This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
The NHL will have 22 of its 30 teams in action Thursday night after just one game Wednesday. A quick perusal of the odds board finds Vegas expecting eight of the 11 games to be rather close, with just three heavy favorites. If you believe in eating chalk, you'll want to have heavy stock in players from the Blue Jackets, Penguins and Capitals. They're overwhelming favorites, and rarely can you go wrong taking players from those squads. However, there are plenty of other solid options, and at much better prices, too.
Let's get started.
GOALIE
Braden Holtby, WAS vs. DET ($8,500): The Capitals are the heaviest favorites on the board, so their netminder is a great DFS play; after all, if you're going to win, you need a top-notch backstop. Moreover, the Wings have won just once in their past six meetings with the Capitals and are 1-7 in their past eight trips to D.C. The home team is also 12-5 in the past 17 meetings, so all trends point to a Washington victory. Holtby has been untouchable at home, going 17-5-1 with a 1.67 GAA and sparkling .935 save percentage.
CENTER
Evgeny Kuznetsov, WAS vs. DET ($5,600): There's not much to dislike about Kuznetsov, who lit the lamp last time out against the Hurricanes. He started out rather slowly this season with just nine points across his first 23 games, but the young Russian's made up for lost time lately, posting seven goals and 13 points over his past 10 games. Three of those points have come on the man advantage, and that's an area in which the Red Wings are in the middle of the pack. At this price, Kuznetsov is a major bargain, as he possesses the talent to rip off a multi-point game on any given night.
Tomas Plekanec, MON at ARI ($4,400): Plekanec is a nice contrarian play, as he's gone scoreless in all four of his games in February and 10 of his past 12 outings. If there was ever a time to snap that streak, it's against a Coyotes squad that ranks 29th in goal differential. The Coyotes have allowed 3.1 goals per game over their past 11 outings, so the pivot has a chance to get on track.
WING
Patrick Marleau, SJ at BOS ($5,400): Marleau is working on a seven-game point streak, kicked off by a four-goal effort Jan. 23 in Denver. He has seven goals and 11 points during that run, yet he comes with a very attractive price tag. The Bruins are dead last in high-danger save percentage (.822), and that's not good against a high-flying Sharks offense that's averaged 3.28 goals per game over its past 11 outings.
J.T. Miller, NYR vs. NAS ($5,200): Miller has picked up a pair of assists in three straight games, and he has 20 points and a plus-11 rating over his past 16 outings. The Predators rank 22nd in the league in high-danger save percentage, so there's plenty of opportunity for Miller to continue his impressive streak. At this price, Miller is a very nice value, as he has just two scoreless outings over that 16-game stretch, which dates back to Dec. 27.
Mark Stone, OTT vs. DAL ($5,600): The Stars have struggled mightily in the crease lately, allowing three or more goals in 11 consecutive outings (3.91 goals per game). That's great news for Stone and his Senators teammates. He has been quite the underrated player, as Stone is on target for a 60-point season, yet he comes with a highly favorable price tag. Sure, Stone has gone scoreless over his past two outings, but he hasn't gone more than three games without a point since a six-game drought from Oct. 28-Nov. 9.
DEFENSE
Colton Parayko, STL at TOR ($4,900): Parayko started off rather slowly, but he's been making up for lost time lately. The second-year blueliner has a goal with five points and a plus-5 rating over his past four games, kicked off by a huge outing against the Maple Leafs on Feb. 2 in which he rolled up 8.5 fantasy points. DFS players hope it's Groundhog Day for Parayko with another big performance against the defensively challenged Leafs.
Shea Weber, MON at ARI ($6,100): Weber checks in ninth in the league with 116 blocked shots over 55 games. For DFS purposes, that's like starting every game with one fantasy point in the bag. He also has an impressive plus-16 rating with 12 goals and 31 points. Indeed, Weber is the full package among shot-block specialists. Known for his hard slapper from the point, he enters this game with a five-game point drought, so his ownership percentage in GPPs won't be as high as usual. Weber is due for a breakout, and it could come against a Coyotes team with a minus-45 goal differential, second-worst in the NHL.
