FanDuel NHL Blue Line Power Plays: March 1
By Matt Rogers
In Wednesday’s FanDuel NHL Blue Line Power Plays: March 1 column, we’ll pick through the minimal options available to develop the optimal lineup for a big FanDuel NHL payday. The salary options mentioned are set by FanDuel for Wednesday.
After a loaded schedule on Tuesday night, the NHL is giving most teams a night off. But, as is now tradition, Wednesday night is rivalry night and we have some fun match ups to watch! There are only two games on the schedule, so our options are limited. Here’s a look at who’s playing tonight.
Hurricanes at Lightening (7pm ET)
Penguins at Blackhawks (8pm ET)
While Tampa Bay is beginning to surge toward the playoffs, Carolina is plummeting. The Bolts should light the lamp often tonight, and Carolina’s goal tending will struggle with a bad defense. So we’re going to target the Lightening heavily for our lineup.
While the Blackhawks are hot, winning nine of their last ten, they’re playing a good Penguins team. But, the Penguins have struggled lately, only winning half of their last ten games. The Pengs have also struggled on the road recently. Targeting Blackhawks for our lineup is a better option.
Let’s take a look at our top two center options first:
Next: Top Centers
Top Centers
In mid-January there were rumors emerging, through the media, the Chicago Blackhawks organization felt they needed to make a few trades to pick up steam before the playoffs. However, the Hawks suddenly seem to be in great shape. Great timing. Chicago now has nine wins in their last ten games, and a big part of their hot streak has been Jonathan Toews ($7,500).
Through ten games in February, Jonathan had nine double-digit FanDuel NHL point results. The only game he missed 10+ points, was a 9.6 point result. That type of FanDuel NHL point consistency is hard to find. Toews is well worth the $7.5K salary tonight, likely landing 20+ points against a struggling Penguins team on home ice.
This could be the last time we see Tyler Johnson ($5,900) at a sub-$6K salary this season. Johnson leads the top line for the Bolts, and they’ve been on fire since the start of the new calendar year.
In the last five games, Tyler has one power play goal and five assists. Johnson is averaging 17 FanDuel NHL points-per-game in the last two weeks and should have another 15-20 point night on home ice against a declining Hurricanes team.
Next: Top Wings
Top Wings
We’re going to stack our Toews pick at center with the Blackhawk’s Richard Panik ($4,700) at wing. Playing on the top line with Jonathan, Richard has benefited from Toews’ hot streak. Panik now has six straight games with around 10 or more FanDuel NHL points. That includes a 44.2 point result on February 11th in Edmonton. Panik is also stay hot tonight.
On the Blackhawks’ second line, NHL FanDuel stud Patrick Kane ($8,400) has also been hot lately. Over the past four games, Kane has three 25+ FanDuel NHL point results, including a 44 point game on home ice against the Coyotes on February 23rd. Kane is getting 3+ shots on goal every game, and like is involved in multiple scoring results tonight.
Over the last two months I’ve looked for Jake Guentzel ($4,200) as one of my favorite value picks at wing. Guentzel is a young talented player on the Penguins top line. Jake is on the ice nearly 15 minutes per game with Crosby, and has a goal and three assists in the Penguins last four games. While I don’t like the Penguins on the road tonight, Guentzel could still be involved in a goal or two.
Another value pick I like tonight at wing is Vladislav Namestnikov ($4,500). Vlad was quiet on Monday night against the Senators. But in three games earlier, he had double-digit FanDuel NHL points, scoring a goal per game. Namestnikov should bounce back tonight on the 3rd line for a re-surging Lightening offense.
Next: Top Defense
Top Defense
Sticking with our Blackhawks and Lightening theme, and with plenty of salary left on the table, we’re going to load up at defense with two of the top five options.
Victor Hedman ($6,400) and Duncan Keith ($5,400) are each the top scoring defenders on the top line of their teams. Both Hedman and Keith are also on home ice tonight. Victor has five double-digit FanDuel NHL point games in the Lightening’s like six games. That includes a 49 point result in Dallas on February 18th.
Keith hasn’t been as dominate as Hedman, but considering the salary difference that makes sense. With Duncan, we’re still getting a consistent three shots on goal with a blocked shot, and potentially a goal or assist. Keith should have 10+ points tonight.
Next: Top Goalie
Top Goalie
With all four Blackhawks slots taken, we have one left for the Lightening. And among all four starting goalies tonight, Andrei Vasilevskiy ($8,000) and the Lightening have the best shot at a win tonight on home ice.
The Lightening traded for Budaj before the deadline, shipping former Bolts goal tender Bishop to the Kings. But that is more of a sign of the Lightening shifting their goal tending focus to Vasilevskiy.
The young talented 22-year-old net minder has struggled at times this season, but at home on Monday, he had 39 saves against the Sentators in a win for the Bolts. Tonight, Andrei and the Lightening should continue to roll and Vasilevskiy is a bargain 20+ FanDuel NHL point pick at goaltender.
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!