DraftKings NHL: Tuesday Picks

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Updated on January 1, 2019 12:49PM EST

GOALIE

Juuse Saros, NSH vs. PHI ($8,200): Saros has been good recently, but overall his numbers don't reflect the type of talent he has. Saros has been better at home than on the road this season with a 2.61 GAA and .911 save percentage, and a near-perfect 4-0-1 against Eastern Conference foes. It may not be pretty, but the Preds should be heavily favored to win.

CENTER

Anze Kopitar, LA at VGK ($5,400): The Kings have won four of the last five with Kopitar registering five points in that span. He continues to be relied on heavily, skating more than 22 minutes in each of the past seven games and seems to have established some good chemistry with linemates Dustin Brown and Alex Iafallo. The Knights are tough at home, but Kopitar has seven points in seven career games against them.

Sean Kuraly, BOS at CHI ($2,900): Ice conditions for outdoor games are unreliable, so it makes scoring difficult. Of the 10 Winter Classics, only twice have teams combined to score more than five goals. That being said, Kuraly's got the hot hand with three points in four games, providing some secondary scoring while David Krejci continues to struggle. Kuraly is a risky play because he's not a consistent scorer but is certainly a potential value play considering his strong play recently.

WING

Viktor Arvidsson, NSH vs. PHI ($6,900): Not having Filip Forsberg hurts, especially when his replacement is Ryan Hartman, but Arvidsson continues to be an effective high-volume shooter, registering six shots in his first game back from injury and scoring a goal and an assist against the Caps yesterday. His return to the lineup gives the Preds' offense a big boost, especially for playmaking center Ryan Johansen ($5,200).

Brandon Pirri, VGK vs. LA ($5,900): With seven points in five games.Pirri has been nearly unstoppable since his call-up. Buried in the minors for being a one-dimensional player, he's filled in nicely for the injured Max Pacioretty. With the Kings expected to start backup Cal Petersen, Pirri is a good pick, though at this price he's no longer a strong value play.

James van Riemsdyk, PHI at NSH ($4,600): He's been very quiet this season with 13 points in 22 games, failing to live up to expectations in his second tour with Philly. However, with two two-point games in his past five, JVR just wrapped up the most productive month of his season. His track record against the Preds also stands out with seven goals and 10 points in 12 games, making him a decent value play at this price.

DEFENSE

Torey Krug, BOS at CHI ($6,200): There's a big premium for the top defensemen today, but Krug seems to be in the best situation. He's starting to rack up the points with five in his past six games, and while his ice time overall continues to be limited, he's still quarterbacking the top unit. With no Charlie McAvoy, Matt Grzelcyk ($2,900) is a potential value play, but the drop-off in talent is huge on the second power-play unit.

Nate Schmidt, VGK vs. LA ($5,300): Since returning from suspension, Schmidt has scored 13 points in 22 games with a plus-11 rating, showcasing why he's Vegas' most important defender. Vegas continues to be a dreaded road city with the Knights being so good at home, and Schmidt himself has nine points in nine games there. The price is a tad high, but he's a pretty safe pick most nights.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire.