This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
GOALIE
Pekka Rinne, NSH at COL ($8,000): The Preds look like they're the best team in the West by a country mile and they head into Denver with a pristine 6-0-0 record on the road. Rinne has been brilliant in his last two starts with one goal allowed on 69 shots and has lost in regulation just seven times in 35 career appearances against the Avs. Nathan MacKinnon's line is a concern, but the Preds should be able to limit the damage.
CENTER
Evgeni Malkin, PIT at WAS ($6,900): Malkin loves playing the Caps; not only does he get a front seat to Sid vs. Ovi, he's scored 19 goals and 60 points in 41 career games against the Caps. Of course, it's a bummer the Pens are slumping and occasional frenemies Malkin and Phil Kessel are split up, but a key rivalry game against a familiar opponent should snap them out of it. This is Malkin's longest scoring drought of the season.
Sean Monahan, CGY at ANA ($6,500): He's gunning for his fifth straight two-point game and hoping to extend the Flames' winning streak to five games. He's showing that he can be a 40-goal scorer when he's healthy, and it doesn't hurt to have Johnny Gaudreau feeding him biscuits. The Flames offense is dangerous and they'll be facing backup Ryan Miller.
WING
Johnny Gaudreau, CGY at ANA ($6,600): If you asked me to line stack the Avs against the Preds for $14,000 or the Flames against the Ducks for $13,100, the choice is pretty clear. Gaudreau is a magician with the puck and he's got an elite finisher in Monahan, and together rank among the league's best scoring duos. It will literally be a duck hunt against Randy Carlyle's traditionally atrocious defense.
T.J. Oshie, WAS vs. PIT ($5,500): There's nothing "safe" about the way Oshie plays, but in fantasy he's a reliable bet. He has three points in his past four games and 22 points in 23 career games against the Pens. The Pens should come in flying, having been embarrassed 10-1 in their past two games, and there's nothing Oshie loves more than a chippy game.
Kevin Fiala, NSH at COL ($3,900): I'm starting to think that we might be wrong about Fiala, but he has a chance to silence the doubters with a gig on the top line in Viktor Arvidsson's absence. Fiala has just five points in 14 games, but Peter Laviolette obviously still believes in him, playing him a minimum of 15 minutes in each of the past three games. Fiala's a high-risk play but there's potential for a big payoff.
DEFENSE
Mark Giordano, CGY at ANA ($5,700): He's been a fantasy beast on the blue line this season doing everything he can to make the Flames a contender. He was shut out in a 5-3 win against Chicago but scored four points in the previous game and has 15 points in 15 games this season. The Ducks are playing their backup and the Flames offense is potent.
Roman Josi, NSH at COL ($5,300): He's riding a three-game point streak and in 28 career games against the Avs he's scored 26 points – pretty good, considering the Jets are the only other team he's scored more than 20 points against. The Preds defense operates by committee but Josi will get his chances and they're unbeaten on the road this season.
