This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
Following a full Saturday of hockey, we cap the week off with four games starting at 7 p.m. EST.
Both Montreal and Buffalo will be playing on the second-half of back-to-backs, which should provide better matchups for Columbus and Colorado. The Canadiens and their league-worst 3.83 GAA will host the Blue Jackets while the Avs hope to benefit from the best offense (4.10) when the Sabres come to town.
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
Kaapo Kahkonen, MIN at NYI ($8,300): The Islanders sport one of the worst attacks with only 2.58 goals per game - albeit a recent uptick in scoring - and now they get to play the stingy Wild defense. After Cam Talbot went down with an injury, Kahkonen has taken over and hasn't disappointed winning five of his last seven with a 2.14 GAA. Those are stellar numbers considering he played the likes of Colorado, Anaheim, Washington and Boston. As the second highest-salaried goalie on the slate, this is a pretty straightforward play.
VALUE PLAYS
Mikko Rantanen, COL vs BUF ($9,300): Rantanen slides into the top-line pivot role again with Nathan MacKinnon out. Rantanen is surprisingly valued less than Nazem Kadri ($10,000) even though he posted a pair of assists in his first match without MacKinnon. Now he gets to go against a Sabres squad who just played the Coyotes.
Oliver Bjorkstrand, CBJ at MON ($5,400): The Blue Jackets are a gold mine of value on the slate if the Habs repeat their performance against the Oilers. Montreal allow a lot of shots and Bjorkstrand loves to put pucks on net. Many will be picking Columbus's first line, but don't miss out on Bjorkstrand in this prime matchup.
Tyler Toffoli, MON vs CBJ ($6,200): On the flip side, we have Toffoli as Montreal's primary producer with four points and 17 shots over his last five appearances. In what will be a back-and-forth battle with a high goal total, Toffoli will have every chance to hit value.
LINE STACKS TO CONSIDER
Blue Jackets at Canadiens: Cole Sillinger (C - $3,900), Jakub Voracek (W - $4,700), Oliver Bjorkstrand (W - $5,400)
The Blue Jackets continue to struggle with just two wins in their last five, albeit playing against elite clubs. Now they get the perfect chance to rebound against the league's worst defense. As mentioned, their second unit will offer more flexibility having combined for five points and 31 shots from their last five outings.
Avalanche vs Sabres: Mikko Rantanen (C - $9,300), Gabriel Landeskog (W - $9,400), Samuel Girard (D - $5,400)
We look to the power play for this stack. The Avs are well known as one of the NHL's best offenses and will be playing without top center Nathan MacKinnon. This relieves some salary, but very little in terms of stacking the first line. That's why Samuel Girard is being included as he's now on the lead man-advantage. He's rarely disappointed since his arrival from Nashville and has posted a goal, three assists, seven shots, and five blocked shots across five games. The Sabres continue to show glimpses of a competing team, but they still struggle with one of the league's worst GAA (3.38).
DEFENSE
Esa Lindell, DAL vs BOS ($4,400): Lindell is not a goal-scoring prodigy or a point-per-game blueliner, but he does play a solid two-way game. Lindell is often relied on to position himself in the gaps which rewards him with a few blocked shots. Over his last five contests, he's supplemented three points with 14 shots and nine blocks. Playing against a Bruins' squad who loves to shoot and has recently been sketchy on D played only bodes well for Lindell to at least maintain value.
Noah Dobson, NYI vs MIN ($5,900): For anyone familiar with the style of Victor Hedman, think of him when you watch Noah Dobson. Dobson has taken a massive step in his development this year and is now one of the Isles' top shooters while also quarterbacking the first power play. In his last five games, he's only produced a goal but has also racked up 21 shots and 10 blocked shots. The Isles could go down early and Dobson will be firing the puck hoping for a bounce to go his way.
