This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
SLATE PREVIEW
There are four games in the NHL on Monday, and all eight teams enter their respective matchup rested. It's a unique slate with Washington, Tampa Bay, Boston and Colorado all notable favorites and now projected coin-flip contests.
The Blue Jackets head to Washington losers of four consecutive games and scoring just four goals during the skid. The Caps, meanwhile, return home sporting six consecutive wins, including four straight on the road. The surge has Washington sitting atop the league standings, and there's a significant home-road disparity between the two clubs. Washington has scored an impressive 3.57 goals per hour at home this season while Columbus has surrendered 3.63 outside of Ohio.
Interestingly, the stingy Islanders are included in the game with the highest projected over/under total. It may be more of an indication of Tampa Bay's recent results, though. There have been 17 combined goals in the Bolts last two games, after all. The Lightning have also scored a league-high 4.29 goals per hour at home this season, and the Islanders are finishing off a tough, seven-night schedule stretch with games in Montreal, at home against Vegas, at Dallas, and now in Tampa.
With just a single win through their past seven outings, the Senators have reverted back to preseason expectations, and now draw Boston at home following a five-game road trip. The Bruins will be motivated after losing consecutive game on home ice, too. Even with the recent slip up, Boston paces the league in goals for percentage per 60 minutes and has held opponents to the second fewest goals per hour. Plus, to make matters worse for the Sens, Patrice Bergeron ($7,600) might also return to action.
Colorado has won six straight and allowed two goals or fewer in five of those wins. The Avs have a number of players nursing injuries and questionable for Monday's tilt, but that's par for the course over the past month, and they're still sporting an active 11-3 record with 4.14 goals per hour. Calgary, on the other hand, has gutted out four consecutive wins in the midst of a coaching controversy and switch behind the bench. For what it's worth, the Flames are 6-9-2 with a middle-of-the-road 3.16 goals against per hour on the road this season.
GOALIES
Tuukka Rask ($8,100) had a six-game winning streak snapped last time out with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Blackhawks, so look for the Finn to have a strong bounce-back showing against the struggling Senators. He's rested and enters with an elite 13-2-3 record, .929 save percentage and 2.14 GAA for the campaign.
There's no rookie discount for Pavel Francouz ($8,100), and considering he's priced the same as Tuukka Rask, there's little reason to look his way unless you're chasing a potential lower ownership. Additionally, the matchup against the Flames is probably tougher. Francouz has been solid -- .932 save percentage and 2.22 GAA -- through 13 NHL appearances, though.
With the Islanders in a potentially vulnerable schedule spot and scoring just 2.2 goals per hour at five-on-five for the campaign, Andrei Vasilevskiy ($8,000) and the Lightning should be in a good spot at home. The Russian netminder turned in a 37-save win over the Sharks on Saturday, which could kick-start a strong stretch. His current .907 save percentage has positive regression ahead after he posted a .922 mark over the past two seasons.
VALUE PLAYS/ONE-OFFS
Nathan MacKinnon ($8,300) has registered just a single assist through his past two outings, and considering he recorded 10 tallies and 16 helpers through the prior 12 contests, the current mini funk is unlikely to last long. His 3.72 points per 60 minutes over the past three years rank fifth in the league, after all.
With two goals, three assists, 20 shots and 21 high-danger scoring chances through his past four contests, Steven Stamkos ($6,200) has been dangerous. The Islanders are a tough opponent, but Stamkos' salary is also reasonable considering his role and recent form.
It's rare to see Mathew Barzal's ($5,400) salary this low. Even with the noted challenges ahead of the Isles, the 22-year-old center warrants mention as a potential contrarian value. He's recorded three tallies, two helpers and 10 shots through his past five contests and is logging a career-high 19:15 of ice time per game for the campaign.
Oliver Bjorkstrand ($4,900) was in the midst of a breakout campaign before slipping into his current six-game goal drought. He's projected to skate atop the Columbus depth chart in all offensive situations and has recorded 25 shots through his latest four outings, so puck luck should trend in his favor sooner than later.
Rookie Carter Verhaeghe ($2,500) exploded for 27.5 Draftkings points last time out, so considering he's minimum price, it could be worth the gamble to see if he can follow the strong showing up with another. Skating with Steven Stamkos ($6,200) and Tyler Johnson ($3,800) is an encouraging even-strength gig, too.
FORWARD LINE STACKS
The top two lines for the Bruins will be popular Monday with the noted soft matchup against Ottawa. Patrice Bergeron ($7,600) could return to the lineup, which would prop up usual linemates David Pastrnak ($8,000) and Brad Marchand ($7,400), but even if Bergeron remains out due to a lower-body injury, Boston's offensive attack should continue to churn along with David Krejci ($6,400) atop the depth chart. Charlie Coyle ($4,900) and Jake DeBrusk ($4,500) are also in play. Just make sure to double-check Boston's projected lineup before locking in their forwards,
The Flames have had their lines in a blender lately, but an interesting trio emerged over the past two contests with Mikael Backlund ($3,800), Johnny Gaudreau ($6,000) and Sean Monahan ($5,700) spending 13:58 of ice time together. They've scored two goals and check out as an affordable, against-the-grain stack.
Evgeny Kuznetsov ($6,000), Jakub Vrana ($5,500) and T.J. Oshie ($5,300) have clicked for four goals and generated 10 high-danger scoring chances over just 39:46 of shared ice time this season. With Columbus' noted defensive struggles on the road, Washington's second line is cost-effective stack in solid form, as Kuznetsov, Vrana and Oshie have combined for seven goals and 15 assists through their past six outings.
DEFENSEMEN
John Carlson ($7,700) boast a four-game point streak consisting of three goals and four assists, as he continues to post historic numbers from the blue line. His 3.33 points per hour top all defensemen by a large margin, and Carlson also has reached the shots and blocks bonuses 14 times through 31 games this season.
With a scoresheet appearance in 12 of the past 14 contests, Victor Hedman ($6,000) is also scorching hot. He's collected five goals, 13 assists, 12 power-play points, 45 shots and 18 blocks during the stretch, and his salary doesn't match his current offensive surge.
There are also a slew of power-play quarterbacks worth considering in the $5000-to-$5,700 price range. Mark Giordano ($5,700) is due for positive offensive regression with just a single assist through his past 11 games. Similarly, Torey Krug ($5,100) has only found the scoresheet once through his past six outings. Cale Makar's ($5,500) status is in question after leaving Saturday's contest, but if healthy, his 2.87 points per hour this year are tied for second among all regular defensemen.
Further down the salary list, Ryan Pulock ($4,400) and Charlie McAvoy ($4,200) are candidates to find the scoresheet and also reach the bonus for blocked shots. Pulock has recorded 14 points through 28 games this season, and McAvoy has been a strong producer of late with two assists, seven shots and five blocks through his past three outings.
Mikhail Sergachev ($3,800) checks out as a low-priced target. He offers a respectable cross-category profile and has recorded four goals, three assists, 17 shots and 14 blocks while averaging 2:16 of power-play time per outing through his past nine contests.
