This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
After returning to action after the All-Star break with two games Monday, the NHL has a more robust slate scheduled Tuesday, with seven games on the docket after 7:00 p.m. EST. Below, you'll find a breakdown of the action and suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
The Hurricanes are heavily favored in Ottawa as both teams finish off back-to-back sets, while the Capitals and Canucks are expected to take care of business on home ice against the Blue Jackets and Coyotes, respectively. Golden Knights-Oilers has the highest over/under at 6.5 goals, while the aforementioned Coyotes-Canucks matchup comes in at a slate-low 5.5. In addition to the usual suspects, some lesser offenses are poised to exploit favorable matchups here as well.
GOALIES
Antti Raanta, CAR at OTT ($8,500): Frederik Andersen started Monday against the Maple Leafs, so Raanta should get the nod for the far easier matchup against the Senators, who sit in the bottom five in the league standings. Conversely, Carolina sits atop the Metropolitan Division, and Raanta has been excellent when called upon behind the Hurricanes' sturdy defense. He boasts a 6-2-1 record, 2.21 GAA and .914 save percentage.
Thatcher Demko, VAN vs. ARI ($8,200): Demko has carried the Canucks on many nights this season, but he likely won't need to be at the top of his game to post a strong performance against a league-worst Coyotes offense that's averaging 2.18 goals per game. He'll look to get his second half started on the right foot and build on a 17-15-2 record, 2.62 GAA and .917 save percentage.
Kaapo Kahkonen, MIN at WPG ($8,000): Kahkonen has been excellent when called upon for the Wild, and he'll get the first start after the All-Star break so Cam Talbot can cool off after participating in the festivities in Vegas. He's 10-2-2 with a 2.53 GAA and .922 save percentage heading into a matchup with a Jets team that's been the fourth-most fantasy friendly to opposing goalies, not to mention the Winnipeg team's going through a COVID-19 outbreak.
Tristan Jarry, PIT at BOS ($7,500): If Jarry gets the nod for the Penguins coming out of the break, the All-Star netminder would make for an appealing value play against a Boston team that gets middling offensive results (3.02 goals per game) out of the fourth-most shots per game (35.0) in the league. Jarry's available for just $7,500 coming out of a stellar first half in which he went 23-8-6 with a 2.23 GAA and .924 save percentage.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS vs. CLS ($5,700): Whether or not Alex Ovechkin's ready to return from COVID-19 protocols, Kuznetsov should be a strong play against a Blue Jackets team that's surrendering 3.67 goals per game. Kuznetsov has a 15-31-46 line in 45 games, and he was on a four-game point streak and two-game goal streak before participating in the All-Star Game.
Nico Hischier, NJ at MON ($3,700): Hischier's filling in as the top-line center with Jack Hughes in COVID-19 protocols, and he potted New Jersey's only goal Monday in Ottawa on a power-play deflection. He's a former first-overall pick himself and has a decent 9-16-25 line. Hischier will have a nice opportunity to keep taking advantage of his prominent role against a Canadiens team that's allowing a league-high 3.91 goals per game.
Connor McDavid, EDM vs. VGK ($9,600): With plenty of enticing affordable options to choose from in this slate, you should be able to find the funds for McDavid. He's capable of carrying your lineup on any given night, ranking third in points league-wide courtesy of a 23-37-60 line. Of course, one of the guys ahead of him is teammate Leon Draisaitl ($8,800), who's also a high-ceiling choice, be it alongside McDavid or instead of him.
Max Pacioretty, VGK at EDM ($8,200): Sticking in what's expected to be Tuesday's highest-scoring game, Pacioretty should be worth paying up for at $8,200. His counting stats have been suppressed by injuries, but the winger has been a monster on a per-game basis, with a 12-11-23 line and 81 shots in just 19 games. Pacioretty should feast on rusty Oilers goalie Mike Smith, who will be making his first appearance since Jan. 5 and has a 3.76 GAA and .898 save percentage.
Kevin Fiala, MIN at WPG ($5,900): Fiala was as hot as could be heading into the All-Star break, with a 9-7-17 line during an active 12-game point streak. He'll have a nice opportunity to pick up where he left off against a Jets team that's beat up on the blue line. Winnipeg's third pairing will be comprised of AHL-level talent, as Neal Pionk (COVID-19), Logan Stanley (lower body) and Nathan Beaulieu (lower body) will all be unavailable for the hosts on the back end.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Hurricanes at Senators
Sebastian Aho (C - $7,500), Martin Necas (W - $3,800), Jordan Martinook (W - $2,500)
Carolina's top line has a nice mix of productivity and affordability for this matchup with an Ottawa team that's allowing 3.32 goals per game. Aho leads the team in both goals (19) and points (45) in 40 games, so he's a nice option to build your lineup around here. Necas has added an 8-15-23 line after totaling 41 points in 53 games last year, while the affordable Martinook's getting an opportunity to fill in for the injured Teuvo Teravainen (lower body).
Canadiens vs. Devils
Nick Suzuki (C - $4,600), Tyler Toffoli (W - $5,400), Artturi Lehkonen (W - $3,100)
Montreal has rarely been a team to stack this season, but the lowly Canadiens are in about as favorable a matchup as they have had all year. New Jersey will be playing its second game in as many nights, and the Devils have dropped seven in a row in regulation while being outscored 30-12 over this horrid stretch. The Canadiens haven't played since Jan. 30, but this line was on fire when the team was last in action. Suzuki has a 2-6-8 line in his last seven games, Toffoli's at 4-6-10 in his last eight, and the affordable Lehkonen has a 3-4-7 line in his last seven contests.
Canucks vs. Coyotes
J.T. Miller (C - $5,200), Brock Boeser (W - $4,500), Tanner Pearson (W - $3,900)
With Elias Pettersson's status in question due to a non-COVID illness, this is clearly the Canucks line to build around against an Arizona team that's giving up 3.67 goals per game. Miller's a bargain at $5,200 considering he's at a point-per-game pace through 44, and he also leads the Canucks with 15 goals. Boeser's three goals back of Miller and has a 2-3-5 line in his last four games, while Garland could have some extra motivation against his former team.
DEFENSEMEN
Tony DeAngelo, CAR at OTT ($6,500): DeAngelo's flirting with a point-per-game pace, as he has an 8-27-35 line in 36 appearances. He had a goal and an assist Monday in Toronto, so he'll carry a hot stick into this matchup with an Ottawa team that deployed starting goalie Matt Murray on Monday and will be forced to rely on subpar backup Anton Forsberg, who has a 3.02 GAA and .909 save percentage.
Damon Severson, NJ at MON ($4,400): Severson has been quietly effective as New Jersey's top source of offense from the blue line in Dougie Hamilton's (jaw) absence. He's one point shy of a point-per-game pace over the past 14, and Severson's unlikely to slow down against a Montreal team that's bringing up the rear in the league standings.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, VAN vs. ARI ($3,100): Like Garland, Ekman-Larsson's a former Coyote who should find success against his previous team here. Quinn Hughes' placement in COVID-19 protocols should open up a spot on the top power-play unit for OEL, where the Swede can use his booming shot to exploit Arizona's 73.0 percent penalty kill, which is second-worst in the league to Ekman-Larsson's own Canucks. During his Coyotes tenure, Ekman-Larsson racked up at least 19 power-play points on five different occasions.
Justin Schultz, WAS vs. CLS ($2,700): Schultz is an appealing value option at just $200 above the minimum. He has a three-game point streak going and will take on a Blue Jackets team that's allowing the most fantasy points per game to opposing blueliners. Of course, if you have the funds, teammate John Carlson ($6,300) is even more likely to capitalize on this favorable matchup for the Capitals.
