This article is part of our FanDuel NHL series.
Monday's a holiday in the United States, and the NHL has a five-game afternoon slate for fans to enjoy. Be sure to check back here on RotoWire leading up to lineup lock because the teams playing in the afternoon will not have morning skates from which DFS players can glean information.
GOALIE
Tuukka Rask, BOS vs. NYI ($8,800): It is expensive to get Rask in your lineup, but there's a plethora of viable mid-priced players Monday, making it easier to swallow this hefty price tag. Looking for the win from goalies for cash games should be a major focus on most days, and this is no exception. The Bruins have one of the best goalies in the world, and they're heavily favored in this home matchup against the mightily struggling Islanders.
CENTER
Alex Galchenyuk, MON at DET ($6,700): After missing more than a month with a lower-body injury, Galchenyuk returned over the weekend, scoring a goal and garnering 16:37 of ice time against the Rangers. He's back on the top line with Max Pacioretty and Alex Radulov, which is the ideal slotting for the supremely talented center; over the last three years, the Habs have generated 63.4 shot attempts per 60 minutes at five-on-five with Pacioretty and Galchenyuk on the ice together, compared to just 56.4 as a team overall.
David Krejci, BOS vs. NYI ($5,700): This is one of the best matchups possible for the Bruins' second-liners – when John Tavares is off the ice, the Isles give up a whopping 66.1 shot attempts per 60 minutes. With Tavares and New York's top line likely to be countered by Patrice Bergeron's unit, Krejci and his wingers should match up well thanks to the Isles' lack of depth.
WING
Frank Vatrano, BOS vs. NYI ($4,700): As mentioned in the section on Vatrano's center, this matchup for Boston's second line is a very good one. For the second-year winger, playing on Krejci's wing has been beneficial offensively – in his short career, he's taken 13.5 shots per 60 minutes in that spot and just 11.9 when elsewhere in the lineup. The combination of a player who shoots a lot and an opponent that gives up a lot of shots makes for a strong DFS target.
Tanner Pearson, LAK vs. TAM ($5,800): Whatever the reason, the Lightning have not been close to the same team they were last year. They're just a year removed from giving up the ninth-fewest shots per game in the NHL, but they're giving up the 12th-most this year. That's exacerbated when Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman are off the ice, as that duo allows just 46.5 shot attempts against per hour. Pearson and his linemates should avoid that pairing for the most part, giving them solid upside.
Sam Reinhart, BUF vs. DAL ($5,800): It's been a solid sophomore campaign for Reinhart, who's on pace for more than 50 points. Better still, Reinhart has recently been alternating between centering Evander Kane and traveling on the wing alongside Jack Eichel. Regardless of the line he ends up on, Dallas has given up the 11th-most scoring chances at five-on-five as a team, making for one of the better matchups Monday.
Jason Spezza, DAL at BUF ($6,700): Spezza ended up spending some time on the top line for the Stars in their most recent contest, which is the best position to be in on this team. Our focus here, however, is picking on the Buffalo penalty kill; the Sabres have given up the third-most scoring chances while shorthanded. The 33-year-old center, meanwhile, has just a single power-play goal this year. He's due for heavy regression in that department in the second half of the season, and this matchup is a good place to start.
DEFENSE
Brent Burns, SAN vs. WPG ($8,300): Sometimes it's worth throwing out an obvious play in the interest of making sure DFS players get him in their lineups. That's the case for Burns on Monday. As a team, the Jets have given up the ninth-most shots while shorthanded. On the other side, the Norris Trophy-worthy Burns has taken the most shots per minute of any defenseman in the NHL.
Shea Weber, MON at DET ($6,600): The return of Galchenyuk to the Montreal lineup has changed the power-play configuration a little bit. The Habs are now running a four-forward top unit with Weber as the lone rearguard. While he's not as prolific a shooter as Burns, the former Predator has taken the sixth-most shots with the man advantage of any blueliner in the league. Detroit, meanwhile has given up the sixth-most scoring chances. This is a good game to focus on Montreal's top unit, and Weber's price is actually rather appealing.
