This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Thursday's NHL slate is a small one, with just two games on the docket after 8:00 PM Eastern time. Below, you'll find an overview of the matchups and suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
The Flames and Predators will meet in Nashville, while the Canadiens will complete a back-to-back set against the Golden Knights in Vegas. There figures to be no shortage of offense, as the Predators and Canadiens both sport top-five offenses, while the Flames ranked third last season.
GOALIES
If Pekka Rinne ($8,200) gets the start, he's the clear-cut top choice in net. He's off to a stellar start with a 7-0-1 record, 1.74 GAA and .937 save percentage, while the visiting Flames own the weakest offense in this slate with just 2.50 goals per game.
Marc-Andre Fleury ($8,100) is off to a tremendous start himself with an 8-3-0 record, 2.29 GAA and .928 save percentage. The visiting Canadiens have exceeded expectations offensively, but it's still hard not to like Fleury here with Montreal playing its second game in as many nights.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Nick Bonino ($4,400) is coming off what was perhaps the best game of his career in Tuesday's 3-0 win over Chicago, as he potted all three Nashville goals on nine shots. He now leads the Predators with six goals and is tied for second among the team's forwards with 10 points. Especially considering the limited selection in this slate, it makes sense to ride the hot hand.
Reilly Smith ($6,300) is tied for the Golden Knights' team lead with seven goals, and he's shown a propensity for dishing it out as well with an assist in each of his last two games. His scoring touch makes Smith an appealing option against a tired Canadiens team that's been the worst in this slate defensively.
Speaking of leading goal-scorers, Flames center Elias Lindholm ($5,800) has already potted eight while none of his teammates have mustered more than four. He also brings a four-game point streak — which has included three goals — into this one.
Phillip Danault ($4,300) offers nice bang for the buck as Montreal's first-line center. He's been outplaying his modest valuation thus far, with four goals and four assists through 12 games.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Golden Knights vs. Canadiens
Paul Stastny (C - $4,500), Mark Stone (W - $7,100), Max Pacioretty (W - $6,600)
This line has been Vegas' best and one of the best in the entire NHL. Stone leads the team across the board with seven goals, nine assists and 16 points. Pacioretty is tied for second on the team with 11 points despite scoring only two goals on his team-high 54 shots, and Stastny has a solid 5-4-9 line through 13 games. With the visiting Canadiens likely leaning on backup Keith Kinkaid after deploying Carey Price on Wednesday, this trio is primed to continue its strong play.
Predators vs. Flames
Ryan Johansen (C - $5,100), Viktor Arvidsson (W - $5,800), Calle Jarnkrok (W - $4,700)
This current Nashville top line has received balanced contributions from all three of its members. Johansen sports a 2-8-10 line, Arvidsson's at 5-4-9 and Jarnkrok's at 3-6-9 through 12 games apiece. The center is on pace to top 60 points for the sixth time in his career, while Arvidsson should easily eclipse the 29-goal threshold for the fourth consecutive season and Jarnkrok's found a new gear on offense with 2.3 shots per game after never previously averaging more than 1.7.
Flames at Predators
Sean Monahan (C - $4,900), Sam Bennett (W - $3,100), Alan Quine (W - $2,700)
Monahan's demotion off the top line allows owners to craft an effective against-the-grain stacking option against the Predators without breaking the bank. The talented center costs just $4,900 despite posting a respectable eight points through 14 games on the heels of an 82-point campaign in 78 games last season. Bennett and Quine both come cheap and should benefit from skating on a line with a prolific offensive player in Monahan.
DEFENSEMEN
The Predators were confident enough in Dante Fabbro's ($3,400) ability on the blue line to trade P.K. Subban this offseason. The 2016 first-rounder isn't delivering gaudy numbers yet with two goals and an assist through 12 games, but his offensive potential can't be matched by any of the other options in this price range.
If you have more money to spend on the blue line, fellow Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis ($5,000) is a guy worth targeting. Ellis is tied with Roman Josi for the team lead at 13 points apiece, but Ellis can be had for $2,000 less than Josi.
Shea Theodore ($5,200) is the only Vegas blueliner with multiple power-play points (he has three), and he leads the team's defensemen with five points overall. Theodore's presence on the top power-play unit is likely to pay off against Montreal's bottom-three penalty kill.
If you're a believer in Montreal, then you should lock in Shea Weber ($5,400). The leader of the Canadiens' defense corps recorded a goal and an assist in Arizona on Wednesday, bringing his season total to eight points. Weber also provides a high floor thanks to his contributions all across the stat sheet.
