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
There's a misk of obvious plays and high-risk, high-reward options on the table Thursday, with a trio of lopsided matchups joined by a few clashes between high-profile opponents. The top team to build around will be the Blues at home against the Devils, though the Capitals (in Montreal) and Penguins (in Ottawa) should also benefit from favorable matchups. All three of those games have over/unders of 6.0 goals, while a Lightning-Avalanche matchup that will pit two of the league's top seven offenses against each other comes in at a slate-high over/under of 6.5 goals.
GOALIES
Ville Husso, STL vs. NJ ($8,300): Husso has been tremendous in net for the Blues, going 9-3-1 with a 1.90 GAA and .941 save percentage. The Devils are coming off a convincing win in Montreal, but that's their only victory in the past eight games, and New Jersey's missing two of its most gifted offensive players in Jack Hughes (COVID-19) and Dougie Hamilton (jaw). Jordan Binnington ($8,300) has struggled this season, but he'd also make for a decent pick given this favorable matchup if he gets the nod over Husso.
Ilya Samsonov, WAS at MON ($8,100): Washington's defense and goaltending have been shaky of late, but a trip to Montreal should help cover up those warts. The Canadiens just lost 7-1 at home to a Devils team that had previously dropped seven consecutive games in regulation, so Montreal's spot at the bottom of the league standings has been well earned. Montreal's also last in the league in goals per game at 2.20.
Frederik Andersen, CAR at BOS ($7,500): Andersen's an intriguing value option against a Bruins team that normally relies heavily on its top players for offense but will be without two-thirds of its top line. Patrice Bergeron (upper body) and Brad Marchand (suspension) will both sit this one out, leaving David Pastrnak and Taylor Hall as the only two available Bruins forwards with more than 20 points this season. Andersen's 25-6-1 with a 2.13 GAA and .926 save percentage, so he's certainly capable of stifling the depleted Bruins lineup.
Matt Murray, OTT vs. PIT ($7,200): Murray's been hot for a while now, as he's regained the form that helped him win two Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh heading into this visit from his former team. He's 5-0-2 in his last seven starts and has allowed only 13 goals in that stretch, including a mere five goals in his last four outings. At just $7,200, Murray could provide tremendous value if he's able to build on his recent success.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Jake Guentzel, PIT at OTT ($7,300): If you don't think Murray will be able to maintain his recent form, then Guentzel's a sensible player to build around. He has a 2-7-9 line over an active five-game point streak, with six of those points coming on the power play. This recent success is nothing new for Guentzel, who leads the Penguins in both goals (23) and points (48) in 41 appearances.
Patrik Laine, CLS at BUF ($4,500): Don't look now, but Laine's suddenly rounding back into his elite scoring form from his days in Winnipeg. He has potted multiple goals in each of the past three games and preceded this streak with a two-assist performance to kick off his most productive stretch in a Blue Jackets uniform. A Sabres team that's surrendering 3.47 goals per game is unlikely to slow him down.
Ondrej Palat, TB at COL ($4,700): With Nikita Kucherov likely to return to the lineup for this one, Tampa Bay will be able to reunite the trio of Palat, Kucherov and Brayden Point. Palat's the least productive of the three but also the most affordable. This game could feature plenty of offense from both sides, and Palat's well positioned to be right in the middle of the action.
Taylor Hall, BOS vs. CAR ($4,200): Hall sandwiched a pair of two-point, five-shot performances around the All-Star break, and he'll be given plenty of opportunities to build on his recent success with roles on the top line and No. 1 power-play unit for the depleted Bruins lineup. While Andersen has been stout in Carolina's net this season, the Hurricanes have scuffled a bit coming out of the break, allowing four goals in each of their two games this week.
Mikael Backlund, CGY vs. TOR ($3,400): Backlund's an appealing value option at center given his modest $3,400 valuation and recent success. He's coming off a four-point effort, and while his overall output is suppressed by a slow start, Backlund has a 3-4-7 line in his last seven games.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Blues vs. Devils
Robert Thomas (C - $4,200), Vladimir Tarasenko (W - $7,000), Jordan Kyrou (W - $5,900)
New Jersey's recent struggles have already been documented, and the Devils are allowing 3.49 goals per game overall. This is nominally St. Louis' second line but it has been the team's most effective offensively. Kyrou leads the team in both goals (17) and points (42) over 40 games, while Tarasenko's 15-25-40 line has him second in points and tied for second in goals, plus the Russian sniper leads the team with 129 shots. Thomas is the setup man on this line, as he leads the team with 27 assists in 37 games and has added five goals.
Maple Leafs at Flames
Auston Matthews (C - $9,700), Mitch Marner (W - $6,900), Michael Bunting (W - $4,300)
Matthews and Marner are two of the hottest players in hockey, and a Flames team that's finishing up a back-to-back set will be hard-pressed to cool them down. League shutout leader Jacob Markstrom started Wednesday, leaving backup Daniel Vladar to face Toronto's fearsome top line. Matthews is riding a five-game multi-point streak, which has included a 6-6-12 line and 25 shots on goal. Marner's on an even more impressive streak, having managed to light the lamp in each of his last eight contests en route to a 10-9-19 line over that stretch. Bunting has naturally benefited from skating alongside these two stars recently and has a 4-1-5 line in his last four games.
Capitals at Canadiens
Nicklas Backstrom (C - $4,700), Tom Wilson (W - $4,400), Connor McMichael (W - $2,500)
Washington's top line will be missing Alex Ovechkin, who's unable to travel to Canada due to a recent positive COVID-19 test, but the second line should dominate a Montreal team that's allowing a league-high 3.98 goals per game. Backstrom's season got off to a late start, but he has 13 points in 15 games and is a nice value play at $4,700. Wilson's an even better bargain at $4,400, as the All-Star winger's 14-18-32 line in 44 games includes five goals and three assists in the past 11 contests. McMichael has a modest 6-8-14 line, but he'll have more opportunities to put his offensive capabilities on display in a top-six role and comes with some pedigree as a first-round pick in 2019.
DEFENSEMEN
John Carlson, WAS at MON ($6,500): This could turn into a lopsided affair, and Carlson's most likely to be on the ice for Washington's success since he leads the team with 23:44 of TOI per game. Carlson plays an active role on offense during that extensive ice time, as evidenced by his 35 points in 44 games. Even without Ovechkin, Carlson should be worth paying up for here.
Devon Toews, COL vs. TB ($5,200): Colorado hasn't played in nine games and this is a statement game for the team against the two-time defending champs, so the Avalanche will likely bestow plenty of playing time on the team's best players. Toews is one such player, as he has an 8-24-32 line and is also capable of providing fantasy value without scoring, as evidenced by his eight shots on goal and four blocked shots in the last two games.
Rasmus Dahlin, BUF vs. CLS ($4,700): The Blue Jackets allow the most fantasy points in the league to defensemen, and Dahlin should capitalize on that weakness. His 28 points are just two back of Tage Thompson's team lead, and the 2018 first-overall pick has five points in his last five games.
Damon Severson, NJ at STL ($4,500): Severson hasn't let New Jersey's recent struggles slow him down, as he's thriving as the team's top offensive defenseman in Hamilton's absence. He's producing at a point-per-game pace in his last 15 and has converted his role on the top power-play unit into six man-advantage points in the past nine games. Severson will be especially appealing if the struggling Binnington (3.27 GAA, .901 save percentage) gets the nod in St. Louis' net.
