This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Thursday's NHL slate has seven games on the docket after 7:00 p.m. EST. Below, you'll find a breakdown of the action and suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
The obvious team to build around Thursday will be the Hurricanes at home against the Canadiens, while the Islanders are the second-biggest favorites against a Sabres team that's playing its second game in as many nights. Lightning-Panthers is the night's most high-profile matchup, and there will be plenty of enticing options in that rivalry game, which has a slate-high over/under of 6.5 goals. The only other game with a line higher than 5.5 goals is Flyers-Sharks at 6.0.
GOALIES
Antti Raanta, CAR vs. MON ($8,300): If Frederik Andersen doesn't return from COVID protocol, the crease should be Raanta's for this favorable matchup against a 7-21-4 Montreal team that's scoring just 2.19 goals per game. Raanta has been effective when called upon for the Hurricanes, compiling a 4-2-1 record, 2.37 GAA and .907 save percentage.
Jacob Markstrom, CGY at SEA ($8,100): Markstrom's enjoying an excellent season thus far, with a 10-6-5 record, 1.94 GAA and .933 save percentage. His strong play should continue against a Kraken team that has been outscored 110-86 en route to a 10-17-4 record. Seattle's coming off an overtime loss to the Flyers on Wednesday, while the Flames will be well rested and chomping at the bit to get back out there, having last played Dec. 11.
Ilya Sorokin, NYI vs. BUF ($7,800): Sorokin hasn't been the problem for the underachieving Islanders, as he has separated himself from Semyon Varlamov as the go-to-guy in the Isles' net. While the Russian's 7-7-5 record doesn't jump off the page, his 2.49 GAA and .926 save percentage are impressive. Sorokin will have a nice opportunity to improve those robust ratios in what's likely to be a low-scoring affair against a Sabres team that's finishing up a back-to-back set and averaging only 2.68 goals per game.
Elvis Merzlikins, CLS vs. NSH ($7,200): Merzlikins is an appealing value option against the Predators. Nashville will be playing its second game in as many nights, which means top Predators goalie Juuse Saros will likely have the night off, and the Predators' best skater – Roman Josi – is in COVID protocol. The Predators had a seven-game winning streak going but the break cooled them off, and they were thoroughly outplayed by Washington in a 5-3 loss Wednesday. Meanwhile, Merzlikins has been outstanding on home ice, with a 9-1-1 record, 2.07 GAA and .937 save percentage.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Brayden Point, TB at FLA ($7,900): Tuesday marked Point's first action since Nov. 20 due to a lower-body injury, and the word "rust" clearly isn't in the star center's vocabulary, as he led the way with two goals, an assist and six shots on net. Even without Nikita Kucherov (lower body) by his side, Point is an elite player in every sense of the word and worth fantasy consideration every time out now that he's healthy.
Elias Lindholm, CGY at SEA ($6,200): Lindholm flirted with a point-per-game pace with a 27-51-78 line over 81 games in 2018-19, and the Swedish center is having a similarly productive campaign this year, with an 11-16-27 output through 28 contests. His $6,200 valuation is reasonable given his production, and Lindholm will have a nice opportunity to mark the scoresheet against a Kraken team that's surrendering 3.55 goals per game.
Carter Verhaeghe, FLA vs. TB ($3,600): The most affordable member of Florida's top line is an intriguing value pick against a Lightning team that is without its two NHL-level goalies due to COVID protocol. Verhaeghe has an 8-15-23 line in 29 games, and his goal in Wednesday's win over the Rangers was the former member of the Lightning's seventh point in his last seven games.
James van Riemsdyk, PHI at SJ ($3,500): JVR got off to a dreadful start this season, but he has found his game lately, with a 5-2-7 line in his last six games, including two goals Wednesday in Seattle. The Sharks allowed seven goals to the league-worst Coyotes offense in their only game since returning from the holiday break, so van Riemsdyk will have a nice opportunity to add to his recent success in this one.
Alex Iafallo, LA vs. VAN ($5,900): Iafallo has been a consistent presence on the scoresheet recently, capitalizing on his deployment on the top line and No. 1 power-play unit en route to points in four of his last five games. Overall, he's second on the Kings in both goals and points with a 10-10-20 line through 31 contests. He's a solid under-the-radar option against a Canucks team that will likely turn to backup Jaroslav Halak (1-4-1 with a 2.88 GAA and .905 save percentage) in net after Thatcher Demko started Wednesday.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Hurricanes vs. Canadiens
Sebastian Aho (C - $7,500), Teuvo Teravainen (W - $6,200), Nino Niederreiter (W - $4,500)
Carolina's top line should carry play against the lowly Canadiens, who are allowing 3.56 goals per game – third-most in the league. Aho cleared COVID protocol earlier this week, so he's ready to add to his team-leading totals in goals (15) and points (32), which the star center has accrued in just 26 appearances. Teravainen is second on the team in points courtesy of a 7-16-23 line over 29 games. Niederreiter's 8-7-15 line in 23 contests includes a 4-4-8 line in his last seven games, and he should continue to provide excellent value as long as he's being deployed on the top line.
Sharks vs. Flyers
Logan Couture (C - $6,400), Timo Meier (W - $8,200), Alexander Barabanov (W - $3,800)
With starting goalie Carter Hart in COVID protocols, the Flyers face a dilemma in net: start Martin Jones for the second time in as many nights or roll the dice on Felix Sandstrom? Either way, the Sharks certainly smell blood in the water. San Jose is intimately familiar with Jones' shortcomings, as his 3.20 GAA is right in line with the 3.00 and 3.28 marks he posted in his last two seasons with the Sharks, while Sandstrom has a 3.28 GAA at the AHL level this season. This will be a favorable matchup either way for the locked-in Sharks top line, which combined for three goals and six points Tuesday against the Coyotes. Meier has a scintillating 13-18-31 line in 26 appearances this season, and he's sixth in the league with 114 shots on goal. Couture's second on the team in points with a 10-17-27 line, and Barabanov has been productive lately with nine points in his last 10 games.
Islanders vs. Sabres
Mathew Barzal (C - $6,600), Anders Lee (W - $5,400), Josh Bailey (W - $3,200)
The Islanders are scoring just 2.19 goals per game, but some of those offensive struggles can be chalked up to the team's issues with COVID-19 outbreaks. With a chance to reset coming out of the break, if the Islanders don't step up now, you can start to write this season off as a failure. Buffalo gives up 3.45 goals per game, and this top line has the mix of playmaking and finishing skills necessary to capitalize on this favorable matchup. Barzal leads the team with a 5-12-17 line in 23 games, and he was playing his best hockey before going on the COVID list in mid-December, with a six-game point streak that consisted of a 1-8-9 line. Lee's tied with Oliver Wahlstrom for second on the team with eight goals behind Brock Nelson – but both Wahlstrom and Nelson are on the COVID list – and the power forward was hot before the break, with a 4-2-6 line in his last six games. The affordable Bailey has 10 points in 21 games but is capable of more, as evidenced by his 71-point season in 2017-18.
DEFENSEMEN
Tony DeAngelo, CAR vs. MON ($6,500): DeAngelo's an offensive force from the blue line, as evidenced by his 6-15-21 line through 22 games as a member of the Hurricanes. His ceiling is tremendous against the defensively challenged Canadiens, more than making up for DeAngelo's lackluster contributions in his own end.
MacKenzie Weegar, FLA vs. TB ($5,800): Weegar finally got the goal monkey off his back with his first of the season Wednesday, but he's been plenty productive otherwise, anyway, with 15 helpers in 30 games and a bevy of shots and blocks that gives him an excellent floor on a nightly basis. He has 17 shots and 13 blocks in his last five games, and Weegar should be extra active on both ends in this high-profile showdown against a Lightning team that's far from full strength.
Rasmus Dahlin, BUF at NYI ($4,100): Dahlin was dominant in his last couple games before the break and carried that form over into a two-assist performance Wednesday, giving him a 3-2-5 line over his past four games. The first overall selection in the 2018 draft might just be making his long-awaited lead to stardom, so the risk/reward is tilted heavily in your favor here at just $4,100.
Travis Sanheim, PHI at SJ ($3,100): Given his affordability, you may as well keep riding Sanheim while he's hot. Sanheim has a four-game point streak rolling, with a 2-3-5 line over that span. Given San Jose's defensive struggles Tuesday, Sanheim's a low-risk, high-reward play.
