This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
Four-game slates are a nice change of pace for daily players. The player pool isn't oversaturated, but you still have plenty of opportunities to differentiate your selections. Here are a handful of players across multiple price ranges to consider while assembling your FanDuel lineups.
GOALIE
Martin Jones, SAN vs. OTT ($8,800): The Sharks are allowing opponents just 2.04 goals per game (even better, only 1.67 on home ice) and the third-fewest scoring chances per 60 minutes (26.38). Meanwhile, the Senators boast an underwhelming offense that averages just 2.35 goals per game, and they're using backup goalie Mike Condon in this one with Craig Anderson (personal) away from the team again.
CENTER
Nicklas Backstrom, WAS vs. BOS ($6,800): Avoiding top checker Patrice Bergeron will help Backstrom on Wednesday. Despite playing on the second line away from Alex Ovechkin, Backstrom is still rolling with the No. 1 power-play unit and continues to be a reliable scorer, averaging exactly a point per game dating back to his sophomore season; he's at seven goals and 21 points through 24 games this year.
Auston Matthews, TOR vs. MIN ($6,400): Look for Matthews to potentially carry a low ownership percentage in this tough matchup against Minnesota. The Wild have surrendered just 2.04 goals per game this season, after all. Still, Matthews is averaging 3.71 shots per game, and his 12.87 shots per 60 minutes rank second in the league among skaters with at least 300 minutes. He offers a high floor as well as a high ceiling, which is a plus for a contrarian option.
WING
Joe Pavelski, SAN vs. OTT ($7,800): The Sens allowed eight goals to Pittsburgh on Monday and are now kick-starting a three-game swing through California. Meanwhile, Pavelski boasts a seventh-ranked 2.76 points per 60 minutes among skaters with at least 5,000 minutes dating back to the 2013-14 campaign. His current 9.8 shooting percentage is also much lower than the 16.3 mark he posted through the first three years of the span. Positive regression is ahead, and this is a nice matchup for it to begin.
Nino Niederreiter, MIN at TOR ($4,300): Heating up of late, Niederreiter has found a groove with Eric Staal and Charlie Coyle on Toronto's top line. The trio is generating 11.38 scoring chances per 60 minutes at five-on-five, and Niederreiter has five goals, 10 points and 27 shots on goal over his past 13 games. That's excellent production at a cheap salary, and Toronto is allowing the second-most scoring chances per 60 minutes in the league (32.35).
Connor Brown, TOR vs. MIN ($3,700): While it's a small sample size, Brown and the aforementioned Matthews have combined for 4.78 goals and 14.76 scoring chances per 60 minutes at even strength. Brown has just a single assist over seven games since his four-point outburst in mid-November, so expectations need to be kept in check, but he's an upside source of cap relief who enables you to spend up elsewhere.
DEFENSE
Cam Fowler, ANA vs. CAR ($4,900): It's been a monster season for Fowler, who's averaging a career-high 23:51 of ice per night and has seven goals, 16 points and 54 shots through 26 games. His 1.64 points per 60 minutes rank 10th in the league among defensemen with at least 400 minutes this year, and Carolina has lost five consecutive road games.
Jared Spurgeon, MIN at TOR ($4,700): As noted, the Maple Leafs are allowing oodles of scoring chances, and Spurgeon has been receiving significant ice time over his past 10 games (25:28 per night with 2:44 on the power play). It's a nice combo for daily success, and the asking price is reasonable. Additionally, with 29 shots and 29 blocked shots during that 10-game span, Spurgeon offers a solid fantasy floor on which he's capable of building some offense.
