This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
There are 12 games on Thursday's NHL schedule, which makes it fairly easy to differentiate your selections in tournaments. Here are a handful of options across a number of price points to consider while assembling your DraftKings lineups.
GOALIE
Frederik Andersen, TOR at BUF ($7,200): This is a bargain salary for a goalie in excellent form. Andersen has a .944 save percentage over his past three starts, and while overvaluing hot and cold streaks isn't always an advisable strategy, this is also an excellent matchup. Buffalo's 17.76 scoring chances per 60 minutes are the fourth fewest in the league, and the Sabres have scored just 2.44 goals per game.
CENTER
Logan Couture, SAN vs. CGY ($6,400): With 17 shots over his past four games and 23 since his last goal, Couture's generating plenty of opportunities. He also entered the season with a career 11.6 shooting percentage, so his current 6.5 mark is eyeing positive regression. Additionally, Calgary has allowed the fifth-most goals this season (3.55 per game) and the second-most on the road last year (3.24).
Ryan Johansen, NAS at ARI ($5,500): Now centering a potent top line with Filip Forsberg and James Neal, Johansen's salary doesn't matchup his tremendous upside in a cushy matchup. Arizona has allowed a league-high 3.89 goals per game, and the Coyotes' 26.95 scoring chances allowed per 60 minutes are the second-highest mark in the league.
WING
Jaden Schwartz, STL vs. DAL ($5,700): Over the prior two seasons, Schwartz posted a 26th-ranked 2.11 points per 60 minutes at five-on-five among skaters with at least 1,000 minutes. This season has been a different tale, though – since returning from injury, he has just two points through six games despite averaging 19:35 per night with 3:46 of power-play time. However, Dallas has allowed 3.22 goals per game to start the year and the ninth-most scoring chances per 60 minutes (22.47), so look for Schwartz to kick his offensive funk Thursday.
Anthony Duclair, ARI vs. NAS ($4,000): Through his past three games, Duclair has eight shots on net while averaging 2:04 of power-play time per night. After netting 20 goals and 24 assists during his rookie year, Duclair's slow start -- one point -- to 2016-17 is surprising. He's still receiving top-six minutes with 57.9 percent of his shifts starting in the offensive zone, so look for his uptick in shot volume to translate into production Thursday.
Shane Prince, NYI vs. PHI ($3,100): The Flyers enter on the wrong end of back-to-back games, and Prince is projected to skate with John Tavares on the top line. Although the sample size is extremely limited, Prince and Tavares have combined for 2.77 goals for per 60 minutes at five-on-five dating back to last season. Even more encouraging, Philadelphia has the league's second-worst defense in the early going, as the Flyers are giving up an average of 3.73 goals per game.
DEFENSE
Ryan McDonagh, NYR vs. EDM ($5,500): Now the top offensive defenseman for the Rangers, McDonagh is averaging 24:15 per night with 3:51 of power-play time. He's turned his extended role into nine assists and 22 shots through his past 10 games. New York is also the highest-scoring team in the league right now at 4.0 goals per game, which keeps McDonagh's fantasy floor high. His salary hasn't caught up to his production yet.
Dion Phaneuf, OTT vs. VAN ($3,800): A speculative flier on Phaneuf could pay off Thursday. The Canucks enter on the wrong end of back-to-back road games and have lost each of their past six contests, giving up 20 goals during the span. Through nine games, Phaneuf has 24 shots and 22 blocked shots, highlighting a reliable fantasy floor that he's capable of building some offense onto.
