This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
Who woulda thunk? The Panthers can extend their Central Division lead against the hapless Red Wings (7:00 p.m. EST), while the Blackhawks face a tough test against the Hurricanes (7:00 p.m.). The Panthers and Hurricanes should be favorites since they're two of three teams in the division who've already hit 10 wins.
As expected, the North Division is also tight with three points separating second and sixth place. The Flames can equal the Oilers (9:00 p.m.) at 19 points after head coach Geoff Ward called out his team's effort Thursday, while the Canucks seem to have found their groove on offense and will host the Jets (10:00 p.m.).
GOALIES
James Reimer, CAR vs. CHI ($8,500): The Canes have not named a starter yet, but look for more of the same if they go with Reimer – a win with plenty of goals allowed. He's won three of his past four games but has also let in 16 goals during that span and the Hawks are a surprisingly effective offensive team thanks to their top line. However, Carolina get sufficient goal support from three effective scoring lines, which represents a tough challenge - even for Kevin Lankinen.
Chris Driedger, FLA at DET ($8,000): This should be the best play of the night and no team offers a bigger advantage against their opponent than the Panthers. Driedger has become the de facto No. 1, and Detroit should be easy after road wins against Tampa and Carolina. He's 1-1 against the Wings this year while stopping at least 32 shots in each contest.
VALUE PLAYS
Nils Hoglander, VAN vs. WPG ($3,800): The pesky Swede is a relentless puck hound, but he also has zero accuracy when he has it on his stick. Hoglander's not particularly efficient with his scoring chances, but he definitely generates a lot of them with Bo Horvat and Tanner Pearson. Hoglander finished with two assists last time out and has produced 15 shots from his past four games.
Martin Necas, CAR vs. CHI ($4,100): Necas is playing on a line with Vincent Trocheck - who's enjoying a solid season - and has three apples in four outings. I wouldn't say Necas is a sharpshooter, but one goal on 25 shots is definitely not reflective of what he can do after scoring 16 goals last season. In two matchups versus the Hawks this season, he's posted an assist and six shots in two games.
Pius Suter, CHI at CAR ($4,300): The Canes' goaltending probably can't keep the Hawks off the board and Suter has been an excellent value bet all season playing on the top line. Philipp Kurashev ($3,800) has equaled Suter with three points in five games and is also a decent value play but usually sees fewer minutes though both are featured on PP2.
Carter Verhaeghe, FLA at DET ($4,600): Verhaeghe's scoring pace has dipped, but we all expected that and analytically speaking he is still having a huge positive impact on the offense. The Wings are 23rd in GA/GP while the Panthers are ninth in GF/GP. So… yeah, Florida might score a lot.
Andrew Mangiapane, CGY vs. EDM ($4,700): If consistent effort is what Ward wants, then look for Mangiapane to play a lot again having skated at least 17 minutes in five of his past six games. He keeps moving up the depth chart and now participates on the top line and on PP2.
Jordan Staal, CAR vs. CHI ($5,200): Staal's hot streak continues, with six points in four games that outpaces quite a few centers ahead on the salary list - including teammate Sebastian Aho ($7,700).
LINE STACKS
Blackhawks at Hurricanes
Pius Suter (C - $4,300), Patrick Kane (W - $8,600), Alex DeBrincat (W - $6,900)
Kane and DeBrincat are 1-2 on the team in scoring, while Suter sits third in goals. The Hurricanes only rank 20th at 5v5 Sv% and it's a relatively inexpensive line stack thanks to Suter and for DeBrincat performing like an elite scorer again.
Panthers at Red Wings
Alex Wennberg (C - $4,400), Jonathan Huberdeau (W - $7,300), Patric Hornqvist (W - $5,700)
With Huberdeau setting him up with gimme goals three feet from the net, even the normally gun-shy Wennberg has to shoot. Both Wennberg (four goals in six games) and Hornqvist (five points in five games) have been huge additions for the Panthers. And while Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov ($6,900) don't play on the same line, they're always together when the Panthers need a goal combining for five goals together, four of those on the PP and the latest one in OT.
Canucks vs. Jets
Elias Pettersson (C - $6,600), Brock Boeser (W - $7,200), J.T. Miller (W - $5,900)
The Canucks' vaunted top line was very good in the later stages of the Calgary series, especially Boeser with five points in his last two contests. Pettersson would have managed more goals if he hadn't hit the post at least five or six times while Miller's game is starting to come around.
DEFENSEMEN
Quinn Hughes, VAN vs. WPG ($5,600): Hughes is one of six defensemen averaging a point-per-game or better, and none of the other five are playing tonight. He leads all defensemen with 20 points.
Tyson Barrie, EDM at CGY ($5,500): Barrie's been playing a lot of minutes lately and he's also the only one who comes even close to Hughes. On a night lacking in a elite defensemen, his role on the power play with Connor McDavid against a team that has been lackluster defensively represents an attractive play.
Josh Morrissey, WPG at VAN ($4,200): Morrissey has been excellent this past week, scoring five of his nine assists in his past four games. He leads all Jets' defensemen in minutes - including time on the power play - and is a decent value play against a still-porous Vancouver defense.
Juuso Valimaki, CGY vs. EDM ($3,700): Valimaki is starting to get more time on the power play and finished his last game against the Canucks with an assist and four shots. The Battle of Alberta is bound to feature a few penalties, so Valimaki presents intriguing upside for a relatively low salary. He's averaging 0:23 PP/TOI this season, but leads all Flames rearguards with 2:34 PP/TOI so far this week.
