This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
GOALIE
Tuukka Rask, BOS vs. NYI ($7,800): Rask has not lost a game in 2019, compiling a 6-0 record with a .938 save percentage and two shutouts, including an impressive 1-0 win against the Caps. The Bruins are finally healthy and while the Islanders are a formidable opponent, they don't score a lot of goals. With 12 games on the slate and a bevy of good goalies, Rask offers a lot of upside at this price.
CENTER
Sidney Crosby, PIT vs. CAR ($7,900): Crosby is worth the premium even among the elite centers because of his matchup. Connor McDavid ($7,800) has to face Jonathan Toews and Nathan MacKinnon ($7,600) has to face Sergei Bobrovsky, so Crosby has the path of least resistance to a potential multi-point night. The last time they met, Crosby tallied three assists, and in 44 career games against them has scored 52 points. No Evgeni Malkin also means more minutes for Crosby yet again.
Dylan Strome, CHI at EDM ($4,900): At even strength Dylan Strome can be hit-or-miss, but his role on the top power-play unit really helps juice his numbers. In 29 games with Chicago, Strome has scored 23 points, seven of which have come with the man advantage. Edmonton enters the game with the league's third-worst penalty kill, and they've been embarrassed plenty of times on home ice this season.
WING
Nikita Kucherov, TB vs. VGK ($7,100): He's the ninth-most expensive winger available despite leading the league in scoring, and you can't pass up that deal. The Knights may be good but they're not nearly as good on the road, and the Lightning have shown that they're in a league of their own this season. There's always a chance Marc-Andre Fleury steals the game, but Kucherov's scored five points in his past five games and performed well against the Knights in the past.
Jonathan Drouin, MON vs. ANA ($5,100): Any time the Ducks roll into town, it's a chance to pad those stats. Drouin and the Habs will try and pick apart what's left of the carcass presented by Randy Carlyle, whose team has a league-worst minus-44 goal differential and will start third-string goalie Chad Johnson. Drouin is coming off a two-point effort against the Oilers with an optimal matchup, making him one of the better value plays tonight.
Ilya Kovalchuk, LA at NJ ($4,700): It's homecoming for Kovalchuk, who spent some of his best years with the Devils. Despite Willie Desjardins' best efforts, Kovalchuk has been scoring lately: three goals in his past six games, two assists against the Rangers and an eight-shot performance against the Islanders. Kovalchuk has 12 points in 14 games against Eastern Conference opponents this season, including nine in six against teams from the Metro Division. Maybe he should've never left the swamp.
DEFENSE
Dustin Byfuglien, WPG vs. SJ ($5,900): Byfuglien skated Monday and he will be a game-time decision tonight, but all signs point toward a return after a month-long absence. He'll get a good chunk of playing time even though Jacob Trouba and Josh Morrissey have been playing well, and as always Byfuglien will be a good source of shots and blocked shots. He could provide more value than Brent Burns ($6,900) or Erik Karlsson ($6,300), who may not play.
Ben Hutton, VAN at WAS ($4,000): Top defenseman Alex Edler was injured last night, which means Hutton's workload basically just doubled. Chris Tanev will be relied on heavily, but he's only good on one side of the puck. That means Hutton, who has seven power-play assists, will likely take Edler's spot on the top unit, feeding Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson for one-timers, and also play more even-strength minutes. The downside is the Canucks are playing the second half of a back-to-back and their chances of winning are slim.
