This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
Tuesday's NHL slate features eight games 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
Two heavy favorites stand out as teams to build around Tuesday, with the Wild hosting an Arizona team that's finishing a back-to-back set, and the Bruins home against the Red Wings. The only game with an over/under of more than 5.5 goals is Capitals-Panthers (6.0), which is a clash between two of the top four teams in the league standings. While the three aforementioned matchups will provide some of the main lineup building blocks, there's no shortage of value to be found outside of those games.
GOALIES
Cam Talbot, MIN vs. ARI ($8,500): Arizona's impotent offense ranks last at just 1.82 goals per game, and the Coyotes will be further hindered by tired legs, as they won 1-0 Monday in Winnipeg despite being out-shot 46-15. Talbot and the Wild should benefit from better puck luck than the Jets did. If you need another reason to lock in Talbot, his recent play provides it, as he's stopped 98 of 103 shots for a .951 save percentage during his current three-game winning streak.
Linus Ullmark, BOS vs. DET ($8,200): Ullmark was a bit shaky to begin his Bruins tenure but has righted the ship recently, stopping 65 of 69 shots (.942 save percentage) en route to wins in each of his last two starts. He should stay hot against a visiting Detroit team that's 1-6-1 in its last eight road games.
James Reimer, SJ at NJ ($7,400): Reimer shut out Chicago in his last start to improve to 7-4-1 with a 2.06 GAA and .933 save percentage. The veteran netminder can still be had for just $7,400 despite his excellent start to the season, making him a nice value pick against a Devils team that's won only two of its last seven games.
Jonathan Quick, LA vs. ANH ($7,900): The Ducks have crashed back down to earth after a surprising hot streak, mustering just 10 goals while going 1-4-0 in their last five games. Whether it's Quick or Cal Petersen ($7,900) in net for this rivalry game, Los Angeles' goalie will be at home against a sputtering offense. Quick has much better ratios between the two, with a 2.25 GAA and .928 save percentage.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Andreas Johnsson, NJ vs. FLA ($3,700): Johnsson's valuation will likely climb substantially before long given his recent output, so grab him at just $3,700 while you still can. He has a 3-3-6 line in the last two games alone, as well as a 9-8-17 line in 19 games overall, so the former 20-goal scorer could push for 30-plus this year.
Kevin Fiala, MIN vs. ARI ($6,000): If you're stacking the Wild against Arizona, don't forget Minnesota's hottest forward. Fiala has seven points in his last seven games, and he's also put at least four pucks on net five times in that stretch. The career 10.5 percent shooter is converting at just 4.3 percent, so Fiala's still due for some positive regression, and his productivity of late suggests a goal-scoring outburst could be in its way.
Tom Wilson, WAS at FLA ($5,500): Wilson brings an underrated level of skill to the table alongside his trademark physicality, and he's in the midst of his best season yet. The power forward has a 3-5-8 line over his active four-game point streak and is now at a point-per-game pace through 22. Lock him in with confidence at just $5,500. Wilson's teammate Alexei Protas ($3,200) is also an intriguing value option as long as Protas is being deployed on the top line.
Roope Hintz, DAL vs. CAR ($5,800): Hintz is an against-the-grain play here considering Carolina has been the league's stingiest opponent against centers, but he's so hot that the matchup may not matter, especially since Carolina's defense corps isn't at full strength. Dallas' top-line pivot has been held without a point only once in his last nine games, potting seven goals to go with four helpers over that stretch, as Hintz's slow start is now a distant memory.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Bruins vs. Red Wings
Patrice Bergeron (C - $8,400), David Pastrnak (W - $8,800), Taylor Hall (W - $4,200)
There's not much to deliberate as far as which players to lock in if you're building around Boston. With Brad Marchand suspended for the latest in a long line of dirty and dangerous plays, Hall moves up to the top line, where he's an excellent value at $4,200 alongside two elite linemates. Both Bergeron (8-10-18) and Pastrnak (7-11-18) are playing at a point-per-game pace through 18 heading into this matchup with a Red Wings team that's surrendering 3.23 goals per game.
Wild vs. Coyotes
Ryan Hartman (C - $5,600), Kirill Kaprizov (W - $7,400), Rem Pitlick (W - $2,700)
Deciding which players to choose from the deep and well-rounded Wild can be difficult, but when in doubt, go with Kaprizov's line. The talented Russian is by far the top scorer on the team, as his 23 points are seven clear of second-place teammates Hartman and Mats Zuccarello. Of Hartman's 16 points in 21 games, a team-leading 12 are goals. If Zuccarello (hand) remains out, the affordable Pitlick — who has a 4-5-9 line in 12 games — should continue to fill in. The Coyotes have tightened it up of late, but they're still allowing 3.41 goals per game — most among teams in action Tuesday.
Predators vs. Blue Jackets
Mikael Granlund (C - $5,000), Filip Forsberg (W - $6,700), Matt Duchene (W - $5,800)
Nashville's top line has shown excellent chemistry, especially lately. Granlund has 21 points in as many games, including 11 in the past nine. Forsberg has hit the ground running since returning from a nine-game absence, posting a 2-2-4 line over a three-game point streak. Duchene leads the team in both goals and points with a 13-9-22 line. The Blue Jackets have exceeded their low preseason expectations thus far, but they have struggled defensively on the road, allowing at least three goals in all eight away games this season.
DEFENSEMEN
John Carlson, WAS at FLA ($6,500): Carlson should be worth his hefty valuation given his recent output. He has multiple points in five of the past seven games, and Carlson's recent hot streak has propelled him into the league lead in points among defensemen, with 22 in as many games. That's familiar territory for Carlson, who led all blueliners with 75 points in 69 games in 2019-20.
MacKenzie Weegar, FLA vs. WAS ($4,700): Weegar is productive at both ends, and his two-way contributions should pile up in what's expected to be a fast-paced affair against Washington. He's on pace to top 40 points with 11 through 21 games, and the top-pairing blueliner has been held off the scoresheet only once in his last six games. In his own end, Weegar has eight blocks in his last two games and multiple blocks in each of the past five.
Mikhail Sergachev, TB at STL ($4,000): Sergachev has five points in his last five games and 11 in 18 overall. As a 23-year-old blueliner who has previously reached the 40-point mark, Sergachev's likely to sustain the scoring pace he's established so far this season, and he's worth locking in at his modest valuation while he's hot.
Brady Skjei, CAR at DAL ($3,200): Skjei will likely be asked to munch major minutes here, as the Hurricanes will be without three regular blueliners due to COVID-19 protocols. With Tony DeAngelo, Brett Pesce and Ethan Bear all out of the lineup, the affordable Skjei will be a low-risk, high-reward option, and his increased ice time will likely include a larger role on the power play.
