This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
There is some chaos swirling around the NHL right now. For example, Saturday was supposed to have 10 games on the slate, including an afternoon game I would have skipped for DFS purposes. Instead, two of those games had been postponed when the day began, and two more got postponed later in the day. By the time you read what I am writing, it's possible players I have mentioned will be out, or that the game won't even be happening. Nevertheless, I shall press on with my recommendations.
SLATE OVERVIEW
The three evening games that have been postponed are Montreal vs. Boston, Tampa Bay vs. Colorado and Calgary vs. Columbus. Only two teams are on a back-to-back, Chicago and Dallas, and they are playing each other.
GOALIE
Jake Oettinger, DAL vs. CHI ($8,400): The Stars get to be at home for this matchup between two teams on the second night of a back-to-back. Dallas has settled in on Braden Holtby and Oettinger as its two goalies going forward. Oettinger has a 2.26 GAA and .917 save percentage in his career. The Blackhawks, meanwhile, are in the bottom four in goals per contest.
Jack Campbell, TOR at VAN ($7,900): The Canucks have perhaps been a bit unlucky. They've put 33.3 shots on net per game, but they've only scored 2.52 goals per contest. Well, shots don't really seem to phase Campbell. He's posted a 1.94 GAA and .937 save percentage.
Stuart Skinner, EDM at SEA ($7,800): This is assuming Skinner starts over Koskinen. It would make sense, as Skinner has a .922 save percentage, while Koskinen has a .902 save percentage. The Kraken are middle-of-the-pack in goals scored, but they have only managed 28.3 shots on net per contest, bottom five in the NHL.
VALUE PLAYS
Jack Hughes, NJD at DET ($4,800): Hughes has really gotten into the groove since returning from injury. Over his last seven games he has five points and 16 shots on net. Meanwhile, Detroit has a 3.40 GAA, as Alex Nedeljkovic has slipped up a bit recently. He has a 3.30 GAA and .899 save percentage in his last six contests.
LINE STACKS TO CONSIDER
Oilers at Kraken: Leon Draisaitl (C - $9,000), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (W - $5,500), Kailer Yamamoto (W - $2,500)
Whether you choose to stack the Oilers' first or second line, you are going to get one of the five best players in the NHL. Of course, that also means you have to dish out a hefty salary. That being said, in a lot of matchups it proves worth it. Seattle has a 3.52 GAA, so this matchup bodes well for Edmonton second line, which importantly features two members of the team's elite top power-play unit.
Speaking of that power play, Draisaitl already has 20 power-play points. That's in a mere 28 games. A staggering 4.6 shooting percentage has held Nugent-Hopkins to only three goals, but that's not going to continue. Plus, he has 22 assists, so he's contributing anyway. Yamamoto is kind of along for the ride, but he once had 26 points in 27 games, and he has five goals this season. Anything you get from him against a team with a 3.52 GAA is a bonus for your lineup.
I'm going to keep this all in here to be indicative of what I was talking about, but literally after I wrote this Nugent-Hopkins went into COVID-19 protocols. He's likely out for Saturday, so maybe Brendan Perlini ($2,500) will be on this line? Or maybe Zach Hyman ($6,000) returns and either jumps on the second line or pushes Warren Foegele down to the second line?
Flyers vs. Senators: Claude Giroux (C - $5,300), Cam Atkinson (W - $5,000), Oskar Lindblom (W - $2,600)
The Senators have a 3.59 GAA and have allowed 33.5 shots on net per contest. Both are in the bottom five in the NHL. Ottawa may not be in the bottom five on the penalty kill, but it is in the bottom 10. This is one of the worst defensive teams in the NHL, perhaps the very worst. That helps the Flyers, who could use some help right now.
At least Giroux has been consistent all season. He has 10 goals and 14 assists in 24 games, including seven points with the extra man. Atkinson recently had a hat trick, and he has 12 goals on 79 shots on net this season. Lindblom got off to a slow start, but his 5.1 shooting percentage should improve, and he does have three points in his last six games.
DEFENSE
Morgan Rielly, TOR at VAN ($6,600): Rielly has a four-game point streak, with him racking up eight points total in that time. Thatcher Demko has been impressive in net for the Canucks, but even with that the team still has a major concern. Vancouver ranks last on the penalty kill, and Rielly has 10 power-play points in 30 games.
Moritz Seider, DET vs. NJD ($4,900): Seider started the season hot, which was exciting given that he's a rookie, and he's gotten hot again recently. Over his last seven games he has six points. Mackenzie Blackwood has a 3.12 GAA and .902 save percentage, and last season he had a 3.04 GAA and. 902 save percentage.
Keith Yandle, PHI vs. OTT ($3,500): Yandle remains a power-play weapon. He's averaged 2:42 with the extra man, and seven of his 10 points have come on the power play. The veteran defenseman also has five points in his last seven games, all of which have been of the power-play variety. As I mentioned, the Senators are in the bottom 10 on the penalty kill.
