This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
It's a pretty good night for rivalries as all seven matchups feature teams that share pretty close connections with each other. Even the Flyers and Golden Knights share some connection through the Nolan Patrick deal over the summer.
The highlight will be Penguins-Capitals, but injuries to key players on both sides does dampen some of the excitement. Note also that three top-10 teams (Rangers, Panthers, Avalanche) will face three bottom-10 teams (Sabres, Coyotes, Red Wings, respectively).
GOALIES
Sergei Bobrovsky, FLA at ARI ($8,600): Bobrovsky's will start, and he's rightly tops the list against arguably the worst team in the league. Worse for the Coyotes, the Panthers are expected to have both Aleksander Barkov and Anthony Duclair back in the lineup.
Robin Lehner, VGK vs. PHI ($8,200): Lehner was pulled in his last start after giving up three goals in 10 games, but not all were his fault. There's a chance Laurent Brossoit starts after he notched the win in relief, but either goalie should be a good choice against a team that seems bound for the lottery. The Flyers have lost 10 straight.
Alexandar Georgiev, NYR at BUF ($8,000): The .882 Sv% isn't great but the 2.18 GAA definitely is, and good thing for Georgiev, the Rangers are undoubtedly the much, much better team. They'll provide plenty of goal support for Georgiev, and the Sabres allow the second-highest goals per game at 3.68.
Darcy Kuemper, COL vs. DET ($7,900): The Wings are playing the second of a back-to-back, coming off consecutive losses by a combined 11-4. Tyler Bertuzzi is expected to miss another game as the Red Wings lean on minor-league journeyman Dan Renouf and Jordan Oesterle for regular minutes against the league's highest-scoring team.
Thatcher Demko, VAN vs. WPG ($7,700): The Jets are playing the second of a back-to-back, and Demko has been brilliant in his last two starts, allowing just one goal on 67 shots. Bruce Boudreau has quickly turned the team around, and while Demko still gets hung out to dry every now and then, their overall offensive and defensive play have improved. This could be a nice value play with the Canucks carrying some positive momentum.
VALUE PLAYS
Lars Eller, WSH vs. PIT ($4,000): Evgeny Kuznetsov left Thursday's skate, so his availability for Friday's game is questionable. That means there's a hole on the top line between Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson, and it's a plum assignment at which Eller might get first crack. The veteran pivot has always been one of the Caps' most reliable players, though don't be surprised if Connor McMichael ($4,000) gets a chance, too. McMichael has more offensive upside, but he's almost guaranteed to play fewer minutes than Eller.
Logan O'Connor, COL vs. DET ($4,500): LOC is a bargain playing on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon, and has now scored two goals and five points in his last five games. The only drawback is LOC doesn't play on the power play, but it seems unlikely the Wings will keep the Avs off the board at even strength anyway.
Carter Verhaeghe, FLA at ARI ($5,100): Verhaeghe has not scored in five games, but the return of Barkov and Duclair means the top line is re-united once again, and the trio has been dominant in the past. Verhaghe has the lowest salary among the three, and singling him out might be better than a stack because if the Panthers get out to an early lead, they might spread the minutes around with their two other good lines.
LINE STACKS
Canucks vs. Jets
Elias Pettersson (C - $5,600), Conor Garland (W - $5,500), Vasily Podkolzin (W - $3,800)
Pettersson has scored three points in five games and the Canucks have already looked infinitely better under Bruce Boudreau. Garland's been one of their best players all season and all three are loaded on the top power-play unit quarterbacked by Quinn Hughes. The Jets and Canucks rank 31st and 32nd in the league, respectively, on the PK.
DEFENSEMEN
Shea Theodore, VGK vs. PHI ($6,400): Fantasy managers are spoiled Friday with so many elite defensemen available. Theodore stands out from the rest with five helpers in his last four games, his longest point streak of the season after a quiet start. Vegas' comeback win against Dallas was a sign they're back to their dominant selves, and the Flyers should not pose much of a challenge.
Quinn Hughes, VAN vs. WPG ($6,200): The Canucks may be without Travis Hamonic and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and that means Hughes and Tyler Myers may have to play big minutes. Both played more than 27 minutes in their last game, and while the Canucks hope they won't have to lean on them so much, even if they may not have much of a choice.
Devon Toews, COL vs. DET ($5,800): Toews continues to be a sneaky play for top-pairing upside playing with Cale Makar at the price of a second-pairing defenseman. He's gone only four games without a point since his return, and in his last four games has scored a goal and six assists.
