This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
We're lucky to get some afternoon hockey Monday with a matchup between the Lightning and the Predators. However, this article will be focusing on the evening slate that consists of nine games.
The Kings and Senators both played Sunday. The Sabres, Bruins, Penguins and Capitals all play Tuesday as well. It's important to keep tabs on these goaltending situations and last-minute lineup changes, especially with COVID-19 still affecting a handful of teams.
All advanced statistics are courtesy of Natural Stat Trick.
GOALIES
Ilya Samsonov, WAS at BUF ($8,400): Samsonov has won four straight games since returning from COVID-19 protocol, registering a .915 save percentage and a 2.50 GAA in the process. He consistently benefits from a sturdy defense, as the Capitals have posted a 1.71 xGA/60 over the past month -- the best in the league. It doesn't hurt that the Sabres will be without Jack Eichel, too.
Carter Hart, PHI at NYR ($7,900): Hart's struggles are well-documented, but he's still a fundamentally sound goaltender with a bright future. The 22-year-old is in a prime position to bounce back Monday. The Rangers rank 26th in the league with 1.8 xGF/60 in March, and even Artemi Panarin's return isn't an immediate fix.
Casey DeSmith, PIT vs. BOS ($7,700): It's a risky proposition to start any goalie against the Bruins, but the B's have been impressively bad of late. At even strength, they rank last in the league with 1.44 xGF/60 this month. Meanwhile, DeSmith has been outstanding with his latest opportunities, winning two of the last three games and registering a .962 save percentage in the process. The contrarian play is exciting here.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
J.T. Miller, VAN at OTT ($5,600): Miller has moved to center with Elias Petterson out of the lineup, and he's thriving in the role with five points in as many games. However, four of those points -- all assists -- came with the man advantage, something that Miller can leverage to his favor against Ottawa's 26th-ranked PK (73.7 percent).
Adrian Kempe, LOS at STL ($5,000): Kempe's red-hot right now with seven goals, two assists and 25 shots on net over the last seven games. His shot volume is intriguing, but his first-line promotion with Dustin Brown (upper body) out is a selling point. Furthermore, the Blues' defense is losing its identity without Colton Parayko (back).
Jakub Voracek, PHI at NYR ($3,900): Voracek has put up four points over the past five games, but he's generating even-strength opportunities at a high rate, registering 3.72 xGF/60 in that span -- ninth in the league. The Rangers' defense has stepped up lately, but how long can we expect Keith Kinkaid to play this way?
Anthony Duclair, CHI at FLA ($3,400): Duclair returned to the lineup Saturday and logged just 12:28 of ice time. However, he was on the frozen sheet for 12 scoring chances, translating into two assists and four shots on net. He's buzzing, and his presence on PP2 is appealing against Chicago's 24th-ranked PK (74.4 percent).
LINE STACKS
Capitals 
at Sabres 
Nicklas Backstrom, (C - $5,800), T.J. Oshie (W - $5,300), Alex Ovechkin (W - $8,300)
Ovechkin is showering the net with rubber lately, scoring three goals on 26 shots over the past five games. That provides a nice floor with the shot volume bonus on DraftKings, and his 11.5 percent shooting percentage is due for some upward regression soon enough. Oshie and Backstrom have combined for 32 helpers through 27 games, and they'll be primed to set up Ovi for more scoring against a weakened Sabres' defense.
Panthers 
vs. Blackhawks 
Aleksander Barkov (C - $6,900), Carter Verhaeghe (W - $4,600), Mason Marchment (W - $3,400)
This line rolled over the Blackhawks in Saturday's win, piling up three goals and three assists and combining for eight shots on net. While Marchment is relatively new to the unit, Barkov and Verhaeghe have been linked together for a while, registering 3.38 xGF/60 at even strength. The Blackhawks' have given up 18 goals over the past four games, so there's no reason to think they'll slow down now.
Golden Knights 
vs. Sharks 
William Karlsson (C - $4,700), Reilly Smith (W - $4,400), Jonathan Marchessault (W - $5,500)
The Sharks have won three straight games while giving up three total goals. Let's not forget that two of those contests were against the Ducks, who rank last in the league with 2.14 goals per game. The Golden Knights are healthy and running all their lines at full capacity, and this unit is intriguing, posting 2.86 xGF/60 at even strength over the past seven outings.
DEFENSEMEN
John Carlson, WAS at BUF ($6,600): Carlson continues to drive the offense from the blue line, generating 24 points and 72 shots on net over 27 games. His high shot volume provides a steady floor, and he quarterbacks PP1 with the aforementioned Capitals stack.
Shea Theodore, VGK vs. SJ ($5,700): Theodore has acclimated well with Alex Pietrangelo (undisclosed) out of the lineup, providing four points in as many games. He's been doing this all year, though, so at the very least, it just proves that he's not dependant on another elite defender on the blue line.
Erik Karlsson, SJ at VGK ($4,700): It seems like Karlsson has been encouraged to jump into the forecheck lately, as he's accrued five points over the past seven games, including two power-play tallies. Two of those assists came against the Golden Knights last week, and his upside is certainly worth the gamble at this salary range.
Justin Faulk, STL at LA ($4,500): Faulk is handling a significant role on the blue line with Parayko out, averaging 24:10 of ice time over the past eight games and ringing up five assists in that stretch. He'll likely square off against an inexperienced Troy Grosenick in net, which bodes well for another productive evening.
Nate Schmidt, VAN at OTT ($4,000): All nine of Schmidt's points this season have been at even strength, but he's starting to get an opportunity with the second power-play unit. The Senators' PK is putrid, so Schmidt has an intriguing opportunity to come through Monday.
