This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
There are eight games in the NHL on Thursday – the perfect balance of a deep yet manageable player pool. Here are a handful of selections across multiple price points to consider while assembling your FanDuel lineups.
GOALIE
Connor Hellebuyck, WPG vs. FLA ($8,100): With a solid 7-4-1 record, .922 save percentage and 2.36 GAA at MTS Centre this year, Hellebuyck is a potential low-priced option in a nice schedule spot. The Panthers are 2-4-3 dating back to old coach Gerard Gallant's last game, and they've scored just 16 goals during that span. It doesn't hyrt Hellebuyck's odds that Florida owns the NHL's 30th-ranked power play.
CENTER
Auston Matthews, TOR vs. ARI ($6,600): This salary is too low for a high-volume shooter in a great matchup. Arizona has allowed the second-most scoring chances per 60 minutes in the league (32.41), and Matthews has the fourth-most shots per 60 minutes (12.4) and nine points -- seven goals -- through his past nine games.
Jason Spezza, DAL vs. NYR ($6,400): Since joining Dallas, Spezza owns a 12th-ranked 2.76 points per 60 minutes among skaters with at least 3,000 minutes. Not only does the price fall short of his production, but it doesn't live up to his current opportunity, either. He's projected to skate with Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn, and that trio has combined for 21.06 scoring chances per 60 minutes, which rank fifth among all lines with at least 750 minutes of shared ice over the last three years.
WING
Jamie Benn, DAL vs. NYR ($8,200): It's difficult to ignore Benn's 51 goals and 110 points through 96 games at the American Airlines Center over the past three years. He's a go-to offensive player for the Stars and isn't priced out of play Thursday. As noted, the Benn- Seguin-Spezza trio has been a dominant force, and the Rangers could be without stalwart Ryan McDonagh (illness).
Rickard Rakell, ANA at BOS ($5,800): Among skaters with at least 300 minutes, Rakell's 3.11 points per 60 minutes rank 14th in the league, and he's projected to play top-line minutes with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. This is a good schedule spot, too. Boston is playing its third game in four nights and is on the wrong end of back-to-back contests after losing in overtime to Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
Robby Fabbri, STL vs. NJD ($5,100): The sophomore has clicked with Vladimir Tarasenko, as the duo has combined for 3.48 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five this year. Plus, Fabbri is in fine form with four goals, eight points and 17 shots through his past eight games. The Devils have also allowed 3.12 goals per road game this year.
DEFENSE
John Klingberg, DAL vs. NYR ($5,200): Another affordable option for a Dallas stack, Klingberg is back with the No. 1 power-play unit and averaged 3:40 with the man advantage since his latest press-box stint. Even with his relative struggles this season (14 points through 29 games), Klingberg boasts a fifth-ranked 1.75 points per 60 minutes among defensemen with at least 3,000 minutes over the past three years.
Anthony DeAngelo, ARI at TOR ($3,800): All DeAngelo has done this season is post solid fantasy results, so at this salary, he presents excellent cap relief. Toronto has allowed the fourth-most scoring chances per 60 minutes in the league (29.3), and DeAngelo has the ninth-ranked 1.79 points per 60 minutes among defensemen with at least 200 minutes this season.
