We have a small three-game slate tonight, so there are limited options at each position. It will be tough to get up to the top stars but also tough to fade them on a night with only three games. You want to maximize your upside along with a consistent floor of points on these smaller slates.
Check out today’s One-Timer contest from FanDuel 
Center
Pierre-Luc Dubois (CLS): $5,700 @ BUF
Dubois and the Blue Jackets are in a great spot tonight since they are up against Buffalo who are one of the worst defensive teams in the league. The Sabres are giving up over three goals per game, so you want to stack against them any time they are on the slate. Dubois is on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, giving him plenty of opportunities to score. He has goals in two straight games, so it’s never a bad idea to ride the hot hand against a bad team.
Nicklas Backstrom (WAS): $6,600 vs. CAR
Backstrom is on the first forward line and the first power-play unit, giving him plenty of ice time to rack up points. He is up against the Hurricanes, who are giving up about three goals per game. This stack has plenty of multi-goal potential, and since this is a small slate it’s tough to fade some of the top players. Backstrom has 36 points in 42 games this season along with a bit under two shots per game.
Wing
Devante Smith-Pelly (WAS): $3,400 vs. CAR
Smith-Pelly is a value play, but he still has upside given who he plays with. Anytime you can get someone on the same line as Alex Ovechkin you want to take that option, and now that Smith-Pelly is super cheap, he allows you to have a full-line stack in your lineup. He has 13 points in 41 games this season but is blocking about one shot per game. If he can put in one goal or assist, he will crush value and be a massive boost to your lineup.
Alex Ovechkin (WAS): $8,800 vs. CAR
Ovechkin is a hat-trick waiting to happen anytime he is on the slate, so if you have the salary don’t pass on him. We have a small slate tonight and spending up for one of the top stars is a must because you need a solid floor of points along with someone who has upside. This is a full first-line stack for the Capitals, giving them shared ice time and the potential to double-dip on the points they score.
Nikita Kucherov (TB): $9,000 vs. CGY
Kucherov is another player who shouldn’t be passed on if you have the money since he leads the league in points and goals. Speaking of points, he has 60 points in 43 games this season, which is an unbelievable rate, making him one of the most consistent players in the league. He offers multi-goal upside anytime he is on the slate, so you want as much exposure to him as you can possibly afford. Now that he is in the same lineup as Ovechkin, we have potential for several goals.
Chris Kunitz (TB): $3,300 vs. CGY
Kunitz is a bit of a punt play since he is super cheap and hasn’t shown a ton of upside this season. He is almost minimum salary, but with him being moved up to the first forward line we want to jump on it before his price changes. Rostering him gives you exposure to Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, two of the best offensive players in the game, which is never a bad thing. If he gets one real hockey point, he will be worth the roster spot.
Defense
Zachary Werenski (CLS): $5,200 @ BUF
Werenski is the other Blue Jacket we are looking at tonight for a little two-man stack. He is on the first defensive pairing and the first power-play unit with Dubois, so there’s some nice correlation with them. He is taking almost three shots per game and blocking over one shot per game.
Jake Dotchin (TB): $3,800 vs. CGY
Dotchin is also a bit of a punt play in this lineup. With the savings he brings, you are able to get some of the higher-priced skaters into your lineup. He is on the the first defensive pairing, so the minutes will be there for him to rack up points. He is taking about one shot per game while also blocking one shot per game.
Goalie
Braden Holtby (WAS): $9,100 vs. CAR
Holtby sat out the Capitals previous game, so he will be in net tonight and has already been confirmed. He has 24 wins in 32 starts this year and is looking like the clear top cash game option tonight. He is seeing over 20 shots per game which is great since he generally lets in a goal or two each game. The extra shots will allow him to even out any decrease in points, and we know that the Capitals offense can pile up the scoring and help him get the win.
Check out today’s One-Timer contest from FanDuel
Thomas Vecchio is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Thomas, check out his archive and follow him @DFS_Tom.
