This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
It's a 10-game slate in the National Hockey League on Thursday night, and it's always great to load up on teams playing against the Avalanche and Coyotes. Those two teams rank 29th and 30th in the NHL in goal differential, and they're not going to be improving anytime soon after selling off key parts at the trade deadline. The Capitals and Sharks are also the heaviest favorites on the board according to Vegas, so using their goalies is a great idea.
Let's get started.
GOALIE
Craig Anderson, OTT vs. COL ($8,300): The Avalanche are horrible, so fading them and using the opposing team's netminder is always a quality plan. Colorado enters with the league's worst goal differential at minus-82, including two or fewer goals on offense in 10 of the past 11 games. The Avs have been blanked twice and scored just one goal three times during that span. While they've also won five of their past six trips to Ottawa and nine of the past 11 overall in this series, don't let that dissuade you from including Anderson in your starting grid.
CENTER
Jack Eichel, BUF vs. ARI ($7,600): Eichel carries a seven-game point streak into play. That includes a goal and an assist in these teams' most recent meeting in Arizona on Feb. 26. He continues to be productive for Buffalo's surprisingly effective power-play unit. Of course, like the Avalanche, the Coyotes are terrible in goal differential at minus-52, so they're a favorable opponent.
Vincent Trocheck, FLA at PHI ($6,300): Trocheck got back on track with a goal against the Hurricanes in Tuesday's game, and now he takes aim at Philadelphia's soft defense and goaltending. The Flyers rank 27th in the NHL in high-danger save percentage (.845), and they check in a mediocre 14th on the penalty kill. The diminutive Trocheck has actually been way better on the road, too, posting 12 goals and 26 points over 31 games as opposed to just 10 goals and 17 points in 31 games at home.
WING
Anders Lee, NYI at DAL ($5,500): Lee sees plenty of time on the power play, and the Stars rank 30th in the NHL on the penalty kill. It's a matchup made in heaven for DFS players. Lee has managed just one goal and one assist over his past five games, dropping his salary slightly. He has three power-play goals and six more markers in even-strength situations over 27 road games.
Radim Vrbata, ARI at BUF ($5,500): There were plenty of teams interested in acquiring Vrbata from the Coyotes at the trade deadline, but no one stepped up with a package good enough to bowl over management. Thus he stays put in the desert and should continue his scoring ways Thursday. Vrbata is working on a 10-game point streak, including a goal and an assist his last time out against the Sabres. Buffalo ranks 27th on the penalty kill, so Vrbata could be very productive again in this one.
Mats Zuccarello, NYR at BOS ($5,500): Zuccarello has cooled off with just one assist over the past five games, but he should be part of your plans Thursday. The Bruins rank 30th in the NHL in high-danger save percentage (.831), so there's a good chance they're the elixir to cure Zuccarello's recent ills. DFS players aren't likely to have much exposure to the Norwegian due to his recent struggles, so that's even better news if you use him and he goes off.
DEFENSE
Erik Karlsson, OTT vs. COL ($7,500): If there's ever a night to make sure you carve out salary-cap space for Karlsson, this is it. The Avalanche are horrendous defensively, so the superstar rearguard should roll up plenty of shots on goal and some points in what is expected to be a home rout. Karlsson also ranks No. 1 in the league with 162 blocked shots, so he'll be plenty busy on both ends.
Ryan McDonagh, NYR at BOS ($5,000): McDonagh hasn't been scoring lately –just one goal with two assists over his past 10 outings – but he still blocks his fair share of shots, making him a steady contributor. The Bruins are tied for No. 1 in the league with 33.9 shots per game, so McDonagh will have plenty of opportunities to sacrifice his body. As mentioned, the B's are also dead last in high-danger save percentage, so perhaps McDonagh can etch his name back onto the scoresheet to end his drought.
