This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
After a one-game slate Sunday, there are four games Monday, the first two starting at 7 p.m. EDT. Since we are still so early into the season, I am not really looking at team numbers or player usage numbers from this year. The sample sizes just feel too small, especially in terms of power-play usage and offensive zone start percentages. We'll get there soon enough.
SLATE PREVIEW
None of these teams played Sunday, so they are all rested. However, there are some questions about offensive output. The Ducks and Coyotes both had paltry offenses last season, and neither did much of anything to improve on that front. If anything, Arizona's offense is worse on paper this year. Additionally, the Kraken are playing, and as an expansion team you have to wonder about their offense, as well.
GOALIES
Jacob Markstrom, CGY vs. ANA ($8,200): Last year, the Ducks finished last in both goals and shots on net per gamjhfjghfjhfjhfjhfjfhjhfjhfjfhfje. If they aren't in the bottom five in both those categories this year I will be surprised. Markstrom had a .904 save percentage in his first year with the Flames, but a 2.66 GAA. His career save percentage is .910, which isn't good but leads me to expect a bit of a bounce back.
Jordan Binnington, STL at ARI ($7,800): Yes, Binnington's numbers have gotten worse every season of his career. On the other hand, his worst season saw him post a 2.65 GAA and .910 save percentage. That's not so bad, and he's still the netminder who had a .927 save percentage as a rookie. Last year the Coyotes averaged 2.68 goals and 27.5 shots on net per contest. Right now, guys like Phil Kessel and Loui Eriksson are on the first line, and you get the feeling that's only to showcase them for potential trades.
TOP TARGETS
Johnny Gaudreau, CGY vs. ANA ($5,900): The Flames have only played in one game, so we can't take much of anything from that. Last season, though, Gaudreau scored 19 goals, doing it in only 56 games mind you. That was a nice return to form after he had 18 goals in 70 games the year prior. John Gibson seems worn out in Anaheim, having posted a .904 save percentage over the last two years. Plus, he's banged up, which might mean Anthony Stolarz in net.
Jordan Eberle, SEA at PHI ($5,700): Eberle was brought in for veteran experience, and he's racked up plenty of minutes thus far. The former Islander has averaged 19:34 in ice time. He's picked up two assists in three games, but he's also been a 20-goal scorer in the past. People have said that Carter Hart will surely bounce back from his 3.67 GAA and .877 save percentage last season. Well in his first game this year he allowed four goals on 39 shots to the Canucks.
LINE STACKS TO CONSIDER
Blues at Coyotes
Ryan O'Reilly (C - $6,300), David Perron (W - $6,000), Brandon Saad (W - $4,600)
The Coyotes had Darcy Kuemper on their roster last season and had a 3.11 GAA. Now? Their top goaltender is Carter Hutton. That would be the Hutton who had a 3.12 GAA and .902 save percentage in three seasons in Buffalo and allowed eight goals in Arizona's opener against Columbus. His backup, by the way, is Karel Vejmelka, a 25-year-old rookie who has played in all of one NHL game, which was against aforementioned Buffalo.
O'Reilly has taken his game to new heights in St. Louis, and last year he had 54 points in 56 games. He's also had at least 12 power-play points in every campaign with the Blues. Perron was one of those perennially underrated dudes who got talked about being underrated so much he stopped actually being underrated. He scored 19 goals on 151 shots on net last year and tallied 21 power-play points. Saad is new to the Blues and steps into a great spot. He notched 15 goals last season and had an assist in his first game with St. Louis.
Flyers vs. Kraken
Sean Couturier (C - $7,100), Claude Giroux (W - $6,600), Travis Konecny (W - $6,100)
The Kraken remain an expansion team. They will be playing their fourth road game to kick off the season. Philipp Grubauer has faced 85 shots on net over three outings and managed only an .894 save percentage. He's a good goalie, but things are a little different when you aren't behind that Colorado defense.
Couturier had two 30-goal seasons prior to the last two, um, unconventional NHL seasons. Last year he managed 18 goals and 41 points in 45 games. For the first time in a decade Giroux didn't average over three minutes in power-play time last year. However, he still played 2:37 per game with the extra man and had 11 power-play points in 54 games. Konecny had three 24-goal seasons in a row before he had a tough seasons last year. His shooting percentage fell to 11.0, below his career 12.9 average. In the season opener this year he potted a power-play goal and put four shots on net.
DEFENSE
Ivan Provorov, PHI vs. SEA ($6,000): Provorov is the top defenseman for the Flyers now, and he did a bit of everything last year. He notched 26 points in 56 games (10 on the power play) while putting 126 shots on net and blocking 106 shots on the defensive end of the ice. Indeed, he began this campaign with an assist, two shots on goal, and four blocked shots. The Russian typically plays over 25 minutes a night, and that kind of ice time can pay off against an expansion squad.
Rasmus Andersson, CGY vs. ANA ($5,000): Last year Andersson averaged 21:13 in ice time, his first season over 20 minutes. It paid off for the Flames, as he notched 21 points. However, now that Mark Giordano is gone, Andersson is going to be relied on as one of the top defenseman for this team. The Swede played 22:37 in the opener, including 4:28 on the power play. That was on the road against Edmonton. Being at home against Anaheim is an easier sell.
