This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
The main NHL contests at DraftKings consist of the four evening games beginning at 7 p.m. ET. It's a shallow player pool, and five of the eight teams are on the wrong end of a back-to-back set. With that in mind, here are a number of recommendations across multiple price ranges to considering while assembling your lineups.
GOALIE
Brian Elliott, CGY vs. LOS ($8,000): Considering Elliott's rolled off 10 consecutive wins with a .944 save percentage and 1.67 GAA, this looks like an extremely reasonable salary. Los Angeles has scored the sixth-fewest goals per 60 minutes (2.37) and is on an active 7-8-3 run. Expect Elliott to be a popular target Sunday, though.
CENTER
Claude Giroux, PHI vs. CAR ($5,900): Sporting a six-game point streak, Giroux lands in a nice matchup against Carolina. The Hurricanes are on the wrong end of back-to-back games, and Cam Ward sports an .894 save percentage and 3.19 GAA over his past five outings. Giroux appears to past his midseason offensive lull, so this salary is well within profit territory.
Alex Galchenyuk, MON vs. OTT ($5,500): Projected to center Max Pacioretty and Alexander Radulov, Galchenyuk is in a favorable fantasy spot. The young pivot has also found the scoresheet in eight of his past 10 games for three goals, 10 points and 22 shots. Additionally, Galchenyuk, Pacioretty and Radulov have combined for 5.1 goals per 60 minutes.
WING
Patrick Kane, CHI vs. COL ($8,100): The Avalanche allow the most goals per 60 minutes in the league and own the fourth-worst team save percentage (.898). Kane sports the second-best points per 60 minutes mark (3.41) among all skaters with 2,000 minutes the past two seasons, and he's currently scorching hot. He's collected 16 goals, 28 points and 81 shots through his past 19 games.
Artemi Panarin, CHI vs. COL ($6,300): A stack option alongside Patrick Kane, Panarin has six goals, 20 points and 41 shots during the same 19-game hot stretch. The 24-year-old Russian also sports a five-game point streak, and the duo has combined for an excellent 3.03 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five. Both skate on the No. 1 power-play unit, too. Jeremy Smith (.898 save percentage and 3.12 GAA) will likely start the second leg of Colorado's back-to-back road set, and that only sweetens the deal for Panarin and Kane.
Matthew Tkachuk, CGY vs. LOS ($4,800): With 15 four goals, 11 assists and five multi-point showings through his past 17 games, Tkachuk's salary presents serious profit potential. Tkachuk has combined with linemates Mikael Backlund and Michael Frolik for the league's best five-on-five Corsi For percentage (57.3) among all trios with at least 500 minutes, and their 3.06 goals per 60 minutes is an excellent mark. Just note that this is a difficult matchup, as the Kings allow the second-fewest high-danger scoring chances at five-on-five (8.59).
DEFENSE
Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI vs. CAR ($4,800): It's been a disappointing campaign on a number of levels for Gostisbehere, but his salary more than reflects the struggles. He's averaged 4:02 of ice time with the man advantage over his past 12 games and posted two goals, seven assists and six power-play points during that stretch. As noted, the matchup against Carolina checks out nicely, too.
Andrei Markov, MON vs. OTT ($3,800): This salary is out of whack with Markov's production. He's long in the tooth and has begun to provide fewer shots and blocked shots, but the 38-year-old defenseman still boasts a 13th-ranked 1.46 points per 60 minutes over the past two seasons. He's been better this year with a 1.65 mark and has a respectable four assists, 11 shots and seven blocked shots while averaging 22:34 of ice time (2:03 with the man advantage) through the past six games.
