This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
There are eight games on the docket, with the Canucks, Jets, Hurricanes and Senators all playing the second game of back-to-backs. Here's a rundown of key matchups:
Senators at Canadiens (7 p.m. EST): Drake Batherson and Tim Stutzle are running hot, and that's bad news for the struggling Habs, who have been especially lackluster on defense and in net. The Sens have won three of their four matchups this season as Habs coach Dominique Ducharme searches for his first win. The Habs are heavily favored (-290) by FanDuel Sportsbook.
Flyers at Penguins (7 p.m.): The Flyers have won six of their past eight matchups, including two this season by a combined score of 11-5. But that was back in January; expected starter Tristan Jarry has won four of his past five games and his Sv% has dipped below .900 just once… which is actually just okay, but a massive improvement from how he started the season (nine goals allowed on 33 shots).
Lightning at Stars (8:30 p.m.): The Stars won just two (!) games in February, victims of two straight sweeps by Chicago and Carolina. It was a 5-0 breeze for the Lightning last time, and the Stars have gone from first in GF/GP in January (3.83) to 26th in February (2.30), no thanks to a power play that has come back down to earth.
GOALIES
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB at DAL ($8,800): He's on a two-game shutout streak and he's the best goalie on one of the league's best teams.
Laurent Brossoit, WPG vs. VAN ($8,200): Just something about Brossoit and the Canucks – the career backup is 3-0 with two shutouts all-time. It also bodes well for Brossoit that even though the Canucks' top line provided two goals last night, one of them was an empty netter and many times could not generate any chances at even strength or on the power play.
Joonas Korpisalo, CBJ vs. DET ($7,400): The Red Wings finally scored on the power play, but I still don't think they're still a threat to score many goals. Both of their meetings this season have been close games and gone under the O/U at 5.5.
Igor Shesterkin, NYR vs. BUF ($7,300): The Sabres have no edge, and every game just feels like a slow, painful death. They were shutout in back-to-back games by the Flyers and present very little danger to Shesterkin. The Sabres' only hope is their power play, but the Rangers PK is pretty stout and ranks seventh in the league.
VALUE PLAYS
Josh Norris, OTT at MON ($4,000): As long as he gets to play between Stutzle and Batherson, Norris is a strong value play because of the potential upside. Head coach D.J. Smith has no problem giving his young players a lot of ice time. It'll be harder to score on the Habs if Jake Allen starts.
Colin Blackwell, NYR vs. BUF ($3,800): Blackwell has scored four goals in his past six games and become a very effective offensive player for the Rangers. His presence on the power play has also really helped, with two of his five goals scored with the man advantage. He has failed to record a shot in just one game this season.
LINE STACKS
Lightning at Stars
Brayden Point (C - $7,200), Steven Stamkos (W - $8,300), Ondrej Palat (W - $5,700)
If their 5-0 win hadn't gotten out of hand so early, this line would've combined for more than four points. The Stars are no match for the defending champs right now; the only drawback is if the Lightning get to another big early lead, this line may get rested in the third period.
Blue Jackets vs. Red Wings
Jack Roslovic (C - $4,800), Cam Atkinson (W - $6,500), Patrik Laine (W - $7,600)
The Jackets' struggles are not limited to this line, having combined for just four goals in their past five games. The saying is that you're never as bad at your lowest point, and based on expected goals calculated by Natural Stat Trick, poor luck is one reason they're underperforming. Laine and Atkinson are too talented for the drought to last, so hopefully Detroit's woeful defense will yield a goal or two.
Flyers at Penguins
Sean Couturier (C - $7,600), James van Riemsdyk (W - $6,700), Joel Farabee (W - $5,400)
I would be remiss to not to mention this line, which has been carrying the Flyers and may be the best line in the league. Their scoring pace hasn't really dipped, and there's always a chance the Pens' goaltending implodes again.
DEFENSEMEN
Kris Letang, PIT vs. PHI ($5,900): Letang has been terrific recently, scoring four goals and three assists in his past five games. When healthy, he can be a big difference maker, and his recent play has vaulted him to the top-20 in scoring among defensemen.
Thomas Chabot, OTT at MON ($5,400): Chabot extended his point streak to four games and if any defenseman on the Ottawa blue line is going to capitalize on Batherson and Stutzle's hot streaks, it's Chabot.
Jake Bean, CAR at NSH ($3,600): Bean's game is offense, and despite limited minutes managed to collect an assist last night to give him seven points on the season. A glut of quality defensemen means Bean will not get much ice time this season, but he's a potential value play, especially with the Preds' struggles this season.
