NHL

3 NHL FanDuel Value Plays to Target on Monday 5/9/22

Chris Wassel  —  @ChrisWasselDFS May 9th, 2022
Which surprise forwards and defensemen can one use to fill out NHL DFS rosters on Monday?

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.

Monday night brings on four more Game 4s. Let's see what value can be found.

Mikael Backlund, Center, Calgary Flames

FanDuel Salary: $4,100

Washington Capitals center Lars Eller will be an obvious choice on Monday. but Mikael Backlund is a less obvious one who is producing more chances and shots on goal.

The floor is solid for the pivot, and he just needs a bounce to go his way. Now, the Calgary Flames need one as well.

With how crazy the playoffs have been, the one constant has been Calgary's lack of finishing ability. Backlund 10 ten shots on goal but 15 scoring chances. Something has to give eventually. Right?

Like we mentioned, Eller is a great alternative with Filip Chytil a possibility as well from the New York Rangers.

Kasperi Kapanen, Wing, Pittsburgh Penguins

FanDuel Salary: $3,600

So, Trevor Lewis paid off handsomely over the weekend for Calgary. Could Kasperi Kapanen do the same on Monday for the Pittsburgh Penguins?

These two teams combined for 11 goals on Saturday in a wild affair with two huge goal swings. Could that happen again?

Kapanen and Evgeni Malkin had several quality chances. Also, Kapanen has 15 shots on goal and 19 scoring chances this series, yet it's resulted in just one helper.

The Penguins, for better or for worse, have to keep playing this way at a high-octane level that yields chances to take chances.

He possesses the speed to get open to create. Now, it all boils down to execution.

Radko Gudas, Defenseman, Florida Panthers

FanDuel Salary: $3,700

The risk on value can never be underestimated on Monday night. Radko Gudas is one of those players that is a veteran in playoff terms.

Now, Gudas usually has a decent floor, and he has a couple of helpers in this series against the Capitals. That includes six blocked shots, two blocked shots, and five scoring chances. It does not sound like a lot, but at just $3,700, that is still value.

The defender is gradually seeing increased ice time as well. Before the playoffs, he saw approximately 13 minutes per game over his final five contests. Against Washington, that number has climbed above 17 minutes a start.

Gudas and his floor do have some cause for concern, but he does grant DFS owners the ability to spend up in other places on Monday night.


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.