FanDuel NHL: February 3

Jan 31, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho (20) celebrates his hat trick goal during the second period against the Philadelphia Flyers at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho (20) celebrates his hat trick goal during the second period against the Philadelphia Flyers at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /
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FanDuel NHL
Jan 29, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Metropolitan Division goaltender, and FanDuel NHL stud, Braden Holtby (70) of the Washington Capitals defends against Atlantic Division forward, and FanDuel NHL stud, Vincent Trocheck (21) of the Florida Panthers during the 2017 NHL All Star Game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

FanDuel NHL: February 3 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 at each position, and help you afford an ideal lineup for your big FanDuel NHL paydays.

FanDuel NHL has a solid slate of five games tonight, presenting a medium-range of lineup options. We’re going to focus on the lineup we feel is most ideal for cashing in Friday night.  Here is a list of scheduled NHL games, with the games we’ll focus on highlighted:

Blue Jackets at Penguins (7:00pm ET)

Islanders at Red Wings (7:30pm ET)

Ducks at Panthers (7:30pm ET)

Flames at Devils (7:30pm ET)

Oilers at Hurricanes (7:30pm 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

FanDuel NHL
Dec 29, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; New York Islanders forward John Tavares (91) against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Islanders 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Centers

For Center, we’re going to spend big on two young all-stars John Tavares ($8,300) and Vincent Trocheck ($7,000).  

While the Islanders are not having a good year, Tavares is still a stud on the ice.  After firing their head coach, the Isles’ Tavares reacted with a tremendous six-straight game FanDuel NHL double-digit performance.  John has five points in the last three games.  Even without a goal or assists against the Flyers on January 22nd, Tavares still had 10 shots leading to 16 FanDuel NHL points. With a great match up against a struggling Detroit Red Wings defense, Tavares is a likely double-digit play at Center tonight.

Vinny Trocheck, a Pittsburgh native, is a rising star for the Florida Panthers.  Since the start of the new year, Trocheck has 13 points (goal or assist) in 13 games.  Vinny is averaging double-digit FanDuel NHL points-per-game, and has a high 30-40 FanDuel NHL point ceiling.  The Panthers are playing at home tonight, which favors Trocheck, but they’re playing a tough Anaheim Ducks team with a good goalie in net, Gibson.  Still, Vinny has been un-phased by match ups and should be a good play tonight.

Next: Top Wings

FanDuel NHL
Oct 27, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Florida Panthers defenseman Jason Demers (55) celebrates a goal by Jonathan Marchessault (not pictured) in the first period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Panthers 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Wings

Since we just talked about the Panthers with Trocheck, we’ll look at one more hot Panther, Jonathan Marchessault ($5,600).  Jonathan has six double-digit FanDuel NHL point games in the Panthers last seven games.  Marchessault has three goals and three assists in that time.  Getting another double-digit night at home tonight is likely, and with an affordable mid-range salary.

The Carolina Hurricanes young 19-year-old Sebastian Aho ($5,800) has seen his FanDuel NHL salary rise over the last month, for good reason.  On Tuesday night, Aho had a hat-trick (3 goals) and assist, along with a power play goal on four shots.  In total, Sebastian piled up 54.6 FanDuel NHL points on the night, a tremendous result.  Aho and the Canes have a great match up tonight against the Oilers and a back up goal, Brossoit, at home in Carolina.

Speaking of the good match up for the Hurricanes tonight, another great vale play on Florida’s 3rd line is Elias Lindholm ($4,800).  Elias has three double-digit FanDuel NHL games in the Canes last four games.  Along with Aho’s fantastic night against the Flyers, Lindholm had two related assists, leading to 22.9 FanDuel NHL points that night.  We’re looking for another great night from the Panthers young talented 3rd line.

Another stack I like tonight is Anders Lee ($5,300) with our Tavares play, already, at Center.  Lee also has three double-digit FanDuel NHL games in the last five games, including two goals and two assists in that time.  Tavares and Lee should each have a great night tonight.

Next: Top Defense

FanDuel NHL
Jan 10, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defensemen Seth Jones (3) skates with the puck against Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Defense

Our top pick at defense is Seth Jones ($5,200).  This feels like a steal at only $5,200.  In the Blue Jackets last four games, Jones has two goals and four assists.  Seth has four-straight double-digit FanDuel NHL games heading into tonight’s game in Pittsburgh, exceeding 20 points in three of those games.  The Penguins have a solid Murray minding the net tonight, but the Blue Jackets have been generally un-phased by defense and goal tending in their best season ever.

Also on the ice in Pittsburgh tonight, but for the Penguins, is Trevor Daley ($4,500).  Playing on the Penguins 2nd line, Trevor is averaging over 20 minutes-per-game, leading to over one blocked shot and almost three shots per game in the last five games.  Add Daley’s two goals in the last three weeks and Trevor has been a bargain for FanDuel NHL players.  

Next: Top Goalie

FanDuel NHL
Jan 20, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward (30) watches a shot against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PNC Arena. The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 7-1. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Goalie

The Carolina Hurricanes ended a strong winning streak a few weeks before the NHL All-Star break. After a good December and great start to January, Cam Ward ($8,300) had three-straight negative FanDuel NHL point results between January 17th and January 23rd.

But since January 23rd, Ward and the Hurricanes have bounced back, including a 5-1 romp of the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.  Tonight, the Hurricanes are playing a rising Edmonton Oilers team. But, the Oilers are going with an inexperienced Laurent Brossoit ($7,300) in goal tonight.

Brossoit is 1-0 with 19.2 FanDuel NHL points per game.  If you’re expecting the Hurricanes to sputter, Laurent is a tremendous value play at goalie.  However, it’s more likely Ward and the Canes continue to roll, with a great goalie match up tonight, at home in Carolina Friday night.

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!