FanDuel NHL Blue Line Power Plays: October 11
By Matt Rogers
Welcome back to yet another FanDuel NHL Blue Line Power Plays column. We’re a daily fantasy hockey column focused on top FanDuel NHL plays for your lineups each day.
Tuesday night’s robust seven game slate had plenty of surprises. With the game on the line, Filip Forsberg rapidly became a hero for Predator fans as they pulled out a 6-5 win, after falling behind by two goals with just over three minutes left in the game. For FanDuel NHL players, the late-game surge was profitable for anyone who played Foresberg, as he ended the game with 42.6 FanDuel NHL points.
P.K Subban was another recipient of a great night for the Predators, and if you were smart, or lucky enough, to pair Subban with John Klingberg, you got two defensive players under $5,800 in salary scoring over 26 FanDuel NHL points.
We talked about the value Brandon Saad ($6,600) and Anthony Mantha ($4,800) could provide to our lineups, they were likely getting overlooked. Saad was only 14% owned in PPG, and dropped a solid 21.6 FanDuel NHL points in to our lineups. Meanwhile, Mantha was only 3% owned, and provided 18.4 FanDuel NHL points, leveraged by a goal against the Stars.
But our biggest play of the night was Corey Crawford. The veteran net-minder for the Chicago Blackhawks hauled in another win, with 41 saves, and piled up an awesome 40.8 FanDuel NHL points. The points-haul made the $8,700 salary well worth the play.
So, we take what we learned yesterday and focus on Wednesday night’s action. Here’s a look at the NHL schedule for Wednesday, October 11th:
Devils at Maples Leafs (7:30pm ET)
Penguins at Capitals (7:30pm ET)
Bruins at Avalanche (9:30pm ET)
Islanders at Ducks (10pm ET)
Flames at Kings (10:30pm ET)
There’s only five games on the NHL schedule tonight, so our lineup options are more limited than we’ve seen the past couple of nights this week. But these more limited option nights tend to make stacking more lucrative.
Also, there are some intriguing match ups, including a Wednesday Night Rival Night showdowns on NBC Sports Network, with the Capitals hosting their nemesis, the Pittsburgh Penguins. But be careful with rivalry night plays. They often lead to more unpredictable results, as the adrenal flows more intensely.
As always, we’ll look to update our picks and final lineups prior to lock on our twitter account @FantasyCPR so make sure to give us a follow for all the late breaking lineup news.
Now let’s start building our lineups by looking at the top centers for this slate…
Top FanDuel NHL Centers: Oct 11th
The Devils are heading into Toronto tonight, with Cory Schneider on fire in net. Schneider has only given up three goals in 66 shots, and 120 minuts of ice time. But, something has to give tonight. Because Corey is facing a hot Maple Leafs offense whose averaged 6.33 goals per game, in their first three games. That is tremendous offense, but this is a talented young offense was saw emerge last season. So it’s not necessarily surprising, and also could be somewhat sustainable.
The problem with Schneider tonight, is the Devils defense. While Corey is only giving up just under two goals per game, it’s mostly due to his play in net. Tonight, Schneider will get peppered with tough shots from some of the most talented offenders in the NHL. So for that reason, my favorite play at center is the young Auston Matthews ($7,900).
After starting last season with four goals in his first game, Matthews has two goals and three assists, in a more consistent spread, over the first three games of the Leafs season. Auston also has 10 shots on goal over three games, and is averaging a blocked shot per game. So with a 23 FPPG average, staying at home in Toronto against the Devils, Matthews should stay hot.
Anther top play at center is John Tavares ($8,000). This goalie match up is more appealing, as Gibson has struggled to keep the puck out of the net at home, in Anaheim. Tavares has been inconsistent, but has also faced some solid goal tending. But in New York, against the Sabres, he piled up two goals and an assist, for a 40+ FanDuel NHL point game.
Going back to the Maple Leafs, if you’re looking to continue to stack the Leafs, or want more affordable options to pivot off Matthews or Tavares, both Tyler Bozak ($5,400) and Nazem Kadri ($6,100) are great plays. Kadri might look more appealing averaging over 20 FanDuel NHL points-per-game, but Bozak could see as much time, leading the Leafs second line, and Tyler has bee more consistent, providing over 13 FanDuel NHL points in each of his first three games.
Another interesting value play at center, is Matt Duchene ($4,900). For the most part, I’ve tried to stay away from the Av’s, but they’re hot. And Duchene has a goal and two assists in his first three games, providing at least eight points a game, but averaging nearly 13 FanDuel NHL points-per-game. If the Bruins continue to struggle on defense, and in net, Duchene should have another solid night with an affordable salary.
Now let’s take a look at the wings we want to stack along with our centers…
Top FanDuel NHL Wings: Oct 11th
It’s rivalry night on NBC Sports Network, and the Penguins and Capitals should provide some very entertaining hockey, again. And while we think these games are risky to target for DFS Hockey play, Alex Ovechkin ($8,800) may bounce-back in a big way tonight.
After scoring seven goals in his first two games, Ovi had a quiet four shot, one blocked shot night for only eight FanDuel NHL points against the Lightening, in Tampa. But the Caps are back in D.C. and are facing their greatest rival. So we know Ovi will be pushing hard to get the puck back into the net. For the price, this could be a risky play, but it’ll be an entertaining one, and worth the risk in Cash games.
We generally like to avoid the Devils offense, but you can’t ignore Taylor Hall ($7,100). The young winger consistently provides offense, and is currently averaging over 20 FanDuel NHL points-per-game. The Leafs have a great goaltender, in net, with Andersen, but they typically allow a lot of shots on goal, and are averaging over three allowed per game. Hall should continue to pile up points tonight.
For stacking, we need to continue to look at the Maple Leafs, and there are plenty of great options. We really like the value the Leafs second line offers with Bozak leading, but James van Riemsdyk ($5,900) is a big reason well. The former Flyer, from New Jersey, has scored two goals and provided two assists in the first three games for the Leafs. Against the Jets, JVR piled up 41.8 FanDuel NHL points in one game. Paired with a Mitch Marner ($6,300) for a complete second line stack, this could be the best line value of the night.
Getting back to the Leafs top line, William Nylander ($6,500) is another one of those talented second year players who consistently offers 15+ FanDuel NHL points. But Zach Hyman ($3,500) offers up the best value, averaging double-digit FanDuel NHL points on a cheap salary, and getting 15+ minutes of ice time with some of the best young offensive players in the NHL.
For an Islanders stack, Josh Eberle ($6,000) and Anders Lee ($5,100) are great stacks with Tavares’ top Isle line. Eberle is the more talented of the two, but Lee had great spurts of offensive production last season, and is a better value.
Before we move on to defenders, there are two more value-adds to mention. Jakub Vrana ($4,300) and Bryan Rust ($4,200) are each talented young wings on two of the top lines in hockey. The each could be overlooked tonight, and are great GPP plays.
Top FanDuel NHL Defenders: Oct 11th
Kris Letang ($6,700) is the most talented defender on the ice tonight, and if you can afford him on defense, he’s the safer, and more consistent play for cash games.
To continue with our Leafs stack, Nikita Zaitsev ($4,700) has been playing out of his mind lately, with two goals and two assists in the Leafs’ first three games. Zaitsev worst game still provided 14.4 FanDuel NHL points, and hes averaging over 20 points per game. Another favorite DFS NHL play from the Leaf’s defense is Jake Gardiner ($4,500). While not playing at the level as Zaitsev, Gardiner is a more consistent point obtainer, and great for cash games.
Tyson Barrie ($4,900) is your top defensive play from the Avalanche, if you’re looking to attack the Bruins poor defense and goal tending to start this season. Tyson’s offense mostly occurred in one game, but with over 23 minutes of ice time each game, Barrie will consistently land near the double-digit point level, on a decent salary.
Digging for more value, we stick with the Avalanche in Colorado and grab top-line defender Patrik Nemeth ($3,500). In two of the three games to start the season, Nemeth has an assist. Patrik is also averaging around two blocked shots per game, and is a cheap way to put points on the board with the defensive pick.
Top FanDuel NHL Goalies: Oct 11th
Like last night with Crawford, there’s another hot veteran goalie on the ice tonight, and the offense doesn’t scare us. In three games this season, the Calgary Flames are only averaging 2.67 goals per game. That is less than a goal-per-game in the first week of NHL action.
Jonathan Quick ($9,000) is a very pricey option in goal tonight. But, Quick has only given up one goal in 60 shots on goal. That is incredibly efficient shot-stopping from the veteran U.S. net-minder. Jonathan has two wins in two starts, including a shutout of the hot Flyers offense. Quick is averaging over 37 FanDuel NHL points per game, and has a decent shot at 40+ points tonight. In cash game’s, Quick is a lock. But in GPP, Jonathan could also be a great anchor.
There’s more risk with this play, but the Boston Bruins offense has been quiet, to start the season. The Bruins have only scored two goals, in two games, including a shutout by Semyon Varlamov ($7,900) on Monday night. At some point, we have to think the Bruins offense will wake up. But in the meantime, Varly has only allowed two goals in 68 shots, against a good Bruins and Rangers offense. Oh, and both of those games were on the road. If Semyon stay’s hot tonight, this is a very good value in goal.
In a super risky move, but great for GPP play, Jaroslav Halak ($7,500) has only given up three goals in 88 minutes of ice time, and 40 shots on goal. All three goals come from a solid young Sabres offense. Tonight, Halak is in Anaheim, where the Ducks have struggled to develop much offense, currently averaging 2.33 goals-per-game in their first three games.
So, after reviewing all of our favorite options, here’s an example of a lineup we put together for Oct 11th FanDuel NHL:
C Matthews ($7,900)
C Tavares ($8,000)
W Hall ($7,100)
W Nylander ($6,500)
W Vrana ($4,300)
W Hyman ($3,500)
D Barrie ($4,900)
D Fowler ($4,900)
G Varlamov ($7,900)
Note: This is a recommended lineup after discussing our top options for the week. You should use this as a guide, and provide your own input when building FanDuel NHL lineups. We are not telling you, or selling you, to use this lineup.
Next: FanDuel NBA October 11th
Best of luck in your FanDuel NHL contests and stay tuned to Fantasy CPR for all your DFS news and analysis across NHL, NBA, EPL, and NFL this fall!