This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
Not only is it crunch time in the NHL, but with 12 games, it's also a deep player pool at FanDuel on Thursday. Here are a handful of recommendations to consider while assembling your daily lineups.
GOALIE
Cam Talbot, EDM at SAN ($8,400): With the Sharks and Oilers currently tied at 97 points, home-ice advantage is at stake for the likely first-round bout between these two clubs. San Jose will be without centers Joe Thornton (knee) and Logan Couture (mouth), and the Sharks have just a 3-11 record over their last 14 games, with two of those wins coming against the basement-dwelling Canucks. With a manageable price, this is a ripe spot for Talbot to rebound from his rough outing against the Kings last time out.
CENTER
Connor McDavid, EDM at SAN ($9,100): With their top two pivots out of the lineup, the Sharks will struggle to slow down McDavid. The scoring champ is sporting an 11-game point streak with six goals, 14 assists and 34 shots while logging a hefty 20:40 of ice time (3:41 on the power play). There's also a chance that his hefty salary leaves his ownership in the contrarian range.
Bo Horvat, VAN at ARI ($4,600): The offensive pace has slowed considerably for Horvat, as he's compiled just four assists through his past nine games. However, the pivot is still in the midst of a career year (20 goals and 51 points), and he draws a favorable matchup. Arizona has allowed the most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (13.21), and Horvat's salary opens up spending room for the rest of your lineup.
WING
David Pastrnak, BOS vs. OTT ($6,900): With 15 goals, 37 points and 112 shots through his past 31 games, Pastrnak is locked in and likely eyeing a larger offensive role with Brad Marchand's status in limbo. Ottawa has allowed 19 goals in the past six games and only won two of its past 12 contests in regulation. There's also significant playoff posturing at stake with these two teams tied in the standings.
Mathieu Perreault, WPG at CLM ($5,400): Capping off the season in style with four goals, 13 points and 19 shots over his latest nine contests, Perreault presents plenty of value at this salary. Columbus has allowed the fifth-most high-danger scoring chances (11.69) this season, and Perreault is locked into a top-six role with power-play time.
Charlie Coyle, MIN at COL ($4,400): Colorado owns the league's worst five-on-five team save percentage (.907) and has allowed the most goals per game (3.37), so this is a target-worthy matchup. Coyle has found the scoresheet in three of the past four games for a goal and three helpers, and it'll be difficult to find another 50-point scorer in his price range.
DEFENSE
Alex Pietrangelo, STL at FLA ($6,000): The Cats have dropped five consecutive games with 22 goals allowed, and Pietrangelo has stepped up his production considerably since the trade deadline. His salary is creeping up, but with five goals, 10 assists, seven power-play points, 50 shots, 35 blocked shots and an average of 26:30 of ice time (2:50 with the man advantage) over his past 19 games, Pietrangelo remains a go-to target.
Justin Faulk, CAR vs. NYI ($5,100): A high-risk, high-reward option, Faulk lands in a cushy matchup and has shown more consistency of late with 31 shots and an average of 23:34 of ice time (2:22 on the power play) through his past eight outings. He's also posted three goals, three assists and two power-play points during that span. While the Islanders have won three consecutive games, they've allowed the second-most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (12.02), and this checks out as a letdown spot.
