This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
There are four games on Friday's slate, including a marquee Central Division showdown between the Stars and Jets. There will be additional intrigue with the Oilers with new head coach Jay Woodcroft, though one of their biggest issues is their horrific goaltending. They'll face the Islanders, who continue their Western Canada road trip.
The Lightning should earn a better result after losing to the Avs on Thursday night as they face the Coyotes while the Ducks should have the advantage against the Kraken after a 10-day layoff.
GOALIES
Brian Elliott, TB at ARI ($8,600): There's some risk here because the Lightning are playing the second half of a back-to-back and the matchup against the Avs on Thursday was a tight battle. The Coyotes can surprise with two wins from their past four games - including one against Colorado - but the two-time defending champs should still have no problem dispatching them. Their only other meeting this season was a 5-1 decision for Tampa.
Braden Holtby, DAL vs. WPG ($8,000): The Stars' last appearance wasn't pretty in a one-goal victory over the Preds where neither team were at their best. But they're at home, where they've been dominant all season while the Jets continue to struggle with consistency having gone down in seven of their past nine but also taking two of the last three. Jake Oettinger would be a solid alternative, but he's started three straight and the Stars may turn to Holtby, who is returning from injury.
John Gibson, ANH vs. SEA ($7,700): The risk is the Ducks might be a little rusty after a lengthy break. Otherwise, the Kraken should present little challenge. They've lost nine of their last 14 games, including most recently a 5-2 loss to the Coyotes. And despite some headway earlier in January, Philipp Grubauer is once again struggling. Of note, the two previous meetings ended up with Anaheim winning both.
VALUE PLAYS
Cole Perfetti, WPG at DAL ($3,900): The Stars are excellent at home, but they also occasionally allow a lot of goals while doing so because their goaltending isn't always reliable. Perfetti has posted only one assist in four games, but has also recently seen his minutes increase averaging over 15 in February. He's become a staple in the top-six with Nikolaj Ehlers injured, and is slated to play opposite Kyle Connor with Andrew Copp down the middle.
Travis Boyd, ARI vs. TB ($4,400): The Coyotes are short at center, so Boyd gets all the benefit. He's averaging a career-high 16 minutes per game and has already set a career-high with 21 points. He covers the top line and top power play and scoring against the Bolts should be hypothetically easier with Brian Elliott slated to start.
LINE STACKS
Stars vs. Jets
Roope Hintz (C - $7,800), Jason Robertson (W - $8,400), Joe Pavelski (W - $8,200)
This grades out as the second-best line in the league at a minimum of 200 TOI according to moneypuck.com right behind Calgary's No. 1 unit and just ahead of Boston's Perfection Line. Connor Hellebuyck hasn't been sharp all season while Hintz and Robertson are coming off two-point efforts against the Preds. There aren't many elite scoring lines in action Friday, and the Lightning may spread their offense around if their matchup with the Coyotes gets out of hand.
DEFENSEMEN
Evan Bouchard, EDM vs. NYI ($6,000): The coaching change might give the Oilers a boost, and the Isles are expected to start their 1B goalie Semyon Varlamov. Bouchard has registered 13 shots in his past four games. And while he has just one assist to show for it, Edmonton will still need to rely on him for the power play as they don't have many other options.
Mikhail Sergachev, TB at ARI ($5,100): Hopefully, the Lightning's second power-play unit quarterbacked by Sergachev gets to see more ice time than usual against a far weaker opponent. The Coyotes' PK ranks 31st in the league, and Sergachev is coming off a strong game against the Avs with an assist, six shots and four blocked shots. Victor Hedman played 28 minutes and Jon Cooper may elect him to give him a little break, which means Sergachev might also receive more ice time.
