FanDuel NHL Blue Line Power Plays: March 4
By Matt Rogers
Welcome to the Saturday, March 4, edition of the FanDuel NHL Blue Line Power Plays column. Tonight, we’re going to have many top scoring options with several value picks for affordability. The salary options mentioned have already been set by FanDuel for Saturday.
The NHL schedule continues to stay hot with ten games Saturday night, all starting after 7pm ET. There will be many top play and value play options for lineups tonight. We’re going to try to focus on the optimal option with the best matchup. Here’s a look at the scheduled games we’re targeting:
Avalanche at Jets (7pm ET)
Lightening at Sabres (7pm ET)
Stars at Panthers (7pm ET)
Red Wings at Oilers (10pm ET)
The Avalanche travel to Winnipeg tonight to continue their losing streak on the road. We’re going to look for a stack from the Jets. Also, we’ll consider whomever is likely to start in goal for the Jets tonight.
The Lightening offense could bounce-back in Buffalo. And the Panthers should have ample scoring opportunities against a bad Stars defense, on home ice in Florida. Finally, the Red Wings visit Edmonton and the Oilers offense should also have a good night.
We’ll start with a Center staying in Canada looking at Edmonton and Winnipeg options:
Next: Top Centers
Top Centers
Mark Scheifele ($7,600) is arguably becoming an elite NHL center and the top center for the Winnipeg Jets. It doesn’t hurt that the 23-year-old is playing along-side another young elite talent Laine. But Mark looked fantastic even with Patrik out of the lineup.
Tonight, the Jets have an ideal match up welcoming the Avalanche into the MTS Centre tonight. The Avs are having a tough season, and have been dreadful on their current road trip. After three straight 16+ FanDuel NHL point games, Scheifele cooled off against the Blues last night. But this is a great chance for Mark to bounce back.
Mark Letestu ($3,800) our value play at center tonight, with a high potential ROI. Letestu has a goal in the Oilers last two games, and they’re back on home ice tonight, facing a struggling Red Wings team. Letestu has a history, this season, of going on hot streaks, and he seems to be on one now, with a juicy match up.
This Mark & Mark combo should have a great outcome for our lineups tonight.
Next: Top Wings
Top Wings
With Scheifele already in our lineup, and a juicy match up identified for the Jets, we’re going to stack Patrik Laine ($7,700) with Scheifele. We had Laine in our lineup last night, and he had a disappointing 4.8 FanDuel NHL point return. But Patrik’s cold streaks have been short this season. And Laine had six straight 17+ point games before last night’s match up. Tonight, it’s very likely Patrik bounces back, and we may even have lower ownership after last night’s result. This is a great night to own Laine.
Another Jet I like is Nikolaj Ehlers ($5,300). Nikolaj plays on Winnipeg’s top line and should see many scoring chances. Ehlers also cooled off last night, as did all Jets, with only 3.2 FanDuel NHL points. But Nikolaj had two straight 13+ FanDuel NHL point games in the two games before last night. Ehlers has great value at a mid-range salary tonight.
Once again, we’re sticking with a red-hot Nikita Kucherov ($8,000). The Lightening struggled last night in Pittsburgh, but Kucherov still had a power play goal and seven shots, totaling 23.7 FanDuel NHL points. Nikita now has six straight FanDuel NHL point games, and several over 30 points. The Bolts have a more favorable match up tonight in Buffalo. Stay with the hot hand.
Jussi Jokinen ($4,800) is only averaging around 4 FanDuel NHL points-per-game in the last three games. That’s coming from three assists in two games earlier. Tonight, the Florida Panthers are welcoming the Stars on their home ice. This is a great match up for the Panthers surging offense. Joinen likely bounces back tonight with a double-digit point result on home ice against a bad defense.
Next: Top Defense
Top Defense
Like Jokinen, the Panthers top line defender Aaron Ekblad ($5,300) will have a fantastic match up against the stars as well. But Ekblad has been fairly hot lately. Over the last five games, Aaron has four games at 8+ FanDuel NHL points, and three above 11 points. Ekblad is coming from a great 34.8 point performance agains the Flyers on Thursday, where he had one short-handed goal, nine shots on goal, and four blocked shots. This is a great opportunity for Ekblad to stay hot.
Oscar Klefbom ($4,800) is also a top line defender, but for offensive juggernaut the Edmonton Oilers. Oscar has a goal and three assists in the Oilers last five games. His only sub-10 FanDuel NHL point games over the last two weeks were on road ice against the Caps and Blues, each tough match ups. Tonight, Klefbom should be a 15-20 point play on home ice against a bad Red Wings team.
Next: Top Goalie
Top Goalie
FanDuel currently has Michael Hutchinson ($7,500) starting in goal against the Avalanche. I don’t love picking Hutchinson because he’s 4-11-3 on the season and is giving up well over three goals-per-game. However, it’s against an Avalanche team who made the Flyers Mason look like a hall-of-famer this week. Still, I think the Jets are going to go with a better option tonight.
I’m starting my lineup with Ondrej Pavelec ($7,700), who I think is more likely to be between the pipes for the Jets. Pavelec is 4-4 and had a moment of brilliance earlier in the season. It’s possible the Jets put Hellebuyck ($7,800) back in goal, but that would be a dangerous back-to-back play and the Jets need to win this one. If Hellebuyck goes, we’re $100 short to flip to him and will need to adjust the lineup accordingly. So continue to follow us @fantasycpr for updates.
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!