This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
The NHL begins a three-day break for the holidays Saturday, so there are 12 games on the docket Friday. Here are a handful of players across multiple price points to consider while assembling your DraftKings lineups.
GOALIE
Braden Holtby, WAS vs. TAM ($7,900): The Lightning are 7-8-2 with a mediocre 2.62 goals per 60 minutes through 16 games without Steven Stamkos (knee). The wins haven't been as plentiful for Holtby this year, but his ratios (2.20 GAA and .922 save percentage) are actually better than last year's marks (2.20 and .922). Additionally, Tampa Bay is also on the wrong end of back-to-back games, and Washington has allowed just 1.94 goals per home game.
CENTER
Auston Matthews, TOR at ARI ($7,700): With 10 goals and 12 points through his past 13 games, Matthews is a strong option for his homecoming night. However, it's really his shot volume and matchup that are most appealing. Arizona is allowing the most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes in the league (13.8), and Matthews has the second-highest shots per 60 minutes (12.48) among all skaters with at least 500 minutes this season.
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS vs. TAM ($5,700): The 24-year-old pivot has posted an uptick in offense and shot volume of late with eight assists and 18 shots over his past eight outings. The Capitals grab Tampa Bay on the second leg of back-to-back games, and Kuznetsov's salary presents nice value. Plus, even with Kuznetsov's slow start to 2016-17, he still owns the 12th-ranks points per 60 minutes mark (2.87) among all skaters with at least 1,500 minutes dating back to last season.
WING
Artemi Panarin, CHI vs. COL ($7,200): Among skaters with 2,000 minutes over the past two seasons, Panarin's 3.12 points per 60 minutes rank fourth in the league. He's also scorching hot of late with five goals, 12 points, five power-play points and 12 shots through his past six games. Plus, it should prove to be a soft matchup with Colorado entering on the wrong end of back-to-back games and coughing up six goals in a shutout loss to Toronto on Thursday.
Anders Lee, NYI vs. BUF ($4,600): The winger isn't going to maintain the 31.4 shooting percentage he's posted over his past 14 games, but there's plenty of room for negative regression before Lee's production and salary align. He's settled in nicely with John Tavares and has recorded 11 goals, 14 points and 35 shots during the 14-game span. Buffalo is also on the wrong end of back-to-back games, which should tilt the ice in the Islanders' favor.
Andre Burakovsky, WAS vs. TAM ($4,500): After sitting in the press box for three consecutive games, Burakovsky responded with a goal, an assist and five shots on net during Wednesday's shootout loss to the Lightning. It isn't a predictor of what's ahead, but Burakovsky has been a streaky scorer in the past, and he grabs Tampa Bay on the wrong end of back-to-back games.
DEFENSE
Duncan Keith, CHI vs. COL ($5,400): The Avalanche allowed six goals to Toronto on Thursday and travel to face the best club in the Western Conference on Friday. Chicago is 13-3-3 at home, and Keith's 1.57 points per 60 minutes rank seventh among all defenseman with at least 6,000 minutes over the past four seasons. He's also posted a goal, six points, 11 shots and five blocked shots while averaging 25:47 (3:05 on the power play) over his past six games.
Jake Gardiner, TOR at ARI ($4,600): It's been an excellent offensive stretch for Gardiner with two goals, seven points and 20 shots over the past seven games, and his minutes are also up (22:28, with 3:41 on the power play). As noted, Arizona allows the most high-danger scoring chances in the league, and Gardiner presents nice value at his mid-range salary.
