FanDuel NHL: February 27
By Matt Rogers
Welcome to the Monday, FanDuel NHL: February 27, column. We’ll continue to review the best options at each FanDuel NHL position. We’ll focus on top scoring plays and best value options. The salaries for each player we discuss are based on FanDuel’s salaries set for Monday.
Yesterday’s lineup resulted in a 139 FanDuel NHL point score. The score very likely would’ve been higher, if it weren’t for the sudden announcement Arizona Coyotes’ Martin Hanzal had been traded to the Wild. The news, after the 5pm lock, reduced one of our top picks to a certain zero points. It was still a decent result, but would’ve been better.
The NHL schedule on Monday night is quiet, with only three games scheduled. So our lineup options are going to be challenging, as we have limited options for each position. Here is a look at the schedule tonight:
Canadiens at Devils (7pm ET)
Senators at Lightening (7:30pm ET)
Kings at Wild (8pm ET)
We will find top scoring and solid value plays from each of these teams. Even though we usually fade the offensive team matching up against our goalie, that will be a challenge tonight. We need to avoid that rule for one or two picks.
With the Minnesota Wild playing a shaky Kings defense on home ice tonight, I’m going to target the Wild as a stack for tonight’s lineup. Starting with centers, we’re going to stay in New Jersey tonight.
Next: Top Centers
Top Centers
Leading the Montreal Canadiens 2nd line, Alex Galchenyuk ($5,600) had a goal and assist, totaling 26.9 FanDuel NHL points in Toronto on Saturday. Alex also had four shots on goal. Galchenyuk’s line has been hit-or-miss over the last two months. Some nights Alex is dropping double-digit FanDuel NHL points into our lineup, others he’s providing low value.
However, the match up tonight in New Jersey, and coming off a hot game, makes Galchenyuk more appealing. The last time the Habs were in New Jersey, Alex had one power play goal, two assists, and a blocked shot. In total against the Devils Galchenyuk had 32.7 FanDuel NHL points. Tonight, I’m expecting at least another double-digit FanDuel NHL point effort from Alex.
Travis Zajac ($4,800) has been hot lately, scoring four double-digit FanDuel NHL point games in the Devils last four games. In that time, Travis had two goals and four assists. We featured Zajac as a value play in one of our articles last week and he paid off. Tonight, we’re expecting Travis and the Devils top line to stay hot on home ice against the Canadiens.
Next: Top Wings
Top Wings
At wing, we’re going to start stacking Minnesota Wild players. Nino Niederreiter ($5,500) and Mikael Granlund ($7,400) are two hot wingers on the 1st and 2nd lines for the Wild. Nino is an emerging mid-season star for the Wild on their 1st line. Niederreiter has six double-digit FanDuel NHL point games in the Wild’s last eight games.
Meanwhile, Grandlund is one of the Wild’s top scorers, now with four goals in Minnesota’s last five games. Mikael also has two assists in the last five games. On home ice, each of these picks should yield double-digit FanDuel NHL points, with Grandulnd likely getting 20+ points.
As we’ll see with our goalie pick, I’m trying to avoid playing any Kings players. However, given the options at the mid-range salary level, it’s hard to avoid playing Tyler Toffoli ($5,500). Tyler has three goals in the last three Kings games. He’s coming into this game hot, and even if the Kings lose, Toffoli is likely involved in a goal or two tonight.
For value, we’re going to grab Vladislav Namestnikov ($4,700). Vlad has three goals, one each, in the last three Lightening games. Namestnikov’s 3rd line has been hot for the Bolts lately, and on home ice this value pick could have a high return.
Next: Top Defense
Top Defense
With plenty of cash to spend heading into our two defense picks, I’m grabbing the top scoring option, Erik Karlsson ($7,000). Aside from Burns, Karlsson is the best option at defense every time he’s on the ice. Erik has seven double-digit FanDuel NHL point game in the Senators last eight games. Four of the last five games, Karlsson provided an awesome 20+ FanDuel NHL points. In Tampa tonight, Karlsson likely has another 20+ point night.
With two spots left in our lineup, and only two Wild players off the board, we’re going to grab a hot Jared Spurgeon ($5,200). Spurgeon cooled off against the Blackhawks on the 21st with only one shot on goal, but for most of February, he’s scoring double-digit FanDuel NHL points nearly every night. With a favorable match up against the Kings on home ice tonight, it’s likely Spurgeon gets another 10+ points for us.
Next: Top Goalie
Top Goalie
We have $9,300 in salary left and I love the top goalie option tonight, Devan Dubnyk ($9,300). The Kings have struggled lately, and Dubnyk and the Wild have done well against teams like the Kings in February. It’s likely Dubnyk at least yields the 12 FanDuel NHL points for the win.
Even in the two losses Devan has over the last two weeks, he had 22 to 34 saves and still had 11 to 13 FanDuel NHL points. Dubnyk consistently has one of the highest save percentages in the NHL each night, and should see close to 30 hots on goal tonight. I like the Wild to win tonight, but even with a loss this is a safe pick.
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!