This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
It's a busy nine-game slate for Tuesday highlighted by key clashes in the Central Division. The division-leading Panthers (yup, you read that right) visit the Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET) while the Lightning visit the Blue Jackets (7 p.m.) and playoff hopefuls Stars and Blackhawks (8 p.m.) face each other.
GOALIES
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB at CBJ ($8,600): Vasilevsky is 8-3-0 with a .939 Sv% and 1.99 GAA in his career against the Jackets, and a lot has to go wrong for the Lightning to lose. The Jackets looked better earlier in the season but have had tons of trouble scoring goals since, having failed to score more than three goals in 11 straight games.
Juuse Saros, NSH at DET ($7,600): Saros had a disastrous February but has bounced back in a big way since; he's won six of his past nine appearances with a .962 Sv%, including two shutouts. He's coming off a 41-save shutout against the Blackhawks, and other than a five-goal outburst against the Lightning, the Red Wings have scored two goals or less in six of their past nine games.
Jake Oettinger, DAL at CHI ($7,400): Despite playing back-to-back games, Oettinger was brilliant against the Hurricanes, and he's been similarly brilliant against the Blackhawks (.944 Sv%, 1.69 GAA). He's just having some poor luck with two losses in extra time, but the Hawks are also freefalling with eight losses in their last 11 games.
Linus Ullmark, BUF at NJ ($6,700): Ullmark has actually been excellent considering the quality of the team in front of him. His .918 Sv% is a very respectable number and he's accounted for seven of the team's eight wins, and he should easily outduel MacKenzie Blackwood at the other end of the ice.
VALUE PLAYS
Boone Jenner, CBJ vs. TB ($3,800): We're playing the odds here; over the past two weeks, Jenner's 3.22 difference between 5v5 xGF and 5v5 GF is the second biggest difference in the league among forwards, according to Natural Stat Trick. The Lightning are clearly better but they haven't always won the possession battle, and the numbers simply indicate Jenner might be due. At worst, he shoots and blocks plenty of shots and also plays on the power play.
Mason Marchment, FLA at CAR ($3,100): Since getting moved to the top line, Marchment's fantasy points in his past three games: 1.6, 3.2, 8. His latest game against Columbus saw him register four shots on net, tying a season high. As long as he plays with Aleksander Barkov, and the longer he plays with him, the more his fantasy value trends upwards.
LINE STACKS
Islanders vs. Capitals
Brock Nelson (C - $5,400), Anthony Beauvillier (W - $4,400), Josh Bailey (W - $4,800)
The Capitals are talented in net but also very shaky. They've allowed at least four goals in his past five games, and Beauvillier plays with Matt Barzal – by far their best offensive player – on the top power play. But, unlike Barzal's line, all three players can score and Nelson and Bailey play on PP2.
Bruins at Flyers
Patrice Bergeron (C - $7,500), Brad Marchand (W - $7,700), Craig Smith (W - $4,200)
This line has been dominant at 5v5 with a 33-9 edge in CF. The Flyers are not getting bailed out by their defense and goaltending these days, and eventually those shots will start to go in. Marchand and Bergeron still get to play with David Pastrnak on the power play.
DEFENSEMEN
Roman Josi, NSH at DET ($6,600): There's plenty of elite defensemen to choose from but Josi has a really good matchup. It's better than John Carlson ($6,900) against a tough defensive team (Islanders) or Dougie Hamilton ($6,500) against arguably the best team in the league (Panthers). Josi has registered a point in five of his past seven games.
Matt Grzelcyk, BOS at PHI ($4,300): It's a good chance to take advantage of the Flyers' weak goaltending with Grzelcyk scoring four points in his past six games. He continues to quarterback the Bruins power play and the Flyers PK toils in 29th place at 73.2 percent.
Gustav Forsling, FLA at CAR ($3,600): Forsling and MacKenzie Weegar ($4,100) have taken over at the top of the Panthers' food chain on defense, and both have been excellent. Forsling has collected four points in four games while averaging over 21 minutes per game.
