This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
We're marching toward the trade deadline and the end of the regular season as we head into another Monday of NHL action. There are five games taking place, and daily fantasy options abound. Here are my recommendations for your DFS lineups.
SLATE PREVIEW
We've got two teams on the second leg of a back-to-back. The Sabres are at home for the second day in a row, and they did play a 1 p.m. EST start Sunday. That being said, they are playing the Panthers, who lead the league in goals per game. Meanwhile, the Kings are far from home. They actually played in Buffalo on Sunday and now are in Boston.
GOALIES
Sergei Bobrovsky, FLA at BUF ($8,300): "Bob" has the top offense in front of him, as the Panthers have averaged 4.09 goals per contest. The Sabres are down in the bottom 10 in goals per game, and they are on a back-to-back. I fully expect a win for Bobrovsky and the Panthers on Monday.
Darcy Kuemper, COL at NYI ($8,000): Kuemper and Bobrovsky always have a leg up in terms of getting wins, given that their teams rank first and second in goals per game. Kuemper started a little slow, but he left that slow start in the dust months ago. Over his last 23 games — dating back to December 10 — he has a 2.30 GAA and .928 save percentage. Oh, and he's 17-1-2 in that time. The Islanders were doomed by paltry offense this season, as they have managed only 2.54 goals and 29.1 shots on net per game.
VALUE PLAYS
Taylor Hall, BOS vs. LOS ($4,300): Hall has picked up 10 points in his last nine games. On the season he's averaged 2:34 per contest on the power play and notched 11 points with the extra man. The Kings have a bottom-five penalty kill, and they are also on the road for the second game of a back-to-back.
Nick Robertson, TOR at CLM ($2,500): The Leafs recently called up the 20-year-old Robertson, and they've decided to try and give him a leg up. Recently he was moved to Toronto's second line alongside John Tavares and William Nylander. Perhaps not coincidentally, he also just scored his first goal. Now he gets to face the Blue Jackets, who have a 3.63 GAA and have allowed 35.8 shots on net per contest.
LINE STACKS TO CONSIDER
Panthers at Sabres: Aleksander Barkov (C - $9,000), Carter Verhaeghe (W - $4,200), Mason Marchment (W - $4,500)
The Sabres have a 3.54 GAA and have allowed 34.2 shots on net per contest. Both are bottom seven in the NHL. Also, they are on a back-to-back. Jonathan Huberdeau is leading the Panthers in points – and is near the top of the league on that front – but he plays on the second line. The first line is all about Barkov, but that leaves potential value to be found on the wing.
We're used to Barkov contributing offensively, but he's been at an incredible level recently. Over his last 16 games he has 23 points and has put 65 shots on net. Somehow that's probably improving his Selke resume. Verhaeghe broke out with 18 goals and 18 assists in 43 games. This year he has 16 goals and 25 assists in 54 outings. Marchment suddenly got hot out of nowhere. Over his last 13 games he has 20 points. Sure, his 21.0 shooting percentage will likely regress, but he has 31 points in 30 games and he's now on the top line.
Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs: Boone Jenner (C - $5,900), Patrik Laine (W - $6,000), Gustav Nyquist (W - $2,800)
Once upon a time, this matchup would have been a concern. Then, Jack Campbell's play fell off a cliff. Since the start of December he has a 3.44 GAA and .890 save percentage in 21 games. What about backup Petr Mrazek? He has a 3.22 GAA and .890 save percentage this season, and he's in line for the start Monday. Either way, it bodes poorly for the Leafs, and well for Columbus' top line.
Jenner once scored 30 goals in a season, and quietly he has 23 goals in 56 games this season. He's also centering a line with the red-hot Laine. Over his last 16 games the Finn has 15 goals and 11 assists. Nyquist just scored his first goal in a while, but on the season he has 14 goals and 18 assists in 56 games.
DEFENSE
MacKenzie Weegar, FLA at BUF ($5,000): Who needs power-play time when you produce like Weegar? In addition to his 34 points in 55 games, he's notched 133 shots on net and blocked 107 shots. The Sabres are bottom seven in GAA, and they are on the second half of a back-to-back. This certainly raises the ceiling on Weegar's upside.
Rasmus Andersson, CGY vs. EDM ($4,700): Though Andersson has only scored two goals, he has 29 assists in 54 games. He's also put 101 shots on net. The Oilers have a 3.21 GAA, and that bodes well for Andersson at home Monday night.
