This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
January is coming to a close, and the All-Star break is near. It's a busy Saturday, though the games are split pretty evenly between afternoon and night games. We have six matchups on the evening slate starting at 7 p.m. EST or later. Here are my recommendations for your DFS lineups.
SLATE PREVIEW
We have two teams on a back-to-back, and both make for favorable matchups. The Red Wings are at home, but they are facing the high-scoring Maple Leafs. Meanwhile, the Coyotes are also at home, and they are facing the Sabres, who aren't great. That being said, Arizona is battling Montreal for the title of the worst team in the NHL, so catching them on a back-to-back is always nice.
GOALIES
Mikko Koskinen, EDM at MON ($8,200): Koskinen has picked up three wins in a row, and he's looked good in those games to the tune of a 2.22 GAA and .933 save percentage. It would be a surprise to see the Oilers, and Koskinen, lose this one, as the Canadiens have only managed 2.21 goals per game while putting up a 3.79 GAA.
Jacob Markstrom, CGY vs. VAN ($8,100): Markstrom has had some rough starts, but they have primarily been on the road. At home, he has a 2.11 GAA, and overall he has a 2.22 GAA. Vancouver puts a decent amount of shots on net, but it's only scored 2.49 goals per game, bottom six in the NHL. I wish Markstrom was playing better recently, but I still like him at home in this matchup.
VALUE PLAYS
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, EDM at MON ($4,600): Nugent-Hopkins is back, and he's looked no worse for the wear. He has an assist in both games he's played in while also notching seven shots on net. As I mentioned, the Canadiens have a 3.79 GAA. Current lead netminder for the Habs Samuel Montembault has a career 3.40 GAA and .897 save percentage as well.
Seth Jarvis, CAR vs. NJD ($3,500): Jarvis has started 64.4 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, highest on the Hurricanes. That's helped the 19-year-old tally 17 points in 31 games this season. The rookie has earned more minutes, and now he gets to face the Devils, who have a 3.43 GAA.
LINE STACKS TO CONSIDER
Maple Leafs at Red Wings: John Tavares (C - $6,500), Mitch Marner (W - $6,300), Ilya Mikheyev (W - $4,700)
This classic Original Six matchup may not look that classic this time around. The Red Wings are in the bottom eight in GAA and are on the second leg of a back-to-back. Thomas Greiss won't be available due to conditioning, and since Calvin Pickard started Friday, Alex Nedeljkovic will be in net Saturday. While he's the number-one in Detroit, recently he's struggled. "Ned" has posted a 3.22 GAA and .900 save percentage over his last 11 games. That bodes well for Toronto's second line.
Tavares would be a top-line center for most teams. He has 38 points in 38 games, including 13 points with the extra man. Tavares has also been shooting a lot recently, with 51 shots on net in his last 15 contests. Marner has been red hot since his latest stint off the ice. He has a four-game goal streak. Mikheyev has only played in Toronto's last 10 games, but in those games he has six goals and 29 shots on net.
Sabres at Coyotes: Tage Thompson (C - $5,900), Jeff Skinner (W – $5,500), Alex Tuch (W - $5,900)
The Sabres are quite shorthanded, especially in net, but at least the first line is healthy. They also get the Coyotes on the second leg of a back-to-back. The Coyotes have saved Karel Vejmelka for this game, but even he has a 3.40 GAA and .901 save percentage. Plus, he's allowed six goals in each of his last two contests.
Thompson's minutes have soared this season. He's gone from averaging 13:52 last year to 17:44 this year. That's helped him tally 14 goals and 14 assists in 39 games, both career highs already. Thompson's breakout is helping Skinner have a rebound season as well. Skinner has 16 goals, including seven in his last 10 contests. Tuch has only been able to play in 10 games, but in that time he has 10 points.
DEFENSE
Morgan Rielly, TOR at DET ($6,300): Since the start of December, Rielly has been absolutely on fire. He has 20 points in his last 16 games. While he's not scoring goals like that 20-goal aberration of a season, 34 points in 39 contests is nothing to complain about. As I mentioned, the Wings are on the second leg of a back-to-back and have issues in goal right now.
Evan Bouchard, EDM at MON ($5,300): Bouchard is the one scoring goals like Rielly once upon a time, with nine of them in 39 games. He's put at least three shots on net in five of his last six contests, helping him to three goals. The Canadiens have allowed 34.9 shots on net per contest, and that is paired with their 3.79 GAA.
Henri Jokiharju, BUF at ARI ($2,800): Jokiharju has been pairing with Rasmus Dahlin recently, and it seems to be benefiting him. The 22-year-old has four points in his last five games. While he may not continue at that pace, Jokiharju gets to face the Coyotes on Saturday. Only the Canadiens are keeping pace with them in terms of GAA, and also they are on the second night of a back-to-back.
