DraftKings NHL: Thursday Picks

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Updated on January 31, 2019 3:10PM EST

GOALIE

Keith Kinkaid, NJ vs. NYR ($7,700): The smart money is on Connor Hellebuyck ($8,000), but the Jackets could surprise and the Jets have often disappointed this season. The Rangers-Devils rivalry is one of the best and the game should be close, but don't expect pretty numbers for Kinkaid or Henrik Lundqvist. Both goalies have GAA's over 3.00 but the Devils are better and Kinkaid is 9-5-4 at home.

CENTER

Mark Scheifele, WPG vs. CLS ($6,700):Patrice Bergeron ($7,300) is only worth the premium if he's scoring at an elite level, which makes Scheifele look like a bargain at this price. As good as Pierre-Luc Dubois has been, Scheifele has been one of the best and most underrated centers this season. He had two assists in Boston and 39 of his 61 points have been scored on home ice this season.

Alexander Wennberg, CLS at WPG ($2,800):Boone Jenner will not play, which means Wennberg gets to play an expanded role again. The playmaking center has been disappointing so far this season with just a goal and 18 assists in 49 games, but his potential remains tantalizing. Wennberg is a boom-or-bust proposition but may be worth the gamble with such a small slate of games.

WING

Blake Wheeler, WPG vs. CLS ($6,900): It's not a bad idea to stack Wheeler and Scheifele, considering how both come at decent prices relative to their peers. The Jets captain has one assist in two games since the break but has consistently performed well in other categories, including shots and blocked shots. Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to tend the net but 3-5-1 with a .883 save percentage in his career against the Jets.

Blake Coleman, NJ vs. NYR ($5,800): One of the best stories coming from the swamp this season, the tenacious winger scored two points against Pittsburgh in their first post-All-Star game, and also managed to register seven hits and three shots on goal. Coleman has become a very reliable middle-six winger in fantasy this season, and in what should be a wide-open game with both teams swapping scoring chances, he should be able to find the scoresheet. He had three points against the Rangers last season.

Miles Wood, NJ vs. NYR ($3,800): Yet another underappreciated Devils winger, Wood carries a five-game point streak into the game, having notched an assist against Pittsburgh on Tuesday. He gets less ice time than Coleman, but is a similar player in that he's fast and can shoot the puck. He's scored just 17 points this season with nearly all of them coming over the past two months. Wood is an attractive value pick at this price.

DEFENSE

Torey Krug, BOS vs. PHI ($5,600): He continues to quarterback the Bruins top power-play unit and the Flyers penalty killing currently ranks 28th. Their only saving grace is Carter Hart, but the Bruins offense can be pretty explosive and they're starting to figure out their lineup, pushing slower vets out and ushering younger players who can make a difference. Krug is a point-per-game at home this season and 20 of his 33 points have come on the power play.

Mirco Mueller, NJ vs. NYR ($2,500): With Sami Vatanen out indefinitely, that's going to give a lot of young Devils defensemen a lot of opportunities. Damon Severson ($4,200) and Will Butcher ($3,500) will take the bulk of the minutes, but Mueller could sneak in there. The former first-round pick has some offense to give, and at this price presents some intriguing upside, but it can only be realized if he gets some power-play time.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire.