Thursday has eight games scheduled, including one at 1:00 p.m. ET, one at 3:00 p.m. ET, four at 7:00 p.m. ET, one at 8:30 p.m. ET and one at 10:00 p.m. ET. However, we will focus on the evening games because the two afternoon matchups aren't available in the full-slate option. All game lines and odds used below come courtesy of the DraftKings Sportsbook.
SLATE PREVIEW
Carolina (vs. Montreal), Dallas (at Chicago) and Toronto (vs. Winnipeg) are the biggest favorites on the Moneyline. The Over/Under for the Red Wings-Penguins is 6.5 goals, while the Canadiens-Hurricanes, Jets-Maple Leafs and Lightning-Kings anticipate 6.0 goals being scored, and the remainder of the contests expect 5.5 goals.
GOALIES
Brandon Bussi, CAR vs. MTL ($8,300): Bussi has been outstanding for the Hurricanes this season, posting a 13-1-1 record with a league-best 2.08 GAA and a superb .912 save percentage. He is 8-0-0 on home ice while stopping 156 of the 169 shots he has faced.
Darcy Kuemper, LAK vs. TBL ($7,600): Kuemper will probably return to the crease after missing six games due to an upper-body injury. Before getting hurt, he had a 2-2-1 record with a 1.54 GAA and a .946 save percentage in six appearances. He has gone 6-5-0 with a 2.58 GAA and a .915 save percentage in 11 previous regular-season starts against Tampa Bay. Kuemper has won four of his last six outings versus the Lightning.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Mikko Rantanen, DAL at CHI ($7,900): Rantanen's six-game point streak ended in Wednesday's 4-1 loss to Buffalo, but he has one goal, 10 assists and 14 shots on net in his last seven outings. He had one goal on eight shots and two assists in Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to Chicago.
Bryan Rust, PIT vs. DET ($7,100): Rust has three goals on eight shots and three assists during his four-game point streak. He has amassed four markers, 27 shots and 12 points in his last 11 appearances versus the Red Wings.
Ivan Demidov, MTL at CAR ($5,200): Demidov has compiled three goals on seven shots and four assists during his four-game point streak. He has three multipoint performances over that span.
Nicholas Robertson, TOR vs. WPG ($3,000): Robertson has generated two goals, three assists and 11 shots on net across his three-game point streak. He has two multipoint efforts and two power-play helpers during that stretch.
FORWARD LINE STACK
Predators at Kraken
Filip Forsberg (W - $6,500), Ryan O'Reilly (C - $5,000), Steven Stamkos (W - $5,000)
Forsberg has reached the scoresheet in 11 of the last 12 games, notching seven goals and 14 points. He has racked up 33 shots on target and five power-play points (one goal, four assists) during that span. O'Reilly compiled three goals on 24 shots and 16 points in 14 games during December. Stamkos has six tallies, 20 shots and 11 points in his past eight outings.
Nashville's top line has plenty of bang for the buck upside for Thursday's slate.
DEFENSEMEN
Noah Dobson, MTL at CAR ($5,600): Dobson has accounted for three goals, six assists, 16 shots on net and 15 blocked shots in his last six appearances. He has two goals and six helpers, including three on the power play, over a four-game point streak.
Josh Morrissey, WPG at TOR ($5,400): Morrissey has contributed one goal, one assist, eight shots and seven blocks in four games going into Thursday night's action. He has six helpers during a three-game point streak against the Maple Leafs.
