This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Tuesday's NHL slate begins at 7:00 p.m. EST and features eight games. Below, you'll find suggested options for crafting an effective lineup.
SLATE PREVIEW
The Canadiens are this slate's biggest favorites at home against Ottawa, even though Montreal's in a funk while the Senators have won four of five. The Blue Jackets (vs. Detroit), Rangers (vs. Buffalo) and Lightning (at Dallas) are all substantial favorites as well. Ottawa-Montreal is also tied for the night's highest over/under at 6.5 goals, along with Flyers-Penguins and Canucks-Jets, while the other five games are all at 5.5.
GOALIES
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TB at DAL ($8,300): Vasilevskiy has been on a roll all season (12-3-1, 1.75 GAA and .938 save percentage) but especially so recently, having shut out the Hurricanes and Stars in his last two starts while holding six of his last nine opponents to no more than one goal. His dominance should continue in this rematch with a Stars club that's won only once in its last nine games.
Semyon Varlamov, NYI at NJ ($7,900): Varlamov's thriving behind the stout New York defense, with a 9-4-3 record, 2.17 GAA and .924 save percentage. That success should continue against a Devils team that started surprisingly fast but is starting to look like the bottom-feeder we expected, going 1-5-0 in its last six games.
Igor Shesterkin, NYR vs. BUF ($7,900): Shesterkin has been victimized by some bad luck and poor goal support, but he has a solid .926 save percentage in his last five starts despite winning only once in that stretch. The Russian rookie has a nice opportunity to get back into the win column at home against a struggling Sabres team that was outscored 6-0 by the Flyers in a pair of games over the weekend.
Jonathan Bernier, DET at CLS ($7,000): If you're looking to go cheap in net, Bernier's well positioned to provide strong bang for the buck at just $7,000. He has been phenomenal over his last four starts, winning three and stopping 139 of 147 shots in that stretch (.946 save percentage). A similar performance is certainly achievable against a Columbus team that's winless in its last five games and has scored only two goals over the last three.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Drake Batherson, OTT at MON ($4,300): Batherson has a six-game goal streak going, having managed a 7-3-10 line over that stretch. That production includes a pair of multi-point performances against the reeling Canadiens, whom the streaking winger will face in this one.
Alexis Lafreniere, NYR vs. BUF ($3,400): Lafreniere's starting to get comfortable with the pace of the NHL game, as the rookie first overall pick has picked up a point in three of his last four games after scoring only one point in his first 15. That lone earlier point was an overtime winner in Buffalo, and his confidence should continue to grow in this rematch with the Sabres, who remain without starting goalie Linus Ullmark (lower body).
Josh Bailey, NYI at NJ ($3,300): Bailey's another winger who has played his best hockey of the season lately, producing eight points in his last eight games, including a 1-2-3 line in the last two. The opportunities to build on that recent success should be there against a Devils team that has allowed at least three goals in 10 of its last 12 games.
Anthony Cirelli, TB at DAL ($4,300): Cirelli wasted no time in his return from an upper-body injury, picking up a shorthanded goal and an assist in Saturday's 5-0 win over the Stars to bring his season line to 5-7-12 through 13 games. Expect a similarly effective effort from Tampa Bay's versatile second-line center in this rematch with Dallas.
Sidney Crosby, PIT vs. PHI ($6,700): Crosby's 7-11-18 line through 20 games includes point-per-game production over the last 10, as he remains one of the league's most productive centers. He should be among the night's standout performers in what's expected to be a high-scoring battle with the Flyers, especially since Crosby lit the lamp in both prior meetings between these teams this season.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Jets vs. Canucks
Mark Scheifele (C - $7,900), Blake Wheeler (W - $6,300), Pierre-Luc Dubois (W - $4,900)
Winnipeg was shut out Monday despite holding a 27-19 edge in shots, but this rematch with a Canucks team that's surrendering 3.40 goals per game is likely to go better. Scheifele leads the team with an 11-17-28 line, Wheeler has added a 6-14-20 line over 21 games, and Dubois has turned things up offensively since moving to the wing, with a 3-2-5 line in his last four games.
Canadiens vs. Senators
Nick Suzuki (C - $4,900), Tyler Toffoli (W - $7,100), Jonathan Drouin (W - $4,300)
Montreal's still searching for its first win under new coach Dominique Ducharme, but this visit from a Senators team that's allowing 3.83 goals per game — and has only 17 points in 24 games — offers a great opportunity to mark that milestone. This line has been Montreal's best throughout the season, as it features the team's three highest-scoring forwards. Toffoli leads the team in goals (12) and is one point behind defenseman Jeff Petry's team-high 18. Suzuki (5-9-14) and Drouin (2-11-13) are Montreal's next two highest point-producers, and both are bargains against the defensively challenged Senators.
Blue Jackets vs. Red Wings
Jack Roslovic, (C - $5,400), Cam Atkinson (W - $6,900), Patrik Laine (W - $6,700)
Columbus' top line should thrive against the Red Wings, who are just 7-14-3 and getting outscored 3.25 to 2.13 on average. Atkinson leads the Blue Jackets in both goals (nine) and points (17) through 23 games, including a 7-5-12 line in the last 10 games. Roslovic and Laine both came over in the early-season blockbuster with Winnipeg, and they have contributed 4-9-13 and 8-5-13 lines in 16 and 14 games, respectively.
DEFENSEMEN
Jeff Petry, MON vs. OTT ($6,400): Petry leads Montreal in scoring with a 6-12-18 line, and he's showing no signs of slowing down, with three assists and 14 shots in his last four contests. While Ottawa has been better of late, Petry still has as much offensive potential as any blueliner in this slate.
Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI at PIT ($5,200): After recording only one assist through his first nine appearances this season, Gostisbehere has caught fire over the last three, posting a 2-1-3 line and 13 shots. With separate seasons of 17 goals and 65 points under his belt, the 27-year-old blueliner has the skills to keep this hot streak going for a while if his confidence is back, especially against a Penguins team that's surrendering 3.25 goals per game.
Jake Bean, CAR at NAS ($2,900): Bean has demonstrated superb offensive ability at every level, and he's doing so in the NHL as well, with seven points in his last nine games. It won't be long until Bean's price skyrocketed considering his recent production, so lock him in under $3,000 while you still can. Teammate Brett Pesce ($4,300) has also been hot, producing a 2-2-4 line in his last three games.
Nate Schmidt, VAN at WPG ($3,900): Schmidt got the scoring started and added an assist in Monday's win at Winnipeg, giving him a 2-2-4 line in his last six games. Coming off three consecutive seasons with 30-plus points for Vegas, Schmidt should start to pick up the pace as he grows more comfortable with the Canucks.
