This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
Following a questionable slate last night, we cap the week off with four games starting at 6 p.m. EST.
Both Ottawa and New Jersey will be playing on the second-half of back-to-backs. This will provide better matchups for Columbus and Los Angeles. The Sens will take their league-second worst goals GAA (3.66) to Columbus while Florida will hope to benefit from their league-second best goals for (3.96) when they travel to Seattle.
DISCLOSURE: Things may not be the same at puck drop due to COVID-19. Make sure to monitor the news feed and play at your own risk.
GOALIES
Jordan Binnington, STL at VAN ($7,900): Binnington continues to provide underwhelming play in the net, but now offers an excellent chance to rebound against the injury/COVID-19-riddled Canucks. Vancouver managed to lose a game that they had control of to Florida two days ago and the Blues should see a similar lineup to the one the Panthers faced. Binnington also represents the fifth-highest salaried netminder on the slate and is likely to at least earn a win.
VALUE PLAYS
Anton Lundell, FLA at SEA ($5,600): With teammate Sam Bennett on the shelf, Lundell has once again stepped up as the second-line pivot. Unfortunately, he did very little besides score the clinching shootout goal. But as long as Bennett is out, Lundell should produce more against the improving Kraken.
Anze Kopitar, LA at NJ ($7,200): Kopitar is quietly hot without catching much attention with four goals, two assists and 16 shots from his last five appearances. He now gets the opportunity to play against a Devils team that just gave up five goals to the Hurricanes.
Samuel Fagemo, LA at NJ ($3,100): The young winger has been gifted the chance to play alongside Anze Kopitar with Adrian Kempe out for COVID-19. Fagemo hasn't registered a point in four appearances, but has posted five shots and three blocked shots. As long as he can fire a few pucks on net, he'll hit value.
Ivan Barbashev, STL at VAN ($6,100): Although Barbashev is slated as a winger, he's actually a second-unit center and has notched two goals, four assists and nine shots over five outings. He's in line to produce again against a depleted Canucks roster, albeit without winger Pavel Buchnevich.
LINE STACKS TO CONSIDER
Blue Jackets vs Sens: Boone Jenner (W - $6,000), Patrik Laine (W - $6,100), Oliver Bjorkstrand (W - $5,400)
The Blue Jackets have been struggling of late, but this trio has been the only positive combining for 11 points and 33 shots across the last five contests. FanDuel has decided to keep Jenner as a wing even though he's a center, so fitting in this stack may be more difficult but it will also cut down the coverage. The Sens have struggled with one of the league's worst xGA at 3.2 while their actual GA is a 3.63, so this represents a plus matchup for Columbus to capitalize on.
Kings at Devils: Anze Kopitar (C - $7,200), Quinton Byfield (C - $3,400), Alex Iafallo (W - $6,600)
We'll continue the trend of power-play stacks with the Kings. Kopitar and Iafallo continue to shine on the first line, but Byfield is the newest addition after being promoted from the AHL. In his first game centering the third line, he managed three shots over 15 minutes. The other two have posted five goals, six assists and 29 shots over five appearances. Going against a Devils squad that is struggling to keep pucks out of the net should keep their stats flowing.
DEFENSE
Damon Severson, NJ vs LA ($5,000): Coming off a thriller with the Hurricanes, the Devils will be somewhat fatigued and it will give way to more shots being taken by the Kings. This is where Severson and his shot-blocking ability will come into play. He's also quarterbacking the top power play, so all he needs is a few shots and blocked shots to maintain value. On the offensive side, Severson has recorded three points in his last five appearances to go along with 11 shots and five blocks.
Mark Giordano, SEA vs FLA ($5,200): FanDuel's valuation still confuses me, but here we are once again with Giordano a super salary savior. The former Flame has produced a 0-3-3 line with 10 shots and 16 blocked shots over five games. The blocked shots alone place Giordano at the top of the league in this category. For just over $5K, this is a steal in a matchup where he'll see a lot of pucks coming his way.
