Spending lower in any daily fantasy lineup is a way to incorporate some diversity into your roster. In NHL DFS, there is typically more value in this strategy but also a good deal more risk. This is especially true on tonight's slate, where there are lots of lower-salaried plays. Plugging in these options will afford you more chances to play some studs as well.
With eleven more games on Thursday night, there are always some plays that can deliver a little more value.
Eetu Luostarinen, Center, Florida Panthers
FanDuel Salary: $3,700
The Florida Panthers' bottom-six center has some risk because of his sometimes low minutes. However, Eetu Luostarinen provides an interesting floor for daily fantasy. He can give you a couple of shots and a few blocked shots even in lower-than-we'd-like ice time.
The bonus with Luostarinen is that he has an above-average release on his shot. He has five goals in 13 games. Do not be surprised if he sees a little more ice time in the coming weeks.
Going against a New Jersey Devils team that allows nearly 35 shots per 60 on the road, Luostarinen is a good way to sneak a little value into your lineups on Thursday night.
Jesper Bratt, Wing, New Jersey Devils
FanDuel Salary: $3,900
We can keep playing Jesper Bratt until his salary moves up. He is averaging 12.07 FanDuel points per game for the year and is still salaried under $4,000.
Although Bratt got off to a slow start, he has more than made up for it of late. The winger has four consecutive outings with double-digit FanDuel points, and along with Dawson Mercer, he has been a one-two punch that carries a ton of value. Someday, New Jersey will figure out their power play, but at even-strength, these are two of the hottest middle-six forwards in all of hockey.
Bratt is a solid option against Florida.
Colin Miller, Defenseman, Buffalo Sabres
FanDuel Salary: $3,800
Colin Miller might not be the most proficient defenseman, but the Buffalo Sabres' blueliner offers offensive upside on Thursday night.
Playing the Calgary Flames -- or any Darryl Sutter-coached team -- is not a pleasant matchup. However, Miller has four real-world points in his last five games and nine in 15 contests overall this season. The even better news is that Miller has been playing more minutes, seeing at least 21 in six consecutive contests.
The Buffalo defenseman has an excellent chance to hit double-digit FanDuel points again, which would make it five times in the last six appearances that he's done so. Take advantage of his friendly salary.
Elvis Merzlikins, Goalie, Columbus Blue Jackets
FanDuel Salary: $7,600
Elvis Merzlikins is far from safe against the lowly Arizona Coyotes, because our model gives Arizona a 50.7% chance to win. On the bright side, the one team Arizona seems to shoot the puck a lot against is the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Merzlikins stopped 36 of 38 shots in their previous meeting earlier this season, and that was in Columbus. The worry is that the Blue Jackets could give up too many high-danger chances that Merzlikins cannot stop. That has happened a few times recently.
However, Arizona still is one of the worst teams in the league by most metrics, and we project Merzlikins as the slate's third-best point-per-dollar goalie.
Chris Wassel is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Chris Wassel also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username chriswassel. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he/she may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his/her personal account. The views expressed in his/her articles are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.