This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Monday is the college football national championship, but don't sweat it. The first of the three NHL games taking place starts at 7 p.m. EDT. That means your DFS lineup will be in with plenty of time to get ready to watch Alabama and Georgia. Or, you know, you can watch hockey. Here are some recommendations to help your lineup...
SLATE PREVIEW
Since there were only two games Sunday and there are only three games Monday, perhaps it isn't surprising that there are no teams on the second leg of a back-to-back. Although, Monday was originally going to be much busier. Four games have been postponed: Canadiens-Blue Jackets, Devils-Lightning, Jets-Wild, and Oilers-Senators.
GOALIES
Darcy Kuemper, COL vs. SEA ($8,300): Kuemper's last start went poorly, but he still has a 2.62 GAA and .918 save percentage in his last eight starts. Plus, that bad game was against the Maple Leafs. Facing the Kraken should be much easier. Seattle has only put 28.1 shots on net per contest, second fewest in the NHL.
Jonathan Quick, LOS vs. NYR ($7,600): Quick has a 2.40 GAA and .921 save percentage. I decided to go with Quick even though the Rangers have averaged more goals per game (2.89) than the Kings (2.71). That's because LA has put up 35.1 shots on net per contest to New York's 28.5. Plus, the Rangers are on the road.
VALUE PLAYS
Adrian Kempe, LOS vs. NYR ($4,600): Kempe has potted four goals in his last six games, giving him 15 on the season. He's also put 103 shots on net in 35 games. Igor Shesterkin is currently on the COVID-19 list, so he has a good chance of not being available for this one. If he's out, Alexandar Georgiev and his .904 save percentage will likely be in net.
Taylor Hall, BOS at WAS ($4,100): Thanks to a five-game point streak than remains ongoing Hall now has 20 points on the season. January has been good to him, while Ilya Samsonov has struggled since the start of December. In that time he's posted a 3.10 GAA and .883 save percentage. On top of that, Vitek Vanecek is currently out, leaving third-string goalie Zach Fucale the only other option in net.
LINE STACK TO CONSIDER
Avalanche vs. Kraken: Nazem Kadri (C - $6,500), Andre Burakovsky (W - $4,500), Logan O'Connor (W - $2,900)
This is the obvious matchup to target. The Kraken have a 3.67 GAA, third highest in the NHL. That's because they have the league's lowest team save percentage. On top of that, the Kraken haven't played since January 1 due to postponements. The Avalanche's top line carries a high salary, so I decided to go with the second line.
Kadri has performed like a first-line center this season. He's missed some action along the way, but he's notched at least one point in the last 11 games he's played in. Overall, he has 44 points in 28 contests. Burakovsky's 55 shots on net in 29 contests is not impressive, but he has 24 points in 29 games, including seven with the extra man. O'Connor is the weak link here, but his salary speaks to that. He has 13 points in 31 games and playing alongside the red-hot Kadri could help him.
DEFENSE
Devon Toews, COL vs. SEA ($5,200): It's nice to get to play on a pairing with Cale Makar and get power-play time with Colorado's incredible talent. Toews has averaged 25:03 in ice time, 2:11 on the power play, and notched 23 points in 20 games. Now he gets to face a Seattle team with a 3.67 GAA.
Matt Roy, LOS vs. NYR ($4,300): Roy has 13 assists in 35 games. He also has zero goals even though he's put 95 shots on net. That can't continue forever, even for a defenseman. If Georgiev and his .904 save percentage is in net for the Rangers on Monday, maybe Roy will finally light the lamp.
