FanDuel NHL: December 16th

Dec 14, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center, and FanDuel NHL stud, Sidney Crosby (87) skates with the puck against the Boston Bruins during the second period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

FanDuel NHL: December 16th 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
Assists = 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 led 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

Dec 10, 2016; Sunrise, FL, USA; Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) gains control of a loose puck with Vancouver Canucks center Bo Horvat (53) during the second period at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Centers

For the second straight night, I love Aleksander Barkov ($6,600), the top center for the Florida Panthers. On Thursday night, we loved Barkov’s match-up against the Winnipeg Jets and he rewarded us with 17.3 FanDuel NHL points. With the Panthers playing the Colorado Avalanche tonight, we have a similar match-up. So let’s roll with Barkov one more time.

After you see the rest of this lineup, you’ll realize we could afford to find a more expensive option than Derek Ryan ($3,300). However, we can’t avoid Ryan’s value tonight. Over the last three games, Ryan had 18+ FanDuel NHL points, two of those nights landing at 30 points. We recommended Derek for Thursday and he piled up 29.8 points.

The Hurricanes have a tougher assignment tonight, facing the Washington Capitals. But, Ryan is still centering the Canes 2nd regular and power play lines and will have multiple opportunities for shots, assists, and goals. And because the Capitals will likely have a lot of shots on goal, Ryan is even a candidate for some blocked shots tonight. We’ll continue to roll with Derek’s bargain value for Friday.

Next: Top Wings

Dec 4, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) celebrates his goal in front of fans during the first period against the Anaheim Ducks at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Wings

At the wing position, we’re going to go with a Columbus Blue Jackets at Calgary Flames (9pm ET) stack.

Johnny Gaudreau ($7,600) is the Calgary Flames top offensive option this season. Gaudreau is consistently scoring around 20 FanDuel NHL points per game. Johnny’s salary is climbing, and if his play remains consistent, he’ll soon become one of the most expensive options for wingers. This game should have around five goals scored, and Gaudreau is likely to be involved in one or two of them. Let’s ride with Johnny’s value while we can.

To make this lineup affordable, I’m tagging another Calgary Flames winger with Gaudreau. Kris Versteeg ($3,700) finally returned to the Flames lineup on Wednesday after an injury. Versteeg was hot in early December, before the injury, and $3,700 seems like a steal if we can get back into form tonight.

Turning to the Blue Jackets, we like Cam Atkinson ($6,900) and Sam Gagner ($4,700). Averaging 18 minutes of ice time per game, Atkinson scored 19+ FanDuel NHL points per game over his last four games for the red-hot Blue Jackets. Gagner hasn’t been as consistent, but Sam is benefitting from playing on the Blue Jackets top power play line, scoring 25+ points in three of his last five games. Gagner is another potential bargain candidate for tonight.

Next: Top Defense

Dec 14, 2016; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns warms up prior to the start of game against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Sharks defeated the Senators 4-3 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Defense

When the San Jose Sharks are scheduled to play, I try to find a way to afford Brent Burns ($8,300) in my lineups. We’ve talked about Burns multiple times this season, so I won’t go over all the details around why Brent is the best defensive FanDuel NHL option this season, and was a great surprise last season. Over the last five games, Burns is averaging over 23 FanDuel NHL points per game and is a lock for double-digit points tonight against even a tough Montreal Canadiens team.

We need an affordable option to tag along with Burns for defense. Jason Schultz ($4,000) exploded on Wednesday against the Bruins and piled up 34.9 FanDuel NHL points. Schultz has double-digit points in four of his last five games, each of those double-digit games getting 17+ points. Jason has a favorable matchup against the Kings tonight, providing another double-digit point opportunity on a very reasonable $4,000.

Next: Top Goalie

Dec 12, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Matt Murray (30) makes a save against the Arizona Coyotes during the third period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 6-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Goalie

The Pittsburgh Penguins are heavy favorites, at home, tonight against the Los Angeles Kings. Matthew Murray ($9,300) is emerging as the top goalie for the Penguins this season, now 12-2-0 on the year, with a 1.93 GAA (Goals Against Average), and .935 save percentage. All of those numbers best the opposing Kings goalie tonight, Peter Budaj.

From a FanDuel NHL perspective as well, Murray is absolutely lighting up lineups with points. Over the last five games in net, Matt averaged 29.3 FanDuel NHL points per game. Each night, I try to target a goalie scoring between 20-30 points, and given Murray’s currently pace, that may actually be disappointing. There’s great upside with this play!

Next: DraftKings NFL Bargains Week 15

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!