FanDuel NHL: February 25 (Main)
By Matt Rogers
In Today’s FanDuel NHL column, we’ll review the best options at each position and help you afford the top scoring lineup for your big FanDuel NHL payday. The salary options are based salaries set by FanDuel today. Tonight, we’ll find the top scoring, but also best value, picks.
The NHL schedule starts off at 4pm ET today, but the day is split between the 4pm and 5pm ET start times and 7pm to 10pm start times. So FanDuel has a split slate of Early Only (4pm) and Main (7pm) options. We’re going to build a lineup targeting the MAIN slate. Here is a look at the schedule tonight:
Canadiens at Maple Leafs (7pm ET)
Flyers at Penguins (7pm ET)
Sabres at Avalanche (10pm ET)
Sharks at Canucks (10pm ET)
The Colorado Avalanche have the advantage of playing at home tonight, but over they’ve played poorly this season, and the Buffalo Sabres will be a big target for us. We’ll likely stack one of the Sabres lines. Also, you may have noticed the Sharks are playing tonight, so we’ll try to afford Bursny in our lineup.
Finally, the Flyers are playing in a Stadium Series event at Hienz Field in Pittsburg. I’d typically target Penguins in this game, but usually very unpredictable events occur in outdoor games. So we’re mostly going to fade the game in Hienz Field.
Next: Top Centers
Top Centers
The Buffalo Sabres 2nd line is on fire lately. The line is led by the 20-year-old rising star Jack Eichel ($7,300). While Eichel won’t light the lamp often, he’s involved in many of the goals the Sabres are scoring each game, averaging on helper per game over the Sabres last four games.
Jack’s last goal was on February 9th against the Ducks, but he’s still averaging around four to five shots per game. Tonight, in a juicy match up against the Avalanche, Eichel is a good bet for 12 to 20+ FanDuel NHL points for our lineup.
Tomas Hertl ($4,700) is a sneaky value pick off the Sharks 3rd line tonight. The Sharks are playing a porous defense in Vancouver, and Hertl has spent close to 20 minutes of ice time per game lately. Tomas has a goal and an assist in the last five games, but is also getting several shots on goal and had at least one blocked shot in the Sharks last five games.
Next: Top Wings
Top Wings
With Eichel already in our lineup, and a juicy match up for the Sabers in Colorado, we’re going to complete the 2nd line Sabres stack with Evander Kane ($6,000) and Sam Reinhart ($5,200). Reinhart is averaging around 15 FanDuel NHL points-per-game over the last six Sabres games. Sam and Evander are playing exceptionally well with Jack in their lineup. They would be a bigger story if Eichel and Kane were healthier earlier in the season.
Kane is the big name in the Sabres 2nd line, and he’s our big FanDuel NHL point scorer as well. Evander is averaging around 20 FanDuel NHL points over the last three Sabres games, and has a very good shot at another 20 points tonight.
While I’m mostly staying away from the Penguins and Flyers, I can’t ignore the value a quietly surging Brayden Schenn ($5,400) provides heading into tonight’s game. Schenn has three goals and an assist over the last three games, and is averaging nearly 20 FanDuel NHL points-per-game over that time. Even though I expect chaos to ensue tonight, Schenn is a sneaky value play after a long cold spell recently.
We’re going to cap off our four wings with a bit of a value reach. Jannik Hansen ($3,900) is getting round 15 minutes of ice time per game, playing on the Canucks 2nd line tonight. Hansen is mostly scoring in the four to six FanDuel NHL point range. However, he had a two assist result in Boston two weeks ago and is coming off a one goal, 16.8 FanDuel NHL point, effort against the Flyers this week. And I’ve noticed the Sharks’ Jones has struggled in net recently.
Next: Top Defense
Top Defense
With value in our center and wing lineup, and likely goalie as well, we’re going to spend big on defense tonight. I typically avoid spending too much on defense, because it can be a throw-away lineup spot, or you can usually find great value, but it’s hard to avoid these two on the same night.
Brent Burns ($8,600) is on the ice tonight. When the wing/defense hybrid NHL rock star is playing, I always find a way to afford him. Over the last four Sharks games, Burns is averaging an amazing 30 FanDuel NHL points. You can’t avoid that much return on your pick. He should be owned by everyone, and anyone who avoids him will lose. Brent is almost a lock for 20+ points in Vancouver tonight.
Shea Weber ($5,700) isn’t as dynamic, nor as much of a lock for points, as Burns. But Weber is a huge part of the Montreal Canadiens game, and will be on the ice close to 25 minutes tonight in Toronto. Weber is always good for one or many blocked shots, usually gets a few shots on goal, and often adds an assist or goal. Shea is a solid double-digit FanDuel NHL point option at defense tonight.
Next: Top Goalie
Top Goalie
We only have one more slot for the Sabres in our lineup. FanDuel prevents players from using more than four options from the same team. So we’re going to grab Robin Lehner ($8,200) in a highly advantageous match up tonight.
Lehner has been absolutely on fire, scoring over 30 FanDuel NHL points in three straight games, before burning out against the Blackhawks on the 19th. But most would chalk the last game up to fatigue. I’m assuming that’s the case. With rest and a great matchup tonight, Robin is my man between the pipes tonight!
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!