This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
There are five games in the NHL on Friday, and with a number of contending teams and high-end stars in the player pool, you'll want to be creative in finding ways to differentiate your selections for tournaments. Here are a handful of options across multiple salary ranges to consider while assembling your DraftKings lineups.
GOALIE
Corey Crawford, CHI at CGY ($8,300): Before allowing four tallies to Winnipeg last time out, Crawford went nine consecutive games without allowing more than two goals; he posted a 7-0-2 record with a .953 save percentage and 1.43 GAA in that span. Calgary is missing top scorer Johnny Gaudreau, and the Blackhawks have been sitting on their loss to the Jets since Tuesday; meanwhile, Crawford's hefty price could drive his ownership down a touch.
CENTER
Alex Galchenyuk, MON at CAR ($7,000): Priced for potential low ownership. Galchenyuk is below the top-tier pivots, but his production is not. He's posted 13 points -- five goals -- and 22 shots through his past 10 games, and has put up 3.0 points per 60 minutes at five-on-five, which ranks ninth among all players with at least 200 minutes played this season.
William Karlsson, CLM vs. NYR ($2,600): It's rare to find a player producing at Karlsson's rate so far down the price list. He's playing a third-line role and owns a solid 2.13 points per 60 minutes at five-on-five. However, his cap relief could prove most beneficial. Opening room to stack the rest of your lineup can be a big help with a smaller slate of games.
WING
Nick Foligno, CLM vs. NYR ($5,000): Among skaters with at least 200 minutes this season, Foligno ranks third in points per 60 minutes (3.92). While his 26.1 shooting percentage is eyeing negative regression, this salary has already baked it in. It's a tough matchup, but Columbus has also rolled off six straight wins at home over a who's who of the league: Chicago, Dallas, Montreal, Anaheim, St. Louis and Washington.
Andrew Ladd, NYI vs. PIT ($4,600): Considering he's currently sporting a career-low 0.19 points per game with 0.65 points per 60 minutes and a 6.9 shooting percentage, the offensive pendulum has to swing in Ladd's favor sooner than later. After all, he posted 1.97 points per 60 and a 14.0 shooting percentage last season, and Ladd has long been one of the most highly respected and consistently productive players in the game.
Sebastian Aho, CAR vs. MON ($3,900): The matchup softens with Al Montoya slated to face Carolina, and the Finn has a cushy salary. Aho has posted a solid 1.84 points per 60 minutes at five-on-five this season, and he's averaging 2.13 shots per game. He's likely to be scarcely owned, too.
DEFENSE
Duncan Keith, CHI at CGY ($5,500): This salary jumps out because Keith has posted a ninth-ranked 1.44 points per 60 minutes among defensemen with at least 4,000 minutes over the past three years. The veteran blueliner is averaging 25:26 of ice time and has 12 assists through 17 games, and he gets a cake matchup with a Calgary squad that has allowed the fourth-most goals per game in the league (3.28).
Dmitry Orlov, WAS vs. DET ($3,900): Playing an extended role of late (19:37 of ice time per night), Orlov has a goal, four points, eight shots on net and six blocked shots through his past four games. Dating back to last season, Orlov owns a 34th-ranked 1.23 points per 60 minutes among defensemen with at least 1,250 minutes.
