FanDuel NHL: February 1

Dec 7, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals defenseman, and FanDuel NHL stud, Brooks Orpik (44) and Boston Bruins center Riley Nash (20) battle for the puck in the second period at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

FanDuel NHL: February 1 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.

Tonight’s FanDuel NHL action includes three intriguing games. The Boston Bruins are playing in Washington, D.C. against a a hot Capitals team at the All Star break. The Calgary Flames are hosting a Minnesota Wild team beginning to pick up steam again. And the L.A. Kings are giving Jeff Zatkoff ($7,400) one ore shot in the NHL, against the worst team in the league, the Colorado Avalanche. If Zatkoff stumbles again tonight, he may have earned a trip back to the AHL.

Bruins at Capitals (8pm ET)

Wild at Flames (10pm ET)

Avalanche at Kings (10:30pm ET)

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

Next: Top Centers

Jan 16, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Washington Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner (27) and center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) talk prior to a face-off against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 8-7 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Centers

Heading into the All Star break, the Washington Capitals were on fire, climbing to the top of the NHL standings for total points. However, the Caps cooled off a bit just before the break, and started the 2nd half of the season with a 2-3 loss to the Islanders last night.

Still, Evgeny Kuznetsov ($6,800) continues to be a big part of the Caps scoring, win or lose. Last night, Evgeny recorded his 10th goal of the season. The 24-year-old Russian Center leading the Caps 2nd line now has 39 points, 36th in the NHL. In January, Kuznetsov averaged around 20 FanDuel NHL points-per-game, and there is no indication that’ll end in February.

Tonight, the Caps have a challenge with the Bruins Tuukka Rask ($8,700) in net. But Rask wouldn’t be a good play in goal tonight for FanDuel NHL, because the Capitals, and Kuznetsov, seem to be unaffected by who’s in goal. They have scored regardless of who is trying to stonewall them.

That leads us into the value pick for Center, Lars Eller ($3,500). Eller is leading the Capitals 3rd line tonight, but had 0 FanDuel NHL points last night with 13 minutes on the ice against the Islanders. However, Eller has double-digit FanDuel NHL points in four of his last seven games, including a two goal result against the Penguins on January 16th. I expect Eller to bounce-back tonight as a solid value play.

Next: Top Wings

Jan 26, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) skates with the puck during the third period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at TD Garden. The Bruins won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Wings

Playing left wing on the Boston Bruins top regular and power play lines, Brad Marchand ($7,500) continues to provide consistent FanDuel NHL production lately. Over the last three games, Marchand has between 20-34 FanDuel NHL points-per-game. Even though Holtby will be in goal tonight, Marchand seems un-phased by the goal tending match up and is a good play tonight compared to other options at win.

Reflecting Marchand on the Capitals is T.J. Oshie ($7,200). Oshie is another consistently strong FanDuel NHL point option at wing each night the Caps are on the ice. T.J. only had 1.6 points last night against the Isles, but we suspect Oshie will bounce back to his consistent double-digit FanDuel NHL point average this year against the Bruins.

We’re going to use our 4th, and final, Capitals spot again at wing with Andre Burakovsky ($5,300). The 21-year-old Austrian was tremendous hype leading into the season for the Capitals, but struggled in the first few months of the season.

However, Andre appears to be more comfortable on the NHL ice lately and is landing more consistent double-digit FanDuel NHL nights for our rosters. With three of his last five games in the 13 to 29 point range, Burakovsky should bounce back tonight with another double-digit point result.

Finally, with a very good match up against the Calgary Flames, we’ll pluck a Wild wing into our lineups with Jason Pominville ($5,400). Pominville has been on a very consistent tear lately, scoring double-digit FanDuel NHL points in each of his last six games for the Wild. With a 15+ point average in that time, I expect Jason to give us 15-20 points tonight.

Next: Top Defense

Dec 16, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Los Angeles Kings defenseman Alec Martinez (27) takes the ice prior to playing the Pittsburgh Penguins at the PPG PAINTS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Defense

For our first February lineup of the 2017 FanDuel NHL season, we’ve made some big expensive plays at wing, and will make another expensive play at goalie in a minute. So with the two defensive spots, I’m going to look for best value.

Alec Martinez ($5,600) is averaging over 20 minutes on ice per-game lately, as a defender on the L.A. Kings 2nd regular and power play lines. Martinez consistently gets shots on goal and usually have one ore more blocked shots, so he’s good for a solid 5-10 FanDuel NHL points in every game. But Alec also has a goal and assist in his last three games. With such a good match up tonight in L.A. against the Avalanche, Martinez should climb above 10 points tonight.

Brandon Carlo ($3,800) didn’t log any points in Tampa Bay last night, but playing on the Bruins first line with a very low salary, he’s likely flying under everyone’s radar as a high-value option on defense. Carlo will be on the ice for over 20 minutes tonight and piles up shots from time-to-time. With the Capitals dynamic offense, I suspect Carlo will have multiple block-shot opportunities followed by a few shots on goal later in the game, and hopefully an assist or goal as well.

Next: Top Goalie

Jan 26, 2017; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk (40) before the game against the St Louis Blues at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Goalie

Like most goalies in the NHL All Star game, Devan Dubnyk ($9,600) got burned several times over the weekend. But the Minnesota Wild gave Dubnyk the night off against the Oilers on Tuesday, in a 5-2 victory. Tonight, the Wild look to continue to roll in Calgary with Dubnyk back on the ice.

Tonight’s match up should be favorable for the Wild. The Flames have looked good at times, but are an even par hockey team. The Minnesota Wild are having a fantastic season, thanks to solid defense and one of the best goaltenders in the NHL this year, Dubnyk. The Flames will have Johnson in net and he’s struggled several times this season. So, it’s no wonder Vegas has the Wild favored tonight. And, that means we have a better-than-solid chance for 12+ points from Devan in our lineup.

Next: FanDuel NBA Picks & Pivots

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!