This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
After a week-long break, the NHL resumes play Tuesday with a three-game slate at 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 are games on the schedule again, but COVID-19 continues to ravage the league, causing a number of significant absences among the teams in Tuesday's slate. It's highly advisable to check your lineup before puck drop to ensure no further absences or cancellations occur. The Lightning would normally be overwhelmingly favored at home against Montreal, but Tampa Bay will be without its top two goalies, among others. The other two games are west coast clashes consisting of Golden Knights-Kings and Coyotes-Sharks matchups. Vegas was playing some of its best hockey before the pause, and Arizona has been a popular punching bag to stack against all season.
GOALIES
Amir Miftakhov, TB vs. MON ($6,500): With both Andrei Vasilevskiy and Brian Elliott in COVID-19 protocols, the Lightning are expected to start one of Miftakhov, Max Lagace or Hugo Alnefelt in net. All three are available for just $6,500, which is a massive bargain considering the Canadiens may not be a significant step up from their AHL competition, as Montreal's 2.13 goals per game are second-fewest in the league. Miftakhov's .907 save percentage in the AHL this year towers above Alnefelt's .864 mark and Lagace's .861 save percentage, though Lagace is the only one of the three with NHL experience, having made 18 previous appearances at the top level. Make sure to check back before puck drop to see which of the three gets the nod.
James Reimer, SJ vs. ARI ($8,000): Reimer's the top available goalie in this slate, as he sports a tidy 9-5-1 record, 1.99 GAA and .936 save percentage. If you don't want to risk the downside of Tampa Bay's inexperienced options in net, paying up for Reimer should get you peace of mind against the league-worst Arizona offense, which is potting just 1.93 goals per game.
Jonathan Quick, LA vs. VGK ($7,600): Quick will have some against-the-grain appeal if he gets the nod on home ice against the Golden Knights. Vegas could be without quite a few prominent pieces – both Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone will be game-time decisions and Alex Pietrangelo is in COVID-19 protocols – while Quick has shown a high ceiling of late. Prior to the pause, Quick went 4-1-1 in his last six outings while allowing no more than one goal in any of the wins.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Clayton Keller, ARI at SJ ($4,800): Keller was playing his best hockey of the season before the break, with a 3-2-5 line and 15 shots in his last two games. At just $4,800, it's worth seeing whether he's able to maintain that recent form against a Sharks team that has been outscored 14-7 en route to a 1-3-0 record in its last four games.
Chandler Stephenson, VGK at LA ($5,800): Stephenson has proven he can be effective even without Pacioretty or Stone by his side, so he's a solid play at $5,800, regardless of whether the wingers are able to play through their respective undisclosed injuries. The center's enjoying a breakout season with a 9-22-31 line through 31 games, including nine points in his last six games.
Laurent Dauphin, MON at TB ($2,500): There's not much to like from a fantasy perspective among Montreal's depleted forward corps, but Dauphin would be a great value play if he's able to clear COVID-19 protocols in time to suit up in this one, having entered the protocols back on Dec. 19. Prior to entering protocols, the affordable center had put together a three-game point streak, and he'd have a nice opportunity to get right back on the scoresheet if he plays given the uncertainty in Tampa Bay's net.
Blake Lizotte, LA vs. VGK ($2,500): Lizotte's another affordable pivot on a three-game point streak, but unlike Dauphin, he doesn't appear to be in danger of sitting this one out, though you never know these days. His 2-1-3 line over the final three games before the break included a shorthanded goal, making Lizotte an intriguing option at the minimum $2,500 valuation. If you find yourself with plenty of funds to spare at the center spot rather than rummaging through the bargain bin, then feel free to pay up for top-line center Anze Kopitar ($6,800) from the Kings instead.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Lightning vs. Canadiens
Steven Stamkos (C - $8,000), Ondrej Palat (W - $5,400), Taylor Raddysh (W - $2,800)
The Stamkos-Palat combination has managed to stay available despite all the injuries and illness ravaging the Lightning's roster. Stamkos leads the team in goals and points with a 14-21-35 line in 29 games, while Palat has been his right-hand man on the left wing, with a 9-10-19 line that includes five goals and two assists in his last nine games. Whomever the Lightning stick on right wing alongside these guys will be a nice value play, and Raddysh has flashed upside with a 4-4-8 line over his last 10 games.
Sharks vs. Coyotes
Logan Couture (C - $5,600), Timo Meier (W - $7,800), Alexander Barabanov ( W - $3,500)
In addition to struggling offensively, the Coyotes are also allowing a league-high 3.69 goals per game, and San Jose's top line is primed to capitalize on this favorable matchup. Meier is putting together a dominant campaign, with a 12-17-29 line and 111 shots through 25 games, while Couture's 9-16-25 line in 29 contests has him second on the team in points. Barabanov is expected to move up to the top line to fill in for Jonathan Dahlen (COVID-19), and the Russian winger has been quietly effective recently, dishing five helpers in his last six games.
Golden Knights at Kings
William Karlsson (C - $5,000), Jonathan Marchessault (W - $5,600), Reilly Smith (W - $4,700)
While the availability of Vegas' top line is in flux, the line that has come to define the young franchise's early success is good to go. The "misfit line" has been getting strong recent contributions from its wingers – Marchessault has 14 goals in 27 games this season, including three in the past five, while Smith's 10-14-24 line in 32 contests including 10 points in his last 12 games. Karlsson has struggled to a 3-4-7 line in 17 appearances this season, but the former 43-goal scorer is capable of much more.
DEFENSEMEN
Victor Hedman, TB vs. MON ($7,800): Stamkos and Hedman have kept the Lightning playing at a high level despite their rotating supporting cast, and they'll likely be the two best players on the ice in a game that will feature plenty of AHL-caliber fill-ins on both sides. Hedman has a 7-24-31 line in 30 games, putting him in a tie with Adam Fox for the league points lead among defensemen.
Brent Burns, SJ vs. ARI ($6,700): Burns has cleared COVID-19 protocols and should dominate on both ends against the lowly Coyotes. In addition to his 17 points in 30 games, Burns is a nearly unparalleled source of shots and blocks from the blue line. Case in point, he has racked up 10 shots and nine blocks over his last three games, along with two helpers in that stretch.
Shea Theodore, VGK at LA ($5,600): With neither Pietrangelo nor Alec Martinez available, Theodore's the unquestioned main man on the Vegas blue line. He lacks the defensive prowess of those teammates but has tremendous offensive capabilities, and Theodore was just heating up before the break. Two goals and two assists in his last two games have pushed his season line up to 6-16-22 in 29 games.
Alexander Romanov, MON at TB ($2,900): Romanov has flashed plenty of potential in his young career, and the 21-year-old Russian will be leaned on heavily on the depleted Montreal blue line. He has responded well to his recent uptick in usage, notching a goal, an assist, six shots and seven blocks over his last three games.
