DraftKings NHL: Thursday Picks

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Updated on November 10, 2016 3:08PM EST

There are 10 games on the NHL schedule Thursday. With a deep player pool, you don't have to make contrarian options a significant priority, so don't shy away from honing in on favorable matchups. Here are a handful of options to consider while assembling your DraftKings lineups.

GOALIE

Petr Mrazek, DET vs. VAN ($7,900): The 24-year-old goaltender is searching for answers and owns an .850 save percentage through his past three starts -- all losses. However, a date with the Canucks stands out as a slump-busting matchup. Even after a five-goal outburst against the Rangers on Tuesday, Vancouver sits last in goals per game with a pedestrian 1.86 mark.

CENTER

Mark Scheifele, WPG at ARI ($7,200): Until Scheifele is priced among the top scorers in the league, he's a nightly consideration. The Coyotes have allowed the most goals per game (3.67) and scoring chances per 60 minutes at five-on-five (25.05) this season, and Scheifele has three consecutive multi-point outings and 66 points -- 30 goals -- over his past 60 games.

Sean Monahan, CGY vs. DAL ($5,400): Home after a four-game road trip, look for Monahan to end his cold stretch against Dallas. The Stars are allowing the ninth-most scoring chances per 60 minutes at five-on-five (21.98) and fifth most goals (3.54), after all. Plus, Monahan has historically been a much better scorer at home, with 33 goals and 75 points over his past 87 games at the Saddledome.

WING

Johnny Gaudreau, CGY vs. DAL ($6,200): With a dwindling salary and 96 points -- 38 goals -- through 87 career home games, Gaudreau's a strong option given the matchup. Home-road splits should always be taken with a grain of salt, but having the last change to open up favorable matchups for Gaudreau has clearly helped the diminutive winger.

Nikolaj Ehlers, WPG at ARI ($4,700): Now playing with Scheifele and Patrik Laine, Ehlers has exploded offensive of late with a goal, six assists and nine shots over his past three games. In fact, since the Dane's entered the league, Scheifele has been his most frequent linemate at five-on-five. The duo has combined for a dominant 3.68 goals for per 60 minutes and 55.2 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five.

Vladislav Namestnikov, TAM vs. NYI ($4,100): Mired in a four-game point drought, Namestnikov checks out as an against-the-grain flier in a great matchup. The Islanders have allowed a league-high 25.79 scoring chances per 60 minutes, and Namestnikov is projected to skate with Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov. Dating back to last season, Namestnikov and Stamkos have combined for 3.16 goals for per 60 minutes and a 56.3 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five. Namestnikov and Kucherov have been even better, with 3.58 and 58.4 marks, respectively.

DEFENSE

Dougie Hamilton, CGY vs. DAL ($4,500): Another piece from Calgary to stack in the favorable matchup against Dallas, Hamilton is affordable and likely to fly under the radar. Dating back to last season, Hamilton boasts a 17th-ranked 1.56 points per 60 minutes among defensemen with at least 1,500 minutes.

Noah Hanifin, CAR vs. ANA ($4,000): Justin Faulk's (upper body) absence opens the door for Hanifin to receive an extended role, including on the No. 1 power-play unit. Hanifin has also posted 2.44 points per 60 minutes, second among defensemen with at least 100 minutes this year. The Ducks enter on the wrong end of back-to-back road games, too.

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. Neil Parker plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: naparker77, DraftKings: naparker77.