FanDuel NHL: January 18

FanDuel NHL: January 18 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 check the best options in each position, and help you afford an ideal 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.

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

Vincent Trocheck ($6,600) panned out well last night, and is a solid consideration against the Edmonton Oilers tonight.  However, because of the value we’ll see in several other positions, we have more salary to spend, so we’ll start with a more expensive Mark Scheifele ($7,600).

As we’ll revisit in several lineup spots, the Scheifele and the Winnipeg Jets have an ideal match up tonight against the Coyotes.  The 23-year-old top Center for the Jets is having another great season.  Scheifele is averaging nearly 20 FanDuel NHL points-per-game recently and beginning to score goals and pile up points at a torrid pace this season.

To afford Scheifele and save some salary for expensive options at wing and defense, I’m going to plug-in the L.A. Kings rookie Nic Dowd ($3,400).  Dowd isn’t going to blow up your lineup with points, but he’s actively shooting the puck while leading the Kings 3rd line.  Nic isn’t as much a goal-scorer as he is dish-er.  He’ll likely have an assist or two tonight, with several shots on goal.

Next: Top Wings

Top Wings

Since we already love the match up for Scheifele, we’re going to stack him with Blake Wheeler ($7,100) against the Coyotes tonight.  Wheeler has also been on fire lately, scoring double-digit FanDuel NHL points each of his last four games, and twice over 20 points.

Max Pacioretty ($7,600) had an up-and-down performance lately, scoring double-digit FanDuel NHL points almost every other game in the last month.  Max is due for a good game against Murray and the Pittsburgh Penguins at home in Montreal tonight.

Rounding out our four wings, we’re going to go with a pair of young Pittsburgh Penguins, Conor Sheary ($5,600) and Jake Guentzel ($3,400).  Sheary has been on fire lately and is playing on the top line with Crosby tonight.  Guentzel is utilized on the Pengs 2nd line, and is a high-value play likely scoring around 10 FanDuel NHL points on a very cheap salary.

Next: Top Defense

Top Defense

For Defense, we have plenty of salary left over and we’re planning for a value pick at goalie. So we’ll load up our defense spots with Shea Weber ($6,500) and Drew Doughty ($6,200).

The last time the Montreal Canadiens played the Penguins was in late December in Pittsburgh. Weber game out of the game with a very solid 16 FanDuel NHL points, as the result of an assist, shot on goal, and four blocks.  Shea should have another solid result tonight at home in Montreal.

Doughty has been on fire lately.  Drew has double-digit FanDuel NHL points in four of the Kings last five games.  Two of his last five games were over 20 points.  The Kings and Doughty seem to be playing well at home, in L.A., and that may continue tonight.

Next: Top Goalie

Top Goalie

There are several great goalie options tonight like Carey Price ($9,500) or Martin Jones ($9,000). But I don’t like their match ups.  Also, after spending a lot on Dubnyk last night with a poor result in return, I’m open to better values.

Ondrej Pavelec ($7,600) is confirmed in goal tonight for the Winnipeg Jets.  With Connor Hellebuyck and Michael Hutchinson each struggling in goal for the Jets, Winnipeg decided to try Pavelec again after waiving him before the start of the season.  Hence, Ondrej’s low salary for tonight.  I also like that Pavelec is playing for his career tonight.

The Jets have a juicy match up against a struggling Mike Smith and Arizona Coyotes tonight. Smith isn’t a bad goalie, but the Coyotes are young, inexperienced, re-building, and well…currently terrible.  This could be an ideal value at goalie allowing us to afford loading up on our other positions.

Next: FanDuel NFL Conf Champ Playoffs

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!