FanDuel NHL: February 23

Feb 10, 2017; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; A Chicago Blackhawks fan waits for Chicago Blackhawks right wing, and FanDuel NHL stud, Patrick Kane (88) at the glass with her sign prior to the game between the Winnipeg Jets and the Chicago Blackhawks at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports /

FanDuel NHL: February 23 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.

Thursday night is back to a fuller slate of six games on the NHL schedule. Although this is a lighter schedule than we’re used to for Thursday night. Still, we have plenty of options to build a fantastic FanDuel NHL lineup tonight. Here is a look at the games we’ll target for Thursday Night Hockey:

Rangers at Maple Leafs (7:30pm ET)

Flames at Lightening (7:30pm ET)

Avalanche at Predators (8pm ET)

Coyotes at Blackhawks (8:30pm ET)

Bruins 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; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Tyler Johnson (9) skates back to the bench after he scored a goal past Los Angeles Kings goalie Peter Budaj (31) in the first period of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Centers

The Tampa Bay Lightening’s top line led by Tyler Johnson ($5,800) has been on fire lately. Since late January, Johnson is accumulating one to two assists per game and has four goals in the last nine games. Tonight, Tampa Bay welcomes the Flames in a favorable match-up for Johnson’s line. Tyler should be a solid double-digit play tonight.

Artem Anisimov ($6,100) is one of our two-person Blackhawks stack in Chicago, tonight, against the Coyotes. After a blazing hot start to the season, Anisimov cooled off by mid-year. But Artem is still recording three to four double-digit FanDuel NHL point games over each five game stretch. Anisimov is paired with a hot Kane as his wing-man and should have a goal or assist tonight.

Next: Top Wings

Feb 19, 2017; Buffalo, NY, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) celebrates after scoring on the Buffalo Sabres during the third period at KeyBank Center. The Blackhawks beat the Sabres 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Wings

We’re going to stack Anisimov with Patrick Kane ($8,200), each on a hot Blackhawks 2nd line. On the 18th of February, Kane only had 4.8 FanDuel NHL points, and more recently had 9.6 points in Minnesota. But those games aside, he’s averaging around 25 FanDuel NHL points-per-game in February. Kane’s last game against the Coyotes, he piled up 28.5 FanDuel NHL points in Arizona.

Sticking with the Blackhawks, we’re going to grab a value pick from the first line in Richard Panik ($4,300). Panik has quietly been on fire lately, recording 17 to 44 FanDuel NHL points over the Blackhawks last four games. It’s likely Richard stays hot tonight.

On Tuesday, two of our top wing plays were Tanner Pearson ($5,700) and Viktor Arvidsson ($5,700). Pearson recorded an assist and only had one shot on goal, but still ended the night with 11.2 FanDuel NHL points. Tonight, I expect more from Pearson on home ice against a Bruins’ team struggling on the west-coast road trip.

Arvidsson also had an assist on Tuesday, but recorded two shots on goal, and with a blocked shot totaled 12.8 FanDuel NHL points. Arvidsson bounced back and should snowball tonight in a fantastic match up against the Avalanche on home ice.

Next: Top Defense

Feb 21, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) skates with the puck during the third period against the Calgary Flames at Bridgestone Arena. The Flames won 6-5 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Defense

Another Predator I love against the Avalanche tonight is Roman Josi ($6,100). Josi is absolutely on fire lately, recording seven straight FanDuel NHL double-digit points over the Predators last seven games. Over those seven games, Roman had four goals and four assists, is getting several blocked shots per game, and is consistently shooting on goal multiple times each game.

Like some of our wing plays, Jake Gardiner ($4,400) is another re-peat play from our Tuesday lineup. Gardiner has almost 60 FanDuel NHL points over the Leafs last two games. Spending only $4,400 on Jake tonight is a great value on home ice against the Rangers.

Next: Top Goalie

Feb 21, 2017; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) makes a save in the third period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Chicago Blackhawks beat the Minnesota Wild 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Goalie

A lot of FanDuel NHL players will target Rinne tonight against a terrible offensive Colorado team. The Avalance are on the road in Nashville tonight. I prefer to fade that option. The Avalanche will not have many shots on goal, and Rinne has been bad defending the net lately.

For the same price, you can grab a more confident Corey Crawford ($8,700), also on home ice tonight in Chicago. The Blackhawks are welcoming the Coyotes tonight. Arizona has been hot offensively, but that’s mostly been on home ice. Actually, the last time the Hawks faced the Yotes was in Arizona, and Crawford recorded a win and 19.2 FanDuel NHL points. Over the last six Chicago games, Crawford has averaged around 20 FanDuel NHL point-per-game and tonight will be no different.

Next: FanDuel NBA Feb 23

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!