This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
GOALIE
Matt Murray, PIT vs. EDM ($8,300): Well, it's not like there's much choice. There's no debate the Pens are way better than the Oilers, and if you wanted to pick the Canucks over the Ducks, there's a chance it's rookie Michael DiPietro getting the start again if the recently acquired Marek Mazanec can't get his visa issues sorted out. As of Tuesday night, Mazanec wasn't even on the list of available goalies, so even if he manages to join the team you can't pick him.
CENTER
Elias Pettersson, VAN at ANA ($6,600): He should be considered one of the best players in the game already, and in a 7-2 loss to the Sharks on Monday made a highlight-reel cross-ice assist to Bo Horvat and extend his point streak to four games. He obviously isn't as dominant as Crosby or McDavid, but against the league's weakest team he's well worth the price.
Jared McCann, PIT vs. EDM ($4,100): After going without a point against the Flyers priced at $3,300, I see that Draft Kings has already factored in the Evgeni Malkin suspension for McCann. The Penguins did not skate yesterday, but the speedy center is expected to move up to the second line and potentially play with Phil Kessel. Malkin will also have to be replaced on the power play, which means McCann may get some time with the second unit as well if Kessel or Jake Guentzel move up.
WING
Brock Boeser, VAN at ANA ($6,000): Pettersson and Boeser is the next duo after Naslund-Bertuzzi and the Sedins, and both players have a very good opportunity to avenge an embarrassing 7-2 loss Monday. Boeser can be hit-or-miss because he's still a one-dimensional shooter at this point of his career; in his past five games, he had seven shots in three of the games and zero shots in the other two. Playing against the Ducks and facing third-string goalie Chad Johnson should be a boon.
Rickard Rakell, ANA vs. VAN ($5,100): In Bob Murray's first game behind the bench who knows what could happen, but one thing is certain is that the Ducks see Rakell as part of their future. That's good for Rakell because that means he'll get plenty of ice time against a horrendous Canucks defense and the league's worst goaltending situation with an unproven 19-year-old and a journeyman who last played in the NHL on Dec. 8, 2016.
Josh Leivo, VAN at ANA ($3,500): This is pretty good value for someone who can easily shift on to the top two lines and also gets time on the power play. Leivo's production hasn't been very consistent but he's one of the few Canucks forwards who can create offense, and in 25 games has already doubled his season output with the Leafs and has also averaged 16 minutes per game in February. Jake Virtanen ($3,400) and Nikolay Goldobin ($3,300) are also viable picks but both are also riskier.
DEFENSE
Brandon Montour, ANA vs. VAN ($4,400): It's been ugly for the Ducks and Montour hasn't scored a point since Jan. 17, but players like him – fast and aggressive on offense – have fared well against the Canucks, who spent nearly the entire game Monday against the Sharks in their own zone because they couldn't clear the puck. He's a gamble, but four goals in eight career games against the Canucks means something.
Marcus Pettersson, PIT vs. EDM ($3,000): Not having Malkin in the lineup takes a lot of bite out of the Pens' power play, but it should do just fine against the league's second-worst penalty kill. Pettersson has just one goal in his past seven games and will lose his spot promptly once Justin Schultz returns, but at this price he presents some pretty good value.
