FanDuel NHL: February 18 (Main)

Feb 16, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Islanders center Anders Lee (27) checks New York Rangers defenseman Nick Holden (22) during the third period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

FanDuel NHL: February 18 (Main) 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.

The NHL has eleven games scheduled today. So FanDuel NHL has an All Day (1pm ET), Early Only (1pm ET), and Main (7pm ET) slate of lineup options. With only three games beginning between 1pm to 3pm ET, we’re going to focus on the Main slate of games for our lineup today. Here’s a look at the schedule for tonight, games starting between 7pm ET and 10pm ET, with the targeted games highlighted in bold:

Senators at Maple Leafs (7pm ET)

Islanders at Devils (7pm ET)

Oilers at Blackhawks (7pm ET)

Lightening at Stars (8pm ET)

Predators at Wild (8pm ET)

Sharks at Coyotes (8pm ET)

Flames at Canucks (10pm ET)

Panthers at Kings (10pm 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

Feb 16, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; Vancouver Canucks center Bo Horvat (53) celebrates after scoring a goal against St. Louis Blues goalie Jake Allen (34) during the first period at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Centers

We’re starting our lineup off with two great value plays at Center. This will allow us to make some big salary splashes at wing and defense. Moves that should help us land a big pay-day.

The Canucks young 21-year-old all-star leader of the 2nd line, Bo Horvat ($4,900) is a steal at this salary. Bo has four double-digit FanDuel NHL point games in the last five games, including two 26 point efforts in Boston and Buffalo. Horvat has three goals in the last three games for the Canucks. Tonight, Horvat is in Vancouver playing a Calgary Flames team who will give a few goals.

Devin Shore ($3,800) leads the 2nd Dallas Stars line with two greats, Seguin and Spezza. The Stars have a good match up tonight at home against the Tampa Bay Lightening. The Stars offense has been hot lately, and it’s likely the Stars 2-line gets a goal in net. If they do, Shore should be involved, like he was in Nashville earlier in the week. This is a value play with some big 20-point range upside.

Next: Top Wings

Feb 4, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) skates against the Dallas Stars during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Blackhawks defeat the Stars 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Wings

We’re going to start our wing picks off with two big salary splashes. Patrick Kane ($8,400) and Nikita Kucherov ($7,500) are two of the more expensive options on the board, but also the most exciting. Kane has five-straight 18+ FanDuel NHL points-per-game since the start of February. Patrick had four goals and five assists since the beginning of February. Kane should continue his hot streak at home, in a likely shoot-out, against the Edmonton Oilers.

Kucherov started the month of February with three straight double-digit FanDuel NHL point games. However, Nikita cooled off in Minnesota and Winnipeg. That ends tonight. The Bolts are playing in Dallas against a horrendous Stars defense and questionable goal tending. Nikita should be a top target tonight.

If you want to fade Kucherov, consider finding a way to pay up for Jamie Benn ($8,500). I initially had Benn in my lineup, because he’s very hot, and the Tampa Bay Lightening defense, and Bishop have struggled defending shots lately. But, Kurcherov allows us to save some cash for a great mid-range value play at win, and our big play on defense later.

I was high on the Islanders for a few weeks, with guys like Anders Lee ($5,500) helping me win multiple nights in a row. Then, the Isles were boat-raced by the Maple Leafs in a 7-1 blowout. It appeared the Islanders were falling down again, after a sudden mid-season burst. But after fading the Isles against the Rangers this week, and losing, I’m not making that mistake again.

Lee had an off night against the Leafs, only 1.6 FanDuel NHL points. But he followed that up with a goal, three shots, and a blocked shot for 18.4 points against the Rangers on Thursday night. That’s Lee’s four goal in five games. Anders may have some off nights here and there, but tonight against the Devils in New Jersey likely isn’t one of them.

Our value play at wing is Richard Panik ($4,200). Panik will be on the top line for the Blackhawks tonight in Chicago, again facing the Oilers. The great thing about Panik is he’s playing with Toews and will have scoring opportunities tonight. Richard is coming from a 44.2 FanDuel NHL point night in Edmonton earlier in the week. He’s absolutely worth a value consideration for that reason tonight.

Next: Top Defense

Feb 12, 2017; Newark, NJ, USA; San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) and San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns (88) celebrate their 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Defense

Brent Burns ($8,500), a unique candidate for the Hart Trophy, is a rare hybrid defender. Burns can play wing as well, but more effective at the point and defends well. Burns averages around 25 minutes of ice time a game, will get you roughly six shots on goal, and usually has an assist or goal each game. Add on a few blocked shots, and it’s not surprising Burns often scores over 20 FanDuel NHL points-per-game.

As we’ve talked about many times, if Burns is on the ice, he should be in your lineup. Brent scores too consistently to fade him. And tonight, Burnsy and the Sharks have a juicy matchup in Arizona against a struggling Coyotes team.

Niklas Hjalmarsson ($3,700) is one of the few un-sung heroes of the Chicago Blackhawks. Hjalmarsson defends the top line for the Hawks and is averaging nearly six blocked shots per game lately. Nik is a big reason the Blackhawks stay in shoot-outs because defense on the rest of the line hasn’t been solid. In the past three games, Hjalmarsson also has two assists. I think he gets another one tonight at home in Chicago in another likely shoot-out against the Oilers.

Next: Top Goalie

Jan 19, 2017; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks goalie Aaron Dell (30) takes a break in the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third period at SAP Center at San Jose. The Sharks won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Goalie

The San Jose Sharks are giving Martin Jones the night off, so they’re dusting-off Aaron Dell ($8,200) and putting him in-between the pipes tonight. While we’ve only seen the 27-year-old Dell in ten starts this season, he’s done well backing up Jones. Aaron is now 6-3-1, including a shut out.

Dell’s last start was an overtime loss in Philadelphia, but he had 33 saves and only gave up two goals totaling 18.4 FanDuel NHL points. That’s one of the reasons I like Dell tonight. The Coyotes offense has been more active lately, giving Aaron more opportunity for saves. Also, while the Sharks will be in Arizona, they’re a better team than the Yotes and Dell is more likely to offer the 12-point win for us as well.

If you’re going to fade Dell, I’d consider paying up for Devan Dubnyk ($9,600). Devan is having a career season, and is in a favorable match up against the Predators at home in Minnesota. The down-side to Dubnyk, and why I like Dell, is that he’s expensive and makes affording guys like Burns very difficult.

Next: DraftKings NBA ASB Picks

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!