Each day I will be providing my recommended player picks for your FanDuel daily fantasy hockey lineups.
My FanDuel NHL Plays will be broken down by player positions, and will include picks for cash games (50/50s/double-ups/head-to-head) and GPPs (guaranteed prize pool tournaments).
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Are you new to Daily Fantasy Hockey? Check out these strategies documents first for tips and recommendations to craft your winning FanDuel hockey lineups:
Introduction to Daily Fantasy Hockey: Breaking it Down
Winning Strategies for Cash Games (head-to-head, 50/50s)
Winning Strategies for GPP Tournaments
Advanced Tips for Winning by Utilizing Vegas Odds and Line Combinations
FanDuel Daily Fantasy Hockey Research and Strategy Tools
The NHL sets us up with a solid seven-game schedule on this Friday evening to kick off the weekend. The Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks are the biggest favorites tonight and that is where we should be looking in our cash games. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild are the only teams playing on consecutive nights.
GOALTENDERS
Make sure to check the RotoGrinders NHL Starting Goalies Page to confirm that the goalies listed below are starting prior to game time.
Martin Jones, San Jose Sharks, $7,700 – Jones is finally getting his chance to shine as a number one goalie after spending two years in Los Angeles backing up Jonathan Quick. Jones has been nothing short of spectacular in his first three games (3-0, 0.33 GAA, .987 SV%, 2 SO) for the Sharks and he should remain hot in New Jersey tonight. The Devils have one of the worst offenses on the NHL and I can’t see them doing much damage to Jones in this one. He is a lock for the win and your best chance at a shutout.
Other Goalies To Target (Cash Games) – Sergei Bobrovsky, Jimmy Howard, Frederik Andersen
Other Goalies To Target (Tournaments) – Ondrej Pavelec, Ryan Miller, Jake Allen, Semyon Varlamov
CENTERS
Ryan Johansen, Columbus Blue Jackets, $7,000 – The Columbus Blue Jackets offense is in a great spot tonight and that means I am all over Ryan Johansen in all formats. The Toronto Maple Leafs were a disaster on the road and in their own end last season, and they have looked just as bad to start this season. Not only do the Blue Jackets get to face the defensively challenged Maple Leafs, but they also get to shoot against backup goalie James Reimer. Look for a multi-point night from Johansen in this game.
Other Centers to Target (Cash Games) – Ryan Getzlaf, Henrik Zetterberg, Paul Stastny, Bryan Little, Joe Thornton
Other Centers to Target (Tournaments) – Nathan MacKinnon, Henrik Sedin, Sean Monahan
WINGERS
Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks, $8,600 – Surprisingly, Perry is off to a slow start and has really disappointed us in his last two games, which were both plus matchups at home. With that being said, we need to forgive and forget quickly in daily fantasy hockey. Perry is due for a breakout game and I think it happens tonight. The Colorado Avalanche were a terrible defensive team in 2014-15 and they have already allowed 14 goals in their first three games this season. Perry is one the top snipers in the game and he has hat-trick upside in this matchup.
Justin Abdelkader, Detroit Red Wings, $4,800 – Abdelkader has been a staple in my cash game lineups all season and it has paid off nicely. He has been a scoring machine for the Red Wings (4 G, 5 PTS, +4, 7 SOG in 3 GP), yet his price remains low, and we should be taking advantage of it. As longs as he remains on the top line and number one power-play unit, Abdelkader should continue to produce.
Other Wingers to Target (Cash Games) – Joe Pavelski, Brandon Saad, Blake Wheeler, Vladimir Tarasenko, Daniel Sedin
Other Wingers to Target (Tournaments) – Gabriel Landeskog, Eric Staal, Tomas Tatar, Johnny Gaudreau
DEFENSE
Ryan Murray, Columbus Blue Jackets, $3,400 - It has been difficult to find value defensemen on FanDuel this season, but Ryan Murray is just that tonight.Murray is not only inexpensive, but he also quarterbacks the Blue Jackets’ number one power-play unit. In a plus matchup playing at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Murray has multi-point upside.
Other Defensemen to Target (Cash Games) – Sami Vatanen, Dustin Byfuglien, Mike Green
Other Defensemen to Target (Tournaments) – Mark Giordano, Brent Burns, Tyson Barrie, Justin Faulk