We have a very short three-game slate tonight, so that means limited options all across the board. You have to take a stand and pick a goalie, which could mean completely fading the team who is against him. We have to find value where we can take it since there are only six teams in play.

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Center

Mika Zibanejad (NYR): $7,200 vs. VGK
Zibanejad is the first line center for the Rangers and is also on the first power-play unit. He has 10 points in 12 games this season and is off to a solid start. We know the ice time will be there for him to have the chance at scoring, which is huge in DFS. Zibanejad is the first part of a full Rangers stack we will be looking at, as they are at home and up against Vegas. He is also averaging over 3.5 shots per game, and more shots equal more points, exactly what we want to see from a high-priced player.

Eric Staal (MIN): $6,800 vs. WPG
Staal has seven points in nine games this season and is averaging over three shots per game. The veteran is getting it done to start the season, and he is the first part of a three-man Wild stack. The Wild are at home and up against the Jets, who are giving up about three goals per game. Staal is on the second forward line and the second power-play unit, so the ice time will be there for him to rack up the points. Good spot for him tonight on the short slate.

Wing

J.T. Miller (NYR): $5,500 vs. VGK
Miller certainly hasn’t gotten it going in terms of goals this season, with only two in 12 games, but he has picked up eight assists over that same span. He was recently moved up to the first forward line, and first power-play unit, so this is the type of spot we want to target him. His price hasn’t been fully adjusted for the amount of ice time he will be seeing, so we want to jump on him while we can. The only downside with Miller is that is taking just over one shot per game, which we would like to see higher.

Rick Nash (NYR): $6,200 vs. VGK
Nash is the next part of a Rangers stack we are looking at today and is aiming to get his scoring going this season. Just from an eye test perspective, Nash is playing very strong to start the season. He just doesn’t have the stats to back it up yet. He only has three points in 12 games this season, along with 44 shots over that same period. He is due for some positive regression with how well he has been playing, and now that he is on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, the chances will be there for him.

Jason Zucker (MIN): $4,900 vs. WPG
Zucker is another player who price seems a bit lower compared to the role he has on the Wild. Zucker is on the first forward line and first power-play unit, and he’s averaging over three shots per game. The Wild, as a team, have yet to fully get it going to start this season in terms of scoring, but Zucker has seven points in nine games and is off to a good start. Zucker also needs a bit of positive regression, since he only has one point in his last four games. The ice time is there for him, we just need to see him rack up the points.

Mikael Granlund (MIN): $6,700 vs. WPG
Grandlund started the season on the DL, but he is back and has put up just one point in four games. We all know he has a much higher ceiling than that, so the points will come for him. He is on the first forward line and first power-play unit along with Zucker, so we’re putting them in a spot to be able to double dip on some points. He is up against the Jets who are giving up about three goals per game, which makes a nice spot for him to get on track.

Defense

Kevin Shattenkirk (NYR): $5,800 vs. VGK
Shattenkirk was the big summer signing for the Rangers, and they are looking at him to sure up their power-play. He is on the first power-play unit and generally sees time on one of the top two defensive pairings. He has nine points in 12 games this season and is the last member of our Rangers stack. All of these players will be seeing plenty of ice time together, so the potential to double up on points is big.

Jonathan Ericsson (DET): $3,600 vs. ARI
Ericsson is a bit of a punt play today, and since we only have three games, we have to take the value where we can get it. If you want to load up on a few stacks, the savings have to come from somewhere, and Ericsson isn’t a bad choice. He has just three points in 12 games this season, along with about one shot per game. The ice time is there for him, since he is on the top defensive pairing, he’s just not going to blow you away with his offensive skill.

Goalie

Jimmy Howard (DET): $8,000 vs. ARI
Howard is at home against an Arizona team who just picked up their first win of the season last night. They are one of the weaker teams in the league, and you should look to roster a goalie against them anytime you can. Howard is at home and a -175 favorite according to Vegas, so he is in a spot to pick up the win. Howard has four wins in nine games this season and is allowing about 2.5 goals per game.

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Thomas Vecchio is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Thomas, check out his archive and follow him @DFS_Tom.