This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
After a couple days of slacking off to start the season, the NHL finally has a meaty docket on Tuesday. There are seven games on the slate, so you will finally have some real options for your daily fantasy lineup. Fortunately, we are here to help you try and find the best values amongst all those players:
GOALIE
Martin Jones, SAN vs. LOS ($9,000): This is likely to be a low-scoring game, as both the Sharks and Kings excel at preventing goals and shots on net. Although, San Jose is slightly better in goals allowed (2.16 goals per game to 2.38). That's good for Jones, but he's also got a solid shot at picking up the win. San Jose is 8-2-0 in their last 10, while Los Angeles is 4-4-2. Additionally, the Sharks are 13-4-0 at home, while the Kings are 7-11-3 on the road.
CENTER
Nicklas Backstrom, WAS vs. TOR ($6,600): The Maple Leafs are middle of the pack in goals allowed (2.72) but they give up the third-most shots in the league (32.8). Backstrom doesn't take a ton of shots, but he sets up his teammates quite well, notching 21 assists in 36 games. He's averaging 11.8 fantasy points per game, and he'll be well worth the price here if he can continue that pace.
Victor Rask, CAR vs. NJD ($5,900): Before the Devils blanked the Bruins Monday, they were allowing 3.03 goals per game and 31.8 shots on goal per contest. That stat is more telling than one game, and Jersey will also be on the second night of a back-to-back. Rask is on a four-game pointless streak; but before that, he had eight points in six games, with 26 points in total.
WING
Chris Kreider, NYR vs. BUF ($6,900): The Sabres are another team giving up a lot of shots (32.6), and they are also bottom of the league on the penalty kill. Kreider has been on a tear recently, and has 91 shots in 33 games. He also has eight power-play points, which he could definitely add to in this matchup.
Nikolaj Ehlers, WPG at TAM ($6,400): In December, Tampa's goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy had a 3.12 GAA and a .892 save percentage. Meanwhile, Ehlers had a much better month, tallying six goals and five assists in 14 games. He's almost matched his point total from his rookie season, and is also averaging 2:47 per game on the power play. That's encouraging considering Tampa ranks 23rd on the penalty kill.
Ondrej Palat, TAM vs. WPG ($5,500): Palat has struggled and been injured this season, but he's notched four points in three games since returning to action. Based on his track record, a healthy Palat should see his fantasy numbers improve in 2017. The Jets allow 2.97 goals per game, so this matchup could certainly help him. Palat's slow start has resulted in a price drop, which only makes him a nice buy-low candidate.
Justin Williams, WAS vs. TOR ($5,300): Williams still has some life left in his legs, as his recent play can prove. He has nine points in his last 10 games, with 14 shots on goal in his last four games. Toronto, as previously mentioned, gives up a lot of shot and Williams doesn't have to do very much to be a good value at this price.
DEFENSEMEN
Ryan McDonagh, NYR vs. BUF ($5,600): Buffalo, as noted earlier, is the league's worst team on the penalty kill. McDonagh averages 3:27 a night with the extra man, and has notched nine power-play points. He has 25 points overall, and is currently riding a four-game point streak.
Jaccob Slavin, CAR vs. NJD ($4,300): With Justin Faulk out, Slavin is Carolina's top defenseman. Even with Faulk healthy most of the season, Slavin is averaging a respectable 9.2 fantasy points per game. Slavin only has one goal (on a 1.9 shooting percentage) but has added 13 assists, including four on the power play. He's cheap and he gets to go up against a Devils team who will be on the road on the second night of a back-to-back.
