This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
Six of the eight games will feature teams playing back-to-back, first with the Sabres hosting the Devils in another matinee at 1:00 p.m. EST. The Blue Jackets and Blackhawks will continue their series after Alexandre Texier clinched the win in a shootout on Friday, while the Senators are coming off a two-day break facing the Oilers who defeated the Maple Leafs in overtime Saturday.
The Panthers (-174 at Red Wings) and the Blues (-172 at Ducks) will be heavy favorites again. Now basically 10 games into the season, the top teams have started to separate from the lower ones with the North Division featuring the biggest point differential of 12 between first and last. They're followed by the East (nine), the West (six) and then the Central (five), although they have played less games.
(All fancy stats courtesy Natural Stat Trick).
GOALIES
Brian Elliott, PHI vs. NYI ($8,100): The Isles have only scored seven goals in their past four games and rank 30th averaging two goals a night. They'll need to do much better on offense to stand a chance against the Flyers, especially since they're expected to start Ilya Sorokin and his .875 Sv% in two appearances.
Elvis Merzlikins, CBJ at CHI ($7,500): Merzlikins is expected to start, but in either scenario the Jackets should be favored. Their last match was - as expected - a low-event encounter that needed lucky bounces. These types of games are the Jackets' speciality, who are 3-0-3 in one-goal games this year.
Troy Grosenick, EDM vs. OTT ($7,500): Nobody should be fully confident in picking Grosenick, who last played in the NHL on Nov. 18, 2014 when he allowed three goals on 13 shots in a loss to the Sabres. Mikko Koskinen ($7,100), who started Saturday night and may go again despite the back-to-back, might even be the better (value) play considering his salary. What is in Grosenick's favor is the Oilers' talented offense and the fact the Sens were outscored 16-3 against the Canucks.
Ville Husso, STL at ANH ($7,300): As long as Husso can keep the goals to a minimum, the Blues should have a chance. He has not looked good in either appearance this season by allowing nine goals in just 76 minutes.
VALUE PLAYS
Jordan Kyrou, STL at ANH ($3,900): Kyrou enjoyed a great game against the Ducks by scoring three points in a 6-1 rout and extending his point streak to three games. Tonight's another prime matchup for Kyrou, who will likely face Ducks' backup Ryan Miller. He's a much better plan than Zach Sanford ($4,300), who plays on the top line but has only produced one goal and one assist.
Drake Batherson, OTT at EDM ($3,800): It'll depend on who the Oilers start in net, but it's unlikely this game will be a low-scoring affair. Batherson played quite well despite getting swept by Vancouver while generating a fair amount of chances. It should be much easier to score against the Oilers, who must decide between a potentially exhausted Koskinen or a very inexperienced Grosenick.
Jesper Bratt, NJ at BUF ($3,600): The points will start to come before long for Bratt, who was held without a point Saturday but skated 19 minutes and contributed three shots. He's playing on Jack Hughes' wing, which is the best place to be if you're a Devils' forward.
Dylan Cozens, BUF vs. NJ ($3,600): Cozens' role is increasing and Saturday received the fourth-most ice time among forwards, including 3:15 on the power play. Eric Comrie, who has a career .868 Sv% in eight appearances, is expected to start.
Taro Hirose, DET vs. FLA ($3,000): Hirose's an undersized playmaker who's getting opportunities he wouldn't otherwise be getting on a better team. The Wings don't offer much offensive depth, forcing them to lean on Hirose who's playing opposite elite sniper Anthony Mantha at even strength and along the half-wall on PP1. On Saturday against the same opponent, only Bobby Ryan received more minutes on the power play than Hirose.
LINE STACKS
Blues at Ducks
Brayden Schenn (C - $5,700), Jaden Schwartz (W - $5,900), Jordan Kyrou (W - $3,900)
This trio combined for six points in a 6-1 rout of Anaheim on Saturday, and they've been one of the Blues' most consistent lines this season. Head coach Craig Berube needed to tinker a little bit before he settled on his top-six, with Schenn's line being leaned on for more scoring than Ryan O'Reilly's.
Senators at Oilers
Joshua Norris (C - $4,200), Brady Tkachuk (W - $6,200), Connor Brown (W - $4,500)
The bet against the Oilers is they won't be able to keep the Senators off the board. Norris and Tkachuk have combined for a very solid 54.81 CF% at 5-on-5 on a team that ranks 26th overall. Individually, only Batherson and Colin White have better possession numbers than Norris and Tkachuk.
DEFENSEMEN
Torey Krug, STL at ANH ($5,300): With an assist against the Ducks, Krug now has three points in four games after only managing one assist over the first four games. He'll continue to play big minutes on the power play and the Ducks will likely rest John Gibson.
Rasmus Dahlin, BUF vs. NJ ($4,300): Dahlin's defensive play at even strength still leaves a lot to be desired, but his offense is starting to come around with two assists in three contests. He's the undisputed QB of their PP1, which puts him in a prime position to score points and has registered at least two shots in every game this campaign.
Ty Smith, NJ at BUF ($3,800): Smith scored his career first power-play goal Saturday and continues to be a very pleasant surprise for the Devils. His play continues to trend up and should be a mainstay on PP1.
Filip Hronek, DET vs. FLA ($3,700): Hronek has yet to score a goal, but continues to log a ton of minutes. Saturday marked the fourth time this season he skated over 25 minutes and remains the top QB with five assists. The Panthers' PK is vulnerable as they are ranked 17th in the league at 77.8 percent.
