This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
The new-look Devils will host the Ducks after acquiring three players from Arizona for Taylor Hall. That leaves Kyle Palmieri as their leading scorer with just 20 points, but they should at least be fresh after a three-day break. The Ducks lost 4-1 to the Flyers last night.
The Avalanche roll into Chicago to face the Blackhawks, who recently snapped their four-game losing streak after defeating the Wild, 5-3. In two previous meetings this season the Avs have outscored them 12-5.
The Blues have won three straight and will host the Oilers, who are trying to get back on the right track after losing four of their past five. It was a special teams extravaganza when they last met in November, with the Blues scoring two power-play goals and another two shorthanded empty netters to win 5-2.
GOALIES
Jordan Binnington ($8,600) should be a solid pick and any goalie facing Connor McDavid should be shaking in their pads, but he allowed just two goals against the Avs (first in GF/GP). The Blues are much more consistent and experienced. Mikko Koskinen ($8,100) should get the start after allowing one goal against Dallas but he's also allowed three goals or more in three of his past five games.
Philipp Grubauer ($8,000) allowed four goals in his first game back from injury and should get the start again as the Avs try to get him back on track. Pavel Francouz ($8,700) is a little less appetizing because of the premium but the Avs should be heavily favored regardless. Robin Lehner ($7,900) remains streaky and his defense doesn't do him any favors.
Ryan Miller ($7,300) might be a sneaky value play if there were more goalies to pick from, but you should have enough money left over even after picking some of the more productive players to make a safer bet. MacKenzie Blackwood ($7,100) has allowed just four goals in is 210 minutes of play (1.14 GAA).
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Jordan Kyrou ($3,100) skated on the top line with Brayden Schenn and Jaden Schwarz and since his call-up has scored a goal in four games. His ice time will be limited but he's getting a top-six role right away.
Jesper Bratt ($3,500) moved up to the top line in Hall's absence and has recorded eight shots in two games. It's a big bonus the Devils don't have to face John Gibson. Nikita Gusev ($4,000) is just behind with six shots in two games, though five of them came against the Avs.
Rickard Rakell ($5,900) has the hot hand with two goals and four assists in his past five games after a tough stretch during which he had just two shots in three games. The Ducks lines are in flux but Rakell remains one of their top offensive players, and the Devils are a bad defensive team.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Colorado Avalanche (TOTAL: $21,600)
C – Nathan MacKinnon ($9,200)
W – Mikko Rantanen ($7,800)
W – Andre Burakovsky ($4,600)
At this price Rantanen should be considered a value play because he's not too far off from MacKinnon in terms of production. Burakovsky keeps this line cheaper than Gabriel Landeskog, but as always any time you can stack MacKinnon it's worthwhile, especially given the Avs' success vs. Chicago this season.
DEFENSEMEN
There's not a whole lot of elite D to choose from Alex Pietrangelo ($6,200) is about as safe as you can get. Oscar Klefbom ($5,700) is the same way in that both defensemen can contribute in both categories. Klefbom has three points in two games while Pietrangelo has four in five. Darnell Nurse ($4,300) is a nice value play and ranks fourth in FPPG with Cale Makar still injured.
Cam Fowler ($5,100) has put 14 shots on net in his past three games but has zero points to show for it. He might be a popular pick because the Ducks should be favored against the Devils, but the production is so sparse it might be better to just avoid him and look elsewhere; Hampus Lindholm ($4,300) has three points in two games.
Samuel Girard ($4,500) has two assists in two games and remains the QB on the top power-play unit. The Blackhawks PK ranks 18th in the league. Ryan Graves ($4,200) also continues to roll as his ice time increases.
