This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Friday's NHL slate begins at 7:00 p.m. EST and features eight games. Below, you'll find suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
After finishing a two-game set in Los Angeles, the Avalanche will once again be the largest favorites against another California-based bottom feeder in Anaheim. The Golden Knights (in Arizona) and Wild (vs. San Jose) are jockeying for position at this slate's second-biggest favorites, but all three of those games are expected to be low-scoring, each with an over/under of 5.5. Penguins-Rangers and Oilers-Maple Leafs are projected to provide the most offensive fireworks, as they're tied for the highest over/under at 6.5. The schedule is rounded out with a clash between last year's worst team (Detroit) and possibly this year's worst (Chicago), Dallas' first game of the season against the visiting Predators, and the third meeting of the year between the Sabres and Capitals.
GOALIES
Philipp Grubauer, COL at ANH ($8,500): Grubauer ceded the Avalanche net for the front end of the team's back-to-back set Thursday in Los Angeles, but he should retake the crease here against a Ducks team that has scored only six goals through four games. His 2.01 GAA and .923 save percentage through three starts should come out looking even nicer after this one.
Robin Lehner, VGK at ARI ($8,400): Lehner's 2-0-0 with a 2.01 GAA and .926 save percentage, and the Golden Knights have won each of their first four games, including a pair over Arizona. With a dominant team in front of him, Lehner should be worth paying up for as one of this slate's priciest goaltenders.
Thomas Greiss, DET at CHI ($7,700): Whichever Red Wings goalie gets the nod between Greiss and Jonathan Bernier ($7,500) will be a nice bargain option against the 0-3-1 Blackhawks, who have been outscored 20-9. Greiss is still searching for his first win with Detroit despite a stellar .930 save percentage through two starts, while Bernier's 2-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .927 save percentage.
Juuse Saros, NSH at DAL ($7,800): Saros' season is off to a tremendous start, as he boasts a 2-0-0 record, 1.50 GAA and .959 save percentage. He has a nice opportunity to build on that strong start against a Dallas team that will be playing its first game of the season. Dallas made the Stanley Cup Finals last season, but that run came thanks to defense and goaltending, as the Stars scored the sixth-fewest goals per game last season (2.58).
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Kirill Kaprizov, MIN vs. SJ ($5,200): Kaprizov was expected to make an instant impact with the Wild coming off a prolific KHL campaign, and the early results haven't been disappointing. The Russian winger has a 1-4-5 line through four games while skating on the top line, and he should get right back onto the scoresheet against a Sharks team that has yielded 14 goals through four games.
Kasperi Kapanen, PIT vs. NYR ($3,900): Kapanen made a good first impression in his Penguins debut Tuesday, dishing an assist against Washington. He'll look to build on that successful debut in a game that figures to feature plenty of open ice, and the former 20-goal scorer with Toronto couldn't ask for a better situation with his new club, as he's skating on a line with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel.
Kailer Yamamoto, EDM at TOR ($4,500): Yamamoto's a bargain considering he skates on a line with Leon Draisaitl and has a 2-2-4 line through five games. That offensive production is sustainable, as the diminutive winger posted an 11-15-26 line in 27 NHL games last season.
Tom Wilson, WAS vs. BUF ($5,100): Wilson's known mostly for his physical play, but the 2012 first-round pick has more skill than he's often given credit for, and it has been on display early this season. The 26-year-old power forward has a 3-2-5 line over his last three goals, as Wilson's well on his way to a third consecutive 20-goal campaign. He'll look to stay hot as Washington goes for its third win over Buffalo this season.
Patrick Kane, CHI vs. DET ($7,200): Kane is by far the best player on either of these teams, and he'll likely do everything in his power to earn Chicago its first win of the season here. The two-time 100-point scorer has a 2-1-3 line and 18 shots through four games, including 12 shots in the last two after having his opportunities limited by the Stanley Cup champion Lightning in the first two.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Maple Leafs vs. Oilers
Auston Matthews (C - $8,400), Mitch Marner (W - $7,100), Jimmy Vesey (W - $3,400)
Toronto's offense was surprisingly held in check Wednesday, though Matthews provided the only goal in the 3-1 loss to boost his line to 2-3-5 with 27 shots through five games. His linemates should get in on the fun this time against Oilers goalie Mikko Koskinen, who has a 3.24 GAA and .906 save percentage, even after Wednesday's strong performance. Marner has a 3-3-6 line through five games and Vesey's set to make his debut on this line, possibly to provide more speed in the spot previously occupied by Joe Thornton. Matthews left Thursday's practice session early, so make sure he's good to go before locking him in, though John Tavares should fill in capably on the top line if called upon.
Rangers at Penguins
Mika Zibanejad (C - $7,700), Chris Kreider (W - $4,900), Alexis Lafreniere (W - $3,400)
Coach David Quinn continues to shuffle the lines, and he has formed an intriguing new combination heading into what should be a high-scoring game against a Penguins team that has allowed 18 goals through four games. Zibanejad has a 1-1-2 line and 10 shots through three games after potting a whopping 41 goals in 57 games last season, and he seems to be no worse for the wear after an injury scare late in New York's previous game Tuesday. Kreider's a five-time 20-goal scorer who potted a power-play goal Tuesday against the Devils and was inches from another on a shot that hit the post. Lafreniere hasn't clicked on the lower lines, but it should be only a matter of time before the highly touted rookie first overall pick delivers a breakout performance, so this could be a prime buy-low opportunity.
Red Wings at Blackhawks
Dylan Larkin (C - $6,400), Filip Zadina (W - $4,200), Vladislav Namestnikov (W - $2,900)
Stacking Red Wings isn't often advisable, but this matchup presents an opportunity to do so, as Chicago appears poised to supplant Detroit as the league's worst team. The Blackhawks are off to a 0-3-1 start and have allowed five goals in every game. Larkin is Detroit's best player and has opened the season with a 2-2-4 line through four games, suggesting he's rediscovering the form that helped him post a 32-41-73 line over 76 appearances in 2018-19 before hitting a speed bump with only 53 points in 71 games last season. Zadina was picked sixth overall in 2018 and has an 8-9-17 line in 32 NHL games since the start of last season. Namestnikov's a reliable veteran who can slide up and down the lineup but is a nice bargain as long as he's getting top-line minutes and opportunities.
DEFENSEMEN
Miro Heiskanen, DAL vs. NSH ($5,500): The last time we saw Heiskanen, he was dominating postseason play. The third overall pick from the 2017 draft established himself as one of the best defensemen in the world with a 6-20-26 line over 27 games to help lead Dallas to the Stanley Cup Finals, yet he's priced below 10 defensemen in this slate alone in his first action of the season.
Shea Theodore, VGK at ARI ($6,100): Speaking of postseason success, Theodore also had plenty of it last year, with a 7-12-19 line over 20 games. The 25-year-old defenseman has carried that form into the new campaign with a 2-2-4 line and 16 shots through four games, and he's coming off a two-goal game against these same Coyotes.
Filip Hronek, DET at CHI ($4,600): Hronek's another Red Wing who normally flies under the radar but should put his skills on display in this matchup. The 23-year-old blueliner has two assists through four games and is skating close to 25 minutes per game as Detroit's clear-cut No. 1 defenseman. He has shown plenty of offensive aptitude in his young career with a 14-42-56 line through 115 games.
Justin Holl, TOR vs. EDM ($2,800): Holl's a good fit for managers looking to spend big elsewhere. He has been contributing on both ends for Toronto in the early going, with four assists and 11 blocks through five games.
