FanDuel NHL: New Year’s Eve
By Matt Rogers
FanDuel NHL: New Year’s Eve 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
Top Centers
Sidney Crosby ($9,400) is having a fantastic season. Crosby is also one of the most expensive players of all lineup options. But Sidney is incredibly productive and consistent for the Pittsburgh Penguins dynamic top scoring lines. Crosby averaged 25 FanDuel NHL points over the past two weeks, twice exceeding 30 points.
The Penguins face a good Montreal Canadiens team, whose cooled off lately, winning only five of their last ten games. And Carey Price is a great goalie, and having a great year, but Crosby is arguably the NHL MVP so far this season, and when he’s playing, he’s worth trying to afford in your lineup.
Mikael Backlund ($5,600) was our value play at Center for Thursday night’s games. Backlund’s salary has increased by $300, but he’s still worth another value play. Buckland had over 30 FanDuel NHL points in two of his last three games, and on Thursday he had over 15 points. Mikael should continue to roll tonight against a struggling Mike Smith, in goal, and the Arizona Coyotes.
Next: Top Wings
Top Wings
Nick Foligno ($6,600) continues his consistently fantastic play as the Columbus Blue Jackets end December trying to win their 15th straight game. We used Foligno in our lineup on Thursday, and he rewarded us with 36.5 FanDuel NHL points. On a salary almost $3,000 cheaper, Nick is putting up Sidney Crosby like numbers. Foligno is our top wing option today.
The Blue Jackets are playing the Minnesota Wild in what is expected to be a high-scoring New Year’s Eve matchup. Both teams are red-hot. This is going to be an exciting matchup and we need a big part of the result. Mikael Granlund ($5,700) is the likely top scoring winger for the Wild tonight.
On Thursday night, Granlund had a goal and assist along with seven shots on goal, totaling 32.1 FanDuel NHL points. Tonight, we could see a similar result on a bargain $5,700 salary.
Rounding out our four wing options, we’ll look for two affordable players. Josh Bailey ($4,700) and Ryan Spooner ($4,700) are both hot heading into their New Year’s Eve matchups.
Bailey is in the New York Islander’s top line heading into a favorable matchup against the Winnipeg Jets tonight. Bailey had a rough night against the Capitals on Tuesday, but that game aside, his last five games have been a bargain for FanDuel players.
Spooner plays on the Boston Bruins 2nd line tonight, at home against the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan just scored two goals against the Sabres in Buffalo on Thursday. Spooner piled up 27.2 FanDuel NHL points in that game. Ryan may not duplicate his effort from Thursday, but he’s likely to have another solid night on a bargain salary.
Next: Top Defense
Top Defense
The New York Rangers play the Colorado Avalanche in what is expected to be a high-scoring affair. Tyson Barrie ($5,000) has double-digit FanDuel NHL points in four of the Avalanche’s last five games. Barrie has five assists in his last three games. Heading into tonight’s matchup on a hot streak, Tyson should continue to be involved in a score or two against the Rangers, at home in Colorado.
Matt Dumba ($4,800), another great value at the defense position, has three double-digit points in the last four Minnesota Wild games. Dumba has a goal and three assists in that timeframe, and is heavily involved in the Wild’s power play game. As we already noted with our Foligno pick, the Blue Jackets vs. Wild game should be a dynamic and high-scoring game tonight.
Next: Top Goalie
Top Goalie
Chad Johnson ($8,300) probably isn’t high on your list of goalie options each week. But aside from save opportunities, matchups are very important when deciding which goaltender to plug into your lineup each day.
The Calgary Flames are playing better hockey this season, now 4th in the Pacific division. Calgary has won six of their last ten games. The Arizona Coyotes are struggling severely this year, currently one of the worst teams in the NHL. The Coyotes are heading into tonight’s matchup with a six game losing streak.
Johnson has only averaged around seven FanDuel NHL points-per-game in the last two weeks, getting only two starts. However, Chad hasn’t had a juicy matchup like this one. This is a great opportunity to sneak in a value pick for goaltender, and afford bigger plays like Crosby as our center.
Next: FanDuel NBA December 31st
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!