This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
There are a whopping 13 games in the NHL on Tuesday. With the depth of the player pool, there will be plenty of value options and paths to differentiating your selections for tournaments. Here are some players to consider while assembling your DraftKings lineups.
GOALIE
Jake Allen, STL vs. BUF ($8,000): There are enough thrifty options throughout the player pool to pay the toll for a capable goalie in a prime matchup. Allen has been an elite goalie at Scottrade Center with a 32-15-4 record, a .923 save percentage and a 1.95 GAA. While home-road splits aren't guaranteed predictors, this sample size spans 58 starts and four years. Plus, the Sabres are tied for the lowest-scoring team in the league with just 1.93 goals per game, and they average a 28th-ranked 17.83 scoring chances per 60 minutes at five-on-five.
CENTER
Eric Staal, MIN vs. CAL ($5,600): Calgary has surrendered a league-high 3.63 goals per game, and Staal's 2.46 points per 60 minutes ranks 16th among skaters with at least 190 minutes at five-on-five this season. This is an affordable salary, and Staal is averaging three shots and 2:48 of power-play time per game.
Ryan Johansen, NAS at TOR ($5,100): The Maple Leafs have surrendered the third-most scoring chances per 60 minutes (24.77) and third-most goals per game (3.6) thus far, which presents a friendly matchup for Johansen. While he's underachieving given his talent, a slump-busting outing at this salary has contest-winning upside.
WING
James Neal, NAS at TOR ($5,900): As noted, it's a favorable matchup for the Predators, and Neal has found his form with six goals, nine points and 26 shots over his past seven games. Additionally, he's averaged 19:31 per night with 3:57 on the power play. It all adds up to plenty of upside at a manageable cap hit.
Robby Fabbri, STL vs. BUF ($4,200): Expected to skate with Vladimir Tarasenko on Tuesday, Fabbri's fantasy upside skyrockets. The sophomore owns a 94.7 PDO, which suggests positive regression. You'll want to double-check the line combos, but he is an intriguing flier if he's slated to line up alongside Tarasenko. Additionally, Fabbri helps mitigate the salary of his star teammate in a mini-stack.
Anthony Mantha, DET vs. TAM ($2,700): Just above minimum price, Mantha's cap relief could prove as valuable as his fantasy points. He played 18:58 (5:38 on the power play) in Saturday's season debut, and Mantha scored eight goals and 10 points through 10 games in the AHL this year. Tampa Bay also enters on the wrong end of back-to-back road games, so there is certainly potential for the talented winger.
DEFENSE
Erik Karlsson, OTT at PHI ($7,100): Looking for cheaper blue line options is a common approach when there are so many games on the schedule. Therefore, the potential for Karlsson to be under-owned in a great matchup offers against-the-grain intrigue. He's an elite DraftKings contributor because he moves the needle in all categories while averaging hefty minutes, and Philadelphia is tied for the most goals allowed per game in the league (3.63).
Kevin Shattenkirk, STL vs. BUF ($5,300): With 12 points and an average of 3:53 of power-play time per game thus far, Shattenkirk remains an elite offensive defenseman. Dating back to the 2013-14 campaign, he's posted the fourth-best points per 60 minutes (1.78) among defensemen with at least 4,000 minutes, after all. Plus, Shattenkirk is starting a career-high 61.5 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone this year.
