This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
The dominoes are falling 18 days from the trade deadline, as the Maple Leafs have received their goaltending bandaid in the form of Jack Campbell from the Kings on Wednesday. Now, what do the Rangers do with their three-headed crease? I can't wait to find out.
We have 12 games tonight on the DFS docket. Unfortunately for American fans, the Sabres and Red Wings get the nationally televised game, but there's plenty of value to be found in that contest, specifically in the crease. Read on to find out why, along with other tips on setting your lineup tonight.
GOALIES
The Ducks are coming off back-to-back wins, but they were against the Kings and Senators. Let's not read into that too much. Carey Price ($8,800), who has a .936 save percentage in 2020, is ready to bring them back to earth.
Faith in Jordan Binnington ($8,300) is rightfully tapering after allowing three-plus goals in five straight games. However, he had a statement win over Carolina on Tuesday, and two goals late in the third period, when the game was safely in hand, muddled his stat line. Fire him up against the Jets, who have scored 1.87 G/60 over the last month -- 26th in the league.
Carter Hutton ($7,500) got carved up by the Avalanche on Tuesday and was yanked for AHL All-Star Jonas Johansson ($7,200), who performed well in garbage time. Johansson is an excellent contrarian play if he gets the nod with the Sabres playing Friday as well. Let's be honest, it's the Red Wings.
The same can be said about the Sabres, who rank 31st over the last month with 1.55 xGF/60, per Natural Stat Trick. Jonathan Bernier ($7,000) or Jimmy Howard ($7,100) are fine options.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Center Brock Nelson ($6,200) flies under the radar on Long Island, but he's been their most consistent scorer over the last few weeks, stacking up six goals and four helpers over eight games.
Zach Sanford ($4,400) stays hot with a career-best six-game, nine-point streak as Ryan O'Reilly's left wing. The youngster's driving a ton of offense himself, too, posting 69.2 xGF/60 in the new year.
The Devils have let up 3.39 G/60 over the last month -- the second-most in the league. Joel Farabee's ($3,500) engine is roaring in the top six, as he's registered six points (four goals, two assists) in as many games.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Arizona Coyotes (TOTAL: $17,200)
C - Christian Dvorak ($5,000)
W - Taylor Hall ($7,700)
W - Conor Garland ($4,500)
This unit keeps on producing without the help of the power play, combining for four goals and as many assists over the last three. The Hurricanes have been leaky defensively, too, yielding 13 goals in the last three contests.
St. Louis Blues (TOTAL: $16,400)
C - Brayden Schenn ($6,100)
W - Jaden Schwartz ($5,800)
W - Robert Thomas ($4,500)
This line debuted together Tuesday night and made an immediate impact, racking up two goals and four assists. This unit will likely stick together for the time being, and the Jets have struggled to keep the net empty recently, yielding 3.62 G/60 at even strength.
San Jose Sharks (TOTAL: $14,900)
C - Barclay Goodrow ($3,900)
W - Evander Kane ($6,700)
W - Patrick Marleau ($4,300)
It's tough to find a top line this cheap. Frankly, it's because Kane's the only one with any business in this position, but injuries will do that. They all chipped in on a goal against Calgary on Tuesday, though, and they'll continue their Canadian road trip against the Oilers, who have let up 14 scores over the past five contests.
DEFENSEMEN
Roman Josi ($6,700) stays atop the defensemen charts, and he's become a fixture in this column. The price tag is easy to swallow, too. He's notched a point or fired four-plus shots on net in seven straight games, and he often does both. The ceiling is high here, too, as the Flames yielded 24 goals over the last five games.
Quinn Hughes ($4,700) is neck and neck with Cale Makar in the Calder race, and I'm starting to lean to the former. He motors at even strength and the power play, and has a 52.1 Corsi For percentage. With 18 points on the power play already, he'll look to keep it going against the Wild's putrid penalty kill that has allowed 14.8 G/60 over the last month -- the most in the league.
The Devils, Ducks and Panthers are all bottom-8 penalty kills in that stretch as well, making power-play quarterbacks Shea Theodore ($5,300), Shea Weber ($5,800) and Ivan Provorov ($4,600) appealing fantasy plays.
