This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
While you make your plans to watch Eastern Michigan take on Old Dominion in the Popeye's Bahamas Bowl, there will be four NHL games taking place Monday night. Every game starts at 7:00 PM ET, so you daily fantasy players on the west coast better be on your toes. There's no late slate for you. What there is, though, is the following list of players whom you should target for your lineup.
GOALIE
Tuukka Rask, BOS vs. FLA ($7,700): The Panthers have been surprisingly lackluster offensively this season, as they rank 23rd in goals scored and 26th on the power play. On the flip side, Rask has been, if anything, surprisingly good. He's sporting a 1.60 GAA and a .941 save percentage. It's a great matchup for Rask, and an excellent chance for him to pick up a win.
CENTER
Nicklas Backstrom, WAS vs. BUF ($7,000): There aren't many questionable defenses, or questionable goalies, in line to be playing Monday. That's true of the Sabres as well… except when they are on the penalty kill. Buffalo has the 29th-ranked penalty kill, which should get Backstrom excited. He's playing 3:30 a night with the extra man and he's got nine power-play points to show for it. He is on the pricier side, but he's worth it.
Alexander Wennberg, CLM vs. ARI ($5,700): A matchup with the Coyotes doesn't look quite as enticing as it did earlier this season, as Mike Smith has returned to action and he has a .930 save percentage. However, despite that, he has a middling 2.64 GAA, speaking to the defensive questions in front of him. As such, there's still some reason to trust Wennberg, who has 21 points this season including 10 on the power play. While Smith has been good since getting healthy, he still feels like more of a question mark than, say, Rask or Braden Holtby.
WING
Mark Stone, OTT at PIT ($5,400): While Matt Murray has bolstered the Penguins' goaltending situation, Pittsburgh still ranks 24th in goals allowed and 26th on the penalty kill. Even Murray isn't infallible, as he's let in seven goals in his last two games, and Marc-Andre Fleury is still seeing plenty of time in net. Stone has 16 points in 24 games, including five on the power play. He's notched over 20 goals and over 60 points in his last two seasons, so he's got a reliable track record, not to mention a reasonable price tag.
Conor Sheary, PIT vs. OTT ($5,600): Craig Anderson is rejoining the Senators after taking a personal leave, but he may not start. Mike Condon has been stellar this season, but he's a 26-year-old goalie who had a .903 save percentage in the NHL coming into the year. There's still reason to be at least a bit skeptical. Of course, Sheary doesn't have much of a track record either, but he's notched 12 points and put 39 shots on goal in 18 games. With a dearth of clearly favorable matchups available, Sheary is worth the (minor) gamble at this price.
Nick Foligno, CLM vs. ARI ($5,800): You could almost repeat the entry on Wennberg verbatim in this section. Foligno also has 21 points, including 10 on the power play. There is a slight difference, though, because he is more of a goal scorer, as he's lit the lamp nine times. He's also taken 53 shots on goal in 23 games. If Columbus gets opportunities to unleash their top level power play on the Coyotes, it could be big for Foligno, and for your fantasy lineup.
DEFENSE
Dion Phaneuf, OTT at PIT ($4,600): Phaneuf plays a lot of minutes, almost 23 a night, and he's been largely productive in that time. While he has a respectable eight points, he's taken 59 shots on goal, and also blocked 53 shots. Shot blocking usually comes into play against a team like the Penguins, and Phaneuf should be able to help your fantasy team even if he doesn't get in on the scoring.
Dmitry Orlov, WAS vs. BUF ($4,100): Orlov has gotten more involved in the offense than he did last season. He's taken 37 shots on goal, but he's only lit the lamp once, which means more goals should be coming. While he doesn't play a ton on the power play, he does play 1:32 a night, which means he will get some opportunities against Buffalo's poor penalty kill. Considering the relatively low price that you will have to pay for Orlov, that's enough opportunity to make him an intriguing option.
