He does the same thing on the plus-minus chart, too. If you're spending up for him, considering easing the price tag with a solid-floor asset like Noah Hanifin ($3,700), who has notched at least 4.8 fantasy points in five straight outings. 

It's tough to find consistent D-men on the Golden Knights' roster. It looks like Nate Schmidt ($4,500) will be returning from IR, though, and he may be an underutilized player in tournaments. With a back-to-back, 30-point campaigns and enough shots on net to stay afloat, he could turn their ill fate on the blue line around. 

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Jordan Mazzara plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: Mazz30 Yahoo: Mazz30 DraftKings: Mazz30.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jordan Mazzara
Jordan has produced NFL and NHL content for RotoWire since 2017. He's the beat writer for the St. Louis Blues and Seattle Seahawks.
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