FanDuel NHL: February 16
By Matt Rogers
FanDuel NHL: February 16 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.
We’re back to a more robust eight-game FanDuel NHL schedule Thursday night. So we’ve got multiple options for lineups throughout the night, starting at 7pm ET through 10:30pm ET. Here’s a look at the schedule, with games we’ll focus on in bold:
Senators at Devils (7pm ET)
Rangers at Islanders (7pm ET)
Jets at Penguins (7pm ET)
Avalanche at Sabres (7:30pm ET)
Canucks at Blues (8pm ET)
Stars at Wild (8pm ET)
Flyers at Oilers (9pm ET)
Coyotes 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
Top Centers
The popular L.A. Kings center Jeff Carter ($7,500) is hot since catching fire toward the end of December. In February, Carter’s hot streak continues with five goals and two assists in five games for the Kings. The only downside to Jeff’s streak, it’s not as consistent as we’d like.
Carter can drop 25-40+ FanDuel NHL points in two or three games straight, but then follows that up with a zero point, or low single-digit game. However, after posting only 4.8 total FanDuel NHL points in Washington and Tampa Bay, Carter then dropped 46.9 points in Florida. So, Jeff is on the up-swing playing at home tonight against the Arizona Coyotes in a great match up for the stud Kings center.
The New York Rangers 3rd line has been consistently hot over the last several weeks. So starting with Kevin Hayes ($5,700) at center, we’re going to stack the line again tonight against the Islanders. Hayes has five assists and two goals over the Rangers last four games. If the streak continues, we should be in for a big night from the most valuable FanDuel NHL line lately.
Next: Top Wings
Top Wings
As we mentioned with our Hayes pick, we’re targeting the New York Rangers hot 3rd line for a nice top-value stack tonight. So for our first two wing picks, we’ll grab J.T. Miller ($6,200) and Michael Grabner ($4,900).
In February, Miller now has two goals and eight assists in just six games. J.T. can often get as much as four shots on goal and block some shots here and there, even when he’s not getting credit for a helper or slipping in a goal for the 3rd line.
Grabner has four goals and two assists in the same six-game span. Michael’s not as productive as Miller, hence the lower salary. But a sub-$5K salary for Grabner seems like a steal, given his consistent double-digit FanDuel NHL point pace over the last month.
Rounding out our four wings we’re going to spend big on a hot Jamie Benn ($8,500) and grab for value from the Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog ($5,400).
After three straight 18+ FanDuel NHL games from Benn, we plugged him into our lineups on Tuesday and we were rewarded with 30.1 FanDuel NHL points. Jamie has a tougher match up tonight, but we’ll keep rolling with Benn while he’s hot.
Aside from a very quiet night against the Islanders, in New York, Landeskog has been hot over the last six games, scoring double-digit FanDuel NHL points in five of the last six Avalanche games. Colorado has a juicy match up in Buffalo tonight and Gabriel should offer great value with this pick.
Next: Top Defense
Top Defense
The 20-year-old Philadelphia Flyer, Ivan Provorov ($4,800), is this year’s hot young rookie defender for the Flyers. Provorov rapidly emerged as a top defender for the Flyers since the start of the season. Ivan is on the ice for 22-24 minutes per game, is getting around three shots off each game, and blocks between two to five shots per game. Provorov is a consistent FanDuel NHL point generator, and with a goal or assist in the game, Ivan is a fantastic value, adding an additional 20 points to your lineup on a cheap salary.
Connor Murphy ($3,300) is our true value pick at defender tonight. Murphy has a goal or assist in three of the last four games for the Arizona Coyotes. Throw in a few blocked shots and shots on goal and you’re getting an 8-15 FanDuel NHL point play on a rock-bottom salary. This is our best option, making the rest of the lineup affordable.
Next: Top Goalie
Top Goalie
We had a fantastic 40 FanDuel NHL point return from Carter Hutton ($8,100) last night, in a great match up against the Red Wings at home in St. Louis. After getting a rest last night, the Blues are going to put a scolding hot Jake Allen ($8,200) back into the net tonight. As a result of the great Blues goal tending from this pair, St. Louis is quickly emerging again in the NHL. The Blues are putting together consistent wins and are taking advantage of good match ups.
Tonight, the Blues are playing at home again, in another juicy match up against the Canucks. With a night’s rest and Allen locked in lately, we should be din for a 25-30 save effort with a win, leading us to around 25-40 FanDuel NHL points with this pick.
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!