This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
It's a seven-game slate for Tuesday and the Central Division takes center stage. The Predators and Blackhawks are tied for fourth place with 37 points and a .514 P%, though they're trending in opposite directions. The Preds are looking for their sixth straight win as they host the struggling Stars (8 p.m.) while the Hawks are looking to reclaim the lead against the visiting Hurricanes (7:30 p.m.)
GOALIES
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB vs. CBJ ($8,700): Vasilevskiy has lost two straight games with eight goals allowed and his season numbers against the Jackets aren't that good (.885 Sv%, 2.96 GAA). However, Vasilevskiy did face an uncharacteristically high volume of shots in those two games, and the Jackets are spiralling with four straight losses including arguably their worst performance of the season against the Red Wings. There's no immediate help coming and the Lightning have the clear edge.
Jaroslav Halak, BOS vs. NJ ($8,100): Halak put in a fine performance Sunday against the Devils, allowing just one goal on 29 shots. The problem is the Bruins can't score, especially at even strength, and what's even more crazy is that they're not underperforming their xGF at all (48.19 xGF vs. 48 GF at 5v5), according to Natural Stat Trick. Look for good peripheral stats from Halak but a win may have to be earned with some luck.
Sergei Bobrovsky, FLA vs. DET ($7,900): Both Bobrovsky and Chris Driedger should be good picks in this matchup. The Wings have won two straight but the Jackets didn't really put up much of a fight. The Panthers have stayed afloat without either Aleksander Barkov and Aaron Ekblad, and they should still have enough depth to outlast the Wings. Bobrovsky has a .942 Sv% in three games against them this season.
Pekka Rinne, NSH vs. DAL ($7,600): For the first time all season, the Preds are getting quality goaltending. Rinne has won three straight games, including a road win against the Stars. His home stats aren't very good, but lately the Stars' goaltending has struggled as well. They continue to miss key players throughout their lineup, and while it should be a close game, the Preds should have the advantage.
VALUE PLAYS
Jason Robertson, DAL at NSH ($4,400): From a salary to ice time perspective, Robertson's a strong value play as he continues to log 20 minutes each night. He's become a key cog of the Stars offense and over his past five games has scored five points.
Noel Acciari, FLA vs. DET ($3,700): I would be way of his current production because he's outperforming expectations and doesn't profile as a No. 1 center. However, his ice time has increased and so have his offensive-zone starts since taking over Barkov's spot.
Kirby Dach, CHI vs. CAR ($3,400): Dach will get moved around the lineup depending on the situation because their center ice position is in flux sometimes, but it's very encouraging that Dach has played over 20 minutes in his first two games of the season. The offense will come sooner than later, and while this matchup can be difficult given the Canes' depth at center, Dach is getting a lot of opportunities, sometimes alongside top scorers Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat. Pius Suter ($4,300) has the hot hand with a four-game point streak.
LINE STACKS
Hurricanes at Blackhawks
Sebastian Aho (C - $7,800), Martin Necas (W - $5,200), Nino Niederreiter (W - $4,700)
This is a good value stack with an elite center and Necas, who's on a three-game point streak, including a four-point effort against the Lightning. The Hawks defense has allowed a lot of shots all season, making them an ideal team to stack against with two strong shooters in Aho and Necas.
Lightning vs. Blue Jackets
Brayden Point (C - $7,400), Steven Stamkos (W - $7,800), Ondrej Palat (W - $6,000)
The Jackets may have split the season series so far, but the odds should be overwhelmingly in the Lightning's favor. They've averaged eight shots more than the Jackets in their two previous matchups, and have also been efficient on special teams with a 25.0 PP% and 83.3 PK%.
DEFENSEMEN
Dougie Hamilton, CAR at CHI ($6,600): There's plenty of quality defensemen to choose from but no one has been more productive than Hamilton, who is looking to extend his point streak to 15 games. Given his high shot volume, he's been one of the best DFS defensemen all season.
Adam Fox, NYR vs. WSH ($5,800): The Rangers have not had any trouble scoring against the Caps this season with 16 goals in five games, and Fox is riding a seven-game point streak. He's been indispensable to the Rangers' transition offense, and the Caps' goaltending has been fairly average with a .921 5v5 Sv%, which ranks 17th in the league according to Natural Stat Trick.
John Klingberg, DAL at NSH ($5,600): Over the past two weeks, Klingberg has been underperforming relative to xGF expectations. Over the past two weeks, Klingberg's 6.66 xGF at 5v5 has produced just 3 GF, according to Natural Stat Trick. He's on a three-game point streak and it feels like the puck's bouncing his way right now.
Keith Yandle, FLA vs. DET ($4,100): At even strength, Yandle still doesn't get a lot of minutes. But, without Ekblad, Yandle will be the only defenseman who can run their power play. He's a power-play specialist at this point, and there's little competition for the job.
