The NHL has ten games on tap for us on Tuesday’s slate, which means there are a ton of opportunities to obtain value and cash out DFS contests! The playoff race is heating up and the trade deadline acquisitions are already making an impact on their new teams. Even the basement dwellers such as Columbus, Chicago, and Philadelphia aren’t going away quietly, playing scrappy hockey and forcing teams to bring their best effort to avoid suffering an upset. Parity is a big reason why so many of us enjoy watching the NHL, as some of the best teams like Tampa Bay and Colorado are struggling to stay dominant right now.

Recapping my most recent recommended plays from Friday’s Primer and it was another mixed bag of results. Boone Jenner (C – Blue Jackets) did not wind up on the point sheet, while Jared McCann (C – Kraken) scored a goal and added an assist to be a huge asset in DFS lineups. Cam Fowler (D – Ducks) did what he typically does and manufactured an assist in a 3-2 win over Montreal, while goaltender Frederik Andersen (G – Hurricanes) sat in favor of Antti Raanta (G – Hurricanes). Leon Draisaitl (C – Oilers) delivered a massive production boost with three total points, including two goals, in a 6-3 win over Winnipeg, while Vince Dunn (D – Kraken) netted a pair of assists during Seattle’s 4-2 win over Columbus. The only other player without any production was Troy Terry (C – Ducks), who saw his point streak snapped despite the Ducks getting the win over Montreal. Stuart Skinner (G – Oilers) was solid in the crease, saving 25 of 28 shots, rewarding us with a hefty point boost thanks to the win over Winnipeg.

Tuesday’s slate is loaded with juicy matchups, so without further delay, let’s jump right into my eight favorite players to acquire on DraftKings and FanDuel ahead of puck drop. Best of luck and let’s cash some contests!

Check out today’s One-Timer contest from FanDuel

Recommended Plays: DraftKings

DraftKings maximum salary is set at $50,000

Nico Hischier (C – Devils): $7,200
New Jersey is starting to look like a real contender in a loaded Eastern Conference, making moves to acquire Timo Meier (RW – Devils), bolstering their top attack line, and putting the league on notice. The Devils get production from a lot of players, including Nico Hischier, who has scored four goals and six points across his past five games played. The 24-year-old center netted the game-winning goal in overtime against Arizona in their last game and he’s a high-volume shooter, attempting anywhere from two to six shots on goal per game. At $7.2K on DraftKings, you’re landing a proven talent at a slight discount, facing a short-handed Toronto team. Ilya Samsonov (G – Maple Leafs) is volatile in the crease despite a 2.39 GAA, so fire up Hischier with confidence on Tuesday night.

Clayton Keller (LW – Coyotes): $6,900
Arizona has been a tough out for a lot of teams lately and Clayton Keller is a big reason for it. The 24-year-old winger has at least one point in four of his previous five games played while attempting three to six shots on goal per game. This creates a high floor for Keller in DFS in most matchups, so facing a struggling goaltender like Jordan Binnington (G – Blues) on Tuesday creates an enticing situation where rostering Keller becomes imperative. Binnington has allowed three to four goals in each of his previous six starts in the crease, so Keller should feast and return huge value under $7,000 on DraftKings.

Shayne Gostisbehere (D – Hurricanes): $5,400
It’s only been two games since Shayne Gostisbehere was traded from Arizona to Carolina, and since then, he’s scored goals in both games with the Hurricanes, including one against his former team. It appears to be a great fit for the 29-year-old defenseman, who racked up three points in a 6-1 dismantling of Tampa Bay in his last game played. I try to avoid spending too much on defensemen in DFS and Gostisbehere is being undervalued ahead of Tuesday’s home matchup against Montreal, who struggles on defense, so insert him into lineups with extreme confidence.

Filip Gustavsson (G – Wild): $7,900
One of the more under-appreciated goaltenders in the league this season has been Filip Gustavsson. The 24-year-old netminder has a 1.99 GAA for the Minnesota Wild this season, bailing out an offense that tends to go stale from time to time while recording a .933 save percentage and winding up 17-8-2 as a starter. Gustavsson will face Calgary, who has an offense capable of lighting the lamp frequently, but their inconsistency makes me feel better about acquiring Gustavsson in DFS lineups. Gustavsson is fresh off of a shutout win over the Flames, so at under $8,000, I’m running back to the well to acquire his talent in between the pipes.

Recommended Plays: FanDuel

FanDuel maximum salary is set at $55,000

Brayden Point (C – Lightning): $8,800
I can’t get myself to pivot off of Brayden Point. He’s a talented goal scorer and one of Tampa Bay’s primary contributors on offense, so despite their five-game slump and coming off of a woeful performance against Carolina in their last game played, Point will catalyze kickstarting the talented Lightning offense. Philadelphia is a hard-nosed, physical team that cannot score frequently, so Point should have a solid outing against Carter Hart (G – Flyers), who has a 2.89 GAA and allowed three to five goals until his most recent start against Detroit, where he only surrendered one goal on 26 shots in a 3-1 win. Point has 39 goals and 34 assists this season, so coming off of a game where he didn’t wind up on the point sheet, expect Tampa Bay’s top center to return to form in a plus-matchup on Tuesday night.

Mikko Rantanen (RW – Avalanche): $9,600
It’s not very often that we see Mikko Rantanen struggle to show up on the point sheet but he’s been held without a point in two consecutive games. The Avalanche are riding a three-game losing skid ahead of Tuesday’s home matchup against San Jose, which presents a perfect bounce-back opportunity for the defending Stanley Cup champions. Rantanen leads Colorado in goals with 41, along with 31 assists, which justifies his high salary on FanDuel. Rantanen has only gone more than two games without a point a handful of times this season, so with the team currently reeling, expect him to light the lamp at least once against Kaapo Kahkonen (G – Sharks). The Sharks goaltender allowed eight goals in his last start against Washington, so there’s not much more that needs to be said to build up Rantanen’s appeal in FanDuel lineups on Tuesday night.

Mike Matheson (D – Canadiens): $6,000
Montreal doesn’t have much left to play for asides from pride, but Mike Matheson has been a consistent contributor lately. The 29-year-old defenseman has a point in four of his past five games played, attempting three to six shots during this span, while also collecting blocked shots in the defensive zone. You aren’t paying too much to land Matheson at $6,000 on FanDuel, although the matchup is far from ideal against Carolina. He’s a floor play with the ability to reach 18-20 FD points in DFS lineups, so don’t overthink this one and insert Matheson comfortably into lineups.

Ilya Sorokin (G – Islanders): $8,400
Ilya Sorokin has been playing great in the crease for the Islanders most of the season but he’s stepped it up even more in his past few starts. The 27-year-old netminder has allowed only one goal in three of his past four starts, which came against good teams like Minnesota and Winnipeg, so facing a high-octane offense like Buffalo shouldn’t scare you off of his talent. Sorokin is priced accordingly, so bolster your DFS lineups with Sorokin anchoring it in a plus-matchup against the Sabres, who rely on their scoring to counter their porous defense and goaltending. Sorokin is a brick wall and will flood your lineups with points, so make sure he’s prioritized!