This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
There are seven NHL games taking place Tuesday. Here's some player recommendations to help you build a winning lineup...
SLATE PREVIEW
There would have been a couple more teams on a back-to-back Tuesday, but instead their games got postponed. So now, the Lightning and the Blue Jackets have had a chance to rest up. The only team on a back-to-back is Colorado, who was at home Monday but is in Nashville on Tuesday. There are some high-scoring teams playing – the Avalanche included – which could benefit DFS players. We lost the Hurricanes-Flyers game late, which put a crimp in my DFS plans. However, there are still some good options out there.
GOALIES
Andrei Vasilevskiy, TAM at BUF ($8,500): Vasilevskiy is a guy with a career 2.48 GAA and .920 save percentage. He's truly elite, and he's not slowing down. This year, he has a 2.23 GAA and .923 save percentage. Buffalo, meanwhile, has only managed 2.62 goals and 29.6 shots on net per contest.
Elvis Merzlikins, CLM vs. CHI ($7,900): This is the gamble play if you want to save salary. One, Merzlikins has to be healthy enough to play. Two, you have to hope he looks more like the goalie who came into the season with a career .920 save percentage, not the guy with a .907 save percentage this season. The Blackhawks have managed a mere 2.29 goals and 28.1 shots on net per contest. This is a good matchup, and Merzlikins would be at home. If he pays off, it can work out big time.
VALUE PLAYS
Ondrej Palat, TAM at BUF ($4,900): Palat is back in business, baby! By that I mean Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov are healthy, and Tampa's top line is reunited. Oh, and Palat has 11 points in his last eight games as well. The Sabres have allowed 34.1 shots on net per contest, and rookie goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen could be slipping. He's allowed at least three goals in each of his last three starts.
Boone Jenner, CLM vs. CHI ($5,500): Jenner centers Columbus' top line, where he now has Patrik Laine and Gustav Nyquist healthy and on his wings. He's also averaged 3:01 per game with the extra man. The Blackhawks have a 3.40 GAA, and Marc-Andre Fleury has struggled a bit recently. Since the start of December he has a 2.92 GAA and .903 save percentage in nine starts.
LINE STACKS TO CONSIDER
Sharks vs. Red Wings: Tomas Hertl (C - $6,700), Timo Meier (W - $8,200), Alexander Barabanov (W - $3,800)
I've been recommending the top line for the Sharks as a stack a fair amount recently, but it's been paying off. This line is hot, and also they've had some good matchups. Speaking of good matchups, the Red Wings have a 3.36 GAA and have given up 33.2 shots on net per contest. Alex Nedeljkovic has been struggling recently as well, with a 3.33 GAA and .901 save percentage over his last nine games.
Hertl just notched a hat trick, giving him 20 goals in 36 games. In fact, he has 12 goals over his last 12 outings. Meier has 38 points in 31 contests, and he's also put 130 shots on net. On top of that, he has 20 points in his last 16 games. Barabanov isn't the biggest name, but he's not a hanger on either. He has 20 points in 31 games, including five in his last six.
DEFENSE
Roman Josi, NAS vs. COL ($7,500): Hey, the Avalanche are on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back. There's an opportunity to be had here. Besides, Josi is totally awesome. He has 34 points in 34 games, including 17 with the extra man. Now he has a chance to face a penalty kill that could have tired legs? Even with his lofty salary, I'm happy to spend the cash on Josi.
Mario Ferraro, SAN vs. DET ($3,900): Since I recommended Josi, I wanted to go with a couple of defensemen that could save some salary. Enter Ferraro. He pairs with Brent Burns as San Jose's top defensive duo. That means he's averaged 24:06 in ice time. He also has 11 points in 33 games after he had 17 in 56 games last year. Even if he doesn't contribute on the offensive end, Ferraro has already blocked 98 shots.
