This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
The Devils return home and host the struggling Senators after a gruelling road trip, going 2-2-0 in six nights. Both teams are in the bottom five of the standings and it's a good thing we're getting the worst game out of the way first.
The Islanders may have had their 10-game winning streak snapped, but their streak of 12 consecutive games with a point remains intact. They'll host the Maple Leafs, who have lost two straight one-goal games and be without the services of top winger Mitch Marner. Barry Trotz's Isles are fifth in the league with three games in hand on the Caps, and their league-low 35 goals allowed is 10 fewer than the second-best team.
The Capitals are 8-1-1 on the road and the Flyers are 6-1-1 at home in a clash of red-hot teams. The Caps just had their six-game winning streak snapped in an overtime loss to Arizona, while the Flyers are on a season-high four-game winning streak, including a sweep of the top three Atlantic Division teams. This rivalry has always been high-scoring; since 2018, the winner of the game has scored at least five goals in five of the seven previous matchups.
The Stars are coming around with just one regulation loss in nine games, and after seeing what the Blues did last season, there's still hope even though their top players continue to underdeliver. The Flames, meanwhile, have lost four of their past eight and likewise get poor production from their star players.
The Blackhawks and Golden Knights will cap off the night. Vegas is reeling with just two wins in their past eight while Chicago continues to be plagued by inconsistent performances.
GOALIES
The Knights should be a safe bet at home against Chicago, but Marc-Andre Fleury ($8,900) has allowed 10 goals in three games. The Blackhawks' record may stink but they have some high-end talent to be wary of.
Frederik Andersen ($8,800) is a pricey option with the Leafs missing one of their top guns. Can they generate enough goal support? The Isles are very stingy and Semyon Varlamov ($8,100) seems like the way better bet and comes at a significant discount.
Braden Holtby ($8,200) has been lights-out recently with just one OTL in his past eight starts. He has not lost in regulation to the Flyers since the 2014-15 season, and last season he was a perfect 3-0 with a .933 save percentage. Carter Hart ($7,500) has won four straight and possesses the ability to steal a game, but the Caps are definitely the favourites.
You can roll the dice with expected starter MacKenzie Blackwood ($7,400), who seems to have taken over the No. 1 job coming off a 30-save win against the Canucks. The Devils (-170 on FanDuel Sportsbook) are the favourites but their possession metrics are only slightly better.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
There's not much value to be had for Reilly Smith ($5,700) at this price, but it's worth mentioning he's had a lot of success against Chicago. He has seven points in his past six games against them and 13 points on 40 shots in 16 career games.
Jack Hughes ($5,100) hasn't scored a point in two games but he gets a nice matchup against the Sens. He has the talent of a first-line center without the price tag, making him a potential value play. Sens winger Nick Paul ($3,400) is another intriguing play in this matchup. He has three assists in five games while playing top-six minutes.
Zach Hyman ($4,400) will make his debut and play on John Tavares' line opposite Kasperi Kapanen. Expectations should be tempered with Hyman coming back from a long-term injury, but he's playing a big role right away. Trevor Moore ($3,300) may get a few shifts with this line as well.
2018 first-round pick Joel Farabee ($3,600) still has a tight hold on the top line even if his production has been modest (3 points in 7 GP). A smaller player known for his scoring ability, he's a dirt-cheap option for a guy who has clear top-six potential getting playing time with the top power play.
Young Stars Jason Dickinson ($3,500) and Denis Gurianov ($4,300) are both interesting choices. Dickinson has a point in back-to-back games and skated on the top line with Alexander Radulov and Corey Perry with Mattias Janmark's status in question. With four points in four games, Gurianov's finally showing why the Stars brass were so high on him earlier this season.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
New Jersey Devils (TOTAL: $19,000)
C – Jack Hughes ($5,100)
W – Taylor Hall ($7,600)
W – Kyle Palmieri ($6,300)
It's a good line stack because the Sens allow a lot of scoring chances and give up 3.41 goals per game, eighth-worst in the league. This trio have combined for nearly 30 percent of the Devils' total goals.
Philadelphia Flyers (TOTAL: $16,300)
C – Claude Giroux ($7,400)
W – James van Riemsdyk ($5,300)
W – Joel Farabee ($3,600)
Farabee keeps the price of this line stack down and it's a great value play with high shot volume. Giroux and JVR rank first and second on the team in shots, and Farabee hasn't been gun-shy either with 26 shots in 11 games. The Caps are tough on defense but these games have traditionally seen more goals than expected.
DEFENSEMEN
John Carlson ($7,200) is a nightly must-have if you're looking for quality. He's the Norris front-runner and nobody comes close right now. Michal Kempny ($4,100) is riding the coattails and getting rewarded with six helpers in five games. You can totally stack this pairing.
Flames captain Mark Giordano ($6,100) has been a monster lately with three points in three games, including a two-point, nine-shot effort against Arizona. He hasn't missed a beat from last season.
In the $4,000-range, top power-play quarterbacks Shea Theodore ($4,700) and Miro Heiskanen ($4,600) are solid options. They're both highly touted for their skill and log plenty of minutes with their team's top offensive players. Vegas should have the easier time with Chicago's 21st-ranked PK.
Hulking Flyers defenseman Philippe Myers ($3,800) has the hottest hand with a goal in three straight games. It's a streak that's bound to end sooner or later, but that's what we always tell ourselves whether the streak is at three games or 10.
