This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
We're well over the halfway mark, so the contenders are separating from the pretenders. Thursday is host to 11 games, and three teams will be on the second half of back-to-back games while Arizona plays tomorrow as well. Three divisional matchups will fire up as well. Read on to help navigate the slate and set your DFS lineups.
GOALIES
Ben Bishop ($8,800) is the chalk. He's won each of his last two starts while posting a .947 save percentage, and he'll be up against the Ducks, who have lost four of their last five contests while averaging 2.6 goals per game.
It looks like this will be a Jaroslav Halak ($8,300) game, as he and Tuukka Rask ($8,800) have been switching off starts. Halak has been impressive over the last month with a .923 save percentage, but a lack of offensive support left him with a 2-2-2 record. Connor Hellebuyck will get the night off in the opposing crease, so the B's offense should be more help.
If the Blueshirts afford Igor Shesterkin ($7,300) another start after winning his first outing and MacKenzie Blackwood isn't recovered from three hours of dental work Wednesday, the rookie is a top value play since the Devils rank 30th with 2.25 goals per road game.
I'd fire up Jake Allen ($7,600) as well if he gets the nod, as the Sabres posted 2.05 GF/60 at even strength over the past month, per Natural Stat Trick.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Tyler Bozak ($4,200) is heating up on the third line, collecting four goals and an assist over the past six games, and he continues to log power-play minutes. Buffalo's penalty kill (74.6 percent) has been putrid this year, so Bozak slides in at a premium.
Ilya Kovalchuk ($4,000) suddenly looks like his old self with the Canadiens, corraling three points -- one on the power play -- over two games with the Habs. As long as he's on the top line, the opportunities could keep flowing, and Edmonton's penalty kill has been brutal over the last 13 games (12.37 GA/60).
Adam Gaudette ($3,500) has been promoted to the top power-play unit, and he'll be flanked by Brock Boeser at even strength. The former is especially important in this case, though, as the Panthers' penalty kill has let up 14.69 G/60 over the last month -- the highest rate in the league.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Tampa Bay Lightning (TOTAL: $23,800) 
C - Brayden Point ($7,200)
W - Nikita Kucherov ($8,100)
W - Steven Stamkos ($8,500)
This trio combined for a whopping nine points -- three with the man advantage -- in its last outing against the Canucks, while Kucherov and Point have five- and six-game point streaks, respectively. Get on the train, as they'll be taking on Adin Hill and a team that posted 60.86 CA/60 over the past three weeks -- the eight-most in the league.
Edmonton Oilers (TOTAL: $19,300) 
C - Connor McDavid ($9,300)
W - Zack Kassian ($4,600)
W - James Neal ($5,400)
Carey Price has a 3.89 GAA over the past five starts, and their penalty kill ranks 25th at 76.8 percent. It's always a good time to fire up McDavid & Co., and his comrades can pull their weight, especially Neal, who ranks second in the league with 12 power-play goals.
Vegas Golden Knights (TOTAL: $19,300) 
C - Paul Stastny ($4,800)
W - Mark Stone ($7,000)
W - Max Pacioretty ($7,500)
Pacioretty's always on the prowl with 19 tallies so far, while Stone and Stastny have stacked up six goals over the past five games. The Kings will roll out Jack Campbell, and he's struggled this year with a 2.92 GAA, and the Kings' penalty kill ranks 27th at 75.0 percent. The ceiling here is high for the price tag.
DEFENSEMEN
Roman Josi ($6,800) is having a career year, and he's on a five-game, nine-point streak with four coming on the power play. The Blackhawks have yielded 3.13 G/60 at even strength over the past three weeks, and Josi has already struck twice against them this year.
Torey Krug ($5,800) has an assist in three straight games, including two on the power play, since returning from injury. He's back in form, and the Jets don't look like they'll be able to slow him down. Laurent Brossoit has a 3.50 GAA this season, and the Jets' penalty kill ranks 30th over the past month with 14.32 GA/60.
Quinn Hughes ($4,400) should be in the Calder conversation alongside Cale Makar, as he's delivered 16 power-play points this year and another 14 at even strength. Considering how poorly the Panthers' penalty kill has performed recently, he could be a tournament-winner.
