This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
FanDuel's all-day competition will feature all 12 games, otherwise it will be split into a four-game early slate and an eight-game main slate. Salaries quoted in this preview are for the main slate only.
GOALIES
Semyon Varlamov, NYI vs. BUF ($8,400): Varlamov should return to the net after Ilya Sorokin drew the previous start, and it's a favorable matchup against a team in shambles. The Sabres cannot get anything going except their power play and recently lost their best goalie - Linus Ullmark - to injury. Of note, the Isles remain unbeaten in regulation at home.
Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK at SJ ($8,300): The workload's been heavy for Fleury, but Vegas carry enough depth during a subpar goaltending performance to give them a chance to win. The Knights swept their only back-to-back earlier this season, with one of the wins coming against the Sharks.
Frederik Andersen, TOR at VAN ($8,200): Generally speaking, this is a good play. Not only is Andersen playing well, the 4 p.m. local start time should favor the visiting Leafs with the only realistic way for the Canucks to win this game being Thatcher Demko stealing it. Elias Pettersson's status is uncertain and without him the Canucks lose their best shooter on the power play.
Sergei Bobrovsky, FLA at NSH ($7,800): Bobrovsky was coasting to a win against the Preds in his last start until the last period and he finished allowing four goals on 35 shots. There's no doubt the Panthers are the better team and they should provide enough goal support even with another lackluster start from Bobrovsky, who is making his second straight start for just the third time this season.
VALUE PLAYS
Maxime Comtois, ANH at COL ($4,300): The Ducks should be able to score a couple goals against expected starter Hunter Miska, and who else but Comtois is going to do it? Isac Lundestrom is too inconsistent, while Comtois has notched six points in five games.
Alexis Lafreniere, NYR at NJ ($3,700): Take note, because Lafreniere has arrived. The top pick from the 2020 Draft is on a four-game point streak with a goal in two straight games. He struggled early on and couldn't produce any offense due to poor shooting luck, but that has changed.
Oliver Wahlstrom, NYI vs. BUF ($3,700): It was Anthony Beauvillier who scored the goal, but Wahlstrom ended up with more minutes thanks to his role on the top power play unit and finished with 4:17 PP TOI. Expected Sabres' starter Carter Hutton comes in with an .891 Sv% on the season.
Jake Virtanen, VAN vs. TOR ($3,600): If Virtanen can play like he did on Thursday – two goals, including one on the power play – he's a worthwhile pick. Without Pettersson in the lineup, Virtanen skated on the second line with Bo Horvat and on the second power play.
LINE STACKS
Islanders vs. Sabres
Mathew Barzal (C - $6,700), Anders Lee (W - $7,100), Jordan Eberle (W - $6,000)
This trio combined for four points last game and continue to dominate the Sabres, who are either going to start a 35-year-old backup having the worst season of his career in Hutton or someone who was forced to face 45 shots against the Isles on Thursday in his seventh career start in Jonas Johansson.
Jets at Canadiens
Mark Scheifele (C - $8,100), Paul Stastny (W - $5,600), Blake Wheeler (W - $7,000)
They combined for two goals last game and has been very productive since head coach Paul Maurice put them together. The Jets offense, which has scored nine goals in two games after getting shut out by Vancouver, is roaring thanks to this line.
DEFENSEMEN
Kris Letang, PIT vs. PHI ($5,900): Letang produced two points on six shots over his past two games against the Flyers and his recent play has put him back in the elite D conversation.
Samuel Girard, COL vs. ANH ($5,300): Girard didn't record a point so his streak was snapped last night, but he played a whopping 28 minutes - including 3:30 on the power play. Without Nathan MacKinnon, the Avs' offense is a little less potent, but Girard continues to play a big role providing offense from the blueline.
Torey Krug, STL at LA ($5,300): Krug put at least four shots on goal for the fourth time in five games and finished the help with an assist to extend his point streak to two. He hasn't posted gaudy numbers, but has been very solid for the Blues with four points in four games.
Nicolas Hague, VGK at SJ ($3,600): Hague's a potential value play due to his upside. He has one of the best shots from the point in the league, but on a veteran team only gets whatever power-play minutes are left behind by Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore. However, penalties usually play a role in this rivalry averaging 31 minutes per game in their four meetings last season.
