This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
There are only two games in the NHL on Monday, so DraftKings players will need to walk the line of creatively differentiating their lineups while still having exposure to top scorers.
The slate opens with the underdog Coyotes visiting Buffalo. The Sabres are off to an impressive start with a 9-2-1 record with 3.36 goals per 60 minutes. Arizona enters playing well defensively. The Coyotes have a driven possession and allowed just 1.63 goals per hour at five-on-five. This is the final stop during a four-game road trip for Arizona, so there's potential for a letdown showing. Buffalo is also unbeaten on home ice through five games and boast a plus-11 goal differential.
The Panthers are the only club playing for the second consecutive night after winning 6-2 in Edmonton on Sunday. Florida has been involved in a lot of high-scoring games of late with 27 goals for and 20 against through their past six outings, and this game against the Canucks has the higher over/under total (6.0) Monday. Vancouver blew a 5-1 lead in its 6-5 shootout loss to Washington on Friday, so look for a bounce-back showing with Florida in a tough schedule spot. The Canucks are slight favorites to improve on their solid 6-3-1 record.
GOALIES
Dating back to last season, Darcy Kuemper ($7,500) owns an impressive .926 save percentage and 2.27 GAA, including .934 and 1.88 marks this season. With Buffalo projecting to be a tough opponent, Kuemper's salary is down and presents notable value.
Even cheaper, Samuel Montembeault ($6,900) provides significant cap relief and doesn't have to stand on his head to return value on this salary. He's sporting a .933 save percentage and 1.79 GAA through three appearances this season, and Florida should provide the goal support to position Montembeault for victory.
Expect the Buffalo starter to be popular with the Sabres dominating on home ice to start the campaign. Additionally, both Carter Hutton ($8,200) and Linus Ullmark ($8,200) are playing well with save percentages of .920 and .932, respectively. The high price could limit your lineup flexibility, however. Similarly, both Vancouver starters have been solid thus far and are also in play. Just remember Florida has a fifth-ranked 3.51 goals per hour this season.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Jack Eichel ($8,000) has been a boom-or-bust contributor this season with five multi-point showings comprising five of his six goals and all 10 of his assists. He's an essential piece of any potential Buffalo stack and has already posted two games of over 40 DraftKings points to highlight his contest-winning upside.
Expected to skate atop the depth chart in all situations, Christian Dvorak ($4,700) is an intriguing flier. He's been held to a single goal through his past four outings, but the promotion to centering Clayton Keller ($5,200) and Phil Kessel ($5,400) in all situations should prove to be a good fit for Dvorak.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
Aleksander Barkov ($6,000), Jonathan Huberdeau ($6,600) and Evgenii Dadonov ($5,700) have long-standing chemistry and impressive numbers stretching over the past three seasons. The trio have clicked for 6.1 goals and 15.6 high-danger scoring chances per hour while also driving possession with a 53.5 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five. It's also worth noting that Barkov has gone 11 games without a goal, so look for statistical correction from the 24-year-old center.
With Florida potentially vulnerable in the back-to-back schedule spot, Elias Pettersson ($6,500), J.T. Miller ($6,200) and Brock Boeser ($6,400) stand out as an excellent stack. They've clicked for an elite 6.0 goals per 60 minutes and dominant 62.7 Corsi for percentage at five-on-five. Remember, the Panthers have tended to play high-event, high-scoring games and are likely starting backup Samuel Montembeault ($6,900).
DEFENSEMEN
Oliver Ekman-Larsson ($5,200) has been solid of late with two tallies, four helpers, 15 shots and 10 blocks while logging a hefty 26:00 (3:53 with the man advantage) through his past seven games. The cap hit isn't crippling, and Ekman-Larsson's reliable recent production makes him a solid option.
With just two assists for 0.82 points per hour through his past eight games, Keith Yandle ($5,000) is prime candidate to snap out of his offensive lull. The veteran recorded a rock-solid 1.69 points per 60 minutes over the previous three seasons, so there's positive regression ahead.
Projected to skate with the No. 1 power-play unit, Quinn Hughes ($4,400) offers upside and savings as an addition to a Canucks stack. He's collected four assists while averaging 6:05 of ice time with the man advantage through his past three games, after all.
