FanDuel NHL blue line power plays: Oct. 8 main slate

FanDuel NHL Centers: Oct. 8

Whenever Connor McDavid ($9,100) is on the ice, it’s tempting to pick him as a top center play. However, for bigger slates like the typical Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday plays you shouldn’t spend that much FanDule NHL salary on one player.

I prefer to use top starts like McDavid when they’re playing in the smaller slate nights, tagged with some sneaky value picks. We’ll still find some value plays for this Tuesday night slate, but there’s just too much hot talent on the ice to pay such a price for McDavid.

We’ve already alluded to one of the top lines we’re focused on for this slate, the Red Wings one-line. The problem is their match-up. In two games this season, Anaheim has only given up a total of two goals, or one goal per game.

That may cause some FanDuel NHL players to fade the Wings top line, but I think that’s a mistake.

While it’s still an impressive defensive start, the Ducks hosted both the Coyotes and the Sharks to start their season. The Sharks are stumbling out the gate, and the Yotes still have some holes to fill in their young lineup.

Also, the Red Wings are playing at home, which does likely lead to a better advantage than just one goal against the Ducks tonight. There’s risk, but a red-hot Dylan Larkin ($7,500) with a goal and three assist in the first two games of the season should be one of your top Center considerations for this slate.

In a similar situation, but with a better match-up, is Sean Monahan ($7,300). Also with two games under his belt, Monahan has a goal in the first two games, including one of the power play variety, and an assist.

Not unlikely last season, the Kings immediately struggled with their first game of the year, giving up six goals to a solid Oilers offense. But, frankly, I think the Flames offense could be more challenging, and they’re at home in Calgary. For this reason, Monahan is the perfect pivot away from the Ducks risk with Larkin’s play.

With the Sharks struggles, and the Predators playing on home ice, Matt Duchene ($7,000) is another top center play, and cheaper than both Monahan and Larking. Duchene just doesn’t have the same FanDuel NHL point ceiling luster. Still, especially for GPP, this could be a sneaky move if Monahan and Larkin fall flat on Tuesday.

For better value, Vincent Trocheck ($6,100) is one of the more underrated centers in fantasy hockey. The Panthers second line center is often scoring, and has some solid line-mates to help him post assists as well. They are on home ice, but do have a rough match-up against the Hurricanes.

For a second center value play, to make the more expensive options affordable and allow for enough salary to load up at the winger position, I like Ryan Johansen ($5,800) as a tag with Duchene, or in place of Matt.

Brock Nelson ($5,300) and Jared McCann ($4,300) are two other cheaper second-line centers who could fly under the ownership radar on Tuesday night, and each has a solid match-up to exploit.

Now let’s take a look at the wings we want to stack along with our centers…