This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Thursday's NHL slate is a large one, with 12 games on the docket after 7:00 PM Eastern time. Below, you'll find an overview of the matchups and suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
There's no shortage of poor defensive teams to exploit in this slate. Sabres and Flyers players should be especially popular with their teams hosting the Red Wings and Devils, respectively. Other top sources of value include the Avalanche (at Ottawa), Oilers (vs. San Jose), Canucks (at Minnesota).
GOALIES
Brian Elliott ($8,200) is 4-1-0 in his last five starts, with shutout victories in two of his last three appearances. The Flyers' netminder should stay hot against the lowly Devils, who average only 2.65 goals per game.
Whether it's Semyon Varlamov ($8,300) or Thomas Greiss ($8,300), whomever the Islanders choose to start in net will be primed for success against a visiting Kings team that's averaging only 2.46 goals per game. Varlamov is 16-8-4 with a 2.60 GAA and .915 save percentage, while Greiss is 14-7-2 with a 2.50 GAA and .922 save percentage.
Carey Price ($8,300) has an excellent opportunity to pick up right where he left off in his return from an illness. He had allowed just 13 goals en route to a 6-2-0 record over his previous eight starts before missing one game, and Price will get to play host to a Ducks team that's scoring the third-fewest goals per game in the league (2.49).
If you're looking for a cheap goalie with upside, sticking in the Ducks-Canadiens game with John Gibson ($6,900) could be a prudent move. Gibson has won three of his past five starts, allowing two goals apiece in each win. Meanwhile, Montreal has allowed opposing goalies to rack up saves at a high rate, as the Canadiens rank smack in the middle with 3.05 goals per game and lead the league in shots per game (34.7).
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Andre Burakovsky ($4,600) is an absolute steal at his affordable valuation given his recent success and vulnerable opposition. The Avalanche winger has a tremendous 4-7-11 line over an active five-game point streak heading into a matchup with an Ottawa team that's giving up 3.28 goals per game.
Brock Nelson ($5,300) is a streaky scorer who's in the midst of an upswing, having notched a 6-4-10 line in his last eight games. The Islanders center should keep rolling against the Kings, who are just 8-18-4 outside Los Angeles this season.
Elias Lindholm ($5,600) has been Calgary's most dangerous option on the power play this season, as he's tied with Johnny Gaudreau for the team lead with 15 power-play points and leads the Predators in both power-play goals (seven) and total goals (22). A home date with Nashville's 74.5 percent penalty kill presents a great opportunity for Lindholm to add to his success with the extra man.
J.T. Miller ($6,000) is enjoying the best season of his career with a 20-33-53 line through 54 games, and he's showing no signs of slowing down with five goals and 13 points over his last 10 games. Vancouver's savvy offseason addition should stay hot against a Minnesota team that's allowing the third-most goals per game in the league (3.31).
Mark Pysyk ($2,500) isn't one of the first players you think of in Florida's high-octane offense, but the defenseman-turned-winger scored a hat trick in the game before last and could be worth a flier as a cheap lineup filler at home against Vegas.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Sabres vs. Red Wings
Jack Eichel (C - $8,400), Sam Reinhart (W - $6,800), Jimmy Vesey (W - $3,800)
Stacking against Detroit is often a winning strategy, as the Red Wings are by far the worst team in the league, with the fewest goals for (2.04) and most goals against (3.81) per game. Any Sabres stack starts with Eichel, who leads the team in both goals (31) and points (66). Reinhart ranks second on the team in both goals and points with a 19-25-44 line. Vesey's getting a chance on this top line, as the Sabres keep hoping he'll finally rediscover the form that allowed the Harvard product to score at least 16 goals in each of his first three seasons with the Rangers before being shipped to Buffalo this past offseason.
Flyers vs. Devils
Sean Couturier (C - $6,400), Jakub Voracek (W - $5,000), Joel Farabee (W - $3,700)
The Devils are the clear second choice to stack against in the NHL after the Red Wings, as their 3.54 goals allowed per game are substantially more than the third-worst Wild at 3.31. This line has been Philadelphia's best both overall and lately. Couturier leads the team with 46 points, while Voracek is third on the club with 40. The 19-year-old Farabee is growing his game in front of our eyes and has a 4-2-6 line in his last six games.
Oilers vs. Sharks
Leon Draisaitl (C - $8,200), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (W - $5,900), Kailer Yamamoto (W - $4,300)
With a 29-54-83 line, Draisaitl holds a four-point lead over teammate Connor McDavid for the league scoring lead. And like most great players, Draisaitl has been able to lift his linemates' production as well — especially recently. Nugent-Hopkins has put together a Draisaitl-esque 7-10-17 line in his last 12 games, while Yamamoto has a 5-5-10 line in 12 games since being called up to the NHL. Draisaitl has one-upped his linemates over these past 12 games with a 7-15-22 line, and this red-hot trio should continue to dominate against a Sharks team that's surrendering 3.28 goals per game.
DEFENSEMEN
The Wild have allowed more fantasy points to opposing defensemen than any team in the league, and Vancouver's Quinn Hughes ($5,400) is primed to capitalize on this favorable matchup. Hughes has an 8-31-39 line in 53 games, including four goals and five assists in his last 10.
Rasmus Dahlin ($5,300) missed Buffalo's last game with an upper-body injury, but he would be a terrific option if he's able to suit up against the lowly Red Wings. The first overall selection from the 2019 draft was rolling before getting hurt, racking up nine points in his previous 10 games.
Sticking with the theme of productive young defensemen, Avalanche rookie Cale Makar ($6,000) should have no trouble adding to his 11-27-38 line through 43 games in Ottawa.
On the cheaper side, Vegas' Nate Schmidt ($4,300) is scoring over half a point per game heading into this matchup with a Panthers team that's allowing the second-most fantasy points to defensemen.
