3 NHL FanDuel Value Plays to Target on Tuesday 5/3/22
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 of risk, too. The right low-salary plays can give you good production while affording you more chances to roster high-salary studs.
Tuesday night has the other four opening games. Let's see what value can be found.
Mikael Backlund, Center, Calgary Flames
FanDuel Salary: $4,300
The Calgary Flames' forward is an interesting case. He had 12 goals and 27 assists this season but a surprising 214 shots on goal.
The floor is solid as Mikael Backlund averages a blocked shot every three games. That number inches up in his playoff averages.
With how tight the playoffs become as far as space, having a player like Backlund is very helpful for his versatility. He can play in all phases and score, as well.
The center position drops off, and Backlund is probably the cream of the crop in this salary bracket. However, Filip Chytil is an intriguing middle-six alternative at just $3,700 from the New York Rangers.
Danton Heinen, Wing, Pittsburgh Penguins
FanDuel Salary: $4,000
Danton Heinen is a dangerous proposition in NHL DFS -- both positively and negatively. He can provide instant offense for the Pittsburgh Penguins but can vanish for long periods, as well. That has been his calling card since his days with the Boston Bruins and Anaheim Ducks.
However, if he is generating a handful of shots while playing only 11 to 12 minutes, he might play his way into a bigger role. This is especially true since Pittsburgh is facing a New York team that allows less than 2.5 goals per game. If the Pens are hurting for offense, they might turn to Heinen a little more than usual.
The Penguins are sort of "underdogs" in this series, but a player like Heinen has to be utilized better -- for better or for worse. If he sees a projected second-line role, even temporarily, that can pay dividends in Game 1. After all, his 18 shots, 20 scoring chances, three goals, and an assist in the last seven games despite decreased usage screams upgrade.
Heinen has the speed to cause New York real problems on the wings throughout this series.
Alexandre Carrier, Defenseman, Nashville Predators
FanDuel Salary: $4,000
The Nashville Predators' defense will be tested throughout the Colorado series in ways that may be too fast for the naked eye to see. That is the known.
Now, what is unknown is how players like Alexandre Carrier will handle their new roles with David Rittich in the crease.
The defender plays firmly in Nashville's top-four and logs almost 22 minutes of ice a night currently.
Carrier may have only three goals on just 95 shots, but he has a difficult-to-see slap shot. He just needs to get it on goal more often. Nashville will need him to do so early in this matchup.
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.
