This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
The main event contests at FanDuel include the nine evening games. With a deep player pool, you don't need to go out of your way to differentiate your tournament lineups because ownership percentages are going to lower given all the options. Here are a handful of value plays and low-priced fliers to consider during lineup assembly.
GOALIE
Jake Allen, STL vs. LAK ($8,500): After saving 26 of 27 shots in losing fashion Thursday, look for Allen to have another solid outing against an underwhelming Kings attack. Los Angeles owns the best CorsiFor percentage (58.2) at five-on-five to start the season but a 22nd-ranked 43.5 GoalsFor percentage. This game projects to be low scoring, and the Blues boast a better team throughout the lineup.
CENTER
Nathan MacKinnon, COL at ARI ($6,600): Over his past five games, MacKinnon has recorded 15 shots without scoring a goal. He lands in an excellent matchup to crack the goal column Saturday. The Coyotes have allowed a league-high 4.29 goals per game to start the year, after all.
Frans Nielsen, DET vs. BOS ($5,100): The goaltending situation for the Bruins is up in the air, but even if Tuukka Rask does return from injured reserve Saturday, he might not be 100 percent. Regardless, Nielsen is expected to center an intriguing line with Gustav Nyquist and Dylan Larkin on his flanks.
WINGER
Mikael Granlund, MIN vs. DAL ($4,600): The 24-year-old Finn has crawled out of the gate with just three assists and 10 shots on goal over eight games. However, he continues to log big minutes (18:48 per night) and has been skating with Mikko Koivu and Zach Parise of late. Dallas has the seventh-worst save percentage (.904) dating back to he beginning of last season, too.
Radim Vrbata, ARI vs. COL ($4,400): With the Avalanche entering on the wrong end of back-to-back games, this is a good spot for Vrbata to get back on track following a two-game point drought. He posted five points and 15 shots through the first five games of the year, and Vrbata remains locked into top offensive minutes.
Vladislav Namestnikov, TAM at NJD ($3,700): The Lightning line combinations could be thrown in the blender with Nikita Kucherov's status up in the air because of an upper-body injury. However, Namestnikov shouldn't be bumped from his top-six gig, especially since he's responded to the promotion with four points -- two goals -- and seven shots over three games.
DEFENSE
Mike Green, DET vs. BOS ($5,000): With an average of 24:00 of ice time per night and 4:03 with the man advantage, Green's role has expanded early this year. He's worth a contrarian flier given the unknown status of Tuukka Rask and the Boston goaltending situation. Plus, despite posting solid offensive numbers thus far (three goals and seven points through eight games), Green has just nine shots on net. As long as he continues to receive such hefty minutes, an uptick in shot volume should follow.
Matt Niskanen, WAS at VAN ($4,300): The Canucks are playing their second game in consecutive nights, and Washington will look to snap a two-game losing streak in the favorable matchup. Vancouver has the third-worst GoalsFor percentage (38.5) and CorsiFor percentage (45.2) in the league, after all. Niskanen, meanwhile, contributes across all categories and is averaging 22:09 per night to start the year.
