Daily Fantasy Hockey 2015: DraftKings NHL Optimal Lineup for Oct. 24

Saturday night in the NHL almost always means there are a plethora of games to choose from, and that's exactly the case on Oct. 24.

Fantasy players have to be on top of their game because there are 12 matches to choose from and 24 teams participating.

Our $50,000 DraftKings budget means we have to spend wisely. We may be able to pick off one or two superstars, but that's it. Our second-tier players, as well as our depth selections, have to come through if we are going to collect the big prize.

The key to collecting the big prize is getting a big-time night from the superstars we select and getting good production from the solid players we have backing them up.

Position	Player, Team	Opponent	FPPG	Salary
C	Tyler Seguin, Dallas	Florida	5.9	$8,400
C	Tomas Plekanec, Montreal	Toronto	4.4	$6,000
W	Filip Forsberg, Nashville	Pittsburgh	3.3	$5,900
W	Mark Stone, Ottawa	Arizona	3.8	$5,600
W	Jarome Iginla, Colorado	Columbus	2.3	$5,100
D	Brent Seabrook, Chicago	Tampa Bay	3.1	$4,300
D	Michael Del Zotto, Philadelphia	N.Y. Rangers	1.7	$4,000
G	Ben Bishop,Tampa Bay	Chicago	4.1	$7,500
U	Oscar Lindberg, N.Y. Rangers	Philadelphia	2.7	$3,100

Centers: Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars ($8,400) and Tomas Plekanec, Montreal Canadiens ($6,000)

Tyler Seguin became a star in the 2013-14 season in Dallas, and he became one of the league's elite players last year. Many have high hopes that Dallas will make a run up the Western Conference ladder this season, and while it's not all on Seguin's shoulders, he must have a big year. There's no reason he could not be a top-5 scorer in the league, and he could challenge for the Art Ross Trophy as the leading scorer.

Seguin has gotten off to the kind of start head coach Lindy Ruff wanted to see, scoring four goals and six assists in his first seven games. Seguin has explosive speed that allows him to create distance between him and opposing defensemen, and he's also not afraid to shoot the puck. He has already taken 30 shots on goal and is hungry to score multiple points every night. He should be able to dominate against the Florida Panthers.

Tomas Plekanec has regularly been one of the Montreal Canadiens' prime setup men throughout his career, but going into Friday night's game at Buffalo, it seemed like his role had changed. Plekanec had just one assist in Montreal's first seven games, but he he had buried the puck in the back of the net five times.

Plekanec has taken 24 shots, and his .208 shooting percentage indicates he has been adept at putting his shots right where he wanted them to go because that's not an overpowering number of attempts. However, in Friday's 6-2 win at Buffalo, Plekanec reverted to his usual form with three assists. Look for him to score at least two points when the 8-0-0 Habs host Toronto on Saturday night.

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Wings: Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators ($5,900), Mark Stone, Ottawa Senators ($5,600) and Jarome Iginla, Colorado Avalanche ($5,100)

Filip Forsberg can be a magician with the puck. When he has it on his stick, it seems like the game slows down for him and that he is able to hold onto it until the last possible moment before taking his shot or making a pass. When a player can do that, he is able to get the opposition to lose its balance, which creates productive scoring opportunities.

Forsberg has gotten off to a high-scoring start with two goals and four assists in his first seven games. His Predators host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night, and this could turn into a high-scoring game. Forsberg should have a chance to pick up a couple of points.

Mark Stone was one of the spark plugs for the Ottawa Senators when they made a late-season run and earned a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs last year. Stone is not afraid to go into the dirty areas and take a hard check in order to create a scoring opportunity. Stone has continued his opportunistic play with two goals and six assists this season, and he is quite hungry. Look for Stone to pummel the road-weary Arizona Coyotes with at least two points.

Veteran Jarome Iginla has slowed down by a half-step, but he still has one of the most vicious one-timers in the league. Iginla and the Avs have gotten off to a slow start, but that could turn around on Saturday night as Colorado hosts winless Columbus.

If the Avs can get a goal or two early in the game, they could start to pile them up and Iginla could add significantly to the two goals and one assist he has scored so far this term.

Mike Carlson/Getty Images

Defensemen: Brent Seabrook, Chicago Blackhawks ($4,300) and Michael Del Zotto, Philadelphia Flyers ($4,000)

Brent Seabrook has a cannon of a shot for the Chicago Blackhawks and has made a career of scoring clutch goals while being paired with the stellar Duncan Keith. However, Seabrook has to play a new role, at least temporarily, because Keith recently had knee surgery and will be out for four to six weeks, reported the Chicago Sun-Times. Seabrook will have even more responsibility on his shoulders.

The Blackhawks host the Tampa Bay Lightning, and this rematch between last year's Stanley Cup finalists should feature scintillating hockey. Look for Seabrook to jump into the middle of the attack any time he gets a chance. He's scored two goals and four assists in his first seven games, and he should have an opportunity to score here.

Philadelphia's Michael Del Zotto is an offensive defenseman who can shoot the puck with a purpose and put it exactly where he wants it to go. He is also a razor-sharp passer. While Del Zotto has gotten off to a slow start with just one assist, he could find himself with plenty of open ice against the Rangers.

They are not likely to talk much about Del Zotto in the pregame meeting, and he might be able to sneak in a hard shot that either results in a goal or creates a rebound for a teammate to jump on and put in the back of the net.

Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

Goalie: Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay Lightning ($7,500)

Going with the Lightning's Ben Bishop in this game is a big-time gamble. Bishop is one of the best goaltenders in the league, and he has gotten off to a decent start with a 4-2-1 record, a 2.56 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage. The gamble is the Lightning are on the road against the defending Stanley Cup champion, and we are saying he is going to slow down the Blackhawks enough that the Lightning will be able to secure the victory.

We are counting on Tampa Bay playing with revenge in mind and that the Lightning will steal the win at the United Center. Bishop will not allow more than two goals in the process.

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