This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
The NHL season has only just begun, but we've already got a light day on the slate. There are only two games Friday, but fret not. They are just setting us up for a big Saturday. Still, this means your daily fantasy options are going to be limited. Here are my recommendations for your lineup.
GOALIE
Jonathan Quick, LOS vs. SAN ($8,800): Sure, Quick is a great goalie; he hasn't had a save percentage lower than .917 in his last four seasons, but this is as much about process of elimination. Both the Blue Jackets and Hurricanes are on the second night of a back-to-back, and you don't want a Hurricanes goalie in even the best of circumstances. The Sharks are on the road, and Martin Jones struggled in their season opener. Thus, Quick seems like the clear best option Friday.
CENTER
Jeff Carter, LOS vs. SAN ($6,800): Carter lost a lot of time to injury last year, but when he played, he scored 13 goals and added nine assists in 27 games. In his last healthy season, he scored 34 goals. The Sharks were good defensively last year, but most teams are worse on the road. Case in point, last season San Jose had a 2.93 GAA and allowed 32.4 shots on net per contest in away games.
Pierre-Luc Dubois, CLM vs. CAR ($6,100): As a rookie, Dubois started 65.8 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone. It paid off, as he managed 20 goals and 28 assists as a 19-year-old. The Hurricanes are on the road for the second day of a back-to-back, and with Scott Darling hurt, they may be starting Curtis McElhinney, who they picked up off waivers on Tuesday.
WING
Cam Atkinson, CLM vs. CAR ($7,100): Despite playing in only 65 games last season, Atkinson had 24 goals on 231 shots. He did that with a 10.4 shooting percentage, which is below his career average of 11.3. On that front, he already has a goal in Columbus' season opener. Curtis McElhinney was inexplicably good last season, but in his career he has a .909 save percentage.
Teuvo Teravainen, CAR at CLM ($5,900): Teravainen averaged 16:54 per game last year and could be in line for a bigger role this season. He's earned it, as the 24-year-old broke out with 23 goals and 64 points last year. The Blue Jackets did save Sergei Bobrovsky for this game, but they still will be playing on zero days rest, and Seth Jones is out. With only four teams playing, you aren't going to find players in perfect situations to fill an entire lineup.
Oliver Bjorkstrand, CLM vs. CAR ($5,100): The Hurricanes have the clear worst goaltending situation of the four teams playing Friday, and they are on the road for the second night of a back-to-back, so it makes sense to try and take advantage of that. Bjorkstrand was decent last season, notching 11 goals and adding 29 assists. However, he had a 6.7 shooting percentage, which is unusually low for a forward. Maybe this year he will have better puck luck. We don't have enough of a track record for the 23-year-old to know what kind of shooter he is going to be.
DEFENSEMEN
Alec Martinez, LOS vs. SAN ($4,500) Martinez was a nice secondary scorer on the blue line last season, notching nine goals and 16 assists. He also contributed on the power play, tallying 11 points with the extra man. As previously noted, the Sharks allowed 32.4 shots on net per contest in away games last year. Plus, Martinez blocked 206 shots last season, so even if he doesn't do a lot offensively, he will likely get in front of a few pucks to help your fantasy lineup.
David Savard, CLM vs. CAR ($4,000): With Seth Jones out, Savard is in line to play alongside Zach Werenski on Columbus' top pairing. That should lead to an increase in minutes and in scoring opportunities. The Hurricanes had a 3.09 GAA last year, and they are on the second night of a back-to-back. While Jones is on the sidelines, Savard has the chance to be a nice fantasy value.
