This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
It's a busy six-game slate with the Panthers (-196) looking to win their eighth straight. It'll also be their first under interim head coach Andrew Brunette behind the bench following Joel Quenneville's resignation.
The odds seem unusually lopsided with the Rangers (-188 vs. Blue Jackets) representing the weakest favourite, followed by the Stars (-194 vs. Senators). The Caps (-300 vs. Coyotes), Golden Knights (-260 vs. Ducks) and Hurricanes (-200 vs. Blackhawks) complete the list of teams favoured tonight, all of whom are playing at home.
GOALIES
Sergei Bobrovsky, FLA at DET ($8,600): Either Bobrovsky or Spencer Knight should do fine in this matchup. Even with a new bench boss, don't expect anything to change for the unbeaten Panthers. Bobrovsky has also posted a career 18-6-1 record with a 1.88 GAA and .938 Sv% against the Red Wings.
Vitek Vanecek, WSH vs. ARI ($8,500): Vanecek's play has fallen off a little with six goals allowed on 38 shots over two outings, but the Coyotes really shouldn't pose much of a challenge and will likely start third-string Karel Vejmelka playing the second half of a back-to-back after losing 5-1 to the Lightning on Thursday.
Antti Raanta, CAR vs. CHI ($8,200): This will likely be Raanta's season debut after Frederik Andersen made 33 saves in a shutout win against Boston on Thursday. There's a lot of pressure to keep the unbeaten streak intact, but note the Hurricanes have only lost three meetings against the Blackhawks since 2018 with many of those wins by two or three-goal margins.
Robin Lehner, VGK vs. ANH ($8,000): The Ducks are playing the second half of a back-to-back and their inconsistent effort won't work against the Golden Knights, who went 7-1-0 against them last season. John Gibson will get the start and he's 3-12-4 against Vegas in his career with a 3.31 GAA. There's plenty of lopsided matchups for goalies, but this one seems to provide better value.
Igor Shesterkin, NYR vs. CBJ ($7,800): The Jackets are a feisty bunch, though their offense tends to come and go. They've scored four or more goals twice, but also managed to only find the back of the net once two other times. Shesterkin is coming off a defeat to the red-hot Flames, but has otherwise been solid this season.
Braden Holtby, DAL vs. OTT ($7,600): Anton Khudobin got the start in the last contest and came up short, so Holtby should get the nod here. The Stars will have John Klingberg and Jason Robertson in the lineup, and their tough defense may be difficult for the Sens' 23rd-ranked offense by GF/GP to score goals. The Stars' attack should also be able to provide enough goal support since the Sens are allowing a league eighth-worst 3.17 goals per game.
VALUE PLAYS
Connor McMichael, WSH vs. ARI ($3,600): McMichael will center the second line between hulking goal scorer Anthony Mantha and sniper Daniel Sprong, and it's a very favourable matchup against the Coyotes. McMichael is still looking for his first goal, but already has two assists in five appearances.
Hendrix Lapierre, WSH vs. ARI ($3,400): Lapierre is more of an energy player and boasts less offensive upside than McMichael, but the matchup against the Coyotes seems too good to pass up. He'll play on the left wing with Lars Eller at center and Conor Sheary on the opposite wing. Both veterans have produced three assists, but neither really like to shoot and that means getting the pucks on net will likely fall on Lapierre.
Peyton Krebs, VGK vs. ANH ($3,000): Krebs has been disappointing so far with no points and a minus-4 rating through seven games. He's still seeing top-six chances playing with Chandler Stephenson and William Carrier. The Golden Knights are really shorthanded due to injuries and may play with just 11 forwards, potentially resulting in more ice time for Krebs.
LINE STACKS
Panthers at Red Wings
Sam Bennett (C - $6,600), Owen Tippett (W - $4,200), Jonathan Huberdeau (W - $8,300)
Bennett has continued where he left off last year as a point-per-game player for the Panthers and Tippett is well on his way to a career year with four points in his second full NHL season. Huberdeau remains one of the league's best playmakers and this group should be able to take advantage of Detroit's shaky goaltending and defense, which is allowing 32.6 shots per game.
Stars vs. Senators
Roope Hintz (C - $5,900), Joe Pavelski (W - $5,500), Jason Robertson (W - $5,600)
This was the line that carried the Stars' offense last season. They're showing a little rust because Hintz is off to a slow start and Robertson just returned from injury, but they should be a formidable scoring trio if they can recreate their magic. The Sens don't defend particularly well and won't have starter Matt Murray in net. There's extra value with this line since all three also play on PP1 and the Sens PK ranks a paltry 24th.
DEFENSEMEN
Aaron Ekblad, FLA at DET ($7,100): Ekblad's quietly putting together a Norris-worthy season. He's the league leader in plus-minus, tied for fourth among defensemen with seven points, ranks fifth with 24 shots and skates 25 minutes a game. Ekblad's an expensive choice, but a reliable one.
Adam Fox, NYR vs. CBJ ($6,600): The good news is the Jackets allow a lot of shots, but the bad news is they don't allow a lot of quality chances. That may hurt Fox's ability to put points on the board, but he's always been extraordinarily adept at maintaining and passing the puck. Fox's 16 shots on goal is tied with Jacob Trouba for the lead among Rangers' defensemen.
John Carlson, WSH vs. ARI ($6,300): Carlson continues to be plagued by a slow start with only three points to start, but remains a top-notch PP quarterback on a unit with an unstoppable weapon in Alex Ovechkin. The Coyotes have allowed a league-worst 10 power-play goals, which is only two fewer than all they've scored this season.
Moritz Seider, DET vs. FLA ($4,000): The Red Wings will have last change on home ice, giving Jeff Blashill the chance to get Seider some easier matchups against a tough opponent. The rookie has been one of their most indispensable players so far and will be looking to extend his point streak to four.
