This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
There are seven games in the NHL on Thursday, and the Lightning, Maple Leafs, Oilers and Canucks are all playing the second leg of a back-to-back set. There are also two marquee matchups with Boston hosting Tampa Bay in a battle of the best two teams in the Eastern Conference, and John Tavares returns to Nassau Coliseum for the first time since leaving the Islanders last summer.
GOALIE
Anton Khudobin, DAL at LA ($7,700): Not only have the Kings dropped nine consecutive games, they've scored juist 2.01 goals and generated only 8.8 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at five-on-five this season. Khudobin has also been solid this season with a .923 save percentage, including a .925 mark through nine February starts.
CENTER
Connor McDavid, EDM at OTT ($7,900): No. 97 returned from a two-game suspension and recorded a power-play assist against Toronto on Wednesday. McDavid has been as good as ever over the past few months with 19 goals, 32 assists and 3.96 points per 60 minutes through 33 games since Dec. 1, and the matchup with Ottawa should prove to be a softy. The Sens have surrendered 3.44 goals per hour during the same timeframe and unloaded key pieces at the trade deadline.
Pierre-Luc Dubois, CLS vs. PHI ($5,600): This is a reasonable price for Dubois. He's projected to skate with Artemi Panarin and Cam Atkinson again at even strength, and the trio has connected for 5.13 goals per 60 minutes this season. Philadelphia has also been involved in a lot of high-scoring games and has allowed 15 goals through its past four contests.
WING
Max Pacioretty, VGK vs. FLA ($5,400): The winger flourished -- two goals and eight shots -- in his first game skating alongside Mark Stone, and there's no reason to think Vegas' No. 2 line with Paul Stastny, Pacioretty and Stone can't continue to do damage Thursday. The Panthers are playing their third road game in four nights, after all. It's also easy to build around Pacioretty at this price.
Andreas Johnsson, TOR at NYI ($4,700): This is a daunting matchup with the Islanders allowing the fewest goals per 60 minutes (2.2) and sporting the second best team save percentage (.923) on home ice this season.Still, Johnsson is posting huge numbers alongside Auston Matthews. The winger's collected nine tallies, five helpers and 24 shots through his past 11 outings while combining with No. 34 for 5.32 goals and 15.42 high-danger scoring chances per hour.
Clayton Keller, ARI vs. VAN ($4,300): Vancouver is playing its second road game in consecutive nights after losing 3-2 to Colorado in a shootout Wednesday. This projects as a favorable spot for Arizona, Keller's top offensive role offers plenty of upside for the cost. He's also in solid form with a point in two straight outings and nine shots through his past three contests.
DEFENSE
John Klingberg, DAL at LA ($5,300): Los Angeles has lost nine straight games with 16 goals allowed through their past three contests, and Dallas leapfrogs into a playoff spot with a win. Klingberg has underwhelmed of late with three assists, 17 shots and 11 blocks through his past eight outings. Still, he's logged big minutes during the stretch (23:13 with 2:44 on the power play), and his salary reflects his dip in production.
Shea Theodore, VGK vs. FLA ($4,600): As noted, this should prove to be a good matchup for Theodore and the Golden Knights. The power-play quarterback has positive regression ahead with the man advantage, as he's failed to register a point with the extra man through his past 11 contests despite averaging 2:01 of power-play time per game. The blueliner also offers a respectable fantasy floor through his peripheral contributions (32 shots and 21 blocks over 12 February games).
