This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
There's only one NHL game Monday. The Chicago Blackhawks are hosting the Calgary Flames at 7:30 p.m. EST. You know what that means: Showdown style contests! You get $50,000 in salary to spend on six total players. One is your captain, and they are worth 1.5 times the points. However, they also cost you more in salary. Here's one lineup I wouldn't mind putting together from Monday's options…
Before I get to that, actually, let me give you my big-picture view of the goaltenders for these two teams. Jacob Markstrom has a 1.94 GAA and .933 save percentage on the season. Having said that, he has a 2.47 GAA and .913 save percentage over his last six starts. Meanwhile, Marc-Andre Fleury has a 2.79 GAA and .913 save percentage on the year, but over the last 10 games he has an 1.87 GAA and .939 save percentage. As such, there's not a great goaltending situation either way, but in terms of recent play you might want to lean on Blackhawks, since Markstrom is on the road as well.
CAPTAIN
Johnny Gaudreau, CGY at CHI ($13,800): Gaudreau is racking up points this season. He's tallied 10 goals and 20 assists in 28 games. Johnny Hockey has also been held without a point only twice in his last 13 contests. He's put 92 shots on net, and the Blackhawks have allowed 31.0 shots on net per game.
FLEX
Marc-Andre Fleury, CHI vs. CGY ($10,200): I wanted to grab one of the goalies, and part of this is that Fleury's salary is lower than Markstrom's ($10,800). The reigning Vezina winner is at home, and like I said he's posted an 1.87 and .939 save percentage over his last 10 games. I give Fleury the slight edge in terms of picking up a win, and since one goalie has to win I've got him in this lineup.
Andrew Mangiapane, CGY at CHI ($7,600): Mangiapane is never going to do an Adam Oates impression. He has all of three assists this season. On the other hand, he has 17 goals in 28 games after having 18 in 56 contests last season. He's been a top goal scorer, and he's also started 61.9 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone. That's highest among Calgary forwards.
Dominik Kubalik, CHI vs. CGY ($6,400): Kubalik has been a bit unlucky, as he has an 8.5 shooting percentage. He's put 59 shots on goal in 27 games, and he has averaged 2:19 with the extra man. Last season he had 14 power-play points, so we know he can do a bit of damage with the extra man.
Sean Monahan, CGY at CHI ($6,000): This is betting on the hope that Monahan can find some of that old form. It's worth it at this salary. He has two 30-goal seasons to his name and even last season he had 28 points in 50 games. While he only has 13 points this year, at least eight of them have come on the power play, so he's doing well in one aspect of the game.
Blake Coleman, CGY at CHI ($5,600): Coleman is playing on Calgary's second line. He's also tallied a robust 80 shots on goal in 27 games. His 5.6 shooting percentage is bound to improve. The Blackhawks have allowed 31.0 shots on net per contest, so Coleman should be able to rack up a few more shots, and with some puck luck one of them could find the net.
