FanDuel NHL: October 17th

Apr 30, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Islanders defenseman, and top FanDuel NHL defensive option, Johnny Boychuk (55) and Tampa Bay Lightning center Alex Killorn (17) fight to control the puck during the third period of game two of the second round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the New York Islanders 4-1.Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

FanDuel NHL: October 17th is a daily fantasy sports column focusing on the best FanDuel NHL player and value options for your daily lineups. The salary options are based on the daily salaries set by FanDuel. We’ll review the best options in each position, and help you afford an optimal lineup for your big FanDuel NHL paydays.

Before we review the top options for each FanDuel NHL lineup position, let’s review the FanDuel NHL scoring rules:

Forwards/Defense

Goals = 12pts
Assistes = 8pts
Shots on Goal = 1.6pts
Short Handed points = 2pts
Power Play Points = 0.5pts
Blocked Shots = 1.6pts

Goalies

Win = 12pts
Goals Against = -4pts
Saves = 0.8pts
Shutouts = 8pts

Given the FanDuel NHL scoring options, we know the top options for offense and defense are players who tend to score a goal or record an assist in most games. Also, if one of those players is often playing on the penalty kill, there’s an added benefit if they could score the unique short-handed goal. The Ottawa Senators lead the NHL in the 2015-2016 season with 17 short-handed goals.

As for Goalies, you’ll want to pick a goalie on a team who has the highest winning percentage of the day. Losing the 12 point win can easily be the difference between losing money and a big pay-day. A FanDuel comparison would be picking a MLB pitcher who will most likely win.

Now that we’ve established the rules and goals for playing FanDuel NHL, let’s take a look at tonight’s best options:

Next: Top Centers

Sep 27, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) reacts after scoring a first period goal against the New York Islanders during a preseason hockey game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Centers

Chris Kreider is leading the Rangers in points after two games, with 4, and has played very well in a line with Mika Zibanejad ($6,000). Zibanejad is a young, 23 year-old, Center emerging as the top point option for the New York Rangers. Mika was a first round pick, in the 2011 draft, of the Ottawa Senators. Tonight, the Rangers face a tough San Jose Sharks team, with Martin Jones tending goal. Jones has looked great so far this year, but Jones gave up two games on 28 shots to Columbus on Saturday, and he’s now facing a good Rangers team in New York tonight.

Zibanejad’s line should be able to at least earn a point, and Mika will likely benefit. Also, Zibanejad has been the Rangers Center on their top power play line, which adds an additional value. With a salary of only $6,000 and an average of 20 FanDuel NHL points per game, Mika is a great value option at Center tonight.

Mark Scheifele ($7,200) is hot starting this season. The 23 year-old Winnipeg Jet has a goal in each of his two games, an assist, is averaging three shots on goal per game, and has three total blocks. Ironically, Scheifele was taken just after Mika Zibanejad in the 2011 NHL draft and I love playing them together tonight. Like Mika, Scheifele is also the Center on the Jets top power play line. The big question about the Jets tonight, though, is how many can they get by Tuukka Rask? Rask can be fantastic in the next, but he struggles, it’s bad. There’s some risk playing Scheifele against Rask tonight, but Mark should continue to pile up 20 FanDuel NHL points this week.

Next: Top Wings

Oct 15, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Winnipeg Jets forward Blake Wheeler (26) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Wings

A common Daily Fantasy Sports strategy is to use what’s call a ‘stack.’ The benefit of stacking in FanDuel NHL using players who are on the ice together. The idea is that if one guy scores, the other could pick up an assist on the goal. So now, instead of getting three points for a goal, you are getting five points. If you stack a full line, you could be getting seven points.

As we already discussed, we love Mark Scheifele tonight. Mark’s top winger on the Jets 1st line is Blake Wheeler ($7,500). Wheeler is a point machine. After two games, Blake already has two goals and two assists. Wheeler is also averaging four shots on goal per game, and even has a short-handed goal already this season (+2 points). Paying $7,500 for an average of an average of 27+ per game is a solid bargain. We’re looking for Wheeler to keep rolling tonight (pun intended).

To afford the Wheeler and Scheifele’s stack, let’s go with the boom or bust Joel Ward ($4,000). Ward can be a fun or frustrating fantasy option, because he typically has games were he’s involved in every game scored, or is completely quiet. So you never know what you’re going to get from him, but he’s hard to avoid. However, that’s why I like Ward as a value option. He’s helping us afford the big hitters, and could have an added benefit, when he takes on the Rangers tonight in the San Jose Sharks’ 3rd line.

Two other options I like tonight are David Pastrnak ($5,300) and Joe Colborne ($5,000). Each are affordable options and they’re both starting the season with some insanely hot numbers. Pastrnak is averaging 38.3 FanDuel NHL points per game, after scoring three goals with two assists, 14 shots, and a power play goal at Columbus and Toronto. I have no problem paying $5,300 to see if David stays hot in my lineup. Colborne has only played in one game this season, on Saturday, but he netted a hat trick against the Dallas Stars, totaling 45 FanDuel NHL points. If these guys stay hot, this could be a big night for us!

Next: Top Defense

Oct 12, 2016; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) skates with the puck in front of Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) in overtime at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators defeated the Maple Leafs 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Defense

At defense, I’m going with the two Erik options tonight, Erik Karlsson ($7,200) and Erik Johnson ($4,600). Karlsson is one of the top point-getters among all defensivemen in the NHL, and debatably one of the best players in the NHL. Karlsson is starting the season hot, and is the primary reason behind each of the Ottawa Senators goals in their first two games. You should have no problem paying $7,200 for Karlsson against the Red Wings in Detroit tonight, he’s worth it.

Erik Johnson is a very cheap option for the top defensiveman on the Colorado Avalanche’s 1st line. In the Avalanche’s only game this season, Johnson had 19.7 points. Johnson’s salary is dirt-cheap and he’s going to be on the ice a lot tonight, especially if there are a few penalty kill scenarios. Playing Johnson also allows you to buy Karlsson. It’s a great combination.

Next: Top Goalie

Oct 5, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie Calvin Pickard (31) reacts to a call during the second period against Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Goalie

The Colorado Avalanche are a young team, and using their goalie is a risky play. But you don’t win FanDuel NHL tournament money without taking some risks. Calvin Pickard ($7,900) is tending the net tonight for the Avalanche as they take on the reigning Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. This is Pickard’s first start of the season. If the young 24 year-old goalie plays well tonight, he could see many more starts in the immediate future for the Avalanche. We’re rolling the dice with this one, but the early part of the season is when we see the most surprising outcomes. It may take a while for the Penguins to find their groove again, and Pickard would benefit from a Pittsburgh sputter.

Next: NHL 2016 Fantasy Hockey Draft Rankings

Always check NHL lineups throughout the day when playing FanDuel NHL. As a fan, you likely know the league isn’t overly forthcoming with injury news, and players are often scratched at the last minute with little information. Also, goaltenders are never a sure thing. Good Luck today Fanduelers!