This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
After a day off for the entire league Monday, NHL action returns Tuesday with a 13-game slate starting at 7:00 p.m. EST. There were originally 14 games scheduled, but Flames-Predators has been postponed. Below, you'll find a breakdown of the action and suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
There's no shortage of teams to build around in this robust slate, but the three that stand out are Florida (vs. Ottawa), Pittsburgh (vs. Montreal) and Winnipeg (vs. Buffalo). Other talented teams with slightly less lopsided matchups to pick from include the Avalanche, whose league-best offense will take on a Rangers team that will likely still be without star goalie Igor Shesterkin (lower body) and the Lightning against the Kings. There are more than enough enticing options to construct many lineups from those five games alone, but there are still eight other contests Tuesday offering value plays with which to round out your lineup, and maybe even one that you can build around.
GOALIES
Sergei Bobrovsky, FLA vs. OTT ($7,200): It's not clear why Bobrovsky and Spencer Knight are both just $7,200 here, but don't question it, just plug in whichever Panthers goalie gets the nod and enjoy the bargain in net. The Panthers are 14-1-0 on home ice, while the Senators are 8-16-1 overall with a minus-27 goal differential. There are other intriguing goalie options available, but this combination of matchup and affordability is unparalleled.
Tristan Jarry, PIT vs. MON ($8,500): Jarry's enjoying the hottest stretch of his career, with a 7-1-1 record, 1.10 GAA and .960 save percentage in his last nine starts. The Canadiens are unlikely to knock him off his game considering only Arizona averages fewer goals than Montreal's 2.14.
Thatcher Demko, VAN vs. CLS ($8,000): Demko's been streaky this season, but he's back on a roll after a dry spell and you should take advantage. Just five of the 133 pucks flung his way have eluded Demko over the past four games, as he's posted a .962 save percentage over his four-game winning streak. New coach Bruce Boudreau has the Canucks on the upswing, and their winning formula starts with Demko in net. Meanwhile, the visiting Blue Jackets are just 5-8-0 on the road.
Mackenzie Blackwood, NJ at PHI ($7,600): Blackwood shut the Flyers out less than a week ago and has stopped 48 of 50 shots en route to a 2-0-0 record against them already this season. Philadelphia has managed to string a couple wins together since being shut out by Blackwood, but one of the wins came in Arizona, so it's fair to question whether a Flyers offense that's averaging just 2.50 goals per game has truly turned the corner.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Andre Burakovsky, COL vs. NYR ($4,000): Burakovsky capitalized on his promotion to the top line in place of Gabriel Landeskog (lower body) by scoring all three of Colorado's goals in the team's last game. Couple that hat trick with his two goals in the previous game, and Burakovsky has a whopping five goals on 10 shots in his last two contests. Between his recent form and top-line deployment alongside stars Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, Burakovsky's a can't-miss value at just $4,000, even if the Rangers opt to use an NHL goaltender in the rematch after Colorado lit up AHL backup Adam Huska for seven goals in a game that New York treated as a throwaway last week.
Sidney Crosby, PIT vs. MON ($7,500): Crosby had a seven-game point streak snapped by the Ducks on Saturday, but he still boasts a robust 3-10-13 line in his last eight games, which includes a goal and two assists against the Canadiens on Nov. 27. Montreal has been the league's most generous fantasy opponent for centers, so all signs point to Crosby starting a new point streak here, with his ineffective, injury-riddled start to the season now a distant memory.
Mathew Barzal, NYI at DET ($5,900): Barzal's trying to will the Islanders back into playoff contention, though they still have a long way to go considering they're 10 points back of 10th place in the Eastern Conference. That spot is occupied by the Red Wings, who have been outscored 18-7 since beating Barzal's Isles in overtime Dec. 4. The fleet-footed center dished out two helpers in that game as part of a six-game point streak that has included nine points, with five of those coming on the power play.
Brock Boeser, VAN vs. CLS ($3,600): Only Demko has been more important to the Canucks' turnaround under Boudreau than Boeser, who has a 3-1-4 line in four games under his new coach. Boeser has managed to light the lamp in three of those games and had five shots the one time he was held off the scoresheet. Still available at just $3,600, Boeser should continue to deliver top-notch value against a Blue Jackets team that's likely to start Elvis Merzlikins in net. Merzlikins has been great on home ice, but Columbus' No. 1 netminder is just 2-4-0 with a 4.68 GAA and .866 save percentage on the road.
Ondrej Palat, TB vs. LA ($4,100): The entire Lightning team sleepwalked through a shocking 4-0 Saturday matinee defeat at the hands of the Senators in the team's last game, but a bounce-back effort should be forthcoming on home ice against the visiting Kings. Even including that shutout loss, Palat has a 5-1-6 line in his last six games. He's been a top-line mainstay for the league's most successful team in recent years for a reason, and Palat's a solid value play at $4,100, especially while he's hot.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Panthers vs. Senators
Sam Bennett (C - $7,800), Jonathan Huberdeau (W - $7,500), Sam Reinhart (W - $5,200)
Unfortunately, you'll have to pay full price for Florida's forwards, but you can use the savings in net to help afford this pricey top line if you want to go all in on a Panthers stack against a Senators team that's allowing a league-high 3.72 goals per game. Huberdeau leading the Panthers in points is nothing new, but his 9-22-31 line through 27 games also has the star winger just one goal shy of the absent Aleksander Barkov's (undisclosed) team-leading total. Bennett's 9-5-14 line doesn't jump off the page, but he's racked up a whopping 30 shots in his last seven games and has put at least four puck on net in eight of the last 11. He's due for a big offensive outburst, and this visit from the league's worst defensive team is as good a time as any for Bennett to get it. Reinhart has thrived since being moved to this line in a recent reshuffling, with a 4-4-8 line in his last six games.
Jets vs. Sabres
Mark Scheifele (C - $6,600), Kyle Connor (W - $7,400), Nikolaj Ehlers (W - $5,900)
Sometimes it's as simple as locking in one of the hottest lines in hockey against the league's coldest team. Scheifele has a 5-4-9 line over his active five-game point streak, while Connor's 3-2-5 line over the last two games has boosted his season line to 18-14-32. That output has the winger tied with Auston Matthews for third in goals, and Connor's also tied for fifth in points while trailing only Alex Ovechkin with 118 shots on goal. Ehlers has been blanked in each of the past two games but scored four goals in the three before that and has 24 shots in this five-game stretch. Meanwhile, the Sabres own the league's longest active winless streak (seven games) and have allowed at least six goals in three of those seven games.
Sharks vs. Kraken
Tomas Hertl (C - $4,300), Timo Meier (W - $7,200), Alexander Barabanov (W - $2,800)
With all the lopsided matchups to choose from, it's easy to overlook San Jose's top line, which offers a nice mix of productivity and affordability against a Kraken team that's allowing 3.59 goals per game – third-most in the league. The red-hot Hertl's an excellent value at just $4,300, as the former 74-point scorer has quietly put himself on pace to crack 40 goals this season after racking up a 6-1-7 line during his active four-game goal streak. Meier has been San Jose's best forward all season, leading the Sharks in points (28) and shots (102) while ranking second behind Hertl's 14 goals with 11 of his own, and Meier's done all this despite missing five of the team's 28 games. The affordable Barabanov has consistently outscored his modest valuation, with a 3-12-15 line in 23 appearances, including five helpers in his last four games.
DEFENSEMEN
Morgan Rielly, TOR at EDM ($6,700): Rielly and the Oilers have been trending in opposite directions of late. While Toronto's top blueliner has been in the giving spirit of late with nine helpers in his last five games – not to mention 19 shots over that span – Edmonton has dropped each of its last five, allowing 19 goals over that span. If the recent trends of Rielly playing a key role in the potent Maple Leafs attack and Edmonton leaking goals continue, he should be well worth paying up for at $6,700.
Noah Dobson, NYI at DET ($4,300): Dobson has put together arguably the best five-game stretch of his young career over the past five, as his youth and creativity offers a nice change of pace on the Islanders' otherwise slow and decrepit blue line. He has a 3-1-4 line, 16 shots and eight blocked shots in this productive stretch, including a pair of points in his role on the top power-play unit. Detroit has struggled defensively of late, and the Red Wings' inability to stop opposing defensemen has been a common theme all season, as they allow the fourth-most fantasy points to the position.
Jaccob Slavin, CAR at MIN ($4,700): Slavin has been tasked with adding more offensive responsibilities while still occupying his stalwart shutdown role on Carolina's blue line while Tony DeAngelo and Brett Pesce make their way through COVID-19 protocols. Assuming neither of his teammates is cleared, Slavin should continue to skate on the top power-play unit against Minnesota. His well-rounded game gives Slavin a high floor at $4,700 – he's on pace to top 40 points, and his last four games have included a 1-2-3 line, 12 shots and six blocked shots.
Brandon Montour, FLA vs. OTT ($3,200): Whether you're stacking Panthers or searching for stand-alone value on the blue line, Montour's a nice pick at just $3,200. He flies under the radar on the deep Florida blue line but has provided excellent value over the past three games, with two goals, eight shots and five blocked shots. Having followed up a 9-23-32 line in 2017-18 with an 8-27-35 output in 2018-19, Montour displayed more offensive acumen than most realize before a move to Buffalo sapped his fantasy value.
